Terps hope growing pains subside
By: Kevin Dunleavy
Examiner Staff Writer
March 24, 2010
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Junior quarterback Jamarr Robinson opens the spring atop Maryland’s depth chart. (AP)
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Spring football practice opens at Maryland
On Tuesday, Maryland's Ralph Friedgen described his plan to improve the Terrapins with the common football coaching mantra "bigger, faster, stronger." But the variable Friedgen will most likely count on in 2010 will be "older."
After an injury-riddled, 2-10 season in which he started 10 sophomores and five freshmen for at least two games, Friedgen anxiously anticipates coaching a more experienced team.
"We have to benefit from playing young kids last year," said Friedgen. "They have to grow up and hopefully become confident because they've seen themselves being successful. They should be taking the next step. They shouldn't be thinking so much. They should be reacting more."
Player notes
Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen mentioned several players from local high schools who have impressed him in the offseason.
» DT Zach Kerr (Quince Orchard), DT De’Onte Arnett (Forestville) and TE Devonte Campbell (Forestville) are listed as starters.
» S Travis Hawkins (Quince Orchard) and CB Avery Graham (Clarksburg) are pushing for playing time.
» LBs Drew Gloster (Good Counsel), Marcus Whitfield (Northwest), and Bradley Johnson will get looks at DE.
» Lamar Young, a part-time starter on the OL last year, switches to DL. He will not participate in the spring after undergoing surgery, same for OL Justin Lewis.
The growth process accelerated Tuesday as the Terps opened spring practice. Maryland will work out three days a week, concluding with the Red-White Game, April 24, at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium.
Junior quarterback Jamarr Robinson, who opens the spring No. 1 on the depth chart, is the Terps in microcosm.
Last November, when veteran Chris Turner was injured, Robinson was forced into the lineup ahead of schedule and struggled. But after completing 17-of-43 passes for 131 yards in his first two harrowing outings, Robinson rebounded, going 29 of 42 for 329 yards, guiding Maryland to near upsets of bowl-bound Florida State and Boston College.
"First game experience to a couple games experience, it was a huge difference for me," said Robinson. "It was only a couple games, but I got so much more comfortable."
Friedgen can only hope the rest of his inexperienced players progress as rapidly, especially those on the offensive line. The unit was the Terrapins' weakest link last fall as Maryland averaged 3.1 yards per rush, the lowest in nine seasons under Friedgen, while allowing 36 sacks, the most in the Friedgen era.
Among the first-year starters in the lineup last year were freshmen R.J. Dill (8 starts), Bennett Fulper (4 starts), and Justin Lewis (2 starts), sophomores Andrew Gonnella (8 starts) and Lamar Young (3 starts), and junior walk-on Paul Pinegar (12 starts), who will shift to center.
"We've got to be a better run-blocking team," said Friedgen. "Whether it's zone blocking or maybe running an option. Let's cut it down and do what they can do well. When we get one dimensional, then we have real problems."
With just one senior and two juniors on the offensive line in 2010, the Terps will remain extremely young. But at least there's some experience. Friedgen and offensive coordinator James Franklin said that tackles Dill and Justin Gilbert have made significant strides in the offseason.
Which brings the Terps back to "bigger, stronger, faster."
One way they are attempting to achieve that is by measuring body composition with an egg-shaped chamber called a BOD POD. Even the team's best player, linebacker Alex Wujciak, has undergone a transformation, dropping 10 pounds while increasing his strength.
"We're into lean body mass right now," said Friedgen. "We've had guys lose 20 pounds and gain 10 pounds of muscle. We're trying to get them more athletic and still peak their strength."
