2007 Football Season Outlook - Part II
7/30/2007 8:00:00 AM | Football
July 30, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The following is the second in a four-part series previewing the 2007 University of Maryland football team.
The Terrapins open fall practice on Monday, Aug. 6 in preparation for their season opener on Saturday, Sept. 1 (6 p.m.) against Villanova at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.
Today's portion of the outlook previews the wide receivers, offensive line and tight ends.
Outlook Schedule on umterps.com: Overall Overview/Quarterbacks/Running Backs Thursday, July 26 Wide Receivers/Offensive Line/Tight Ends Monday, July 30 Defensive Line/Linebackers Wednesday, Aug. 1 Secondary/Specialists Friday, Aug. 3
Wide Receiver
After a somewhat inconsistent 2006 season, the receiving corps, led by returning starters Darrius Heyward-Bey and Isaiah Williams, has a chance to be one of the top units on the team.
Heyward-Bey, one of the most explosive players on the team, is coming off a Freshman All-America season, while Williams showed flashes last year, ending with 29 catches for 379 yards, including a 65-yard effort in the regular-season finale vs. Wake Forest.
Heyward-Bey had one of the top seasons in ACC history as his 694 receiving yards were third all-time on the freshman single-season list.
"Darrius is coming off a really good season and we expect some outstanding things from him this year," Friedgen said.
Junior Danny Oquendo also returns to man the slot receiver position as all but one wideout who caught a pass last season is back (Drew Weatherly had one reception). He was the second-leading receiver on the team in 2006 with 396 yards and served as the primary punt returner.
"Danny gives us a lot of versatility," Friedgen said. "Not just in the return game, but he can also play two receiver positions."
There were certainly a number of highlights from the receiving corps in 2006, including Heyward-Bey's record-setting performance vs. Miami (two touchdowns, including a school-record 96-yard TD catch). He also hauled in three more scores and finished fifth in the conference in receiving (53.4 yards per game).
"We're pretty solid at the top, but need to find a fourth receiver," Friedgen said.
There are a number of candidates, including Adrian Cannon, LaQuan Williams, Emani Lee-Odai, and Kevin Gresham.
Some true freshmen may also get a look, including Tony Logan, Quinton McCree, Torrey Smith, Ronnie Tyler and Lansford Watson.
Logan, Tyler and Watson were all high school All-Americans, while McCree and Smith were all-state prep performers.
Cannon and Lee-Odai are penciled in as backups at the X position, behind Isaiah Williams and Oquendo. Williams missed the spring with a shoulder injury, but should be ready in the fall. He hauled in 28 receptions last season and has loads of potential.
Cannon is another big target. He sat out last season as a redshirt, while Lee-Odai is a tall and rangy local product who has put on about 20 pounds since arriving on campus from Anacostia High School in Washington, D.C.
LaQuan Williams, who moved from defensive back in the spring, is listed as the backup to Heyward-Bey, along with Greshman.
Smalls joins Oquendo atop the depth chart at the slot receiver. Smalls enrolled early last year, but used 2006 as a redshirt season.
"Stephen developed as a slot receiver in the spring and showed a lot of improvement," Friedgen said.
Junior Matt Goldberg will continue to have an opportunity for playing time in the fall, though he has yet to see game action.
Freshman Chris Sheahin, whose brother Bobby is a reserve signal-caller, will provide depth at wideout.
Offensive Line/Tight End
Despite the loss of a number of offensive linemen in the off-season, the Terps should have a talented first unit and a few solid backups to start the season.
"We have a solid starting group," Friedgen said. "But we'll need some guys to step up."
The good news is the Terps return four offensive linemen who have started games in their careers, including four regulars from last season. The bad news is no one has seen any significant action behind those four players.
Center Edwin Williams and right guard Andrew Crummey are the returning starters on the line. That duo will be joined by Jaimie Thomas and Dane Randolph, each of whom started multiple times last season.
Senior Scott Burley, an acclaimed high school player who has seen limited action at Maryland, stepped into the left-tackle role in the spring and played well in his first stint with the top unit.
Crummey was an All-ACC choice last season at right guard, while Williams started every game at center on an offensive line which had two running backs each gain over 700 rushing yards and allowed just 19 sacks, the second-lowest total in the ACC.
Crummey should be among the top guards in the nation this season. He's a preseason All-American and a consensus first-team all-conference choice.
Thomas started the final three games of the season at left guard as a replacement for Donnie Woods, who will not return to the team this season. After starting the first 10 games of 2006 at left guard, Woods decided to forego his final season of eligibility. Thomas enters the fall as the starter at left guard.
The Terps will also have to replace both tackles with the departure of Stephon Heyer and Jared Gaither. LT Heyer was an honorable mention All-ACC choice in 2006, while Gaither started nine games at right tackle, but will not play this season.
Randolph split time with Gaither at right tackle toward the end of last season so he comes into the season with plenty of experience. Randolph will open the spring as the starter at right tackle.
"Our offensive line at one point was a real strength and now we've lost some guys," Friedgen said.
Sophomore Phil Costa probably has the most experience among the reserves. He played in just two games last season, but spent the spring of 2005 as the starting center with Williams out of action.
He's a hard worker and one of the strongest members of the team.
Senior Jack Griffin, a two-year letterwinner, has a chance to have a more prominent role this season. Griffin is the backup at right tackle.
Redshirt freshman Evan Eastburn is listed as the backup to Thomas at left guard, while junior Lee Oliver is No. 2 at right guard. Neither has seen game action.
Other reserves who may figure into the mix include redshirt freshmen Paul Pinegar, Danny Edwards and Matthew Harraka, as well as junior Kyle Sappington.
Pinegar was singled out by Friedgen a number of times in the spring for his play. He is listed as Burley's backup at left tackle heading into the fall.
Offensive line is generally not a position where true freshmen play, but there may be an opportunity.
Tyler Bowen, Joe Faiella, Maurice Hampton, Bearthur Johnson, Carl Russell, Stephen St. John and Lamar Young were all highly recruited and may get a chance to see time in the fall.
While the offensive line lost a number of players, tight end has plenty of depth.
The Terps employ a two tight-end set quite often and return starter Joey Haynos, as well as a host of backups. Junior Dan Gronkowski can't quite be considered a backup as he started nine games in 2006.
Haynos, though, received the bulk of the reps and was the Terps' second-leading receiver with 37 catches for 369 yards. He went on to earn honorable mention All-ACC honors and is a preseason all-league selection this year.
"Joey really had a coming-out last year," Friedgen said. "He played very well for us."
Gronkowski is a solid blocker and an improving pass-catcher.
"Dan had a very good spring," Friedgen said. "He and Joey give us two very good tight ends."
Senior Jason Goode also saw time last season and will be joined by redshirt freshman Drew Gloster and sophomore Tommy Galt as backups.
"Goode and Gloster are smaller tight ends, but they run very well and can make plays in the passing game," Friedgen said. "Both can play in space."
