April 5, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The Maryland football team is now a third of the way through the spring season after completing its fifth workout Thursday.
It may be April, but it seemed more like a late fall practice at the Terps on-campus workout facility as temperatures were in the 40s with a wind-chill factor making it feel in the low 30s.
The team continued to install different offensive and defensive schemes. Tuesday's session featured the installation of the option attack, while Thursday's practice gave the defense a chance to put in some blitz packages.
"The defense played pretty well today," said head coach Ralph Friedgen. "This was the first time that we implemented a lot of pressure schemes, so some of the young guys lost their poise on offense. That's not unusual, though. But we need to work on getting better with that. Josh Portis had some trouble with that. He couldn't handle the handoff in a few situations, but overall he is way ahead of where I thought he would be at this point."
Early on Portis and Jordan Steffy didn't look quite as sharp as they have in previous practices, but rebounded nicely in the final 30 minutes of the workout.
In the third down drill, Steffy started to come around. He connected with running back Lance Ball and tight end Joey Haynos for first downs before completing a strike to wide receiver Stephon Smalls down the middle. Smalls, however, paid dearly for the catch as linebacker Erin Henderson put the hit of the day on the redshirt freshman, knocking him to the ground.
In the final 11-on-11 session, Portis had the longest completion of the day, connecting with Darruis Heyward-Bey on a 45-yard touchdown pass. Heyward-Bey, a freshman All-America in 2006, leaped over safety J.J. Justice and cornerback Richard Taylor to haul in the pass.
The Terps showed a different look at running back with Morgan Green and Pha'Terrell Washington getting a number of carries.
Green has been in a battle with fellow redshirt freshman Da'Rel Scott for carries behind Ball and Keon Lattimore, while Washington was just recently moved to the backfield from defensive back.
Ball and Lattimore are expected to get the bulk of the snaps at tailback in the fall. However, Lattimore and Scott have missed time this week, opening opportunities for the young backs.
The Terps will have their first litmus test of the spring Saturday when they are scheduled to scrimmage during the second half of practice. Saturday's practice gets underway at 10 a.m.
After Saturday, the Terps will have one more scrimmage before the annual Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 28 (3:30 p.m.).
Terps Notes: The department of athletics announced Wednesday that the Terps contest vs. Virginia on Oct. 20 will serve as the annual Homecoming Game.
