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.