Preseason Football Camp Log: Day 17
8/28/2009 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 27, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Big plays in all three phases of the game highlighted the Maryland Terrapins third and final scrimmage of the preseason, which took place Thursday evening at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium.
Special teams play featured a blocked punt and a kickoff return for a touchdown, the defense returned an interception for a touchdown and the offense had a touchdown set up by a long pass play.
"We had a pretty good last scrimmage," head coach Ralph Friedgen said. "I was pleased with it. We put the 1's against 2's and then 3's against 3's in the end. I thought the defense played extremely well. I don't know how many first downs they gave up; not many."
Sophomore Torrey Smith, who will be counted on to be a big-play receiver this season, had a hand in two touchdowns. He set up Davin Meggett's 3-yard scoring plunge on the fourth possession of the day by making an acrobatic 30-yard reception from Chris Turner, setting up first-and-goal.
Later in the scrimmage, which featured 95 plays, Smith fielded a short kickoff and raced up the left sideline for an 87-yard touchdown.
Turner was under center for both offensive touchdowns. On the second possession, the senior marched the offense 53 yards in six plays. He completed two passes on the drive, including a 17-yard touchdown to Matt Furstenburg.
Two other possessions ended in field goals, with freshman Nick Ferrara hitting twice from 48 yards out. He also added a 45-yard extra point after Meggett's touchdown.
But Mike Barbour answered back with the No. 1 place-kicking job still up for grabs. He hit a pair of 46-yard extra points.
"I would have said after Ferrara made the first three long ones that he was the guy, then Barbour came in and kicked right with him," Friedgen said. "So game on."
Friedgen has seen improvement in the first-year player during camp.
"The thing I'm happy about with Nick (Ferrara) right now - he has the stronger leg," Friedgen said. "He's getting height on the ball now that he wasn't before. We were out there for pre-game and he kicked one from the 41-yard line. Now he had the wind, but he nailed it. Wouldn't that be a weapon? All the sudden you see him just be more relaxed, more confident. We'll have to see. But Barbour is kicking good too, now."
Barbour's first long PAT came after Smith's kickoff return and the other occurred following Anthony Green's 71-yard interception return of a C.J. Brown pass.
Green had a highlight-reel play, making a one-handed interception on an outlet pass intended for D.J. Adams and racing untouched into the end zone.
The defense also had two other interceptions with linebackers Hakeem Sule and Alex Wujciak forcing turnovers. In addition, coordinator Don Brown's unit posted four sacks.
Preseason All-American Travis Baltz was in mid-year form, averaging 47.3 yards on six punts, including one of 53 yards and a 59-yarder. Only two of them were returned. However, one of his punts was blocked due to an assignment miscue up front.
Morgan Green and Emani Lee-Odai broke through the line with Baltz backed up inside the 10-yard line. Green came up the middle and blocked the ball through the end zone for a safety.
Turner was sharp in his limited work, completing 6 of 8 passes for 102 yards. Jamarr Robinson, who was 8-for-20 for 59 yards, didn't fare quite as well, though he did lead a scoring drive.
Friedgen is looking for more consistency from the talented third-year player.
"He has to learn how to make better decisions, reading safeties rather than just picking guys out," Friedgen said. "When that comes, he has a chance to be a really good quarterback. He can scramble. He can run the ball. He has a great ability. He makes some plays in practice to keep a dead play alive and then makes a play."
The Terps will practice just once Friday, with a workout scheduled for 4:25 p.m. at the on-campus facility. The team will break preseason camp Saturday after a pair of practices.
"I'm going out in shells tomorrow," Friedgen said. "I don't want them to hit. Very rarely have I said that. I know they're beat up right now, and yet they still come back. It's a good bunch."
Preseason practices are closed to the general public but open to members of the Maryland Gridiron Network (MGN) and Terrapin Club.
Terps Notes
Scrimmage Tidbits: Ralph Friedgen said he thinks nine receivers will travel with the team. At "X," it's likely to be Adrian Cannon, Kevin Dorsey and Emani Lee-Odai. At "Z," expect to see Torrey Smith, Quintin McCree and Tony Logan, and in the slot position Ronnie Tyler, LaQuan Williams and Kerry Boykins ... Friedgen noted again after the scrimmage how much he is enjoying the chemistry on the team. Two-a-days is extremely wearing both physically and mentally, and yet this group has stayed positive throughout fall camp. "I think they're excited about the season. Just today being out there going through the (pre-game), they were getting pumped for that. Most guys, I'm telling you, this time of year - they have the two-a-day blues. They don't want to do anything."
Scrimmage Statistics
Scoring Plays:
Regular Scrimmage
Furstenburg 17-yd TD from Turner (Barbour PAT)
Safety - Green blocked punt out of end zone
Meggett 3-yd TD run (Ferrara 45-yard PAT)
Ferrara 48-yd FG
Ferrara 48-yd FG
Smith 87-yard kickoff return for TD (Barbour 46-yard PAT)
A. Green 71-yd interception return for TD (Barbour 46-yard PAT)
Goal-Line Scrimmage
Douglas 2-yd TD run (No PAT)
Green 1-yd TD run (No PAT)
Offense
Rushing (Carries-YDs./TDs):
Adams (10-59), Douglas (8-30), Scott (4-28), Meggett (4-18/1), Braxton (2-17), Bonato (4-13), O'Brien (1-13), Brown (1-11), Green (1-2), Turner (1-[-4]), Robinson (4-[-10])
Passing (Comp.-Att.-Yds. / TDs / INTs):
Turner (6-8-102/1), Robinson (8-20-99), Brown (3-8-21/0/3), O'Brien (1-5-3)
Receiving (Rec.-Yds. / TDs):
Cannon (3-50), Meggett (3-23/1), Furstenburg (2-28/1), Watson (2-24), Boykins (2-18), Smith (1-30/1), Adams (1-9), Scott (1-5), Dorsey (1-5)
Defense
Tackles (Solo-Assisted-Total):
Law (4-1-5), Wujciak (2-2-4), Hughes (2-2-4), Russell (2-1-3), Ivey (1-2-3), Murray (1-2-3), Sule (2-1-3), Chism (3-0-3), Pooler (2-1-3), Kerr (1-1-2), Arnett (1-1-2), Ross (0-2-2), Akunyili (2-0-2), D. Galt (2-0-2), Moten (2-0-2), Drakeford (1-1-2), Donohue (1-1-2), Franklin (2-0-2), Drummond (0-2-2), Walker (1-1-2), Carroll (1-1-2), Tate (2-0-2), McCollough (1-1-2), Francis (1-0-1), Davidson (0-1-1), Kabongo (1-0-1), McDougle (0-1-1), Carter (1-0-1), A. Green (1-0-1), Perez (0-1-1), Skinner (0-1-1), Smith (1-0-1), Douglas (1-0-1)
Tackles for Loss (No.-Yards):
Galt (1-14), Tate (1-7), Franklin (1-4), Skinner (1-2), Russell (1-1), Drakeford (1-1), Davidson (0.5-0), Hughes (0.5-1)
Sacks (No.-Yards):
D. Galt (1-14), Tate (1-7), Franklin (1-4), Hughes (0.5-1), Davidson (0.5-0)
Interceptions (No.-Yards):
A. Green (1-71), Wujciak (1-24), Sule (1-1)
Special Teams
Field Goals:
Ferrara (3-3): (45-yard PAT - GOOD, 48-yard FG - GOOD, 48-yard FG - GOOD)
Barbour (2-2): (PAT- GOOD, 46-yard PAT - GOOD, 46-yard PAT - GOOD)
Punts (No./Avg.):
Baltz (6/47.3)
Punt Returns (No./Avg):
McDougle (1/19.0), Wiseman (1/5.0)
Kick Returns (No./Avg.):
Smith (1-87.0), McDougle (2/23.5)
