College Park -- Every week, Maryland defensive line coach Dave Sollazzo preaches the importance of putting pressure on the quarterback.
"It doesn't always work," he said dryly, "obviously."
This week, Sollazzo's message had an added incentive - whoever is the first to record a sack against Rutgers will be the first to accomplish that feat against quarterback Mike Teel this season, and the first in six games.
"It's real important, especially against Rutgers," said senior defensive tackle Carlos Feliciano, who grew up in Elizabeth, N.J., about 30 minutes from the Rutgers campus, and was recruited heavily by the Scarlet Knights. "I read today he's only hit the ground once all season. That's amazing. We're definitely trying to get there. We're going to do whatever it takes to get there. We're going to play our hearts out and get as many hits on the quarterback as we can."
Maryland's defensive line has shown improvement this season, in part because the players are older and more experienced, and because they have become extremely good friends. The relationships and confidence have translated onto the field, but a more forceful pass rush will be needed in the Terps' 3:30 p.m. game against No. 10-ranked Rutgers (3-0) tomorrow if visiting Maryland (2-2) is going to slow the nation's No. 9 offense.
"I think Dre Moore is playing well," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. "Carlos Feliciano is playing with everything he's got. And then the improvement of Mack Frost. You put that with Jeremy Navarre, who is playing well, and we've got four quality defensive linemen.
"We still need to get more out of those guys, but it's not for lack of effort, I can tell you that."
The Terps are No. 2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference in total defense, allowing 298.8 yards per game. Only three teams in the conference, though, have fewer than the Terps' six sacks through the first four games. There were two games during which Maryland didn't record one sack - against Florida International and Wake Forest.
"Some of that was attributed to not being in our rush lanes," said Frost, a backup defensive end considered by Friedgen to be one of the best pass rushers on the team. "This week, we put an emphasis on pass rush and staying in our rush lanes and getting to the quarterback.
"I think we match up pretty well against them. The type of offense they run is fit towards the type of defense we run. Basically, I think if we get our pad level low on defense, we'll be OK. They have a really good offensive line, but it all comes down to who's lowest."
