The 2006 University of Maryland football team has the tools for success.
The season opens Saturday at home against William & Mary, and Terps head coach Ralph Friedgen said he believes Maryland can return to a bowl game after two consecutive 5-6 seasons. The potential is there, but the pieces of the offensive puzzle have to fall in place for Maryland to come back to prominence in the beefed-up Atlantic Coast Conference.
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At the top of the list is how Friedgen will adapt to running the offense while executing his head coaching duties.
“I am constantly learning how to cut time and get the most out of it,” he said. “It is a learning experience for me right now.”
The deepest part of the Terps? offense is its running backs. Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore (Mount St. Joseph) saw significant time in 2005 while Josh Allen was out for the season with a knee injury. With Allen coming back and senior J.P. Humber in the mix, the Terps boast a versatile and powerful running game.
“There is a lot of competition, but we are like brothers out there,” Ball said. “The four of us pick each other up and there is always competition in practice, but it is always tight-knit group. This is the most I have been challenged. Last year, I had to step up real quick when Josh got hurt, and this year is more of holding my job and staying on point.”
The biggest question mark for Maryland?s offense is the receiving unit, which is comprised of one senior, two sophomores and two freshmen.
“This is a very young team, and we don?t have quite the depth we want at wide receiver,” Friedgen said.
Friedgen said that sophomore Isaiah Williams and freshman Darrius Heyward-Bey have shown promise during camp.
“I am anxious to see how they do in [a game] environment, to see if they can make plays or not,” Friedgen said.
The final piece of Maryland?s offensive puzzle is Sam Hollenbach. As the team?s first returning starter at quarterback since Scott McBrien in 2003, Hollenbach will be the piece that holds the rest of the offense together.
“He is seeing the field a lot better,” Friedgen said. “There are times when he still will make a mistake, and I think he is minimizing those right now. We are really working at making him a smart player.”
