Special teams letting Maryland down at Clemson

Maryland's got to be steamed to be trailing by 10 points because, offensively and defensively, it has done enough to at least be tied in this game. The Terrapins have outgained the Tigers, 212-126. But on the scoreboard, Clemson leads 17-7.

Even though Maryland faces a 10-point halftime deficit here, the Terrapins are playing pretty well offensively and defensively. The defense has played well overall, with the exception of a few plays early and Clemson's 13-play drive, the longest of the season for the Tigers, at the end of the second quarter. Maryland quarterback Danny O Brien no surprise that he started his third straight game - looks impressive in his first significant action on the road. The one throw that stands out to me was when O Brien scrambled to his left and then stopped his momentum enough and found enough arm strength to complete a pass to tight end Will Yeatman. By the way, Yeatman's three completions on one scoring drive his first three completions at Maryland stand as another bright spot because it has taken Yeatman quite a bit of time to shake off the rust after returning from the broken finger.

The issue, obviously, has been special teams. The 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Clemson's Andre Ellington hurt. So did the 33-yard field goal miss by Travis Baltz.

(I m a little bit shaken because of the news that Purdue's Robbie Hummel will miss the season because of a torn ACL. I really feel for Purdue, which had been my preseason pick to win the national title.)

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By Eric Prisbell | October 16, 2010; 1:41 PM ET Categories: Football Save & Share: Previous: O'Brien to start at quarterback for Maryland Next: Maryland outgains Clemson, but falls on the road

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