Caleb Rowe
The Terrapins football team will likely make some slight tactical adjustments with backup quarterback Caleb Rowe taking over for the injured C.J. Brown (concussion) in today’s game against Virginia, but don’t expect the offense to regress.
Rowe doesn’t run as well as Brown does, but he appears more comfortable as a pocket passer. Just think back to Rowe’s one start last year, when he went 23-of-42 through the air in a 20-17 loss to Boston College. The most pass attempts Brown has had in one game this year came when he went 15-of-28 in the Terps 32-21 victory at Connecticut.
So expect the Terps to put the ball in the air a bit more with Rowe under center. He doesn’t provide the versatility that Brown does, but Rowe’s propensity for sticking in the pocket might help give talented Terps receivers Deon Long and Stefon Diggs chances to make more plays downfield.
Other than that, though, the Terps won’t change much. They’ll still run their up-tempo offense, use the zone-read running game and throw short passes to get the receivers involved.
The key for Rowe will be to protect the ball. He has the arm and the accuracy to make plays, but against the Eagles last year his three interceptions proved costly. If he can avoid turnovers against the Cavaliers, it’ll give the Terps a good chance to win — even with Brown sporting a headset instead of a helmet.
