|
LB
Kenny Tate |
2011
SCHEDULE
|
9-5-11 |
MIAMI
FL (Mon.) |
9-17-11 |
WEST
VIRGINIA |
9-24-11 |
TEMPLE |
10-1-11 |
TOWSON |
10-8-11 |
at
Georgia Tech |
10-15-11 |
CLEMSON |
10-22-11 |
at
Florida State |
10-29-11 |
BOSTON
COLLEGE |
11-5-11 |
VIRGINIA |
11-12-11 |
vs.
Notre Dame |
11-19-11 |
at
Wake Forest |
11-26-11 |
at
North Carolina State |
|
Coach:
Randy Edsall
1st
year |
2010
Statistics |
2010
RESULTS: 9-4 |
vs.
Navy |
WON
17-14 |
MORGAN
STATE |
WON
62-3 |
at
West Virginia |
LOST
17-31 |
FIU |
WON
42-28 |
DUKE |
WON
21-16 |
at
Clemson |
LOST
7-31 |
at
Boston College |
WON
24-21 |
WAKE
FOREST |
WON
62-14 |
at
Miami FL |
LOST
20-26 |
at
Virginia |
WON
42-23 |
FLORIDA
STATE |
LOST
16-30 |
NC
STATE |
WON
38-31 |
MILITARY
BOWL |
East
Carolina |
WON
51-20 |
|
|
|
COACHES
Head
Coach: Randy Edsall
Previous: Connecticut Head Coach
Off.
Coordinator/Quarterbacks:
Gary Crowton
Previous: LSU Off. Coor./QB
Coach
Def.
Coordinator/Defensive Backs:
Todd Bradford
Previous: Southern Miss Def.
Coor./DB Coach
Running
Backs: Andre Powell
Previous: Clemson RB/Special
Teams Coach
Wide
Receivers: Lee Hull
Previous: Maryland WR Coach
Tight
Ends: John Dunn
Previous: LSU Graduate Assistant
Offensive
Line: Tom Brattan
Previous: Maryland OL Coach
Defensive
Line: Greg Gattuso
Previous: Pitt DL Coach
Inside
Linebackers: Keith
Dudzinski
Previous: UMass-Amherst Def.
Coor.
Outside
Linebackers/Special Teams: Lyndon
Johnson
Previous: Connecticut OLB/Special
Teams Coach |
|
2010 Final Rankings
AP-23, Coaches-24, BCS-NR
|
OUTLOOK |
Maryland
enters a new era as head
coach Randy Edsall takes
over the program following
a 12-year coaching stint
at BCS-aligned UConn.
He will replace beloved
Maryland savior Ralph
Friedgen, who spent the
last ten years making
Terrapin Football respectable
again. Considering what
the Terps had created
during the 1990s, where
they saw one bowl game
appearance in total, that
Friedgen presumption may
be an understatement.
Make no mistake, Friedgen
was fired, let go, didn't
have his contract renewed.
Whatever they call it,
the move seems to have
split the Maryland fan
base between Friedgen
supporters and those that
seek a new identity.
The
University administration
wants more people in the
seats as ticket sales
have dwindled. Despite
this being a longtime
Byrd Stadium curse where
a 50,000 seat stadium
rarely ever gets a sell
out, they have decided
to hire Edsall in hopes
that his vanilla 13-6
type of victories can
intrigue the locals living
beside this metropolitan
campus. Plain vanilla
might be the best description
of new Maryland football
coach Randy Edsall, especially
when it comes to dealing
with the media. Questions
often get addressed with
non-answers. Ask him what
offense or defense he
plans on running and he
will reply "multiple"
- a definition that means
nothing. Players and coaches
have been kept away from
speaking with the media
while practices have remained
closed. For now, the media
must make educated guesses
about the upcoming season.
Maryland Football needs
as much exposure as it
can possibly dish out,
something Edsall all but
eliminated. Only time
will tell through wins
and losses if this hire
was worth it.
The
biggest changes anyone
has been able to ascertain
came from a pre-spring
press conference where
Edsall unveiled a depth
chart for the first time.
Two aspects stand out.
All-Conference safety
Kenny Tate has been moved
to linebacker and the
defense will feature two
new position names: Rock
and Star. Further, nine
players overall (mostly
at these two spots) have
changed positions. Star
has been described as
a hybrid position combining
defensive back and linebacker
responsibilities, and
the line up is comprised
entirely of players who
were safeties in 2010.
Rock is essentially a
rush-end position and
is being manned entirely
by players recruited as
linebackers. This will
still be a 4-3 base front
with the ability to morph
into a nickel back alignment
thanks to the versatility
of the new hybrid positions.
The secondary moves from
man coverage to a preventative
zone type of scheme.
The
entire defensive coaching
staff has been retooled.
In fact, other than retaining
receivers coach Lee Hull
and offensive line coach
Tom Brattan, the entire
staff will be new to College
Park.
The
changes on offense may
not be so apparent. No
more two-tight end sets
may be the only noticeable
alignment difference.
While Edsall's history
shows us something more
along the lines of conservative,
the Maryland Red and White
scrimmage was anything
but. New offensive coordinator
Gary Crowton has obviously
influenced this mood.
The former quarterback
has a reputation for spreading
the field. The offense
is emphasizing breaking
the huddle quickly while
implementing an extremely
fast paced tempo. Many
of the Maryland players
have spent the off-season
studying the 2010 Oregon
offense that has made
waves with its quick snap
theories. Quarterback
Danny O'Brien seems to
be rolling out of the
pocket way more compared
to a year ago while claiming
that changes are coming
in the running game too.
While Davin Meggett is
still the first option,
no one is still quite
sure what those changes
might be.
There
is still a youth movement
under construction on
Route 1 as Maryland is
left with only ten scholarship
seniors signifying that
the first year under Edsall
may not be his best. The
severe lack of depth continues
to be a worrisome issue.
The injury bug, especially
on the offensive line
and at linebacker, would
prove to have a devastating
bite.
The
first four games being
at home are a sure bonus.
The nationally televised
Labor Day opener with
Miami will be titanic
for both programs under
new coaching regimes.
Other than a match up
with FCS level Towson,
the remainder of the schedule
does not offer a single
weekend where Maryland
can afford to rest the
starters.
With
ACC Rookie of the Year
Danny O'Brien behind center,
the 2011 prognosis appears
to be bright. A realistic
goal is chasing an ACC
Divisional Championship.
That attitude has not
been altered. Getting
BCS bowl bound by winning
the conference is still
a long shot at best.
Winning
60 percent of your games
over the long haul as
a UM head coach would
be priceless. Only four
coaches in the history
of Maryland Football that
have coached more than
one season have accomplished
this feat. Terrapin legends
Bobby Ross, Jerry Claiborne
and Jim Tatum were the
first three. Ralph Friedgen
was the last.
|
Projected
2011 record: 8-4
|
|
|
RB
Davin Meggett |
MARYLAND
2010 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
82 |
8 |
Passing: |
65 |
6 |
Total
Off: |
80 |
9 |
Sacks
Allow: |
46 |
4 |
|
DEFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
21 |
3 |
Passing: |
78 |
10 |
Total
Def: |
39 |
6 |
Sacks: |
47 |
7 |
|
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Danny O'Brien, 192-337-8,
2438 yds., 22 TD
Rushing: Davin
Meggett, 126 att., 731
yds., 4 TD
Receiving: Quintin
McCree, 16 rec., 188 yds.
1 TD
Scoring: D.J. Adams,
11 TD, 66 pts.
Punting: None
Kicking: None
Tackles: Kenny
Tate, 100 tot., 58 solo
Sacks: Joe Vellano,
5 sacks
Interceptions:
Kenny Tate, 3 for 81 yds.,
1 TD; Eric Franklin, 3
for 57 yds.
Kickoff Returns:
Dexter McDougle, 5 ret.,
14.2 avg., 0 TD
Punt Returns: Tony
Logan, 31 ret., 18.1 avg.,
2 TD
|
|
|
|
|
|
MARYLAND
2011
College Football Preview
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 7 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 7 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Da'Rel Scott-TB, Taylor
Watson-FB, Adrian Cannon-WR,
LaQuan Williams-WR, Will
Yeatman-TE, Paul Pinegar-OT,
Travis Baltz-K/P, Torrey
Smith-WR/KR (NFL) |
DEFENSE:
Drew
Gloster-DE, Adrian Moten-SLB,
Alex Wujciak-MLB, Antwine
Perez-SS |
|
|
2011
OFFENSE |
QUARTERBACK
Back in early April there was
talk from the new coaching staff
that last season's ACC Rookie
of the Year Danny O'Brien was
in a heated battle with redshirt
freshman C.J. Brown for the
starting job. While that may
have been an early spring plot,
the later predictions to close
out April with the annual Red
and White Scrimmage were quite
different. Whatever competition
may have existed is in the past,
Danny O'Brien is still by far
the top dog behind center as
he threw for 199 yards and two
touchdowns in the spring finale,
including a beautiful 65-yard
touchdown pass on the first
play from scrimmage to make
this a closed case. O'Brien
looks comfortable in the pocket
and is throwing the ball accurately.
The third year sophomore has
been and continues to be one
of the Terps' biggest strengths.
Brown is returning from a broken
collarbone suffered last season
and has yet to turn the corner
mentally grasping the playbook,
although he does possess the
physical tools and will make
for a promising back up. Quick-footed
Jamarr Robinson, who was the
starting quarterback at the
beginning of last year before
making way for O'Brien, has
transferred.
RUNNING
BACK
The lightning fraction of this
backfield is history. Da'Rel
Scott, who posted the fastest
40-yard dash time of any player
at the 2011 NFL Combine, has
departed leaving the Terps with
an extremely bulky set of rushers.
Both Meggett and Adams are projected
to share the carries and both
tilt the scale at over 215 pounds.
Meggett was the team leading
rusher last fall and will be
the first option. Adams posted
a team-high 11 rushing touchdowns
and is going to get plenty of
opportunities. These backs are
built to run between the tackles.
Don't expect too much in regards
to turning the corner on the
outside, as that may be a better
suit for the passing attack
where Gary Douglas is proving
to be a nice pass-catching option
out of the backfield. Redshirt
frosh Jeremiah Wilson has been
recently converted from cornerback
and has the top speed and agility
of the group so don't count
him out as a fourth option.
This backfield took a loss when
starting senior fullback Taylor
Watson graduated early and decided
not to return. Half way into
last season Watson was sidelined
with an injury and wide body
Haroon Brown at 260 pounds picked
up the slack while proving to
be a very effective blocker.
This was the 82nd best rushing
attack in the country last year.
Much of that had to do with
all the passes O'Brien was attempting.
Head Coach Randy Edsall likes
to establish the ground game
first. Offensive coordinator
Gary Crowton doesn't. It will
be interesting to see how they
divide the mix.
RECEIVER
As the spring developed, Coach
Edsall become more and more
confident that these receivers
were all on the same page while
learning a new system. The top
three targets have consistently
proven to be Kevin Dorsey, Ronnie
Tyler and Kerry Boykins. The
men who primarily filled those
roles in 2010 are all gone.
Torrey Smith, Adrian Cannon
and LaQuan Williams were big
time contributors with the first
two being at the top of the
pass catching leader board.
Kevin Dorsey was an All-American
recruit coming out of nearby
Forestville Academy and it's
his time to shine. Coming off
a strong showing in the Military
Bowl, Dorsey is being counted
on to fill the shoes of new
Baltimore Raven second round
NFL draft choice Torrey Smith.
The most experienced receiver
on this list by far is Ronnie
Tyler who has battled academic
problems through out his career
but has been able to record
a team best 61 career receptions.
The senior looks like he could
be the top option for O'Brien.
Boykins impressed last year
in spots and excels as a special
teams performer while being
one of the better blockers.
All the hub-bub continues to
revolve around former Terrapin
basketball player Cliff Tucker
who has decided to give football
a shot in this his last College
Park season. The 6'6 senior
has not played football since
his El Paso, TX high school
days and admittedly looks extremely
rusty. He is a project that
needs more time on the field.
Keep an eye out for Florida
transfer Adrian Coxson to make
a move at some point in the
fall. Coaches say the Baltimore
City College product still has
a ways to go but he does possess
the most athleticism. There
is also a ton of young talent
waiting in the wings such as
converted quarterback Devin
Burns, one of the speedy gems
of the 2011 recruiting class
Tyrek Cheeseboro and Quintin
McCree, who played in every
game but one last season. Yes,
gone are some of the top pass
catchers, but this corps of
receivers is an incredible well
of depth.
TIGHT
END
Another change from the Friedgen
coaching scheme will be the
removal of the two-tight end
set. Maryland will utilize only
one. That honor goes to Matt
Furstenburg, the junior from
New Jersey who was a four-star
prospect coming out of high
school where he was also an
All-American lacrosse player.
Furstenburg had a quietly productive
outing last year snaring 12
passes. New offensive coordinator
Gary Crowton has never been
one to make great use out of
this spot so it will be interesting
to see how this translates to
the field. Dave Stinebaugh has
been impressive but was out
this spring with injury. In
his absence, Devonte Campbell,
who has played both fullback
and tight end has seen his share
of the reps. This will be an
intriguing battle to see who
takes over the No. 2 spot come
August camp.
OFFENSIVE
LINE
Some aspects have changed and
some have not. The fact remains
that Maryland is void of an
award winning offensive lineman.
The new coaching staff will
still be dealing with the same
issue as the one prior; depth
and top tier talent is desperately
thin. As last year progressed,
this bunch gradually improved
despite some of the shortcomings.
Another injured ACL setback
to starting left tackle Justin
Gilbert will leave him sidelined
through September. That will
not help the confidence level
of a young quarterback. The
only silver lining is that his
replacement Max Garcia has earned
the praise of coaches that note
how Garcia has a great future
in this program with his attitude
and mental toughness. R.J. Dill
has played tackle on both the
right and left side and has
performed well. Dill is one
of the more experience linemen
on the roster. Pete DeSouza
is still recovering from a scooter
accident, which has allowed
Nick Klemm to become the third
tackle in the rotation. The
big move was the emergence of
Josh Cary into the starting
right guard spot where Justin
Lewis was the starter last year.
This move comes out of seemingly
nowhere and could prove to be
a beneficial development in
terms of depth. Former walk-on
Andrew Gonnella is the only
senior offensive lineman on
the entire roster. He and Bennett
Fulper will continue to man
the middle of the line at guard
and center respectively. Their
veteran presence can be a sign
of better things to come. The
main problem is the numbers
game. Most coaches want ten
capable linemen for a two-deep
depth chart but Maryland may
only have eight. Of the most
concern is at left tackle where
an injury to Max Garcia would
force a ton of reshuffling that
would only continue to hinder
the chemistry. This can be an
effective group when healthy,
but it also remains to be seen
if they can open some holes
for a running game that has
all but disappeared.
|
|
WR/PR
Tony Logan
|
|
|
MARYLAND
2011 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Danny
O'Brien-So (6-3, 215) |
C.J.
Brown-So (6-3, 200) |
FB |
Haroon
Brown-Sr (5-11, 260) |
Rahsaan
Moore-RFr (6-2, 245) |
TB |
Davin
Meggett-Sr (5-9, 215) |
D.J.
Adams-So (5-10, 220) |
WR |
Kevin
Dorsey-Jr (6-2, 205) |
Devin
Burns-RFr (6-2, 185)
Tyrek Cheeseboro-Fr
(6-0, 180) |
WR |
Kerry
Boykins-Jr (6-0, 200) |
Tony
Logan-Sr (5-10,
180) (PR) |
Cliff
Tucker-Sr (6-6,
205) |
|
WR |
Ronnie
Tyler-Sr (5-9, 185) |
Quintin
McCree-Sr (6-1, 190)
Adrian Coxson-RFr
(6-1, 203) |
TE |
Matt
Fustenburg-Jr (6-4,
245) |
Dave
Stinebaugh-So (6-4,
240)
Devonte Campbell-Jr
(6-2, 255) |
OT |
Max
Garcia-So (6-4, 290) |
Justin
Gilbert-Jr (6-6, 300) |
OG |
Andrew
Gonnella-Sr (6-5,
295) |
Pete
White-So (6-4, 300) |
C |
Bennett
Fulper-Jr (6-4, 295) |
Sal
Conaboy-RFr (6-3,
265) |
OG |
Josh
Cary-So (6-5, 300) |
Justin
Lewis-Jr (6-3, 315) |
OT |
R.J.
Dill-Jr (6-7, 300) |
Nick
Klemm-So (6-5, 290) |
K |
Nick
Ferrara-Jr (6-0, 200) |
Nathan
Renfro-Fr (6-2, 200) |
|
|
|
2011
DEFENSE |
DEFENSIVE
LINE
There was much needed improvement
a year ago on the defensive
line although this group still
lacks a marquee sack producer
on the edge. With three quarters
of the starting unit returning
there is hope that this coming
season could carry the torch
a bit further. Tackle Joe Vellano
offers a big reason why better
days are ahead. The All-ACC
honoree has battled injuries
and a lackluster prep resume
to become one of the most surprising
performers in the entire lineup.
He has transformed his magical
spring practice ethics into
fall Saturday brilliance. Another
newer surprising development
is the move of Andre Monroe
to the top of the depth chart
at nose tackle. At present,
he has outworked A.J. Francis,
a former Freshman All-American
and steady starter the past
two years. Some see this as
a temporary maneuver. At the
least it builds much needed
depth on the inside where fresh
legs prove to be crucial late
in games. At defensive end is
Justin Anderson who has made
a living shifting from tackle
to end. He can play both when
needed given his size at 6'5
but seems better suited to line
up outside where he is a physical
mismatch with many blocking
tight ends. One of the most
glaring team changes schematically
will be the new Rock position
on this defensive line. Rock
is essentially a rush end manned
by players recruited as linebackers.
David Mackall and Bradley Johnson
are coming off well-represented
freshman campaigns but this
seems to be an ongoing project
with several possibilities considering
the need for a newly found pass
rush. Defensive line coach Greg
Gattuso will take over after
spending the last six seasons
under Dave Wannstedt at Pitt.
Luckily, he has been handed
a better set of players to work
with compared to what Maryland
has produced the past three
or four seasons.
LINEBACKER
There is also a new position
at linebacker which coaches
have named Star. It's only natural
that the "star" of
this defense should man the
Star position. That would be
Kenny Tate, the NationalChamps.net
2011 Preseason All-American
free safety. The move of Tate
to linebacker was one of the
bolder moves of any ACC team.
The Star position will mostly
be made up of former safeties,
which now makes Tate (the team's
second leading tackler last
season) an even more dominant
presence against the run. Tate
certainly has bulked up in size
making the move seem more logical
but he now won't have as much
freedom to roam as he did last
year where he also notched three
interceptions. Linebacker was
one of the better units on this
team a year ago. Finding someone
to fill the shoes of long time
top tackler Alex Wujciak was
a priority. Demetrius Hartsfield
has been moved to the middle
from his outside linebacker
spot of a year ago where he
registered 88 tackles. Hartsfield
has the size to handle the physical
rigors of playing inside but
expect a learning curve for
the experienced junior. Darin
Drakeford has freakish potential
at the other outside linebacker
spot. He quietly put together
an impressive sophomore campaign
last year posting six tackles
for loss.
DEFENSIVE
BACK
If coaches could point to a
weak spot last year, at least
statistically, it would have
been in the secondary where
the ACC's tenth rated pass defense
struggled. So there will be
a move from predominant man
coverage, where many felt the
backers were playing way too
deep, to more zone coverage.
But that doesn't mean the corners
will not be put on an island
once the receiver gets past
six yards down field. Two-year
starter Cameron Chism and fellow
senior Trenton Hughes give the
Terps plenty of experience on
the corner. After a breakout
sophomore outing where he recorded
four picks, Chism disappointed
as a junior. He needs to rise
up, as coaches seem to be pushing
for him to play more of a leadership
role with Antwine Perez graduating
and Kenny Tate moving to linebacker.
Cameron Chism’s 23 consecutive
starts are tops on the team.
Coach Edsall has commended his
safeties for the progress made
this spring. Matt Robinson,
who played as a true freshman
last year in back up duty has
the size but lacks top end speed.
The previous coaching staff
decided to take a chance on
the underrated recruit and it
looks like that gamble may pay
off. Eric Franklin made a move
last season picking off three
passes down the stretch. He
represents a solid cover safety
and will take over the spot
left exposed by Kenny Tate.
This group will have to adjust
from former defensive coordinator
Don Brown's blitz-heavy approach
to a more controlled, preventive
style. This transition may prove
costly as Brown started to finally
find defensive sturdiness after
this side of the ball struggled
horribly in year’s prior.
New defensive coordinator Todd
Bradford also handles this backfield.
The concerns under this new
scheme are justifiable. At least
he has two seniors on the corner.
|
|
DT
Joe Vellano
|
|
|
MARYLAND
2011 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Justin
Anderson-Jr (6-5,
275) |
Isaiah
Ross-Jr (6-1, 255) |
DT |
Joe
Vellano-Jr (6-2, 285) |
Maurice
Hampton-Sr (6-2, 295) |
NT |
A.J.
Francis-Jr (6-4, 295) |
Andre
Monroe-RFr (6-0, 280) |
ROCK |
David
Mackall-So (6-3, 240) |
Bradley
Johnson-So (6-1, 220) |
STAR |
Kenny
Tate-Sr (6-4, 220) |
Mario
Rowson-RFr (6-3, 190) |
MLB |
Demetrius
Hartsfield-Jr (6-2,
235) |
Ryan
Donohue-Jr (6-0, 230) |
WLB |
Darin
Drakeford-Jr (6-0,
240) |
Lorne
Goree-RFr (6-1, 225) |
CB |
Trenton
Hughes-Sr (5-11, 190) |
Dexter
McDougle-So (5-10,
200) |
CB |
Cameron
Chism-Sr (5-10, 190) |
Jeremiah
Johnson-RFr (5-11,
170) |
S |
Matt
Robinson-So (6-3,
220) |
Austin
Walker-Sr (6-0, 195) |
S |
Eric
Franklin-Jr (6-2,
205) |
Titus
Till-RFr (6-2, 195) |
P |
Nathan
Renfro-Fr (6-2, 200) |
Michael
Tart-RFr (6-2, 170) |
|
|
|
|
2011
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Former
Freshman All-American Nick Ferrara
takes over from where he once left
off. After injuring his groin in the
opener last year, Ferrara spent the
rest of the season watching his reliable
replacement Travis Baltz take over
all placekicking duties. Baltz never
relinquished the job and handled all
18 of the team's field goal attempts.
Ferrara's strong leg still allowed
him the chance to handle kick offs.
With Baltz graduating, the logical
choice is for Ferrara to resume his
old job. Baltz also was the starting
punter last season. This special teams
function won't be so easily replaced.
For now walk-on Michael Tart has handled
the spring punting with Ferrara doing
double time here. Neither averaged
over 40 yards per punt. Look for incoming
freshman Nate Renfro to take over
these duties. The Terps really need
Renfro to pick it up quickly. The
coaches have not listed a primary
kick returner or punt returner just
yet. Finding someone to take over
for the career ACC record holder in
kickoff return yards cannot be duplicated
as Torrey Smith left early for the
NFL Draft. But Tony Logan is making
a living doing the same returning
punts. Logan has been named a NationalChamps.net
Preseason All-American at this spot
and could be a leading candidate to
handle kickoffs too. Other candidates
will include cornerbacks Dexter McDougle
and Trenton Hughes.
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