Optimistic Terps Hope To Overcome Lack of Depth
posted 1:47 pm Wed August 29, 2007 - COLLEGE PARK, Md.
All that time spent watching film, devising game plans and assessing his players wasn't enough to provide Friedgen with a feeling of just how good - or bad - the Terrapins are going to be this season.
"Where we are, I don't really know," he said this week. "We're going to find out Saturday."
The season opener against overmatched Villanova will only provide a hint of how Maryland will fare this season. But at least it's a start.
The Terrapins return several key players from a team that made a run at the Atlantic Coast Conference title and concluded a 9-4 season by thumping Purdue in the Champs Sports Bowl. Although junior quarterback Jordan Steffy doesn't have much experience, he has the option of handing off to either Keon Lattimore or Lance Ball, who combined for more than 1,500 rushing yards in 2006.
The top three receivers from last year are also back, and the defense is headed by returnees Erin Henderson, Dre Moore and Jeremy Navarre.
It all sounds good, but Friedgen has serious reservations as he enters his seventh season since taking over at his alma mater in 2001.
"I feel pretty good about our first team. Our second team is very young, very inexperienced," he said. "That's a concern of mine, how much depth we have, especially on the offensive line."
The Terrapins probably won't be tested until the third week of the season, at home against West Virginia. By opening with Villanova and Florida International, Maryland has a chance to get Steffy comfortable in the starting role and to give the inexperienced backups significant playing time.
That's the plan, anyway. Friedgen isn't taking anything for granted because there are many questions that must be answered before the Terrapins can think about making some noise in the ACC.
The most significant unknown is Steffy, who replaces the solid Sam Hollenbach. Steffy hasn't completed a pass since his freshman season; he was 0-for-5 last year and didn't play in 2005.
Terps guard Andrew Crummey says Steffy was a bit too rambunctious as a backup, but has since toned down his act.
"He's definitely executing the plays better," Crummey said. "He backed off a little bit, leading the offense in a calm and collected way.
Fortunately, Steffy has two solid running backs behind him and a reliable receiving trio in Darrius Heyward-Bey, Joey Haynos and Danny Oquendo. And, if Steffy struggles, at least there's a Plan B. Josh Portis, a transfer quarterback from Florida, is expected to contribute as soon as he can master Friedgen's complicated offense.
The defense, which limited Purdue to a touchdown in the Champs Bowl, should again be solid.
"I'm playing against this defense every day and I'm saying they're pretty darn good," Crummey said. "These guys are playing real good football right now."
All that's left now is for the Terrapins to play as well in a game as they do in practice. The objective this season is to continue the progress made last year, when Maryland rebounded from two straight 5-6 seasons to earn its first bowl bid since 2003.
"Beating Purdue was big for us. That's going to make us want to do better this year," Heyward-Bey said. "That was my first bowl game. I think the team realizes that if you win games, you go to a bowl game and have fun. That's what we're looking forward to this season. The more games we win, the more fun we'll have."
Heyward-Bey, who led the Terrapins with 45 catches and five receiving touchdowns, intends to have a grand old time this year.
"The goal is the ACC championship. If you're not looking to go to the ACC championship, then you shouldn't even start the season. That's the way I look at it," he said. "And I think this team is capable of doing it."
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