Spring Prospectus (PDF)
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The evaluation process continues for Randy Edsall and his staff as the Maryland football team held its second scrimmage of the spring Saturday at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium, the site of the annual Red-White game.
Edsall likes the progression the team made during its fourth week of practice.
"I thought that last week we made improvements," Edsall said Monday on a conference call with reporters. "I thought we got better in a lot of different areas. I thought our scrimmage on Saturday went well."
But the first-year head coach is looking for a certain level of consistency from the Terps who return 13 offensive and defensive starters from last season's 9-4 squad.
"I think we're making progress, but we're not going to be where I want us to be until we all learn how to play every play like it's [your] last [one]," Edsall said. "That's the thing we're building toward, and the players are getting used to that kind of effort - play in and play out."
The Terps will practice Tuesday and Thursday before the Red-White Spring game which is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
"Overall, I was pleased with [last] week," Edsall said. "We got a lot accomplished. We got our offense and defense installed and I'm looking forward to the last two days, in terms of practice, where we can finish up some things and just put a couple more things in here to finish up the spring and just let the kids have fun on Saturday."
Saturday's game, which will feature four 12-minute quarters, caps off Maryland Day, a campus-wide family celebration.
Admission is free to the game. Edsall and the players will hold an autograph session from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the west concourse. Gate I (south side) and Gate F (west side) will open at noon.
Red-White Spring Game Schedule
Saturday, April 30
3:30 p.m.: Kickoff
"Selection Saturday" From noon to 3:30 p.m. fans will have an opportunity to select seats in our premium Mezzanine section or general public seating areas of the stadium for the 2011 season.
Terp Notes:
In Control Under Center: Like his teammates, Danny O'Brien is learning another offensive system, though the soon-to-be sophomore seems to be getting a better grasp of coordinator Gary Crowton's playbook by the day. Edsall said the 2010 ACC Rookie of the Year had another good scrimmage Saturday "I see him getting more comfortable with what we're doing," Edsall said. "I'm very comfortable with Danny. When you're putting something new in, it's not going to come overnight. What I like to see are those very good players who get better with each practice and each week. You can see that progression taking shape with him and I think that's going to continue. I think he has a really good feel of everything we're doing."
No Shakeup at Wideout: Kevin Dorsey, Kerry Boykins and Ronnie Tyler remain atop the depth chart at wide receiver. "Kevin Dorsey made some nice plays on Saturday," Edsall said. "I think he is getting better. Ronnie Tyler made a couple plays on Saturday. That was good to see. Kerry Boykins [did] the same thing. Those are really the top three right now."
Personnel Update: Taylor Watson will graduate this summer and not play football in the fall. Watson played in 28 career games at running back and on special teams. After a preseason knee injury, Watson played in the final 11 games last year, including three starts at fullback. Senior Haroon Brown and redshirt freshman Rahsaan Moore will battle for the starting role ... R.J. Dill (knee) and Gary Douglas (hamstring) did not participate in the scrimmage. Dill's absence allowed Nick Klemm to get the majority of the snaps at right tackle ... Nigel King, a freshman wide receiver who enrolled in January, will be able to practice with the team while he goes through an appeal with the NCAA. "This is a process that we'll just have to go through," Edsall said. The head coach doesn't think he'll play in the spring game ... Josh Cary has moved to No. 1 on the depth chart at right guard. Returning starter Justin Lewis is rehabbing from an off-season injury and Pete White has missed practice time this spring ... Andre Monroe has the edge at the defensive tackle position next to Joe Vellano. "A.J. Francis is battling in there to try and win a job and win snaps," Edsall said. Darius Kilgo, Maurice Hampton, Justin Anderson and Zachariah Kerr are also battling for time at the two tackle spots.
