Maryland football’s defense has struggled to find consistency all season. 

Following the Terps’ ugly 37-30 home loss to Rutgers on Oct. 17, Maryland fired defensive coordinator Ted Monachino. 

The change had a reason. The Terps ranked 15th in the Big Ten in total yards allowed per game, at 366.6, and gave up the most touchdowns in the Big Ten, 29. 

On Saturday, the defense appeared to turn a corner. But even an improved performance wasn’t enough to prevent another late collapse in Maryland’s 20-17 loss to Illinois. 

It started with the coaching.

Initially, defensive back coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim was elevated to co-defensive coordinator after Monachino’s firing. Three days later, Maryland and head coach Mike Locksley mutually parted ways, leaving Abdul-Rahim as the interim head coach.

He used the bye week to simplify the playbook and shorten practices, hoping his players would spend less time thinking and more time reacting.

“If you want young men to play fast, carefree, you do have to condense what they have to think prior to the snap,” Abdul-Rahim said.

His defense immediately stepped up.

Messiah Delhomme intercepted an errant Katin Houser pass on Illinois’ opening drive. That set the tone for an aggressive defensive showing. 

Maryland rallied hard to the ball, swarmed Illinois’ ball carriers and repeatedly got off the field on third down. The Illini were 4-of-11 on third down. After allowing an average of 46 points through its first four Big Ten games, the Terps held Illinois to just 10 points through three quarters.

Defensive back LaVarion Scruggs credited Abdul-Rahim’s simplified system for the change. 

“It allowed us to play fast,” Scruggs said. “Not too much thinking. I’m just playing fast and physical.” 

The Terps also committed only one penalty for five yards, another sign of the improved discipline in Abdul-Rahim’s debut.

But even with a new coach, the Terps fourth-quarter woes continued. 

On the first play of the quarter, Javari Barnett scampered through the middle of the Maryland defense for a 64-yard touchdown run, giving Illinois a 17-14 lead. 

The Terps responded with a field goal to tie the game. Their defense followed by forcing a quick three-and-out, capped by an impressive open-field tackle from Amare Jackson on third down.

The Maryland offense took that momentum and turned it into a punt, putting the defense back on the field. 

Despite its success all day, the defense could not come up with one final stop. Illinois marched 67 yards on 13 plays, converting a critical third down before Ethan Moczulski kicked a 26-yard field goal as time expired. 

The Illini finished with 407 total yards, including eight completions of at least 15 yards. Explosive plays remained a problem even on Maryland’s best defensive afternoon in weeks. 

Abdul-Rahim said stopping the run was the defense’s priority entering Saturday, but acknowledged the unit allowed too many explosive plays. Scruggs had similar thoughts. 

“You take the wrong step, the other guy wins,” Scruggs said. “You can’t take the wrong step.”

The coaching change brought a different energy. The ending, though, remained very familiar.