Football Spring Outlook Pt. 1
April 3, 2001
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Spring is a time of renewal, rebirth. In College Park this spring, the Terrapin football program is experiencing just that.
Ralph Friedgen begins his first season with the University of Maryland as head coach and brings with him a staff loaded with experience and success both at the collegiate and professional levels. But as experienced as the group is, this year's spring football session is as important to them as it will be to the players. As much as the players will need to adjust to a new system, new coaches and a new style of doing things, the coaches will have to get used to each others' styles and the system of a new head coach.
"I think the first thing we have to do is establish the kind of work ethic that I want," said Friedgen. "The tempo at which we will practice will be very fast. We will run 280-300 plays each practice, that's like three games. The next thing I want us to do is develop a competitiveness. I want to have teams that hate to lose. People that are used to losing and accept losing will understand that it is better to win. Finally, I think there is a confidence thing that we have to develop."
As the start of spring ball approaches, Friedgen feels excited. Not for reasons one might imagine - like returning to his alma mater and former coaching ground - but instead for reasons that should make his players feel good.
"I am excited," said Friedgen. "I am excited because the kids are excited. Right now, I would say that the highlight of this job so far has been our players. They have worked hard and accepted me and, quite frankly, they pick me up more than I pick them up right now. If they can just keep working the way that they are right now, I feel that we will be successful, and I am looking forward to them putting on the pads for the first time this spring."
The following is a breakdown of the 2001 Terrapins' offense heading into spring practice:
Offense
Whereas most teams are trying to determine who their starters are in spring drills, Maryland will be trying to figure out who can do what and how they can help the team. That is not as much because they are implementing an all-new system but it is instead by design for Friedgen. Friedgen's offense and who plays in it will depend more on what personnel group is on the field than who is the best all-around player.
"Some guys are starters in some personnel groups and some will be starters in others," said Friedgen. "People have different talents whether it be at running or pass catching or blocking. Depending on what play we are running, a number of players could be the ones who start the game on the field at a given position."
Friedgen says that it took him three years to get his entire offense in place at Georgia Tech, so the process will be somewhat slow. But expect the Terrapins to get more work and more repetitions into each practice than in the past. More reps will give players more comfort with the system and will therefore give the coaching staff a better opportunity to see who should play.
As for what type of offense will be implemented, that will depend on the strengths shown by players in spring and preseason drills. "I'll adapt the offense around the abilities of the players we have rather than the other way around," said Friedgen. "I am not going to try and shove a square peg into a round hole. We want to put the players on the field in a situation that is best suited for them to succeed."
Quarterback
The quarterback is one of two skill positions that will draw a great deal of interest this spring if for no other reason than to see who comes out on top in Friedgen's system.
Senior Shaun Hill heads the list going into spring. The Parsons, Kan., native opened and closed the 2000 season as the starter but was injured in games two through nine. He is an intelligent quarterback with a solid arm, good accuracy and surprising mobility who has pleased the new staff with his work effort and leadership heading into spring. Last season, he was 73-of-126 passing for 778 yards with six TDs and four interceptions. His best moment came in leading the comeback charge in the 35-28 overtime win against NC State.
Competing with Hill for playing time will be junior Latrez Harrison, redshirt freshman Chris Kelley and junior Calvin McCall. Harrison is possibly the best athlete and certainly has the strongest arm of the bunch, but has a couple of things he must work on to succeed. Like the others, he has to get a firm grasp on the system, but most importantly, coaches feel that he needs to work on his touch and learn to harness his throwing arm at times.
Kelley redshirted a year ago after suffering a knee injury prior to his arrival at Maryland. He is, quite simply, a football player. Coaches have been impressed by his athleticism and his ability to throw, but may need some work on his throwing mechanics. McCall brings some experience to the position (17 career starts) and passed for a team-high 1,533 yards a year ago. His time spent with the football team prior to the spring was limited, however, as he was still with the Terrapin basketball team.
"Our offense puts a good deal of responsibility on the quarterback - they make a lot of checks and a lot of calls at the line," said Friedgen. "But overall, it is the guy that makes plays that will see the field for us. If that person needs the offense pared down a little, we'll adapt. Our offense is about eight different offenses in one, so we'll just pick the one that fits the playmaker best."
Running Back
The tailback spot is the other position that all eyes will be on in the spring. Gone is Maryland's all-time leading rusher, LaMont Jordan, as well as his backup Mukala Sikyala, Jr. What that leaves is a great opportunity for a number of backs, some of whom will be here in the spring and some who will not.
Among those battling to replace Jordan are sophomore Bruce Perry, senior Marc Riley, junior Chris Downs and freshman Rich Parson.
Perry is a quick back with very good acceleration who Friedgen thinks would excel in an option attack. At 5-9, 190, he is not real big but he is solid. The largest of all the backs vying for playing time at tailback in the spring is Riley. At 6-3, 225, he can break tackles and he will be expected to learn both the tailback and fullback positions this spring. Downs (5-8, 189) is more similar in size to Perry and has impressed coaches with his work ethic. Parson, too, is slight at 180 pounds, but is a smooth runner and has a burst once he finds an opening.
Missing from the mix this spring will be newcomers Jason Crawford and Mario Merrills, recent signees who will be given serious looks when fall practice rolls around.
"Our tailbacks are untested and it is a group that will change dramatically in fall practice with the addition of Jason Crawford and Mario Merrills. But I like what I have seen from the group in terms of how they have been working and I look forward to seeing them in pads."
At fullback, James Lynch is the favorite to replace another talent in 36-game starter Matt Kalapinski. Lynch has good size (5-11, 261) and was solid in the action he saw last year. According to Friedgen, one of his only issues is actually his size which has been as high as 280 in the past.
Vying for playing time with Lynch will be Chad Killian who has good size in his own right and just needs more work at fullback. He played in 11 games in his first two years, seeing action exclusively on special teams.
"I like James Lynch, I think he has a chance to be a real good fullback for us. Chad Killian is a hard worker who will also challenge at the spot and I like what I have seen of him in workouts."
Wide Receiver
The Terps return senior Guilian Gary and junior Scooter Monroe, a pair of players who started in over 90 percent of last season's games. The overwhelming sentiment coming from Friedgen, however, is that there will be a ton of competition at receiver this spring with as many as 10 players working to show their wares.
Gary was Maryland's leading receiver in 1999 and 2000. He showed good strength and an innate ability to come down with the ball. He has pretty good size at 6-0, and he can also return punts. As one of the lone seniors in this year's receiving corps, he will be counted on heavily.
Monroe had 14 catches last year and will be joined by returnee Jafar Williams in competition for a starting spot. The real question will be who will emerge from the pack of talented youngsters who remain.
Friedgen likes Maurice Shanks, Rob Abiamiri, Ike Roberts and Steve Suter. Shanks (6-4) and Abiamiri (6-3) have excellent size while Suter has opened eyes with his speed. All told, of the 10 players listed on the pre-spring depth chart, half are freshmen.
"We have nice size at wide receiver," said Friedgen. "My lone concern right now is their speed and their ability to stretch the field. I like some of our young kids and I am anxious to see what they can do. That ability to get up the field that we are looking for means as much to our ability to run the ball as it does to our ability to throw it."
Tight End
At tight end, Maryland has a nice mix of youth and experience entering spring. In one player, Jeff Dugan, the Terps have both. The sophomore started 10 games his freshman season and finished second on the team in receiving (25 rec./319 yds.). He will get competition from seniors Matt Murphy and Eric James.
Friedgen has been impressed with the combination of athleticism, strength and speed that Murphy has shown in winter workouts while James will get looks at tight end, H-back and fullback.
"We have a good looking group of tight ends," said Friedgen. "I have been impressed by what I have seen in workouts - now we just have to see how that translates to the field."
Offensive Line
The Terrapins enter spring in pretty good shape on the offensive front. Six players have significant playing time and another, Matt Crawford, started 20 games before going down to injury last year. Crawford will sit out this spring.
The centerpiece of the offensive line will again be center Melvin Fowler. Entering his senior season, Fowler has now started in all 33 games of his collegiate career in the pivot. He is a leader off the field who excels on it with good quickness and the ability to check to the right blocking scheme. Fowler's backup will be Brandon Miller, a 6-2, 296-pound redshirt-sophomore who saw action in two games a year ago.
Lamar Bryant and Todd Wike top the pre-spring depth chart at guard. Wike is a 21-game starter who did not miss a game last year while Bryant started six of the last seven games at right guard a year ago. Bryant is a very talented player who coaches believe has the talent to play at the next level if he can eliminate some of the mistakes that showed up on game film last year. Included in the mix at guard this spring will be Ed Tyler (6-3, 300) and Reggie Kemp (6-4, 332). Bob Krantz, who started half the year on the right side, is out indefinitely (and likely permanently) with a herniated disk in his back.
At tackle, Chris Snader returns for his senior year after playing in every game last year. The Terps are not long in the tooth at the position, though, as the three other players listed on the depth chart at the position are all underclassmen.
On the left side, sophomore Eric Dumas and redshirt freshman Lou Lombardo will compete. The pair are almost identical in terms of their build (6-6, 300+) with it anticipated that Dumas - who played in five games last year - will be much improved this season. Lombardo is one of those players who goes all out in everything he does, whether it be playing or working out.
Battling Snader on the right side will be two more redshirt freshmen in C.J. Brooks and Kyle Schmitt. Brooks is a good athlete who gets stronger every day while Schmitt is a versatile lineman who could move to guard if necessary.
"We seem to have a lot of kids on the offensive line who have some potential," said Friedgen. "It is just a matter of getting them some experience and getting them in the weight room. But again, I am judging them on what I have seen in winter workouts, we will know a lot more a few weeks into spring practice."
