2002 Football Outlook, Part III
8/2/2002 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 2, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The following is the third 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 (Aug. 1); wide receivers and tight ends (today); 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 III: WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS
WIDE RECEIVER
All but one receiver (Guilian Gary) who saw significant playing time a year ago returns in 2002. That is a positive considering that at this time a year ago, Friedgen was professing that the passing game would simply need time to improve.
One of the interesting stories of the spring came from one of the new faces that will be working at the position. Junior Latrez Harrison seems to have excelled in the transition from quarterback, a move that was made in an attempt to get an athletic player more time on the field. Harrison has ideal size (6-3, 217) and showed the ability to pull away from defenders when scrambling as a quarterback, and his time as a signal caller gives him an offensive perspective few receivers have. The success he had in the spring culminated with a Red & White game which saw him snag two receptions for 80 yards and a pair of touchdowns. If his progress can continue, the Terrapins may have an outstanding find on their hands.
Of the returning wideouts, Jafar Williams is one of the players expected to benefit from a year in the offense. Williams was the team's third-leading receiver a year ago (39-425, 2 TDs) and showcases the size, strength and speed that Friedgen seeks in a receiver. His route running will be improved this season and with his skills, the difference could push him to the level of some of the top-flight receivers in the conference. Joining Williams in the starting lineup will be Scooter Monroe, a senior who also had his best season in 2001 and will be expected to contribute more in '02. Monroe also looked good in the offseason and will be a nice complement to Williams from the "Z" position.
"Those three players (Harrison, Monroe and Williams) are going to be the mainstay of our outside receivers," said Friedgen.
Also competing at the "Z" position will be a pair of players who could gain notice in their first years on the field and two more who will simply be seeing their first action at Maryland. Derrick Fenner and Onnie Onwuemene both stepped up in the offseason and likely earned a spot in the rotation. Fenner is a hard-working player who has climbed his way up the depth chart in his first year with the program, while Onwuemene showed a burst of speed and came virtually out of nowhere to catch four balls for 117 yards and a TD in the spring game. They will be joined by newcomers Chris Choice and Dan Melendez, a pair of recruits from the 2002 signing class.
Behind Williams and Harrison at the "X" are Ike Roberts and Maurice Shanks. Roberts is a gritty, hard-working sophomore while Shanks is trying to make it back from knee injuries suffered in last year's "Scout Bowl." Shanks could be a player who can make a contribution based on his size (6-4, 191) and speed.
At the slot, Steve Suter came on in the spring and showed that his amazing workout numbers can translate to the field. The fastest player on the team (4.35 in the 40-yard dash), Suter showed the ability to get down the middle of the field and stretch the defense, a quality that can do wonders in Friedgen's offense. He will share playing time with Rich Parson, a player who made a successful conversion from tailback a year ago and was a solid contributor from the slot position by season's end.
"Just from the standpoint of learning, our receivers should be improved this year," said Friedgen. "I could see in the offseason that there was a better understanding of route-running and what it takes to get open. Our quarterbacks throw the deep ball well so I am hoping that we can get down field more with it this season."
TIGHT END
The Terps are set with their primary starter at tight end in honors candidate Jeff Dugan. What the team will look to find are players who can supplement what Dugan offers with another pass-catching threat as well as another blocker for two tight end formations.
Dugan enters his junior season having established himself as one of the premier blocking tight ends in the country. He had a solid freshman campaign from a receiving standpoint (finished second on the team in receiving) but had a bit of a drop off a year ago. With the loss of Matt Murphy to graduation, Dugan will have a better shot to catch more balls and his route running and assertiveness seemed to improve in the offseason. The hope is that he will continue to improve and become a more integral part of the offense.
The offseason produced a player who looks like he is ready to contribute as Derek Miller showed receiving skills that moved him to second on the depth chart. Miller, a redshirt freshman, has added some bulk (257 pounds) to his 6-8 frame and has shown that he can get the job done as a blocker. Though his speed has dropped a little with the added weight, Miller can still get down the field while his height and good hands make him a tough matchup for smaller linebackers and defensive backs. He could be a player to watch should his development continue.
Competing with Miller for playing time are Ryan Flynn, Brandon Thomas and Brad Schell. Flynn is an aggressive blocker who is comparable in size (6-4, 262) to Dugan (6-4, 266). Thomas has good height at 6-5 but needs to add size as Miller did in the offseason. Schell is a true freshman with good speed and solid prep credentials who could get playing time at tight end or at the H-back position should he be able to pick up the offense.
"(Jeff) Dugan has improved as a pass receiver this offseason and that is a plus when you consider that he is likely the best blocking tight end in the league," said Friedgen. "Derek Miller has also made some strides and I think we are in good shape at tight end. It will be interesting to see how much (Brad) Schell can pick up and whether or not he can play a role, but either way we are set with Dugan and hopefully one of these other guys can step up and fill a role like Matt Murphy did last year."
