UW's opponent at a glance: Maryland

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Junior D.J. Moore is Maryland's top receiver with 44 catches for 624 yards and seven touchdowns.

OFFENSE

Sophomore quarterback Max Bortenschlager opened the season No. 3 on the depth chart. Season-ending injuries to Tyrrell Pigrome and Kasim Hill pushed Bortenschlager into the starting spot in Week 4 at Minnesota.

Bortenschlager responded with a solid game – 154 passing yards and two touchdowns and one rushing touchdown – as the Terrapins surprised the Gophers, 31-24. He was knocked out of the loss to Ohio State with a head injury but returned last week to pass for 255 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-21 loss to Northwestern.

The 6-foot-3, 211-pounder is comfortable throwing from the pocket, extending plays with his feet, scrambling from pressure or picking up yards on designed runs.

Bortenschlager’s backup is redshirt junior Caleb Henderson, who has attempted one pass this season.

Maryland needs to get the ball into the hands of junior wide receiver D.J. Moore and tailback Ty Johnson.

Moore leads the team in catches (44), receiving yards (624) and receiving touchdowns (seven). The No. 2 receiver — Taivon Jacobs — has 18 catches for 201 yards and two scores. Huge drop-off.

Moore is quick and explosive. He can turn short passes into big plays, particularly on bubble screens, and has at least one catch in 27 consecutive games. UW’s outside linebackers will have to complement the defensive backs in containing Moore.

Johnson, 5-10 and 208, is a burner. He was held to a season-low 20 yards on 10 carries in the loss to Northwestern but is averaging 7.2 yards per carry.

MORE:UW stats, roster, schedule | Maryland stats, roster, schedule

CHAT TRANSCRIPT:Jeff Potrykus answered readers' questions Monday

DEFENSE

Former UW assistant Andy Buh is in his second season as the Terrapins’ defensive coordinator.

The unit has issues.

Maryland struggles to stop the run or the pass. The Terrapins have allowed 14 rushing touchdowns, the most among Big Ten teams. Opponents are averaging 174.3 rushing yards per game. Only Purdue (175.0) and Illinois (197.2) are worse.

The pass defense has struggled in large part because the pass rush isn’t getting home. Maryland has 10 sacks in six games. Only Minnesota (nine), Rutgers (seven) and Purdue (six) have fewer. Maryland got to Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson just once last week. The Wildcats entered the day having allowed 19 sacks in five games.

SPECIAL TEAMS

UW’s specialists will face their toughest test of the season.

Maryland uses Moore on punt returns and Johnson on kickoff returns and the results have been outstanding.

Johnson is averaging 27.4 yards on kickoff returns. He had a 100-yard return in the loss to Ohio State. The Terrapins also blocked an Ohio State field-goal attempt. Moore is fourth in the Big Ten in punt returns at 13.6, with a long return of 33.

Maryland is limiting teams to 19.9 yards on kickoff returns but opponents are averaging 22.6 yards on punt returns. Punter Wade Lees has induced 18 fair catches on 33 punts but the coverage has proved to be vulnerable. UW’s Nick Nelson might have a chance for a big return.