March 24, 2009
Head coach Ralph Friedgen, assistant head coach/offensive coordinator James Franklin, defensive coordinator Don Brown and a number of players visited with the media Tuesday afternoon in the Gossett Team House.
The Terps opened spring practice Tuesday morning.
Opening Statement:
"I am very excited about going into my ninth year here. We had 31 seniors last year and we have a very young team this year. Of the 85 scholarship kids, 60 of them have three or four more years of eligibility and we have 25 who have two or less years of eligibility. We have 14 seniors, nine seniors in the two deep in defense, four on offense. We have a lot of kids returning on offense; Chris Turner, Torrey Smith, Da'Rel Scott, Cory Jackson. Guys that won't participate in spring practice because of injuries are Dion Armstrong, Matt Harraka, Cory Jackson, Paul Lariviere, Ben Pooler, Richard Taylor, LaQuan Williams and Alex Wujciak. Some guys who are coming back that have been operated on are Tyler Bowen, who will see limited work, Ronnie Tyler and Joe Vellano. We are hoping we can get all of those guys back by the end of the spring. Dominique Herald will also be out due to an injury.
"We have a good defense and I was just watching how we did today. We have a lot of work to do but I was encouraged by some of the things I saw. Special teams wise, we have to find a new snapper and we also have to find a new punt returner. After the job Tony Logan did at the bowl game, he has a leg up at the position but we will still have to evaluate him. We also have to find a new place-kicker. We have freshmen coming in but we also have talented kids here on campus so we'll evaluate them this spring. As I said, this team is young but there is a lot of talent on it. I think we have some talented kids that have become the strength of our team. I enjoy coaching them and I look forward to working with them more."
On experimenting with positions and moving players around:
"The first week of bowl practice I knew we were going to lose a lot of linebackers next year. I think it's my job to get all the players on the field. I think we have a lot of similar players in the same position. So I asked Drew Gloster to go over there and at least try it, and I was impressed with what I saw in bowl practices."
On how much he expects to learn about his linebackers this spring:
"I am looking at that and the offensive line. I am holding Bruce Campbell academically. He and Dion Armstrong have some work to do. They are going to all of our meetings and while we go to practice, they go to study hall."
"It also gives us a chance to evaluate some other guys and give them some work, so hopefully that will make us stronger. In the linebacker situation, I think we were very fortunate. Darin Drakeford was able to come in early. He should be senior at Roosevelt High School in D.C. but he came in and has really done some good things today. Avery Murray is the guy from South Carolina who should be a senior in high school. Both of those kids have tested extremely well. Avery has good strength and runs very well. They have kind of been a godsend for us. There was a time where we were depleted at linebacker and now these two kids come in and they should be seniors in high school but they are going through spring practice so it gives us some depth. Demetrius Hartsfield came in mid-term last year and then ended up redshirting last season. He's kind of a different guy. He weighs 235 pounds, runs very well and has excellent strength. He has kind of grown up along with Adrian Moten. And if Drew Gloster can come through, our linebacking corps is looking better than I thought it would look. I am anxious to see how it develops during the spring. When we get Pooler and Wujciak back, then that will add more depth and athletes. So we just have to get through spring and get our young kids better."
On who will step up at offensive line:
"We saw this coming two years ago. One of the reasons I had JV games last year was because we redshirted seven linemen (last year) and I wanted to give them experience, because I knew what would happen when this class graduates. Guys like Tyler Bowen, Lamar Young, Justin Lewis, and Joe Faiella, so there are a lot of kids that played in that game. We got Phil Costa back so we are going to be young there but watching them today and in the bowl practice, I think we'll be okay if they keep their enthusiasm and work ethic. We are going to go through some growing pains, I understand that, but hopefully they will continue to improve and get better. We have some skilled people around. Our receivers are a strong unit that is still very young. Kevin Dorsey is a redshirt freshman who was operated on last year. He made two or three plays today that looked very impressive."
On developing Jamarr Robinson into the backup role:
"We essentially have two quarterbacks and Jamarr did a good job today. I think he really has taken some strides forward. It is going to give him a lot of opportunities to get better because he is just going to get a bunch of reps, and Chris is there to help him. There is no substitute for doing something and learning through your mistakes on the practice field. Jamarr is another guy who played well in the JV games. He's gotten that experience and now he will get more experience in the spring. We are hoping he can be the guy but we have two really good quarterbacks coming in the spring and we have to make a decision on that. I think the biggest decision is can Jamarr be the backup guy coming out of the spring. If he can, then we will have to decide who will be the third guy out of the two freshmen coming. If he can't, then we will pick the best guy out of the two young guys."
On positional changes for Phil Costa and Kenny Tate:
"I called Kenny in and gave him the option to go back to offense, and he is remaining at safety. He had another good practice this morning and right now we have Jamari McCollough starting at safety because he is a senior and he has done a good job. We got three guys who have played at safety with Terrell Skinner, Kenny Tate and also Jamari. With Antwine Perez going back to safety, that's four guys. Costa will be the center."
On the early practice times during the spring:
"I prefer practice in the afternoon, but we had class conflicts so we couldn't do it. We won't see our kids until tomorrow because they all take afternoon classes. In the years past, we ate breakfast at the end of practice. I changed it so they eat before and I didn't see the same problem. I have to stagger the times when we eat, watch tape, and meet. With football you just don't get dressed and play."
On his confidence in Chris Turner:
"In fairness to Chris, he has had two different systems. The thing I think has happened with Chris is that he's had two years of playing, but he has to take his game too the next level when it comes to anticipating things and game management. I am really anticipating that happening with him. I think you're going to really see Chris grow as a quarterback this year."
On James Franklin being announced successor affecting the team:
"I don't think it's been a big thing with our players, probably more with our coaches. I think what that has done for us is really give us some stability of where we are going as a program from a recruiting standpoint and also from a coaches standpoint. I think it's rounded us and has been good."
On the defensive line and A.J. Francis:
"A.J. is a guy who really doesn't care whether he plays offensive or defense. If I had a choice, I would play him on offense because I think he would be an excellent offensive lineman. A.J.'s strength is that he is a winner as a person and he is a tremendous competitor. From the competitive standpoint, he always shows up. He is a very good student and I think he is a guy who really strives to be the best he can be. But with our situation inside, I don't think I can afford to move him right now. Even though we redshirted him, he was with the varsity the entire time last year. The guy who I think is really stepping up and has impressed me with what he has done in the classroom and what he is doing now on the practice field is Travis Ivey. This guy finally looks like he has matured and he finally gets it. He is very athletic and weighs 318. We had trouble blocking him this morning without pads on, and I think he's going to have a very good year. I see the leadership coming out, which I didn't see before. I am really excited about him and Nolan Carroll who is another guy who seems as if he is on a mission and wants to be good. I see those guys giving us excellent leadership and are really working hard in all aspects of their life."
On the loss of some of the offensive skill people and how it will affect the team:
"We think Lansford Watson is a pretty good tight end. We are always going to miss a guy like Darrius (Heyward-Bey) and I am hoping he will be a first-round pick. I think with Emani Lee-Odai and the other receivers, we'll be okay. I think there is enough around Chris Turner that he will be okay. The biggest thing is that we have to be able to protect and run the football. Defensive line wise, Derek Drummond did some good things today. De'Onte Arnett is another guy who came in as a true freshman who did some good things. I think we'll be okay if we can get those two areas. What I'm trying to do is get us ready to play next year and not just this spring."
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator James Franklin
On being named the successor at Maryland:
"Ultimately, what I've tried to do my whole career is base my decisions obviously on my family and what I think is going to be the best thing five years down the road. I ultimately would like to be a major college football head coach. Obviously, with my background here and the experiences I've had, this one makes a lot of sense. The question I ask myself is if I had an opportunity to go to the NFL and took that opportunity for three years or however long it was, if I still would have the opportunity to come to the University of Maryland to be the head coach. Would I leave to take that job? The answer for me was yes. Why leave and jeopardize maybe that opportunity when I could stay here and make sure that happened?"
On comparing coaching in the NFL to college:
"I love football. I think I could be very happy coaching either. Right now, I really enjoy the college game. I like the interaction with the players...in the NFL, you have a legitimate off-season. When you are not in-season it's basically a 9-to-5 job, where here, it's not. You're recruiting [and] taking kids to basketball games ... I enjoy this area, my family loves it and it's close to home for me."
Defensive Coordinator Don Brown
On the first day of the new defense:
"We kind of kicked it off this morning. The thing I felt good about was our energy level was high. Our effort and focus was high. We lined up pretty good. For the first day, just looking at the effort and energy and obviously there were a ton of mistakes. But guys really functioned well and we played fast.
On any parallels he can draw from UMass to Maryland:
"I can't really draw any parallels. We play with a style with a four-down structure with a ton of pressure. We will do that, we will execute pressure with different concepts in the pass coverage to kind of get that done and get accomplished what we want to get accomplished. We are going to rush a minimum of four with a maximum of six to seven. Guys are really taking to it pretty well."
On the Terps defensive personnel:
"The toughest transition is they have to get comfortable playing to close read and playing up on the line of scrimmage to some degree. But the guys have been really receptive. Fundamentally, they have been working really hard and technique-wise to get some of the concepts down. I think this group is young for the most part but runs extremely well. But when you run well then you're eager and there is a hunger there. Usually those things lead to positive scenarios in the fall."
Senior Offensive Lineman Phil Costa
On the leadership position on the offensive line:
"Well I really like being the leader this year. I think it's a lot easier with one guy. I think last year we had five-six seniors in the line and maybe it was a little too many; I mean, too many guys trying to take charge. I enjoy all the young guys coming to me asking for help. I was watching film with a couple of guys today. I love doing it, it is fun. "
On moving from guard to center:
"You're really the captain of the O-line, calling everything out. At guard, you don't really make any calls. At center, you are making all the calls. Everybody really relies on you for what you're blocking."
"I'm trying to develop into that more...I think everybody sees me the first four years being more of a silent leader, just doing what I am supposed to be doing and getting the job done. I think this year I'm trying to be more vocal ... With a group it's a bit more difficult to be a leader like that."
On what he did you do over winter break as far as developing into a leader:
"I talked to one of my high school coaches [Tony L.], he's a guidance counselor, and he is one of the best leaders I know personally. He's always a guy I've looked up to and I asked a few techniques. Bruce (Campbell) and I are two of the oldest guys on the line, the guys who have played a little bit, we actually held a meeting with all the younger guys and kind of told them what we expect of them, what we don't expect, and how things are going to change from last year."
Senior Defensive Lineman Travis Ivey
On becoming a leader:
"I think a big part of it is understanding you have to watch what you say. I am the type of person that you can tell me whatever you want and I will dissect what I need to from it. I grew up in a household like that. But not everyone is like that. And growing up, realizing that everyone is not like me, that's one of the biggest changes that have come with my college years. Sometimes you need to tailor what you say."
On A.J. Francis:
"Watching him, he's made a lot of improvements especially maturity-wise. He's feisty and that's one thing you can't teach. He plays hard. The sky is the limit for him he just needs to keep working hard. He's got the athletic ability to do what he needs to do."
On using spring practice to learn a new defense:
"We're going to get a lot of work. We're all going to have to grow and learn from each other. It's going to be a learning experience for all of us. We're learning a new defense, so it's going to be a learning process for all our linebackers. Even though I'm an older guy, I still have to learn new things right now. We all need to learn the new system."
On the schematic changes for the linebacker unit:
"We went from a four-linebacker [scheme] to a three-linebacker [scheme]. The LEO is now more of a down lineman. It hasn't really changed much for the Mike, Will and Sam [linebackers]."
On his interaction with the young linebackers during today's practice:
"I was having fun with them. We were talking them up and trying to get them pumped up and get them in the mood. We want to be aggressive and be an attacking team defense. We want to put our offense in good situations."
On his approach to mentoring the team's new linebackers:
"If they're good, I'm good. That's just how I feel. I feel like this year I need to be in more of a leadership role. I'm going to need to be a leader and do what I can to encourage the younger guys."
On returning to the practice field:
"It feels good working out and trying to get back in the swing of things. It's great seeing the guys come together to run around out there and play football."
On the opportunities for playing time available at the wide receiver positions:
"I definitely see it as an opportunity for me personally, but not only for myself. We have a bunch of young, talented guys at wide receiver, and it's our time to shine."
On knowing that Chris Turner is the team's starting quarterback:
"I think it's definitely comforting. You don't have to worry about familiarizing yourself with a whole bunch of people. With Chris being the man, I think it makes it a lot easier for everyone."
On going against an experienced secondary in practice:
"I definitely think it's going to make us better. Me, personally, I like going against Nolan (Carroll) because it's not often I get to go against a corner who is the same size as me. Going against him is only going to make me better."
On the lack of a quarterback competition this season:
"You know as an athlete, you always want to get better and push yourself to be the best you can. I do feel a little more comfortable at the same time."
On what he would like improve on in the spring:
"I'd like to improve on my knowledge of the offense. I want to know it in and out. I want to be the general on the field. I want them to know what I'm doing and know what they are doing and really exude that confidence by knowing the offense."
On the game management aspect:
"There are different things. I think game management is an overarching term. There a lot of factors. Not turning the ball over and making plays when they are there. In general, it's just getting your team in a position to win. I think it's something I do well, but obviously something I can always improve on. It's something that I'd like to do better this spring and carry over into the fall."
