April 28, 2001
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Head coach Ralph Friedgen's post-game analysis following the annual Red-White game on April 28, 2001:
General thoughts: "I thought we got a lot out of this today. It was the first time in a game situation for us, especially for our younger kids. It was a new experience for them, but as the game progressed, I thought they did quite well. We were able to work on two-minute situations twice so we were able to work on that. I thought we signaled in our plays [well]. We had one delay of game, and we have to cut down on the penalties, but that is understandable in the first scrimmage. We turned the ball over in the second half, and those things - particularly when you turn it over in the red zone -- and those were the things that disappointed me. But on the other hand, I was happy that our defense [forced turnovers]. I thought we made some progress today. I thought our wide receivers made some plays they hadn't been making in the spring. I thought [tailback] Bruce Perry ran well, and I thought [quarterback] Latrez Harrison had a good first half and then didn't have quite as good a second half. I thought there were more positives than negatives. We had a great crowd and a lot of enthusiasm."
On QB Shaun Hill: "I really think Shaun Hill rose to the top today. I think other than that last interception, he played very well. I thought he threw the ball on time better than he has this spring. I saw a growth as a quarterback in learning the offense. That's positive."
On LB Andrew Henley: "He has been having a great spring. He is a walk-on who I am really considering putting on scholarship. I think he is going to help us on special teams, I'm just very proud of the way he has played, I think he deserves a lot of credit. I hope he can break the two-deep, but if not, he'll see action on special teams. He's a hitter."
On QB Latrez Harrison: "He did some things very well in the first half, then some things not so well in the second half. He made some excellent throws in the first half, but then made some poor decisions in the second half. But I thought he showed improvement overall."
On QB Chris Kelley: "We're working on Chris' mechanics. He is better than what he showed today. He had a big crowd here. I think sometimes Chris has tremendous pressure on him to be something everybody wants real fast. He has to learn to just go out and play the game. I told him there are only two people he needs to please - me and him. I think today he felt the pressure a little bit and didn't do some of the things he's been doing."
On running backs: "I thought all of the running backs - Bruce Perry, Rich Parson and Marc Riley - all contributed pretty well. Our line is kind of beat up, but I think they sucked it up and did a good job also. My first impression is that they improved. We have three fullbacks who are very close. It's a competitive situation. I think all three of them - James Lynch, Bernie Fiddler and Chad Killian - will all play this season."
On player who stepped up today: "I thought [wide receiver] Scooter Monroe jumped up today. He made some plays he hadn't been making. Boy, that would be a big lift if we could get a wideout to come in and make some big plays. I thought he gave some really great efforts, getting his hands out away from his body, which he hadn't been doing. I was very encouraged by his effort."
On P Brooks Barnard: "I didn't think Brooks had a particularly good day. But he's been sick with pneumonia and was in bed yesterday. I think our two placekickers - Vedad Siljkovic and Nick Novak - are excellent. That is going to be a real battle. It's too close to call. Vedad gets it off a little faster, but Nick has a little more consistency. It's really tight between those two. It's a coin flip."
Other positives: "Another thing we got out of today was our coaching on the sidelines. We got our mechanics down, I heard communication back and forth. We got another rep at that as a coaching staff."
On most important accomplishment this spring: "Hopefully in developing our attitude, work ethic, pace and intensity. And a determination to win. Those things are all intrinsic things we can take away from spring ball. I think the players understand what I demand. I thanked the players for their efforts this spring. I'm very appreciative of that."
On the crowd: "It was a good crowd. I hope they get used to coming. I expect to fill this place Sept. 1 [in the season opener against North Carolina]. I thought it was great for our kids, the band was here, and Maryland Day is a great day for the people in the state. It shows off what we have here at the university."
