Maryland Player Quotes
8/6/2007 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 6, 2007
Quarterback Jordan Steffy
On staying patient as a back-up...
"This whole thing is a marathon, not a sprint. When I got here my freshman year I thought things might play out differently, but the most important thing for me is realizing that God had a plan for me and waiting for my time. My time is now and I'm excited about it."
On his relationship with the other quarterbacks ...
"All of us came here for one reason: to help the University of Maryland. Josh feels the same way. Chris feels the same way. Bobby (Sheahin) feels the same way. We're all going to go out there and do our best. Hopefully, come Saturdays, everything will turn out well for us."
Quarterback Josh Portis
On his strengths ...
"I'm a passer first, runner second. Obviously, when things break down, I can make something happen. I consider myself a playmaker. I think all the quarterbacks on this team are playmakers, as well. It's just a matter of them doing it."
On the quarterback competition with Jordan Steffy and Chris Turner ...
"I think it's a competition where we both have a competitive desire. We both have certain competitive skills that will make it more intense. I think we are on equal ground right now. He'll probably get more reps at first, but I'll have plenty of opportunities. I expect it will get pretty intense, but I'm excited about that. Most importantly, I just want this team to win. I don't care if I start, if Jordan starts or Chris (Turner) starts. There's nothing more important than winning."
Running Back Lance Ball
On splitting carries with Keon Lattimore ...
"At first, it felt kind of funny, because coming off my sophomore year, I was getting most of the carries. Last year, we split and it felt kind of different. After the games, it didn't feel like I played a whole game. I felt like I could go another quarter. But that definitely helps the team, because I feel like I'm fresh and I can go out and pound guys in the fourth quarter when the defense is getting tired."
Running back Keon Lattimore
On duplicating last season's success ...
"We don't want to duplicate last season's success. We want to do even better. Basically, we have to take it one step at a time. We have a bunch of new guys and it's a different team than last year. But we definitely think we have what it takes to get back to a bowl game and post a better record. It's mainly about staying focused."
On excitement of upcoming season ...
"I can't wait until Sept. 1 (against Villanova). As a matter of fact, I can't wait to get out and start practice today. I'm really excited. It's been a long off-season and everybody wants to get out there and play. Words can't even explain how pumped up I am right now."
Wide Receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey
On his expectations as an all-ACC selection ...
"It's a big jump, but I can't worry about it. The pressure's on, but I don't think about those things. All I can do is make sure I do my part to get better and that the team gets better."
On the areas of his game he has most worked on ...
"I've really been working on coming out of my cuts. That's a big thing for me. When I'm going full speed, I need to be able to stop on a dime. That's pretty hard for someone to do. Other than that, I've been working on my route running and making sure my concentration is there when I try to catch the ball."
Tight End Joey Haynos
On being the safeguard for the new quarterback ...
"I think it's really important. I need to be the short option that Jordan, Josh or Chris can rely on. Fortunately, we have a great group of receivers, which should help the quarterback adjust. But I'll definitely be there for the dump-offs and the underneath stuff."
On his blocking ...
"I think I had a good year blocking last year, but I got stronger over the summer, which should help even more. Hopefully, I can step up and become even more involved in the running game this year."
Offensive Lineman Andrew Crummey
On the offensive line going into the season ...
"I feel confident in the line. I think the talent level and ability level is pretty high. We have the size, the speed and potential to play well, it's just getting used to playing with each other. I'm not concerned in any way about the offensive line heading into camp."
Junior Linebacker Erin Henderson
On coming to Maryland:
"I was young, you know. Didn't really know what was going on. But I got to the point where I had to make the best decision for my career and what was best for my future. I think now everybody sees, as well as I do, that I did the right thing and made the right choice by coming here."
On switching from offense:
"I've become a leader on this team now. I think that was really my biggest thing about playing quarterback was the opportunity to go out there and have the ball in my hand all the time and be in control. But I think playing linebacker on this defense, you also have the opportunity to go out there and take control and change a lot of things, so I'm still in the leadership position. I'm very satisfied and very happy with my position and where I'm at right now."
On being a leader:
"It's a role I've been waiting on since I got here. I had to sit back and watch D'Qwell [Jackson] go through it and do his thing, and I watched Wesley [Jefferson] do it last year and fill that leadership role. I was just kind of sitting in the shadows, waiting my turn and now it's here, it's presented itself. I just have to go out there and grab it and make the best of it."
On Friedgen saying he doesn't shy from the camera:
"I hope to get into this business when I'm all done with football. I'm a communication major, so I don't have a problem speaking in front of people and talking about different things. It's just something that comes easy for me, comes naturally, for me to be able to talk to other people and just because the camera's there doesn't make it any different. Just like playing football, I'm out there to play football, whether it's a televised game or not I'm going to go out there and perform to the best of my ability."
On solidifying the defense:
"I've been waiting for this for a long time now, just to feel like I felt in high school where I'm in control of everything going on out there in the field. Having the trust and the confidence in my teammates really means a lot to me. For me to know that my teammates know I'm going to be where they need me to be, that really helps you out and helps your self-esteem."
On the quarterback situation:
"I'm comfortable with all of them. I guess it's supposed to be a three-way competition right now between Turner and Portis and Steffy. I really feel that all of them are capable of getting the job done. Whoever our guy is, I'm going to get behind him and the rest of the team's going to get behind him as well. All that stuff's going to play out. Right now we can't really see who's going to be the starting quarterback, whatever the case may be. Whoever that guy is, we're going to get behind him and root for him 100 percent. In this offense you don't really have to be a superstar or anything like that. You get the ball to Lance, get the ball to Keon, get the ball in Darius' hands and you look like a great quarterback. I think they understand that, and I think they're going to do a great job."
On duplicating last season:
"Go out there and play together like we did last year. Believe in one another and having that team concept and sticking to it. Understanding that you can't do anything without the man next to you. That's something that we've bought into and something that we really believe in. On and off the field, these are my brothers, these are my people, and that's what really makes a different when you're on the field."
On winning the ACC this year:
"We have a lot of that nucleus coming back this year, a lot of the same people coming back this year, offensively and defensively. A lot of people are raising questions about the quarterback controversy, but like I said that's all going to play out and take care of itself. But the talent is endless and we have the experience from last year and know what it takes to get over that hump. When the season's over that'll be right there in our grasp."
Junior Defensive Lineman Jeremy Navarre
On this season's goals:
"Well we went to the Champs Bowl, and I think we can get to a better bowl. Really the ACC Championship is a realistic goal. We've got a tough schedule this year though. But last year we had a tough schedule, too."
On this year's opponents:
"You choose to come to this school and that's what you've got to look forward to. If you're in the ACC you've got a tough schedule. Then we've got West Virginia and Rutgers in the beginning of the schedule."
On out of conference schedule:
"It'll prepare us for the rest of the ACC because [West Virginia and Rutgers] are two really tough games, then we've got Clemson and Georgia Tech. All those games will be tough, but they'll prepare us for the ACC."
On improving from last year:
"We played all of last year together, and I think that'll be a big difference this year. That we've all played together and we all know what we can do and are much closer than last year. I think the closeness can really take us to the next level."
Junior Linebacker Trey Covington
On last season:
"Sometimes I felt I didn't prepare as well as I could, so I'm trying to fine-tune what I'm doing."
On improving himself for this season:
"During the week I'll need to watch more film, go to sleep earlier, and just be more about football."
On improving as a team for this season:
"We've really become a lot more mentally tough, we're going to start building more self-confidence. We're coming off a bowl game, too, so hopefully we can keep that going."
On out-of-conference schedule:
"We've never played Rutgers before, but West Virginia does a lot of things differently than ACC teams. But it always takes a while to get used to the lights and the crowd noise. Those are two big games that we have pretty early in the season, but down the line that could come in handy."
Senior Defensive Lineman Dre Moore
On meshing with freshmen:
"You've just got to get real tight over the next two weeks. It's going to get rough out there, and we've got to learn to rely on each other."
On helping out freshmen:
"I'm trying to help Ian [Davidson] out and Jamar Robinson. I tried to tell him what I can, but he's a quarterback so I'm kind of limited to the home field advice, but as far as offense goes I try to look out for him."
On improving the defense:
"Big plays are going to happen. Last year it showed what kind of team we were because a lot of teams got big plays and we got pushed, and we would bend but we wouldn't break. We'd stop them for a field goal or for a three-and-out. I think our character really came through in games and showed that we don't give up even when we're down and out."
On this season's schedule:
"Having a team like [Rutgers] and having to play them early is going to make everyone come to camp with the mindset of `I have to get as good as I can as fast as I can'." They're a really good team, and we're going to have to put our best product out there on the field. It's going to force a lot of guys to mature faster and put a lot of pressure on guys to get better."
On last year's schedule:
"I think last year's experience with West Virginia, being on TV in that type of atmosphere, has prepared guys for this year. It was a learning experience, we took our lumps for it and learned from it and will be better for it."
