April 14, 2004
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The persistent rain that has plagued the Washington, D.C., area over the past few days have created some rust due to inaction for the Maryland Terrapins football team, head coach Ralph Friedgen said after practice Wednesday.
The Terrapins returned to spring practice Wednesday after three full days off, practicing mostly on the FieldTurf surface installed last summer. Maryland had regularly-scheduled days off on Sunday and Monday following last Saturday's scrimmage, and missed practicing Tuesday due to the hard rain.
Wednesday's workout was held in showers, and the Terps worked the ground game in scrimmage periods.
"We didn't practice as sharp today as the scrimmage on Saturday," said Friedgen. "We were a little rusty...
"We've been throwing the ball some to get a look at our quarterbacks, but today we tried to get back to the running game. There were some things that looked good today."
For example, both Josh Allen and Mario Merrills had back-to-back breakaway runs late in the scrimmage. Each showed some versatility in going both inside and outside.
Quarterback Joel Statham continued his progress during spring workouts, looking more comfortable and more smooth with every session.
"Every day in practice, he's the best," said Friedgen. "Saturday, Sam Hollenbach played very well, but Joel has been good just about every day... We threw the ball and executed better in that first scrimmage better than at any time since we've been here."
Early individual drills were highlighted by some one-on-one battles between LEO Shawne Merriman and tight end Vernon Davis. Drills in pass rushing and pass protection were extremely competitive between the two.
"That's a daily activity," said Friedgen. "For the spring, they're probably 50-50. They compete. That's been the way the whole spring has been. I've had to tone some things down at times."
Maryland has a regularly scheduled workout Thursday afternoon, but has added a session at 5:45 a.m. Friday to make up for Tuesday's rainout. The Terps are hosting a coaching clinic this Friday and Saturday, with a 3 p.m. workout and scrimmage in Byrd Stadium on Saturday wrapping up that clinic.
The Terrapins' Red-White Spring Football Game is Saturday, April 24 at 4 p.m. in Byrd Stadium.
