Preseason Football Camp Log: Day 15
8/20/2007 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 20, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland Terrapins opened up their third week of preseason football camp with a Monday morning practice session, the Terps' first workout since Saturday evening's 100-play scrimmage.
Afterwards Coach Ralph Friedgen discussed his thoughts on the scrimmage.
"Overall I wasn't disappointed. I think we're a little bit ahead of schedule," he said. "There are certain things on both sides of the ball that we still have to get better on. I did see improvement on a lot of little things from the first scrimmage, so we are making progress."
On the medical front, the Terps have recently had some minor injury issues.
"We're a little nicked up, but I don't anticipate anything serious. We should have everyone back," Friedgen said.
Monday morning, the team practiced second-and-long scenarios, as well as a third down session. The offense and defense played to a draw, as neither side was able to impose its will on the other.
In third down drills, Jordan Steffy and LaQuan Williams twice hooked up to move the chains, as did Josh Portis and Stephen Smalls. Portis and Keon Lattimore each ran for first downs, and quarterback Chris Turner hit freshmen wideouts Quinton McCree and Kevin Gresham for first downs.
Defensive lineman Dre Moore swallowed up two running plays in the backfield, tackling both Lattimore and Lance Ball for losses.
Friedgen said he will likely make a quarterback decision in the coming days, but downplayed the importance of anointing one of his three quarterbacks the starter.
"I haven't pulled the trigger on that yet. I'm close, but I'm not there yet," he said after Monday's morning session. "I see some value in each quarterback. I'm always trying to find anything to help our team. I'm not beyond the possibility of playing more than on quarterback. I think competition is good, and I think our kids have faith in all of them. I don't think it's a big deal."
Steffy remains No. 1 on the depth chart, while Turner and Portis are each listed No. 2.
The Terps will practice again Monday as they hit the field at 5:30 p.m. They'll practice just once Tuesday, at 4 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.
Taylor Returns: Junior cornerback Richard Taylor returned to the field Monday morning for the first time since spring ball. Taylor injured his knee in April and had surgery to repair his ACL shortly thereafter. The product of Centreville, Va., is running under the guidance of the Maryland training staff, but will not engage in any contact. "My agreement with Richard is I don't want him to push it," Friedgen said. "I worry a little bit about that with him. But I thought from a mental standpoint, as far as preparing, that this would help him to be ready (as soon as possible)." Taylor isn't expected to be cleared for contact by the team doctors until at least Sept. 1.
Battles at LB: Battles continue at two linebacking spots with Chase Bullock and Dave Philistin vying to start at Mike, and Moise Fokou and Adrian Moten contesting for the job at Sam (strongside LB). Bullock entered the preseason atop the depth chart and remains there, though Philistin has joined him. However, Bullock has missed some time over the last week and Philistin had an active scrimmage Saturday with five tackles. Philistin also posted a team-best nine stops in the first scrimmage. "Philistin is probably playing better at Mike, than I thought he would to be honest with you," Friedgen said. "Does he have everything down? No, but he's only been playing there two weeks. He has some instincts to make plays." Philistin moved from Will (weakside linebacker) to Mike (middle LB) just before camp opened. That move coincided with Alex Wujciak's switch to LEO, though Wujciak has since been lost with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Fokou, who is No. 1 on the depth chart at Sam, tallied a team-high 10 tackles in Saturday's scrimmage, while Moten checked in with three.
