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University of Maryland Athletics

Spring Football Practice Report No. 2

Spring Football Practice Report No. 2

April 7, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The following is the second installment of bi-weekly practice reports on the University of Maryland football team as it progresses through spring practice, 2005. Reports will run every Monday and Friday leading up to the April 30th Red/White Game at Byrd Stadium.

Tuesday, April 5

  • The team opened its first 7:30 a.m. weekday session with a change in gear and a change in the weather. Unlike the two previous practice sessions, Tuesday was a beautiful, sunny morning at the Terrapin practice facility and the Terps welcomed the weather with their first practice in full pads.
  • Overall, head coach Ralph Friedgen was pleased with the session but stated that the schedule (with many players needing to be at class by 11:00 a.m.) limited the ability to run a play over if it were not executed properly.
  • Senior wideout Derrick Fenner had the offensive play of the day, making a diving 25-yard reception on a throw from Sam Hollenbach that beat CB Gerrick McPhearson.
  • CB Josh Wilson had two picks in individual drills and LB Eric Lenz, who missed last year due to a back injury, made a nice leaping interception of a Joel Statham pass in skelly. Lenz stepped in the passing lane, timed his jump, came down and returned the ball close to the goal line.
  • Postseason awards candidate Stephon Heyer showed why he is considered the team's best pass blocker in one-on-one drills, controlling one of the team's best young tackles, Dre Moore, on a couple of occasions.
  • Injury did not keep LB D'Qwell Jackson from being a team leader. In team drills, Jackson was in the defensive huddle after almost every play, screaming encouragement and instruction for his teammates.
  • Friedgen on who stood out on Tuesday: "I think Ricardo Dickerson is going to help our offense. He is a leader. I see that out of Vernon Davis, too. So we've got some guys with some fire in them and I don't know that we had as much of that last year."

    Thursday, April 7

  • The second A.M. session for the Terps was another comfortable morning, though a little windy and overcast.
  • One notable item about this spring is the schedule that the players are maintaining when it comes to the morning practices. The typical day begins around 6:15 a.m. as they arrive at the complex, get taped up and dressed for the day. The players are on the line and ready to go by 7:30 a.m., practice until about 10:20 and then have to shower, change, eat and be to class by 11:00 a.m. They later return to the complex for lifting in the afternoon and often study hall in the evening. A full day to say the least.
  • Tight end Vernon Davis has noticably improved his strength and appears to be a better blocker already this year.
  • Friedgen stated that senior receiver Danny Melendez has had a good spring thus far. He stated that he 'seems to make plays every day.' Friedgen also commended the confidence and physicality of LB William Kershaw.
  • QB Jordan Steffy missed practice after having fluid drained from his right knee on Wednesday. The sophomore will continue to rest the knee and be monitored by the sports medicine staff before returning.
  • The team will do some scrimmaging on Saturday and next Tuesday before its first full scale scrimmage next Saturday, Apr. 16 (10 a.m.) at Byrd Stadium.
  • Friedgen on the passing game's progress: I thought the quarterbacks did some good things today. The encouraging thing is that they seem to be seeing things more. The play of our wide receivers at this point is helping them out as well."

    Dates to Remember

  • Sat., April 16 (10 am) -- Scrimmage #1
  • Sat., April 23 (10 am) -- Scrimmage #2
  • Sat., April 30 (4 pm) -- Annual Spring Game
  • For schedule updates and other info, go to the Maryland Gridiron Network website.
  • For ticket information, call the Terrapin ticker office at (800) IMA-TERP