April 13, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland football team geared up for its second scrimmage of the spring by running through a two-hour workout Friday afternoon at the Terps on-campus facility.

Rain and the threat of lightning forced Thursday afternoon's practice to be postponed until today. The team will hold its second scrimmage of the spring at 10 a.m. Saturday in Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.

Head coach Ralph Friedgen and his staff are hoping for some improvements in the scrimmage.

"It was a disappointing day," Friedgen said after practice. "We didn't have any focus out there."

Despite the up and down day, there were positive signs.

Reserve defensive back Colin Nelson made a number of good plays. He broke up some passes in 1-on-1 drills and intercepted a Josh Portis pass in the first team session which would easily have been returned for a touchdown.

Senior defensive lineman Dre Moore continues to impress. He was in the backfield a number of times to break up running plays.

Tight end Jason Goode, who has also been used as a slot receiver this spring, made some nice catches in 11-on-11 drills. He hauled in a pass from Jordan Steffy and raced down the left sideline for a long gain.

The Terps ended the day working on their red zone offense and defense. The defense stifled the offense on the first few plays before Steffy hit wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey for a touchdown on a fade route into the right corner of the end zone.

Junior wideout Danny Oquendo hauled in a pair of TDs in the red-zone session, catching one each from Portis and Steffy.

Terps Notes: The team is scheduled to scrimmage once more (Saturday, April 21) after tomorrow ... the Terps will hold an autograph session (1-2 p.m.) prior to the annual Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 28 (3:30 p.m.).