Football Practice Report No. 5

Aug. 25, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The following is the fifth in a series of reports from fall camp, reporting on workouts from the University of Maryland's football practice fields as the Terrapins prepare for their 2005 campaign. Camp will run through this Saturday as the team will begin game-week preparation for its first opponent, Navy, on Monday the 29th. The Terrapins and Midshipmen square off in the season opener on September 3rd at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium at 6:00 p.m. (live on CSTV).

Tuesday, August 23

The Terps continued to get relief from Mother Nature as it was another cool evening in College Park.

Freshman and Florida native Nolan Carroll made his first big splash of the preseason as he was involved in several big plays. Joel Statham connected with the speedy receiver on a fly pattern down the right side in one drill with Carroll behind his defender. Later in the day, Carroll caught another ball from Statham down the middle for 45 yards and was taken down hard by S J.J. Justice.

In team one drills, Sam Hollenbach connected with Danny Melendez for a 60-yard touchdown.

Tailback Mario Merrills made his return from an ankle sprain that hobbled him for a few days. He seemed to run well in his first day back.

Practice ended in a goal line scrimmage that worked out well for the offense. On the first series, the offense ran four straight plays from the five-yard line to Lance Ball with Ball making his way into the end zone on the final play. The play before, Wesley Jefferson had stuffed Ball on his attempt to get in on third down.

After Ball's touchdown, Merrills returned and had three straight impressive series resulting in touchdowns, darting through traffic and plowing in decisively.

Friedgen told the media after practice that he is happy with the play of the first team offensive line and that his concern right now mostly has to do with depth and who will make up the second unit.

Wednesday, August 24 (A.M. Practice)

As they are in the morning practices of two-a-days, the Terps were again - appropriately - in shells. Today would be the team's final two-practice day this season.

In two-minute drill, Jo Jo Walker made a nice leaping grab, pulling a high ball down, all hands on a bullet from Hollenbach.

On fourth and 11 in the same drill, Hollenbach finds Derrick Fenner behind the defense for 41 yards. The goal of the drive was achieved when Obi Egekeze came in two plays later and converted from 39 yards.

On the ensuing series, Statham led what was probably a more impressive drive, taking the second team offense down field with a series of successful short passes. Dan Ennis converted this drive for a second-straight successful drive.

The final drive of the drill, Hollenbach again connected on a long ball, this time to Vernon Davis for 45 yards. "The Duke," however, jumped up holding the ball in the air and Friedgen flagged the offense for unsportsmanlike conduct. Davis and Hollenbach made good a few plays later though, when the two again connected on a 30-yard touchdown with Davis beating the safety over the middle.

Friedgen mentioned to the media after practice how important Thursday's scrimmage will be to determing the two-deep and even several starting spots. The scrimmage will be the final one of fall camp and will take place in Byrd Stadium, closed to media and the public.

Another welcome site was the return of Josh Wilson to the field, albeit in a limited capacity. Wilson's recovery for the Navy game seems certain.

Friedgen on the morning practice: Today was better than our normal morning practice but not as good as I was hoping. We're all tired and I realize that, but you have to fight through it and that is what I am looking for out of some of these guys."

Wednesday, August 24 (P.M. Practice)

To help prevent any injuries the day before a key scrimmage and just a week-and-a-half before the season opener, Friedgen decided not to have the team practice in full pads. It was a learning practice with referees in attendance.

Josh Wilson is still wearing a black, no-contact jersey, but it is clear in team drills that he is coming along. He made a nice break on one ball to break up a pass in the end zone.

At the end of one team series in the red zone, Jordan Steffy looked sharp, connecting on a pair of short touchdown passes just before the team went to goal line.

Practice again ended in a two-minute drill. Play of the day was a 35-yard touchdown pass from Hollenbach to Danny Melendez that was dropped perfectly down the sideline, finding the right shoulder of Melendez and just over good coverage by the Terp defensive back. The throw showed the kind of confidence Hollenbach seems to have right now and set up a 32-yard Dan Ennis field goal to close the drive.

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Players Mentioned

#44 Lance Ball: RB; 5' 9"; Senior

#14 Nolan Carroll: DB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#39 Obi Egekeze: PK; 6' 2"; Junior

#30 J.J. Justice: DB; 6' 2"; Senior

#19 Jordan Steffy: QB; 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#44 Lance Ball
: 5' 9"; Senior
: RB

#14 Nolan Carroll
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: DB

#39 Obi Egekeze
: 6' 2"; Junior
: PK

#30 J.J. Justice
: 6' 2"; Senior
: DB

#19 Jordan Steffy
: 6' 1"; Junior
: QB