March 30, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The following is the second in a four-part series to run the remainder of this week on the Maryland football team as it approaches its annual spring session in College Park. With the Terrapins' first practice slated for Saturday morning, today's focus will be on wide receivers, tight ends and the offensive line.
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Wide Receiver
The wide receiver position will be one that will be somewhat in transition until fall for several reasons. First, the Terps typically travel nine receivers and chances are that one or more of the incoming freshmen will be in that group. Therefore, the unit that will likely find the field in 2005 will not likely be intact on the practice fields in April. Second reason for the transition period will be the learning curve that will take place between the returnees and new wide receivers coach Bryan Bossard, who just joined the team in March.
Gone are long-time performers Rich Parson and Steve Suter so it will likely be another set of seniors - Derrick Fenner and Jo Jo Walker - who will be counted on heavily to bring leadership to the unit. Both players are speedy, athletic and experienced and they have been commended by the coaching staff for their work as team leaders in offseason workouts.
"They've worked harder so far than any wide receiver group I have had since I have been here," said Friedgen. "Their attitude has been unbelievable."
Other players whose development in the spring will be integral to the Terrapins' plans in the fall include Drew Weatherly, Danny Melendez, Paschal Abiamiri and Greg Powell. The first three of that group will be competing for playing time at the "X" and "Z" spots while Powell will be working behind Walker in the slot (Walker will also work at "Z"). Another player coaches have their eye on will be Cedric Bryant, a former Virginia high school standout at tailback who walked on last year and impressed with his work as a slot receiver.
Notably, the Terps will have five true freshmen arriving in the fall who will be thrown into the mix at receiver, again, with the probability being that one or more will make the travel roster and have a shot at significant playing time in their first season.
"I think we are going to be limited in what we can do to some extent as we only have five scholarship players working there in the spring," said Friedgen. "We will probably have to get some help from Vernon (Davis) and Jason Goode at the position, just to fill it out. But I think some of these walk-ons can help us. And then, come fall, some of these young kids are going to have to come in and play."
Tight End/H-backs
This year, tight end is a position that would likely qualify as the deepest on the offensive side of the ball, if not on the entire team. The Terps have a good mix of young and veteran players, blockers and receivers and a couple of players athletic enough to add some versatility to the mix and add some wrinkles to the offense.
The tight ends will likely be used less in 2005 in the H-back and wing role they became accustomed to last year and become more of the traditional tight end, though they will certainly split out and be able to form some four-wide type sets and other potential matchup problems. Sophomore Jason Goode will be the team's only true H-back.
Junior Vernon Davis and Goode return to give the team a versatile, athletic duo that can line up at tight end, in the slot or in the backfield if needed. But with the use of the more traditional, blocking fullback, both - and especially Davis -- are expected to use their speed and athleticism to help the Terps in the passing game more than anything. Davis led the team in receiving yards last year and will continue to improve as his knowledge of the offense progresses. Last year was his first playing a significant role in the passing game.
Goode would have been more involved a season ago but injury slowed his progress. Like Davis, he runs well and is a good blocker and in his first season, he showed a knack for picking things up quickly which should help him in his quest for playing time this year.
Senior Derek Miller returns to head a group of tight ends who will be counted on more for their blocking. Miller has worked hard in the offseason and could play a bigger role in the passing game as well while the progression of Joey Haynos and Dan Gronkowski have pleased the coaching staff, making them viable options as well. Both have size similar to Millers (in the 6-6 to 6-8 range) and both have improved their strength while Gronkowski's transition from quarterback has been impressive.
Brad Schell is another player who could factor in while the Terps have one or two tight ends who will also join the fray in the fall.
"We can be very versatile with Vernon (Davis) and Jason (Goode) in the game as a personnel group," said Friedgen. "Those two will give us some options and I look forward to seeing that progress. Derek Miller will again be our `big' tight end and I have been very impressed with the progression of (Dan) Gronkowski and (Joey) Haynos. So with those five guys, Brad Schell and the addition of Tommy Galt in the fall, we will have a solid group that offers us a lot of versatility."
Offensive Line
A position that will exemplify the state of this year's team this offseason is the offensive line. The Terrapins will be relatively young at the position, entering spring drills with two seniors and three sophomores listed as starters with several freshman competing for those starting jobs. But maybe more than any other position, the offensive line - though young - looks to be as loaded as any other in terms of talent. This year's team will have more players with prototypical size and athleticism on the offensive line than any Terp group in recent history.
On the left side, OT Stephon Heyer is the lone senior returning who started in all 11 games last year on the line. He is a bookend tackle with long arms who moves well and should gain some attention come postseason honors time. He will be backed up by Dane Randolph, a player who is moving over from the defensive side of the ball and has thus far picked things up very quickly.
At left guard, sophomore Donnie Woods will head into spring as the starter after playing in the final 11 games of last year and starting the season finale. Woods is a very savvy player who will posting four "big blocks" versus just three missed assignments on 177 plays in his first season of playing time. He will be challenged by redshirt freshman Jaimie Thomas, a player coaches were impressed with from day one last year and continued to be throughout the season. He has ideal size (6-5, 333) and moves very well. Redshirt freshman Lee Oliver will also look to continue his progression after walking on last year.
At center, Kyle Schmitt will be missed but sophomore Andrew Crummey's transition will likely be easier after playing in all but one game last year, starting five at guard. Crummey has very good feet and has the intangibles needed to succeed at center and will just need to continue to get comfortable at the position as well as work on his size and strength. He will be backed up by second-year player Edwin Williams as well as walk-on Brian Coester.
On the right side, the only senior returnee other than Heyer - Russell Bonham -- heads into spring listed as the starter at guard. Bonham shared time as the starter (five games) at the position last year with Crummey, but missed four games due to injury including the season finale. A good run blocker, Bonham will get a challenge from Garrick Clig, a sophomore whose forte is also pushing the pile. Junior Dave Quaintance will also compete in his second year on the offensive side of the ball.
Right tackle will feature one of the best battles of the spring. Third-year sophomore Brandon Nixon (6-6, 310) seems to be headed toward being the complete player it was suggested he would be when he signed out of high school. His challenge will come from second-year player Scott Burley (6-6, 315), a player who arrived on campus with the build of a player who had been in the program four years and who did not disappoint when he put the pads on. With Heyer being a senior, the progress of these two players could be the foundation for the success of the offensive line in the coming years.
"We have more talent than we have ever had; are more athletic than we have ever been," said Friedgen. "I think we just need to solidify the unit and get the running game going. Spring will pretty much be about bringing them along and getting them playing well together."
SPRING OUTLOOK SCHEDULE
Offense, QB, TB, FB -- March 29
WR, TE, OL -- Today
Defense, DL, LB -- Thursday
DB, Special Teams -- Friday
