April 3, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The Maryland football team resumed its spring schedule Tuesday afternoon with a spirited two-hour workout under warm and breezy conditions at the Terrapins on-campus practice facility.
It was the fourth practice of the spring but just the second in pads which translated to a livelier tempo.
"We have a long way to go," said head coach Ralph Friedgen. "However, it is spring practice, so now is the time to see what we can and can't do. Overall, today's practice was enthusiastic."
The Terps went through their normal routine of individual drills for the first half of practice, which included the installation of the option attack.
"Jordan (Steffy) did a pretty good job, probably better than Josh (Portis) did the first day, but Josh will pick it up," said Friedgen of the option work. "In some areas with the quarterbacks, we are further ahead than in the past.
"Josh is further ahead as far as getting the ball in the right spot. In the past this has always been a difficult thing for us. He sees things very well and his footwork is getting better. He has tremendous awareness of putting touch on the ball and when to put some zip on the ball. He has a lot of attributes. It is the fourth day and I am not disappointed. On the other hand, Jordan is also doing very well."
The quarterbacks, along with the running backs and wide receivers, put the option training to the test in the team sessions.
The No. 1 defense had the upper hand in the early portion of the first 11-on-11 period before the offense rebounded to make some plays.
A pair of promising redshirt freshmen linebackers made an impact. Adrian Moten picked up a Portis fumble in the backfield before Moten and Chris Clinton combined to wrap up Portis behind the line of scrimmage. Just prior to those two defensive plays, redshirt freshman Morgan Green and senior Lance Ball each picked up first downs on the ground.
Senior tight end Joey Haynos showed why he was an All-ACC performer last fall, hauling in a first-down strike from Steffy on a third-and-three play and grabbing a 20-yard toss from Portis in traffic which also gained first down yardage.
The most entertaining portion of the workout occurred during the goal-line scrimmage, the final session of the day when some defensive players moved into the backfield.
After Ball scored from three yards out against the No. 1 defense, linebacker Dave Philistin jumped in at tailback.
On the third series of downs, Philistin, who is battling for time at linebacker, powered into the end zone on third down after he was stopped by short on first and second down.
Senior defensive back J.J. Justice, who is currently No. 1 at strong safety, also had a shot at running the ball. Justice punched the ball into the end zone on the final series of goal-line.
The Terps return to the practice field at 4 p.m. Thursday for the fifth of 15 spring workouts. Spring practice concludes on Saturday, April 28 with the annual Red-White Spring Game.
