2002 Football Outlook, Part II
8/1/2002 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 1, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The following is the second installment of an eight-part series that will look at each facet of the 2002 University of Maryland football team as it approaches the start of fall camp. With the first day of full-squad practice scheduled for Saturday, August 10, this series first looked at the offense and the quarterback position (July 30); the running backs (today); wide receivers and tight ends (Friday, August 2); the offensive line (Monday, August 5); the defense and defensive line (Tuesday, August 6); the linebacking corps (Wednesday, August 7); the defensive backfield (Thursday, August 8); and the special teams (Friday, August 9).
PART II: RUNNING BACKS
TAILBACK
The tailback position is one that has been a consistent source of optimism over the last five years in College Park. Four strong years of LaMont Jordan were followed by a 2001 season which began with a big question mark over who the starter would be; a question ultimately answered in resounding fashion by then-sophomore Bruce Perry.
Perry enters this season as the lone returning finalist from last year's Doak Walker Award after rushing for 1,242 yards and 10 touchdowns en route to being named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, he is the Terrapins' leading returning receiver (40 receptions) and the nation's eighth-best returnee in all-purpose yards (156.2 ypg). The lone question about Perry entering 2002 is his health.
Perry missed all of spring practice with an abdominal injury, the same one that hobbled him the week of the Orange Bowl. He had a procedure done in late April to correct the problem and it is expected that he will be ready to go at the start of fall camp.
 Jason Crawford hopes to fill the "big back" role vacated by Marc Riley.  |
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The other primary returnee to the tailback position, Jason Crawford, also went into spring with injury problems (hip) but he overcame them and participated in spring ball. He had his moments, displaying the hard-charging running style that makes him the favorite to take over Marc Riley's role as a short-yardage specialist a year ago. Crawford will have to come on, but it is not out of the question that he could push Perry should injuries linger.
As successful as last year's group of tailbacks were, this year's group could have an added dimension should Mario Merrills continue his progress. Merrills adds another home run threat to the backfield as he may be the speediest Terrapin back and he excels in space. He will also vie for kickoff return duties, a job at which he performed admirably in the spring game (6 returns, 163 yards).
Other contenders for playing time this fall include senior Chris Downs and incoming freshmen Josh Allen and J.P. Humber. Downs looked good in the offseason and will see the field in one capacity or another (he played special teams last year) while Humber will have the added benefit from a conditioning standpoint of being on campus in the summer.
"Our situation should be pretty good at running back this year," said Friedgen. "We should have some depth at the position especially after the arrival of our two newcomers, J.P Humber and Josh Allen. It will be interesting to see where they fit in. The big question will be Bruce's health and how good he can be when he gets in. We all know what he can do when he is healthy; we just need him to be the player he was when he was healthy last year and work to improve on that. If not, he will get a challenge from Mario Merrills and Jason Crawford, both of whom had their moments in the spring."
FULLBACK
Last season, the Terrapins were as deep and talented at fullback as any team in the conference. This season, the team looks like it is still in good hands as all three players who saw significant playing time a year ago return. The only question among returnees is whether or not Bernie Fiddler will remain at the position.
James Lynch returns after serving as Maryland's primary starter at fullback a year ago. Lynch is a hulking 271 pounds and spent the offseason maintaining his size while adding muscle. He is an excellent blocking back with a feel for the game and quick feet which help him with blocking for the option. This season, Lynch is expected to get more chances as a runner as he has shown the ability to move the ball inside.
A starter for three games a year ago, Chad Killian returns for his senior year. One of Killian's strengths is in running the ball, but he proved to be an effective blocker in spelling Lynch last year. As always, Killian is one of the strongest players on the team pound-for-pound. In teaming with Lynch, the Terps will have a fresh pair of legs at the position at all times.
Just how fresh Maryland's fullbacks are will, surprisingly, depend on the health of the team's linebackers. Due to injury at the linebacker position and the fact that coaches believed he was simply too talented to keep on the sideline, Fiddler spent the spring working at middle linebacker. He left spring working behind Andrew Henley and could continue at that spot, but should the linebackers be in good shape, he will return to fullback. Fiddler had a strong season last year at the position and proved his worth as a blocker. He is also a solid pass-catcher and an adequate rushing fullback.
"We are in better shape at fullback than most football teams can boast from a depth perspective," said Friedgen. "Some teams have three fullbacks who can play, but we feel all three of ours are starting-caliber. James (Lynch) really had a good spring for us and really looks like he is coming on. He is a very instinctive football player and doesn't make a lot of mistakes. Chad (Killian) is a guy who plays hard and will play a lot of football for us this year. If he stays at fullback, Fiddler is a kid we can count on to block and perform for us as well."
