Edsall and the Players Discuss Spring Practice (TerpsTV)
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Maryland is in its third week of spring football practice. The team completed its eighth practice of the spring Thursday evening and will hold the first of three scrimmages Saturday.
The third and final scrimmage will be the Red-White Spring game on Saturday, April 30 at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and admission is free.
The event is the culmination of Maryland Day, a University-sponsored family celebration. Gates open at noon and there will be an autograph session from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on the concourse of the stadium.
The team still has seven practices remaining before the spring game and head coach Randy Edsall and a number of players visited with the media in the Gossett Team House prior to Thursday's workout.
On (former basketball player) Cliff Tucker who joined the team as a wide receiver on Tuesday:
"It came to my attention that a school had asked to get a release on Cliff. I didn't really know that he was interested in playing football. When I found out that someone was asking for a release, I figured I might as well bring Cliff in and talk to him to see if he had an interest in playing football here at Maryland. I called over to the basketball office and left a message for Gary (Williams) to call me about him. I got Cliff's phone number and texted him and we got in touch and told him I had heard he was interested in trying out for football. He and I had some conversations then we met and sat down and talked personally. I had a chance to sit down with him and his mother. He is out there with us working with everyone. Tuesday was his first day. He caught one pass, went across the middle and got hit, which is good to see. We are working with him and seeing how he likes it and if he can improve. I told him, if this is something you want to do, you should really come out here during spring practice and see where you are. He has been involved with us since Tuesday and he's doing the lifting and everything else with us. He has been a full participant just like all of the guys are. I am anxious to see him go out there every day and work."
On Justin Anderson's move from defensive tackle back to end:
"We have only seen him (Justin Anderson) at end for one practice so far. We had a lot of numbers at tackle and the guys there have come along quite a bit. But at the end position we felt we needed more there so we moved Justin over. He has some strength, height and length that you like at that position. The technique is just a little different playing end than playing inside and using the three technique."
On offensive lineman Max Garcia's development:
"The problem is that you didn't see much of him last year. He played in the 11th game of the season and only a few plays. I like Max's toughness, his aggressiveness, his footwork and a tenacity that you need on the offensive line. He will take the bull by the horns and get the players around him excited. He has a physical presence and the tools to be successful. I just wish that he was a redshirt freshman rather than a sophomore."
On the play of the safeties:
"I feel that the safeties are the quarterbacks of the defense. Matt (Robinson) is big, tall and has range and can bring a physical presence. He's also very intelligent and understands the game very well. He can get guys lined up back there. He understands exactly what we are trying to do defensively and what the offense is trying to do. As he continues to master the techniques of coverage he is only going to get better. He has the ability to communicate very well. We just need to get him to be more vocal on the field. I like the way he handles himself and puts himself in position to make plays out there."
On a player who has stood out during spring practice:
"A guy that I like and has a ton of ability is David Mackall. I see some very good things out of him on the field. I told him that I feel he has the chance to be a great football player if he plays every play as hard as he can. That is our job to get that out of him. He has a lot of ability. We need to demand the best out of him every play. If he does that he can be a very good football player."
On the evolution of the practices this spring:
"On Tuesday I thought we took a big step. Our execution was a lot better. We understand how to practice and the tempo of practice. I see the improvement but we still have a ways to go."
On the challenges of a new coach:
"I think that anytime a new coach comes in a lot of things are different for the players. They didn't know what to expect. Now that they have gone out there and seen us, I think that they like the way we practice, both the structure of practice and how much we get done. As a head coach it is my responsibility to bring everything together. I have to bring the players, coaches, trainers, managers and everyone together as one. For the most part, I think that everything has gone pretty smoothly. In the beginning it's tough to get everyone together and communicate exactly what is expected."
On the play of the quarterbacks:
"I think that C.J. (Brown), like some other guys, has stepped up and done very well. Danny (O'Brien) is doing well and getting accustomed to what we are doing. Danny is a guy that hadn't played much out of the shotgun. We need to work on him with his technique. He is throwing the ball better and getting the timing down. C.J. is a guy who is doing good things. My hope is that not only with the quarterbacks but all positions that we have a solid two deep coming out of the spring. At the quarterback position I feel like we have that. Hopefully going into September 5 we have two solid quarterbacks. I want the kids to feel like every day you are being evaluated. You need to be at your best each and every day. You can't get complacent and rest on what you did in the past. I want the mindset that you are out there competing and someone is breathing down my neck trying to take my job. If everyone plays with that mindset, you have the ability to be a very good football team."
On the group fitting into his scheme:
"We will do the things that we want to do in order to get the guys into it. That's why we made the moves on defense in order to get the 11 best guys on the field. When you do that you can play any scheme that you want to. Offensively, we are going to take advantage of the talents that we have. What we do will fit our talent as well as what we have coming in. Scheming and talent-wise we are matching up with what we can do. As we continue through the spring we are going to find out exactly what the best thing that each one of our young men can do and create a game plan going into the fall."
Sophomore Offensive Lineman Max Garcia
On his strengths and weaknesses:
"I feel like I am very agile. I am flexible and able to stay low. I need to work on my technique and my first step. That's the most important step and what I'm trying to improve on this spring. The coaches have told me I have some physical ability and can make the lead block. It's just getting the technique down that is my weakness at this point."
On his experience from last season:
"Everything happens for a reason. I really did gain a lot from the two games I played in. Playing in the first half of the Military Bowl I got a feel of where I stand on a collegiate level. I also played in the Florida State game. Playing in those two halves I really got a feel of where I stand mentally and if I am ready to be out on the field or not."
Junior Defensive Lineman Joe Vellano
On Max Garcia:
"He is very athletic. He always blocks somebody even if it's not the right guy. He is working on the right technique but he is a natural athlete. Last year in practice he got a lot of reps with the first team so he can adjust into playing with them easily. Unfortunately, he burned his redshirt. He did get a lot of experience on the game field. There is no doubt he can play."
On Matt Robinson:
"He got a lot of reps last year as a true freshman. It is his second year but he is still a younger guy. He is a natural runner and athlete. The biggest thing is transitioning into the new calls and getting used to things. With the new coaches and scheme you just need to transition from the old calls into the new calls. The lingo is different so it's just getting used to that."
On his goals for the spring:
"My goal is to be a leader. I am trying to learn the whole defense so I know what everyone is doing. As a safety if someone misses their coverage it's your responsibility to make sure that they are backed up."
On the new defense:
"I really like it. Last year I felt like we were playing very deep. We were much more of a man matchup team last year. Now we are playing some zone. I like the zone and the pressure of the defense."
On the safety unit overall:
"We both have a lot of range and are willing to hit if needed. We are playing closer this year so that will be an advantage with our physicality."
On the challenges of the spring:
"The biggest challenge is learning the new schemes and learning it fast. We are going 100 miles per hour in practice. Everyone is trying to learn on their feet. Everyone is trying to get a feel for one another as we move toward the fall."
On learning the new defense and position:
"It's not too different. Coach Edsall and Coach Bradford have been talking to me about the new defensive scheme. They said I would be best suited as an end. Switching positions isn't as difficult as switching defenses. I have played multiple positions before. I just need to learn the defense now."
On the switch from defensive tackle to end:
"Based off my playing style (the coaches) thought tackle would be best for me. When I was out at practice they thought I could play both the end and tackle. During practice they saw me play and felt like my game could work out on the end."
