Inconsistency was the name of the game for the Maryland Terrapins in 2007. The Terps started off 2-0, lost their next two, won two in a row, lost three straight, and then split their final four games, including an Emerald Bowl loss to Oregon State, to finish 6-7.

Besides the inconsistency, the year could have wound up being much better, if the Terps had fared better in close games, as they lost five games by eight points or less. But, when they were good, they were good, as they won at #10 Rutgers and upset #8 Boston College at home.

Injuries were another thing that cost Maryland greatly last season, but all of those injuries have made this year’s team a much more experienced one that will look to be a lot more consistent.

Maryland Terrapins

Coach: Ralph Friedgen (8th year at Maryland, 56-31)

2007 Record: 6-7, 3-5 ACC

Starters Returning: 13 (8 offense, 5 defense)

Top returnees: QB Chris Turner, QB Josh Portis, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR Isaiah Williams, C Edwin Williams, LT Scott Burley, DT Jeremy Navarre, LB Moise Fokou, MLB Dave Philistin, LB Adrian Moten, CB Kevin Barnes

Key Losses: RB Keon Lattimore, RB Lance Ball, RG Andrew Crummey, DT Dre Moore, DT Carlos Feliciano, LB Erin Henderson, CB Isaiah Gardner, FS JJ Justice, SS Christian Varner

2008 Schedule

Aug. 30 Delaware

Sept. 6 @ Middle Tennessee

Sept. 13 California

Sept. 20 Eastern Michigan

Sept. 27 @ Clemson

Oct. 4 @ Virginia

Oct. 18 Wake Forest

Oct. 25 NC State

Nov. 6 @ Virginia Tech

Nov. 15 North Carolina

Nov. 22 Florida State

Nov. 29 @ Boston College

Key Game: Nov. 22 vs. Florida State. If they remain healthy, the Terps could very well give Clemson a run for the ACC Atlantic Division, along with FSU and Wake Forest. It stands to be a tight race all season, and this late November matchup could have a big impact on how the final standings and bowl destinations shake out.

2008 Outlook

The search for consistency and continuity starts on offense, where there is an open competition at quarterback spot. QB Chris Turner (1,958 passing yards, 7 touchdowns) and QB Jordan Steffy (686 yards passing, 2 touchdowns) split time at the helm last season, but both battled their own struggles. Florida transfer Josh Portis was ruled ineligible just before the start of last season, but he could wind up making the job his this season.

Solid play at quarterback is a must, given that the backfield is in reload mode. Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball, who combined for 1,573 yards and 25 touchdowns last season, are both gone, so Friedgen will have to look to RB Da’Rel Scott, the team’s kick returner, and sophomore RB Morgan Green to carry the majority of the load.

There is a stockpile of talent at wide receiver for the Terps. Darrius Heyward-Bey had to fight through double and triple teams, along with the ups and downs at quarterback, but he still caught 51 passes for 786 yards and three touchdowns. Heyward-Bey has the potential to be the best wide receiver in the conference and is regarded as a potential first-round pick. His counterpart Isaiah Williams caught 25 passes for 395 yards and a touchdown last season, but he was injured in the spring.

Along with the two leading receivers, senior Danny Oquendo (19 catches, 173 yards, TD) and sophomore LaQuan Williams (15 catches, 217 yards) will be key targets. Maryland kept four-star receiver recruits Kenny Tate and Kevin Dorsey in-state, and both could make an immediate impact.

The offensive line comes into this season with a great deal of experience, as it boasts 57 total starts. The line does lose Second-Team All-ACC honoree Andrew Crummey, but there are seven returnees, led by C Edwin Williams.

Last season, Maryland had a solid defense, giving up 21.5 points and 358 yards per game, and even though there are some starters to replace, this year’s defense could perform well.

The defensive line will be headed up by DT Jeremy Navarre (41 tackles, 5.5 sacks), who moves inside from end, and he’ll be counted on to help fill the production void left by tackles Moore and Feliciano. Mack Frost, who missed spring while recovering from knee surgery, will replace Navarre as a starter at end, while Trey Covington will continue to man the LEO spot, a hybrid end/linebacker position.

There are some injury concerns at linebacker. The team already lost top tackler Erin Henderson, who declared early for the NFL Draft, but starters Dave Philistin (124 tackles, 6.5 for loss) and Moise Fokou (84 tackles, 7 for loss, 2 sacks) were on the injured list in the spring, along with senior Rick Costa. However, all three will be back for the fall. 2007 Freshman All-American Adrian Moten (50 tackles, 7.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks) will play a key part, and with Philistin and Fokou sidelined, Chase Bullock and Alex Wujciak got a chance to prove their worth by getting a lot of spring reps.

The Terps will look for big production from their secondary, which will have to replace three starters in CB Isaiah Gardner, FS JJ Justice and SS Christian Varner. But, the lone returning starter, CB Kevin Barnes, is one of the best at his position in the ACC. He will be joined USC transfer FS Antwine Perez, who the coaching staff has high hopes for and CB Anthony Wiseman (23 tackles).

There are a lot of question marks for Maryland at this point, from injuries, to replacing starters, to consistency. Those questions will have to be answered if the Terps want to avoid falling back in the pack of a very competitive ACC. But, the talent is there to make a run at a sixth postseason berth in the last eight seasons.