University of Maryland Athletics

Football Practice Report No. 2

Football Maryland Athletics

Football Practice Report No. 2

Aug. 16, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The following is the second in a series of practice reports to run every Tuesday and Thursday, reporting on workouts from the University of Maryland's football practice fields as the Terrapins prepare for their 2005 campaign. Camp will run through August 27 before the team starts game-week preparation for its first opponent, Navy, who it will take on in Baltimore on September 3 (CSTV).

Important Note to Fans: Due to changes in the practice schedule this season, there will be no Fan Day this year. Our apologies for the inconvenience.

Thursday, August 11

  • It was another day in helmets and pads for the Terrapins and a practice where the team was in "thud" (hitting the ball carrier but not bringing him to the ground).
  • In attendance at Thursday's practice were former Maryland players James Lynch, Sammy Maldonado and Erwyn Lyght.
  • Though a number of the team's tailbacks are looking good, the most repetitions with the first team are clearly going to senior Mario Merrills and sophomore Keon Lattimore. Both are running very hard which should be interesting to see in live action as both also have sub-4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash.
  • True freshman Jeremy Navarre's move to defensive end appears to be the correct one both for the former state wrestling champ and the team. Though his best days are ahead of him in terms of size and strength, Navarre uses his hands well and continues to hear the praises of coaches at a position where depth was once a possible concern. His graduating early from high school to enroll at Maryland for spring ball has clearly paid dividends in regard to his potential for playing time in his first season.
  • QB Joel Statham connected with WR Danny Melendez on a deep ball down the left side in team drills, with Melendez shielding freshman CB Anthony Wiseman with his body to haul in the pass.
  • In one of several moves to help combat the heat, the team came off the field to fresh, cool slices of watermelon provided by the training staff.
  • Friedgen on Thursday's practice "Today was a good practice. I gave the kids two breaks - I must be getting soft - but it kept them from cramping up in the heat."

    Friday, August 12

  • Another hot day and this one was spent with the team in full pads for the first time this season.
  • Mario Merrills continued his hard running, blasting his way through the line running with the first team on one play.
  • A few plays later, Derrick Fenner made a nice leaping, all-hands grab on a pass from Hollenbach that drew the praises of the coaches.
  • LB Erin Henderson continues to look like he will be a player. The redshirt freshman picked off a Statham pass after tipping it to himself. He is getting a look at both the "Sam" and "Will" positions due to depth issues on the strong side.
  • Keon Lattimore (four yards) and J.P. Humber (five) each had scoring runs in team drills later in the day.
  • Friedgen noted to the media after practice the possibility of Tim Cesa's (mononucleosis) return in the next week. His return would be a welcomed site to a depleted fullback position.
  • Friedgen on Friday's practice "I see a few guys emerging who I think will be real good players for us - a couple of guys we made position changes with in particular. (Defensive end) Jeremy Navarre and (offensive tackle) Dane Randolph have each switched to different sides of the ball and it is obvious it was the right move for both."

    Saturday, August 13 (A.M. Practice)

  • Team was back in shoulder pads and helmets on another hot day, but this day would be a memorable one for other reasons.
  • OT Stephon Heyer had to leave practice after a play where he went down with an injury to his left knee. The team's most experienced lineman and its leader, what was originally thought to be a sprain turned out to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament on the MRI.
  • The first team defense continues to play well. After a brief break the team got from the heat, the defense came out and stuffed the offense in its first series, prompting Friedgen to start the period over.
  • The first big play of the day by the offense was an inside run that TB Lance Ball turned in for big yardage. Ball later made a play on a run to his left where he reversed his field and ended up gaining big yardage back the other way.
  • Statham found Vernon Davis behind the defense on a touch pass that was likely the morning's nicest pass play. The ball hit Davis in stride and would have been taken for six.
  • Hollenbach started the second series with a nice option run to the left. He has shown that this part of his game is much improved.
  • Friedgen on Saturday's morning practice "It was a tough day today. I knew it would be with us just having a practice (last night), but I am caught between a rock and a hard place (with the heat and some of the young players needing work)."

    Saturday, August 13 (P.M. Practice)

  • Official word came that Heyer's injury was a serious one and the practice began with Josh Wilson suffering a laceration on punt coverage that sent him to the hospital. Despite it all, the team had an outstanding practice, one of its best yet this year. Friedgen had announced to the team before it took the field that it would have Sunday off.
  • With about 50 fans watching and referees on hand, Hollenbach had easily his best practice. He was first sharp in 7-on-7, with every pass on the money and only a few hitting the ground with those being because they were jarred loose. His last completion of skelly was a long, perfectly thrown TD pass to Danny Melendez. He later came back and led the offense in 3rd down drills to first down after first down.
  • WR Drew Weatherly made a nice grab in team drills, coming down with a ball in traffic where he went up and pulld it down, all hands.
  • OT Jared Gaither (6-9, 340) showed a sign of things to come as he blasted Marcus Wimbush, one of the team's most physical players, leading the way for Lance Ball.
  • The perfect finish to a very good practice came when Hollenbach again connected, this time on a perfectly executed timing throw over the middle, finding Jo Jo Walker who took the play to the house, inciting the entire offense to rush down and mob him (nevermind that Friedgen decided to run two more plays after).

    Monday, August 15 (A.M. Practice)

  • Again in shoulder pads in helmets, the team got back to work in the heat of the Maryland Practice Fields on Monday.
  • The defense again looked good, stuffing the run pretty well late in the session with a run drill with tag offs (no tackling).
  • Early indications are that the loss of Heyer has Randolph working ahead of true freshman Gaither at left tackle. Good news came in the morning that Scott Burley could now begin practicing once a day, making him another possibility on the left side.
  • Friedgen reiterated to the media after practice how good Saturday's evening session had been, particularly the quarterbacks' work in 3rd-down drills.
  • The Terp linebacking corps has lived up to the hype as one of the top units in the league. Strongside `backer David Holloway showed his coverage skills, breaking up a pass over the middle.
  • Friedgen Monday on the left tackle spot "I feel like Dane and Jared are very capable of getting the job done. We are asking a lot of them given their experience, but they need to rise up and be ready to help the team. There is no doubt that we will miss Stephon, but it is time for the next guy to pick up the flag and carry it up the hill."

    Monday, August 15 (P.M. Practice)

  • Nice evening at the practice fields, one that saw another decent fan turnout with Voice of the Terps Johnny Holliday, sideline reporter Tim Strachan and CSTV studio personality and author Brian Curtis in attendance.
  • The team spent a good portion of the practice split and getting in unit work before moving over to the turf for work on punt coverage. All-American candidate Adam Podlesh looks as if he is in the best shape of his career and already punting to midseason form.
  • The most notable work of the night came at the end of practice when a challenge was thrown down by Coach Friedgen to each side to see who would prevail. The offense's goal was to advance the ball and burn clock in a late-game situation while the defense was to get the ball back for its offense and save as much clock as possible by utilizing timeouts.
  • LB Erin Henderson, who has been key as both a backup and on special teams, made two big plays with his first being a stop of Keon Lattimore for no yards before jumping up to call timeout. Unfortunately, the redshirt freshman (Henderson) injured his left knee just a few plays later. He will be evaluated by team doctors today (Tuesday).
  • Fellow linebacker William Kershaw also came up with a big play, breaking through the line to take down Merrills for a short loss.
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    Players Mentioned

    Lance Ball

    #44 Lance Ball

    RB
    5' 9"
    Senior
    Scott Burley

    #77 Scott Burley

    OL
    6' 5"
    Senior
    Erin Henderson

    #1 Erin Henderson

    LB
    6' 3"
    Junior
    Keon Lattimore

    #21 Keon Lattimore

    RB
    5' 11"
    Senior
    Jeremy Navarre

    #40 Jeremy Navarre

    DL
    6' 3"
    Junior
    Dane Randolph

    #75 Dane Randolph

    OL
    6' 5"
    Junior
    Anthony Wiseman

    #6 Anthony Wiseman

    DB
    5' 9"
    Sophomore

    Players Mentioned

    Lance Ball

    #44 Lance Ball

    5' 9"
    Senior
    RB
    Scott Burley

    #77 Scott Burley

    6' 5"
    Senior
    OL
    Erin Henderson

    #1 Erin Henderson

    6' 3"
    Junior
    LB
    Keon Lattimore

    #21 Keon Lattimore

    5' 11"
    Senior
    RB
    Jeremy Navarre

    #40 Jeremy Navarre

    6' 3"
    Junior
    DL
    Dane Randolph

    #75 Dane Randolph

    6' 5"
    Junior
    OL
    Anthony Wiseman

    #6 Anthony Wiseman

    5' 9"
    Sophomore
    DB