March 29, 2004
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
As the Terrapin football team approaches the start of spring drills, part one of this year's Spring Outlook will take a look at Maryland's offense, position-by-position. The Terps first of 14 practice sessions leading up to April 24th's annual Red/White game is this Thursday at 4:00 p.m.
The 2004 spring football session will be one of the more important offseason workouts in Ralph Friedgen's three-plus years as a head coach. The Terrapins have more questions to answer than at any time since 2001 and with one of those questions surrounding the quarterback position, more eyes will be focused on how things pan out than in a normal spring workout.
Maryland returns just nine starters from last year, but fortunately has few positions where experienced returnees are not available. This spring will, however, see wide-open races at the aforementioned quarterback position as well as fullback, strongside linebacker, weakside linebacker and strong safety. Competition will abound and as with any offseason, learning about young players and establishing depth will be among the chief goals.
The following is a breakdown of each position as the Terrapins head into this year's three-and-a-half week spring session:
Quarterback
Two years ago at this time, Maryland was doing its best to figure out who would replace Shaun Hill at quarterback. Two years later, Scott McBrien is gone and the question is restated with a different selection of possible answers. Though the competition will see another face in the fall, this year's spring workouts will, at a minimum, establish a starting point for a depth chart for the fall.
Leading a trio of likely suitors in the spring is sophomore Joel Statham, a third-year player with good size, speed and a strong, accurate arm who is the most experienced player in camp. In his lone "real" game experience a year ago, he showed toughness and will simply need to limit his mistakes to improve his chances at keeping his spot atop the depth chart. Based on experience, fellow sophomore Sam Hollenbach is the backup at quarterback. Hollenbach has ideal size (6-5, 223) and has improved his passing but will be counted upon to see the field better when, as Friedgen puts it, "bullets are flying all around him."
Rounding out the list of candidates in the spring are redshirt freshman Ryan Mitch and true freshman Dan Gronkowski. Mitch is an accurate passer who showed great poise for a player his age running the scout team last year. He is a viable contender for the job and spring will be key to coaches seeing what he can do in a situation more realistic of what it takes to run an offense. Gronkowski - who joined the team at the Gator Bowl -- is a player built a lot like Hollenbach who will get the opportunity to see where he fits in.
"We are going to be young at quarterback," said Friedgen. "Our goal in the spring is to find out if we have somebody on the roster who can lead this team. How much they can learn, how fast they can process it and how well they can execute will be the determining factors that lead to who will play. All of the players we have in camp have the physical tools it takes to be successful; it will be how well they can learn the position that will likely be the key."
Tailback
In what is becoming a tradition in recent years at Maryland, the tailback position is very deep and talented while having a good mix of experience and youth.
Junior Josh Allen has had two strong years as a Terp with 2003 showing that he is a starting-caliber back capable of putting up numbers as big as any tailback in the country. He is strong, sees the hole well and has breakaway speed. The perfect compliment to him is Sammy Maldonado, a senior who will not participate in contact drills in the spring, but gives the team a hard-charging back with good feet. Alone, this tandem would be among the best in the ACC but they have a stable of young tailbacks who will battle for playing time and that may be one of the more interesting progressions to watch.
Junior Mario Merrills labored through a hamstring injury last year, but will be back this spring and will be battling redshirt freshman Lance Ball and sophomore J.P. Humber for carries. Ball showed promise last season with a nice mix of size, vision, good feet and acceleration and it will be interesting to watch his progression from the scout team last year. Humber continued to learn the offensive system and offers the Terps the classic "big back." Add to that mix senior Quintin Beltran, last year's Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year and a very hard runner in his own right, and there is quite a logjam after Allen and Maldonado.
"We have a lot of good players at tailback, good experience," said Friedgen. "Josh Allen had a great year for us last year and Sammy Maldonado showed us what he could do. Behind those two, we still have a lot of good, young talent and it will be interesting to see what they can do in the spring to help decide who ends up where on the depth chart."
Fullback
In each of the past two years, the fullback position is one that has gotten thinner with each season. Maryland is again without a returning starter, but remains in good hands with a pair of solid players who will be vying for the starting job. Their success will help determine when and if the Terps utilize a tight end as an H-back and how much the team will use a one-back set.
Junior Ricardo Dickerson played both ways last year, seeing limited time at fullback while getting on the field in dime situations from a rush end position. He enters spring slightly ahead of senior Maurice Smith on the depth chart, but the starting job is far from decided. Dickerson showed improvement at the position last year, his first at fullback, while Smith served as Bernie Fiddler's primary backup most of the season.
"This is an area of concern of ours heading into the spring," Friedgen said. "Ricardo Dickerson and Maurice Smith both saw time at fullback for us last season. I think our team will be a little different this year and fullback may reflect that. But in terms of the traditional fullback position, those two should have a pretty good battle in the spring."
Tight End
A familiar face will be noticeably absent this year as four-year starter Jeff Dugan has exhausted his eligibility. The Terrapins will certainly miss having what was essentially a sixth offensive lineman on the field and the result will likely be two groups of tight ends being utilized - a "big" tight end and a "small" tight end.
The "big" group - or a more traditional tight end roll -- will be led by junior Derek Miller, the player who will be on the field most of the time and likely draw the majority of the starting assignments. Friedgen sees Miller's progress as an important part of the equation this year.
"I think Derek's improvement is a key to us being a good football team," said Friedgen. "He is a good blocking tight end, but we are losing a great tight end and he needs to really strive to get to that level."
Behind Miller in the group of big tight ends is a cluster of players who could vie for playing time. Sophomore Brad Schell, redshirt freshman Joey Haynos and sophomore Darren Sanders all have a considerable shot to see the field. Haynos is built a lot like Miller (6-8, 247) and is athletic for his size. At this stage, he lacks the experience of the other two he will be competing with.
The other group of tight ends will feature senior Rob Abiamiri and sophomore Vernon Davis. This pair have the size to play tight end joined with the speed to get down the field like a receiver. Abiamiri came on last year to earn his first letter while Davis showed flashes of the amazing physical skills that had him rated as one of the top tight ends in the country as a prep. Coaches expect to utilize both players in some unique situations in 2004.
"We are looking for a blocker, first, out of the big guys," said Friedgen. "The smaller guys we are looking for versatility and the ability to make some plays."
Wide Receiver
One benefit that this year's group of players vying for the starting quarterback role will have is a deep, solid corps of experienced wide receivers.
At the "X," junior Derrick Fenner is a player who appears to have turned the corner and gives the team a complete receiver. Fenner has good hands, is a strong route runner and is a good blocker and based on his ACC-best 27.8 yards per reception, he has the speed to get deep. Fenner will be backed up by sophomore Drew Weatherly, a big target who runs well and simply needs polishing to have a shot at becoming a premier player. Third-year player Paschal Abiamiri - who had an outstanding spring game last year -- also has a shot at playing time.
A trio of experienced players are at the "Z" (flanker) spot as two-time first team All-ACC selection Steve Suter, and juniors Dan Melendez and Jo Jo Walker give the Terps three playmakers who accounted for 61 receptions and 931 yards a year ago. Walker moves outside after spending his first two years in the slot, but can move back inside to give the offense flexibility if need be.
Senior Rich Parson was described by Friedgen on numerous occasions last year as the team's most consistent receiver and he will be at the top of the list of slot receivers heading into spring. Behind him will be Curtis Williams a senior who has played three positions in his time at Maryland, but now has coaches convinced that they have the playmaker where he belongs. Junior Tom Augustyn will also work in the slot and his role should be increased both at receiver and on special teams this season. Augustyn brings to the table many of the skills Daryl Whitmer brought to the Terrapins a few years back.
"We are again pretty deep at receiver," said Friedgen. "What we are looking for is for some more big plays, just like we always do. I think we have a good group in terms of experience and talent and now we will see where it goes from there. There are also some second- and third-year players who can make an impact if they take that next step so spring will be a big time for some of that to take place."
Offensive Line
Maryland has lost a pair of solid performers in Lamar Bryant and Eric Dumas from a year ago, making the right side of the offensive line a priority. How the team will deal with the loss, however, is more likely an approach that eliminates the gaps from being on the right side. With a versatile player at center and left tackle, the team has options that will ensure that it put its best foot forward.
Kyle Schmitt enters his senior season at center and will do so, should he remain at center, as a candidate for the Rimington Award. In his first full year as a starter, Schmitt played very well and graded out as the team's top lineman, earning honorable mention All-ACC status along the way. His backups entering spring are Ryan McDonald and Robert Jenkins, a player who missed last season but improved his conditioning.
Spring will start with first team all-conference performer C.J. Brooks at left guard. Brooks is a tenacious blocker who can play tackle or guard. Backing up Brooks is redshirt freshman Garrick Clig, a physical force who came on as the season progressed last year, showing the ability to blow people off of the ball. Junior Matt Powell will also factor in at the position.
On the right side, redshirt freshman Andrew Crummey is projected as the starter. Crummey improved his size and strength in year one and gives the line an intelligent and athletic guard with very good feet. He may eventually end up at center, but is slated to play guard this year. Behind Crummey is Donnie Woods, a player who continues to overcome the effects of a knee injury suffered in high school but will look to show more consistent flashes of the talent that had him as one of the top prep linemen in the nation. Sophomore Dave Quaintance will work at right guard as well after moving over from the defensive side of the ball.
As it should be, the Terrapins have their best pass blocker, Stephon Heyer at left tackle. Heyer had a good year in his first as a starter and as he continues to get stronger, could be a dominant player. Senior Ryan Flynn performed well in his first year as a lineman as well (after converting from tight end) and enters the spring battling redshirt freshman Brandon Nixon for backup duties. Nixon has prototypical tackle size (6-5, 337) and simply needs to work on playing lower to make the impact that is expected.
Right tackle will be manned by another experienced lineman, senior Lou Lombardo. Lombardo is a big, strong lineman who has seen significant playing time in his three non-redshirt years. His first season as the likely starter, he gives Maryland an excellent run blocker opposite the team's best pass blocker (Heyer). Behind Lombardo are a pair of second-year players in redshirt freshmen Brock Choate and Eddie Matto. Choate is a hard-working player with good feet while Matto was a pleasant surprise after walking on a year ago.
"What we have to do is get our five best players on the field and we lost our right side from last season," said Friedgen. "There are a lot of different ways we could go here. Our job in the spring is in finding out what that best combination will be and work on getting them on the same page. We feel like we have some good experience in our returnees and amongst those guys, good leaders. I am looking for that aspect of our game to continue."
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For a practice schedule and information on this year's spring session, please visit the Maryland Gridiron Network website (MGN Website).
