COLLEGE PARK, Md. –The Maryland football team held their first scrimmage of spring football Saturday at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium.

 The scrimmage gave Head Coach Randy Edsall a chance to evaluate the team and judge their progress from the seven previous practices.

“It was very obvious today that the defense got the better end of the offense,” Edsall said. “Now we get a chance to go and take a look at the film and find out how guys have progressed and picked up everything through seven practices, with this being the eighth practice. It is good to be out there and get after it and all those things. Now we get a chance to evaluate it and grade it, then get back out on Monday and continue to get better and develop guys.”

Throughout spring workouts the coaching staff has been pleased with the progress of the defensive backs, who return three seniors and All-Big Ten selection William Likely.

“I think the DB's are getting better, Edsall said. “I think they are getting a lot better from a technique standpoint and doing the things there that are allowing them to play at a high level. The other thing that I think they are doing well is they are communicating well. They are talking to each other, they are communicating, which is a big thing in the secondary.”

On the offensive side of the ball, quarterbacks Shane Cockerille and Perry Hills split reps with the first team.

“You want to push each other,” Hills said. “Competition is always good, it brings the best out of everyone. I like the competition and I think it is a good thing.”

The Terps will hold six more practices prior to the annual Red-White Spring Game, which takes place at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium on Saturday April 11 at 1:00 pm.