March 30, 2004
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Two days before the University of Maryland football team hits the practice fields for the fourth time in spring under head coach Ralph Friedgen, UMTerps.com takes a look at the Terrapins' defense and special teams. While the special teams are pretty well set with the return of All-ACC performers Nick Novak, Adam Podlesh and Steve Suter, the defense will see some heavy competition.
Below is a position-by-position breakdown of the defense and a brief look at what is arguably the best special teams unit in the conference:
Defensive Line
Key for the defensive line this year will be getting reps for inexperienced players and building depth behind the first unit. As a group, the talent will be as good or better than at any time in recent years. The issue - especially in the fall - will be youth.
At defensive end, Kevin Eli returns for his senior season after turning in one of the surprise performances on the defensive side of the ball last year. Eli earned second team All-ACC accolades last year after taking over for Scott Smith three games into the season and finished with 11 TFLs and 5.5 sacks. Two redshirt freshmen will look to get their feet wet behind him as Omarr Savage and Patrick Powell are backups at the position. Savage runs very well, has long arms and is built like a pro, but needs to work on playing lower. Powell, too, has very good speed and had a very good first year in the weightroom.
At defensive tackle, sophomore Conrad Bolston appears to have a hold of the starting job after playing in 10 games as a true freshman. Hard-working senior Henry Scott and redshirt freshman Dre Moore are behind Bolston. Moore is a big, strong tackle who could be a player to watch with some hard work this spring.
Second-year player Rob Armstrong is penciled in as the starter at nose tackle after spending more time on the field than any defensive freshman a year ago. Armstrong lives up to his name as he is a powerful inside force who should only get better with another year under his belt. Junior Justin Duffie returns to the team after a leave of absence last year due to medical issues and will work at nose along with fellow junior Davian Bryan and newcomer Dennis Marsh. Duffie's presence will be welcomed as he was coming on in 2002 prior to his illness.
"In a lot of spots, we have more potential than what we've had, but we are also inexperienced," said Friedgen. "We have some young kids who bring a lot of athleticism to the table, but most of them haven't played a down. What we will be looking for is for this group to show that they can play the run and establish good pad position. That is first. Then they need to learn the defense. That has to be our expectation when we deal with so many young guys."
Linebacker
The Terrapin linebacking corps goes into spring with a mix unlike that of any other unit on the team. On one hand, it has some of the most talented players on the team, high-profile athletes who have excelled in their time here and appear on the verge of postseason recognition (if they haven't already received it). On the other hand, there remain positions where inexperience is an understatement.
At "Leo," junior Shawne Merriman posted 8.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss last year, and he did so playing most of the year on a knee that gave him trouble. He gives the Terps a playmaker on the side opposite Eli and will likely earn the recognition he deserves in year three. Behind him is senior Jon Condo, a steady player who has earned more recognition as the Terps' longsnapper, while second-year player Jermaine Lemons will also try to factor in.
One position that will get scrutiny in the spring is strongside linebacker as, when camp opens, the depth chart will feature a pair of walk-ons and a true freshman who enrolled in school early. Sophomore David Holloway is the most experienced player and will work with the "ones" as spring starts. He runs well and can play in space. Fellow walk-on Jeris Smith, a solid tackler, will work at "Sam" also, as will true freshman Eric Lenz. Lenz' being on campus is ideal as he needs to add size, but no one questions the athleticism of one of the most complete players in the state from this past high school season.
A big question a year ago at this time was "who would replace E.J. Henderson?" A year later, the resounding answer - D'Qwell Jackson - returns to lead the defense again from his "Mike" spot. Jackson is a warrior who runs well and makes plays all over the field. Just a junior, he was a second team all-conference pick in his first year as a starter. Backing up at the position is redshirt freshman Tim Cesa, a physical force who is in the right place to learn exactly what he needs from the instinctive Jackson.
The biggest competition of the spring will come from the "Will" spot as junior William Kershaw and redshirt freshman Wesley Jefferson will show their wares. Kershaw runs well and is the more experienced player while Jefferson is a solid tackler who also runs well and showed a nose for the ball working with the scout team.
"Depth is a concern at linebacker, but we can do some things in the spring that help us find out where we want to try some of the new guys in the fall," said Friedgen. "I don't think that there is any doubt that freshmen will be playing in the fall - it can't be helped - but hopefully we can have things pretty well settled by the time we get to fall camp and have some answers at a few positions."
Defensive Back
Even as the 2003 season was coming to a close, pundits wondered how the Terrapins would replace three starting defensive backs, especially when the trio is the caliber of Curome Cox, Madieu Williams and Dennard Wilson. As tall as that task would seem, Maryland is actually in pretty good standing in the secondary.
The lone returning starter in 2004 will be senior Domonique Foxworth, a shutdown cornerback who has started all 29 games in which he has played the last three years and has first team (2002) and second team (2003) All-ACC honors to show for it. The All-American candidate will man the "field" corner position along with sophomore Josh Wilson and true freshman Chris Varner. Wilson showed good cover skills in his first year in the program and could possibly move to "boundary" corner for competition's sake. Varner is one of four true freshmen who entered the program early after graduating from high school in the fall. Like the other three, his goal in the spring will be to learn the system.
At the boundary spot, senior Reuben Haigler starts spring atop of the depth chart after having redshirted last season. Haigler is a tough player with good speed and solid cover skills who worked hard in the offseason. He will be challenged by junior Gerrick McPhearson and sophomore Chris Choice, a pair of talented young players who coaches hope will take the next step. The goal will be to find the best two players to put on the field at the start of a game so there is likely to be some ebb and flow to the boundary position as spring progresses.
Another position where competition will be stiff will be strong safety. Senior Chris Kelley brings the most experience to the table and will open spring atop the depth chart, but he will draw a challenge from sophomore Marcus Wimbush. The duo share similar skills with who possesses the better cover ability possibly being the deciding factor. Wimbush is a big hitter but did not see the field as much as Kelley a year ago.
The Terps' most experienced safety is senior Ray Custis, a senior who has seen significant action in the nickel and dime the last two years. Custis - who topped the team's list of Iron Terps last year - is a steady performer who is comfortable in the system. His backup in the spring is another one of the incoming freshman, Richard Taylor, a good athlete who averaged over 160 yards a game as a tailback last year while also seeing time at corner as a prep. The safety position will see an influx of more newcomers in the fall, further changing its dynamic.
"There will be solid competition for playing time at cornerback and it is nice to have an experienced guy like Foxworth there," said Friedgen. "It really helps us to have some of the young guys like Varner and Taylor here for us in the spring and get them some work. Safety will have some heavy competition and I would think there will be a shot for the freshmen that show up in the fall to challenge for some playing time there, as well."
Special Teams
In the kicking game, Maryland is well stocked with senior Nick Novak and sophomore Adam Podlesh returning. First and second team all-conference selections, respectively, they give Maryland the top returning tandem of kickers in the ACC, if not the country.
The return of Duffie gives the team added depth at long snapper while Condo has been a rock at the position now for three years. Suter will man the returns, but spring will surely be a time to give some other players a chance to show what they can do.
"I am comfortable with where our special teams are, but there is always work to do," said Friedgen. "You can always get better."
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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).
