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Football Practice Report #3

Football Maryland Athletics

Spring Football Practice Report No. 4

April 14, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The following is the fourth installment of bi-weekly practice reports on the University of Maryland football team as it progresses through spring practice, 2005. Reports will run every Monday and Friday leading up to the April 30th Red/White Game at Byrd Stadium.

Tuesday, April 12

  • Tuesday morning's practice session probably looked like a great place to be from indoors. While it was sunny and beautiful looking outside, it was also cool and windy making conditions once again less than ideal.
  • As with every Tuesday and Saturday, the team had officials on hand to work on their discipline as well as finish in scrimmage situations.
  • Sophomore Brandon Nixon has looked good in his starting role on the right side of the line. He has the size, quick feet and now the knowledge of the offense to be a top-flight tackle in the ACC and it has shown this spring.
  • Stephon Heyer, who injured his knee later in the practice (but returned on Thursday), has taken on a noticeably different approach in terms of his role as a leader.
  • Linebacker-turned-fullback Tim Cesa showed good hands out of the backfield on several plays and seems to be coming along nicely in his first season at fullback. Cesa has also worked his way into playing time as a long snapper and will challenge incumbent Ricardo Dickerson in the backfield.
  • Head coach Ralph Friedgen said the receivers continue to look good. He added that the youth in the defensive backfield might be contributing to that, but the wideouts -- despite their youth -- have really stepped up.
  • Tuesday ended with a situational scrimmage. The numbers were not as good as the team hopes to see on Saturday. Some of the notables:
    PASSING: Hollenbach (0-3, 0 yds, 1 int.); Statham (2-3, 22 yds).
    RUSHING: Merrills (1 for 4 yds); Ball (3 for 9 yds); Walker (1 for 0 yds)
    RECEIVING: Walker (1 for 13); Abiamiri (1 for 9)
    SACKS: Kershaw (1)
    INTERCEPTIONS: Holloway (1 ret. for TD)
  • Friedgen on Tuesday's session: "I thought the defense looked good and made some plays today. The offense was behind where it was the other day. We have made some errors which is to be expected somewhat, but today we just weren't as sharp as we have been and there was no excuse for it."

    Thursday, April 14

  • Weather-wise, Thursday was basically the same as Tuesday but without the wind. That lone difference made it a much more pleasant day but the team did not seem much different in terms of its play.
  • The day was meant as an information session for the team and though it ran through its paces on time and as expected, both the offense and defense made their fair share of mistakes, resulting in a lot of conditioning work (sprints for the offense; up-downs for the defense).
  • The worst news of the day came regarding FS Christian Varner's injury which was a high-ankle sprain suffered on Tuesday. The injury will not require surgery but will need rest, likely shelving the promising sophomore for the rest of spring.
  • Joel Statham made a nice throw to Danny Melendez in 7-on-7 drills, dropping the ball over the senior receivers right shoulder for what would have been a 40-yard touchdown.
  • Later in practice, Statham was a tad late on an out pattern and S Milton Harris stepped in front, intercepting the pass and taking it back down the sideline.
  • The team got an extended talk from Friedgen after practice about his expectations and what he hopes for out of Saturday's scrimmage at Byrd Stadium. Friedgen stated during the week that his focus from an offensive standpoint on Saturday will be in running the football.
  • Friedgen on Thursday's session: "It was a learning day today. We have installed almost everything we have planned to get in this spring. I had hoped we would do better today, but with tomorrow off, hopefully they will be better prepared to do well on Saturday. We still have a way to go."

    Dates to Remember

  • Sat., April 16 (9:45 am) -- Scrimmage #1
  • Sat., April 23 (10 am) -- Scrimmage #2
  • Sat., April 30 (4 pm) -- Annual Spring Game
  • For schedule updates and other info, go to the Maryland Gridiron Network website.
  • For ticket information, call the Terrapin ticker office at (800) IMA-TERP

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