Listen to the Spring Game
LIKE! Maryland Athletics on Facebook
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Maryland is in its final week of spring football practice. The team completed its 14th workout of the spring Thursday evening and will hold the annual Red-White Game Saturday.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium and admission is free.
Campus will have a festive atmosphere prior to the game as the University celebrates Maryland Day, an annual open house.
Head coach Randy Edsall and the Terp players will hold an autograph session from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at on the Byrd concourse.
Edsall, some of the assistant coaches and a few players visited with the media prior to Thursday's practice.
Opening Statement:
"Spring ball is winding down. Today we have a helmet practice, the third one that we are required to have by NCAA rules. Today will be a lighter day for the guys.
"We have broken up the (spring game roster) into the Red team and the White team. The Red team comprises the first team offense and the second and third team defenses together. The White team is the first defense and the second and third offense. We divided the team, coaches, and staff up because we consider this high stakes.
"On Wednesday the winners will get steak and shrimp and the losers will get beans and franks. We try to make it competitive and let them go out there and have some fun. I win because I am not part of any team on Saturday. It's another day to evaluate the guys and in the beginning of next week we will put together a depth chart based in part on the game. Hopefully the next two practices we will get better and stay away from injury. If we can do that I think we will have gotten out of this spring what we hoped to."
On the format of the Red-White Spring game:
"We are going to play four 12-minute quarters with a 12-minute halftime. We will play it as a regular game with officials. We will do kickoffs and returns but it won't be live. We will do punts and returns and that will be live but we will make the returners fair catch. It's not going to be a situation where we show our whole hand and everything we have been working on. It's a chance for the kids to go out there and establish themselves and make a statement of where they are going to be on the depth chart the following week."
On the positives and negatives he has seen:
"The thing that concerns me the most is that we need to get more mentally tough. I don't think that we are mentally tough enough for football. That's not going to happen over the next week. I was thinking about naming captains at the spring game. That's something that I have done before. I don't think we are ready to make that decision. I am still waiting to see who is going to be a leader on this football team and I haven't seen enough to make a vote on that. We are going to wait until the preseason to make that decision and see who steps up over the summer.
"It's tough being a leader. A lot of people shy away from it but I am waiting to see who wants to step up and take that role of being a leader. Who is going to be that guy that in a game makes sure everything is going the way it should be and lives up to the reputation we have for this program? These are the areas I am concerned about.
"I am pleased about the progression of the guys picking up and understanding the schemes we are involved with. The defensive backs have had a complete change in the techniques and schemes we use compared to what they are used to. I have seen those guys getting better. Guys are working hard to master the new techniques and what we want to do."
On linebacker Darin Drakeford:
"I have liked what I have seen out of Drake. He is very focused. He wants to be good and wants to work. He made some mistakes early on, but after correcting him, he went out and played the way we want him to. Football is very important to him. That is another thing that is important in the spring, going out and finding out how important being on this team is to them. Drake is a guy who football, getting his degree and doing the best he can (are) all important to him. He needs to continue to work hard but he has ability and production that I am looking for."
On center Bennett Fulper:
"Bennett is a worker and very smart. The thing he needs to work on over the summer is he needs to work on his footwork and get quicker. That's what he will be stressed to do this summer. He is a guy who can make all of the calls out there. He has the physical and mental toughness. He needs to be the guy who makes the call about what the defense is putting out there in front of our line. I think he has done a good job with that. I think he went out and played and worked hard all spring. He didn't play like he was coming off of an injury."
On running back Jeremiah Wilson:
"He is a guy who has flashes. I am not looking for the flash but I am looking for the substance, the things that happen each and every day. He has ability and the athleticism that I like in a running back. He needs to put on some weight, get stronger and stay healthy. If he does that he has the opportunity to earn himself some playing time. He is a good kid and someone who needed all 15 days of practice. Injuries have held him back a little but he does have the skills that we are looking for in a running back."
On his message to former Maryland and Connecticut players entered in the draft:
"Torrey (Smith) was here this morning. We got a chance to see him and wish him well. I wish all of the guys here at Maryland and the seven guys I had up at Connecticut well. I texted them last night and wished them luck in the draft. It's a tremendous opportunity and a big day for them. They might have a chance to continue what they are passionate about in the future. If they weren't passionate about what they are doing they wouldn't be in this position. To be drafted is special, but if you're not, you still have an opportunity as a free agent. I have told everyone to enjoy the process and regardless of where they are drafted to go out and prove themselves."
Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach Todd Bradford
On the defense's strategy:
"We are going to be aggressive, have multiple fronts and coverages. We are going to take some of the game out of the offensive coordinator's hand and into the quarterback's hand on the field. With the offensive coordinator calling multiple plays we need to be able to adjust enough to make the quarterback make decisions after the ball gets snapped. We have bright kids here and that allows us to do multiple things and keep the quarterback guessing."
On the position changes:
"We want to get as many guys on the field that can run as possible. We want to get guys into position where they can do what they do best. We want to put pressure on the quarterback and our position changes are focused on doing that."
On the transition of the defense:
"Some days I am very pleased where we are and other days I think we can do better. I think it's a learning curve for the coaches as well as the players. We have all new players and coaches and there is no carry over for anyone. Some days where we have gotten it, things have been good. Other days we have thrown a lot at them and it could have been better. Overall, the base schemes they have a good understanding of and we are pleased with that. We are pleased with our personnel and having the guys where we want them. We will count on some talent coming in with our recruiting class. We still have 31 days of practice before we play a game. We wish we had more than that but we will be ready to go when Miami comes in to town."
On the defensive backs:
"I think we have some talented players in our defensive backs. Our two safeties (Matt Robinson and Eric Franklin) are very talented and are very smart guys. They can get us in and out of coverages as needed. The corners are a talented bunch. We will play a lot of guys out there. They have had some good days and bad days. I would expect the competition to continue until the first game and maybe beyond that."
On David Mackall:
"I think that David (Mackall) moving down (to defensive line) has the potential to be a special kid. He has done things the right way. He has done everything he can to be the best he can. He knows it's the best thing for the team and how he can help us out the best."
On the defense's talent:
"We will make the system fit the guys that we have. We aren't going to try and fit a round peg in a square hole. We have a philosophy of what we want to do on defense that starts with Coach Edsall. The great thing about the defense we are running is it's flexible enough that we can change into something if we need to. We want to exploit our players' strengths."
On the linebackers:
"I think all three of our linebackers had a good spring. (Demetrius) Hartsfield, (Darin) Drakeford and (Kenny) Tate have all done a nice job in their leadership and pace setting. All three of them have played a lot of football and know what it takes to be successful."
On A.J. Francis and Andre Monroe:
"They are in a battle. A.J. (Francis) can play multiple spots on the defensive line. Andre (Monroe) is not a very big guy but he has caused fits with his athleticism. I would expect to see a bunch of guys in all of our games this year."
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Gary Crowton
On the talent on the offense:
"I feel like our first line is pretty good. We have some injuries that people are recovering from as the season goes on. I like the first line and feel like the second line is getting better. The backs, I think (Davin) Meggett and D.J. (Adams) have had a good spring. They both run hard and work hard and I have been impressed. (Matt) Furstenburg is our tight end and I like what I have seen out of him. Furstenburg had a good spring and Devonte (Campbell) has gotten better. I am happy with how they are progressing. With our receivers, losing Torrey (Smith) is tough because he is a great player. I think our receivers are solid and growing in the system. I feel good about our first unit; it's our depth that needs to increase. With a 12-game season we need to prepare for that with our depth. I like the talent we have."
On the running back situation:
"I think that at this day and age you need to use more than one back. We will have a starter and they will get the most reps and (Davin) Meggett and (D.J.) Adams are battling for that. All good teams have to use two backs. Backs take such a pounding both of them have to be ready to take reps."
On the quarterbacks adjusting to the new system:
"It has been good. Danny (O'Brien) is a good communicator. I think that C.J. (Brown) is a good communicator too. Our meetings are open discussions. We are discussing coverage, reads, what they see, where their eyes are and we have had some great discussions in our meetings. I think that is very positive. It has been a good process because they are such hard workers. They learned the last offense very well, especially considering they were just freshmen. With myself coming in, there is a lot of teaching that they have had that needs to be readjusted. They need to focus on what we are doing now and not things they have done in the past."
Special Teams/Outside Linebackers Coach Lyndon Johnson
On place-kicker/punter Nick Ferrara:
"I think he is very versatile. He is an excellent kicker and a stronger punter than I anticipated. He has had a lot of reps to show himself and he has taken advantage of that. He is a very hard worker and has come a long way. He is very good at punting, kicking and doing kickoffs so that is a great advantage that he is so versatile."
On the progress of the special teams:
"I think we are on track to where we need to go. There is always a lot of work to do. The number of athletes we have at our disposal is a plus. A lot of guys want to be a part of the specials teams and work hard at it which helps make it as successful as it has been."
On who has been impressive this spring:
"Dexter McDougle has had a great spring. Trenton Hughes has done a great job. We have a bunch of other guys who have been working hard but those are two guys that really jumped out at me."
