April 1, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The following are quotes from head coach Ralph Friedgen and select players from today's pre-spring press luncheon:
Maryland Head Coach Ralph Friedgen
On the first two spring practices
These are two practices without pads, and we have a lot of installation to go in. It sets the pace for the rest of the time, so we'll schedule practice where it's every other day. We're not real deep, so we'll try to keep people healthy so they can learn and we can have a very fruitful spring practice.
On the prospects of getting back on the practice field
I think our players and our coaches are really excited to get going. We had a tremendous winter session, maybe the best we've ever had. I'm very pleased with where our team is from a mental standpoint and also a physical standpoint. They have the hunger back. I think they're excited about playing. They just worked extremely hard both on and off the field. I've had less problems with this team in terms of going to class and disciplinary problems, and I'm just very happy with where we're at right now.
On what needs to be accomplished on offense
We have some holes to fill. Firs thing on offense, we have to find a quarterback. I think the one thing we do have at quarterback that we didn't have last year is that they all have experience, and I expect them all to be better than they were last year. We need to find a replacement for Josh Allen. Josh will not play next year. We also have to rebuild our offensive line. We lost three starters, and we have some young players. We've changed some things from what we have done in the past on offense, so we have take advantage of some of our linemen that are not only very big but also athletic. I think we're going to have a very good offensive line, we're just going to be very young. We have made one change there--we've moved Dane Randolph from defensive tackle to offensive tackle. The other area I think we need to do is I think we need to establish depth at wide receiver. Right now we only have five receivers on scholarship. This has been the biggest surprise to me during winter workouts of anyone. The wide receivers have worked harder than any wide receiver group that I've had since I've been here. Their strength is up, their speed is up, and I'm anxious to see how it translates on the field. I'm really excited about how they've worked so I'm hoping that continues to carry on.
On what needs to be accomplished on defense
The first thing that hits you is that we have to replace three starters in the secondary. We also have to find a replacement for Shawne Merriman. We have to rebuild our defensive line and establish some depth. We lost Henry Scott and Kevin Eli. We also have to build some depth at linebacker. D'Qwell Jackson got operated on in the off season. He will not partake in spring drills. D'Qwell went through the same process that Shawne did, actually had the same ratings and could have gone very high in the draft, but he elected to come back to school. Dr. Bennett told me that if he didn't get operated on, then when he went to the combine he would have been graded down. So I didn't want that for D'Qwell so he's had this operation and will play on it this year, so hopefully good things will happen for him and that's what I wanted for him. I need to see who we have as backups. We need to find out about Wesley Jefferson and whether he can hold up in there and play, and [Chase] Bullock and [Erin] Henderson and those types of players, so D'Qwell won't be in spring practice but he'll be around.
On what needs to be accomplished in special teams
We need to find a replacement for Nick Novak, and also Jon Condo. That might be tougher than Nick Novak, because Jon has really been a sensational snapper for us for four years. We're going to look at Tim Cesa and a we have a couple of freshmen that we have coming in that we feel can do that. Obi Egekeze and Dan Ennis will compete for the placekicking job.
On the young team
This is a young football team. Right now we have twelve seniors. We have fifteen juniors and we have 58 other players that have three or four more years of eligibility. So even though we were young last year, we're still going to be young this year. You lose a couple kids to graduate or not come back, and Shawne [Merriman] going pro, and that affects your depth. But I think we have a lot of young talent. I'm really excited to start working with these kids, and I think we have the basis of a good team chemistry and I'm looking forward to watching it build.
On the winter conditioning and improvement from last year
We had 75 guys work out. We had fifteen guys bench over 400 pounds, last year we had ten, and I expect that to be twenty next year. At 350+ pounds we had 29, last year we had 32. At 300+ points we had 61, last year we had 58. Power clean--300 was a sensational lift when I was playing--now we have 64 guys that do over 275. At 319 we have 25, at 300 we had 42. Better than last year in all of those categories. In the squat category we had eleven kids go over 600 points, 44 do over 500 points, and 59 do over 450. Last year, over 600 pounds we only had four kids. We ran very well. The lowest time was Gerrick McPhearson, who also ran track for us this year, ran a 4.21. That's the first time I've ever seen anyone run under 4.3.
Position-by-position updates--quarterback
At the quarterback position, Ryan Mitch has left the team. Each of our quarterbacks have some things they need to correct to get better at. Joel [Statham] needs to stop turning the ball over. Jordan Steffy has a lot of things he has to learn, mainly to hang back in the pocket and not look at the rush. Sam Hollenbach, I was very pleased the way he played our last game. He didn't do things to hurt us and made a couple big plays and I'm hoping he gained some confidence and can come out and really play well. All of them have experience now, all of them know the offense better, and hopefully they'll have a good spring. The position is wide open.
Position-by-position updates--running back
The guy I'm looking at there is Mario Merrills. He had a fantastic winter workout. He ran a 4.4., benched over 400 pounds, and is one of the strongest players on our team. I'm hoping that he can have a senior year much like Chris Downs did a couple years ago. Lance Ball has made a good preparation, and Keon Lattimore is over 200 points right now, and ran 4.5. J.P. Humber will not partake in spring, he's coming off a shoulder operation, but he'll could everything but contact.
Position-by-position updates--offensive line
Stephon Heyer had a knee surgery earlier this year but he will go through drills and hopefully will do well. We moved Dane Randolph, who will start off behind him. We moved Brandon Nixon over to right tackle with Scott Burley. That ought to be a very competitive situation. I think Brandon had a wonderful winter workout, and is really doing very well in all areas of his life right now. Offensive guard, we're going to start off with [Donnie] Woods and [Russell] Bonham starting. Jamie Thomas will be behind Woods and Garrick Clig will be behind Bottom with [Lee] Oliver and [Dave] Quaintance behind them. We've moved [Andrew] Crummey to center. Behind him is Edwin Williams, and a walk-on we have is named [Phil] Costa. Crummey could go back to guard, we're just trying to see our best players and give us the most flexibility.
Position-by-position updates--receivers
At tight end, we have some big tight ends, and some small tight ends. Derek Miller is as big and as fast as he's ever been. He's 6'7", 275 lbs, he's run a 4.9, which is the fastest he's ever run for us, bench pressed 410 lbs, power clean 355, squatted 590, and vertical jump 35". Brad Schell is another tight end. Dan Gronkowski is 6'6", 262, and ran 4.9 for us. Joey Haynos is 6'8" 260, and ran a 4.9. So we have some big kids that have to get stronger and better but I'm anxious to see how they do. Vernon Davis just had a phenomenal winter. He's 6'4", 255 lbs, ran 4.4., benches 460, power clean 355, and squatted 685. Jason Goode is a very athletic kid, 6'3", 231, and ran 4.7., and we're going to probably use him more as our H-guy this year.
Maryland linebacker D'Qwell Jackson
On what the team needs to accomplish in the spring
We just need to go out every day and get better. Each person on this team has the talent to get better and play a role that they have on the team.
On the change of attitude over the winter
We just wanted to start the season off right. We knew we were going to have mostly the same team from last year. Everybody's coming out with a different attitude. Coach Friedgen is a guy that you're going to work hard for. We have a bunch of young guys believing, believing in the system and that we can get things done. We want to win.
On what he expects from the defense this spring
I have in my mind the guys who are going to step up, and I got in my mind the guys who might need a little bit of pushing. I won't be on the field but I'll still be there watching. I just want to see how well they click without me in there, so when I get back hopefully things will keep rolling.
On the decision to come back to school
The highest I could possibly go was high second round. When I saw the letter, it didn't change things that much. I thought about it but it wasn't something that was on my mind. I felt like if it was time for me to go I wouldn't have hesitated, and I didn't have that feeling.
Maryland quarterback Sam Hollenbach
On the quarterback competition
This year, with the game experience that we all have, I think it relaxes us a little bit. We can--each one of us--has the ability to be out there and move the ball down the field. That helps me out knowing that it's been done before.
On the change for him from the start of the season last year to this year
It's pretty much a full circle of where I was at before and now. I talked to Coach Friedgen over winter break and Coach [Charlie] Taaffe, and I'm really committed to what's going on here right now. I feel pretty good about what's happening.
On his offseason regimen
I've been throwing since January until now. I have myself on tape, and am watching tape. I'm just trying to get my mechanics down, and I've had some people work with me on.
