Preseason Football Camp Log: Day 13
8/18/2007 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 18, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland defense dictated the action throughout most of the Terps' second scrimmage of preseason camp, allowing only two touchdowns in 13 offensive drives.
The 100-play scrimmage took place Saturday evening in Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.
Moise Fokou, who is looking to solidify the No. 1 Sam linebacker spot, totaled 10 tackles, including one sack, in a dominating performance to lead the way for the defense.
"Fokou seemed like he was all over the place," head coach Ralph Friedgen said after the scrimmage. "I thought Isaiah Gardner had some nice pass breakups."
Gardner had just one tackle but broke up two passes, while Anthony Wiseman, his partner on the other side of the field, snagged an interception for the game's only turnover.
Linebackers Erin Henderson and Alex Schultz were constantly around the ball as well. They finished with nine and eight tackles, respectively.
The team's top three quarterbacks had an uneven day, but Friedgen noted afterwards that they were still able to move to the team.
"The quarterbacks I thought all had their moments," he said. "(Jordan) Steffy had about three balls dropped but threw a touchdown pass. (Josh) Portis made some good plays. (Chris) Turner threw an interception but he also made some good plays too. They all kind of did some good and did some bad."
For Steffy, that moment came on a 62-yard bomb to LaQuan Williams.
On the first play of the sixth offensive possession, Williams raced down the left sideline and Steffy hit him in stride for the long touchdown. Steffy finished the day with nine completions on 17 attempts for 116 yards with no interceptions. Williams hauled in three passes for a scrimmage-high 80 yards.
Turner was 9-for-12 for 88 yards and an interception, while Portis finished 4 for 10 for 57 yards.
Overall, the offense's best success came on the ground. Senior running backs Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball continued to split time with the first team offense, and both had productive days. Lattimore had 42 yards on seven carries, while Ball had 36 yards on eight attempts and added 17 more yards receiving.
Backup runner Dan Bonato had a busy day as well, carrying the ball a scrimmage-high 23 times for 77 yards and the offense's first touchdown of the day. His 1-yard plunge capped off a 7-play, 78-yard drive by the second team offense, led by Turner.
On the next offensive play, Steffy and Williams connected on the long touchdown.
Redshirt freshman running back Da'Rel Scott demonstrated soft hands and good elusiveness in the open field, as he caught five short passes for 56 yards. "I thought Da'Rel Scott did some good things playing injured," Friedgen said. "He made some nice catches and some decent runs even though I think he's not even close to full speed." After the regular scrimmage session was completed, the Terps put in some red zone work, and the second and third team offenses managed three touchdowns and four field goals.
Starting possessions just inside the 20-yard line, Bonato and Rashad Henry had touchdown runs of five and 18 yards, respectively, and freshman quarterback Jamarr Robinson found wideout Kevin Gresham for an 11-yard score.
Friedgen said afterwards he was close to naming his starters in the kicking game but that he wanted to consult with special teams coach Ray Rychleski before making a decision.
Obi Egekeze finished 4 of 7 on field-goal attempts, with makes from 45, 42, and 35 yards. Travis Baltz averaged 32 yards on four punts.
The Terps will not practice again until Monday when they'll hold two workouts. They hit the field at 9 a.m. and then return at 5:30 p.m.
All practices and scrimmages remain closed to the public, while credentialed members of the media may attend the first five periods (approximately 30 minutes) of each workout, except scrimmages.
Scrimmage Statistics
Offense
Rushing (Carries-Yds./TDs):
Bonato 23-77/1 TD; Lattimore 7-42; Ball 8-36; Scott 1-2; Steffy 4-(-3); Portis 4(-5); Turner 3-(-20).
Passing (Att.-Comp.-Yds.):
Steffy 9-17/116 yards/1 TD; Turner 9-12/88 yards/1 INT; Portis 4-10/47 yards; Robinson 2-4/18 yards/1 TD.
Receiving (Rec.-Yds./TDs):
L. Williams 3-80/1 TD; Scott 5-56; Oquendo 4-43; I. Williams 3-25; Ball 2-17; Cannon 1-2; Bonato 1-11; Galt 1-11; Gloster 1-10; Goode 1-6; Gronkowski 1-(-2).
Defense
Tackles (Solo-Assisted-Total):
Fokou (6-4-10), Henderson (5-4-9), Schultz (5-3-8), Pooler (5-1-6), Allen (4-1-5), Wiseman (2-3-5), Philistin (1-4-5), Skinner (0-5-5), Moore (2-3-5), Nelson (3-1-4), Muhtadi (1-3-4), Clinton (3-1-4), Lemons (0-3-3), Moten (1-2-3), Harrell (0-3-3), Whitmore (2-0-2), Barnes (0-2-2), Covington (1-1-2), Carroll (1-1-2), Otulaja (0-2-2), Frost (2-0-2), Herald (1-0-1), Jackson-Mills (0-1-1), Clement (1-0-1), Varner (1-0-1), Carter (1-0-1), Ball (1-0-1), McCollough (1-0-1), Dacosta (0-1-1), Feliciano (0-1-1), Navarre (0-1-1), Gardner (1-0-1).
Tackles for Loss (No.-Yards):
Frost (2-14), Allen (2-14), Pooler (1-8), Moore (1-6), Whitmore (1-6), Fokou (1-3), Covington (1-3).
Sacks (No.-Yards):
Frost (2-14), Allen (2-14), Pooler (1-8), Moore (1-6), Whitmore (1-6), Fokou (1-3).
Pass Breakups (No.):
Gardner (2), Frost (1), Moore (1).
Interceptions (No.):
Wiseman (1).
Miscellaneous
Field Goals:
Egekeze: 4-7/ 35, 24, 42, 45, (Missed 47, 28, 43).
Punting (No.-Yards/Avg.):
Baltz (4-127/31.8 avg.), Roberts 1-27.
Kickoff Return (No.-Yards):
Oquendo (1-18), Skinner (1-28), Lattimore (1-26), Henry 1-31.
Punt Return (No.-Yards):
Wiseman (1-11), Oquendo (1-4).
