Maryland football coach talks personnel, injuries, system changes, and more
Maryland football coach Randy Edsall welcomed the press into his office on Friday to talk about the offseason. Here are some of the highlights.
- Players who will miss all of spring practice are WR Tyrek Cheeseboro (knee), DB Mackinton Dorleant (knee), K Nick Ferrara (labral tear – hip), LB Kenny Tate (knee), OL Pete White (labrum surgery on both shoulders). All are expected back for preseason practice in August, though Edsall voiced some concern about the return of Tate. “He might be limited at that time,” Edsall said. Players who will be limited in the spring are QB Danny O’Brien (broken arm), TE David Stinebaugh (shoulder), and S Matt Robinson (shoulder). They will be held out of contact drills.
- LB Desmond Kearse has been sidelined by academics. The playing career of OT Pete DeSouza is over. He will stay with the team as a student coach. Maryland has added a defensive lineman – Yannic Cudjoe-Virgil (6-3, 220), a walk-on who previously played at Division II Seton Hill (Pa.) and is a graduate of Towson High.
- Strength coach Drew Wilson described a leadership competition in which the team has been broken into eight groups, each led by one offensive player and one defensive player. The teams accumulate points based on performance in the weightroom, in drills, in the classroom, and off the field. Points also are deducted for poor performance. Edsall and Wilson employed the system while at U-Conn. Towson coach Rob Ambrose, formerly an assistant at U-Conn under Edsall, has used it with success. The teams were formed by the captains drafting players. The first choice was OG Bennett Fulper. The last player chosen (Mr. Irrelevant) was DB Lukas Foreman. “There were some guys shocked by where they were selected,” Wilson said. The team guided by LB Darin Drakeford is in the lead.
- As was the case last year, Edsall was vague when it came to what offensive scheme the team will use, saying Maryland would be multiple and pro-style, with “some spread mechanics.” Edsall said he expects O’Brien and sophomore C.J. Brown to return at quarterback. “I don’t have any reason to believe otherwise,” Edsall said. He also added that he’d like to have one starting QB in place. “Ideally you’d like to have one guy.”
- On defense, Maryland will use a 3-4, primarily, Edsall said, because of the available talent. “This area in terms of recruiting, it’s tough to find defensive linemen,” Edsall said. “It’s easier to find those hybrid-type guys and it also helps you on special teams.” Edsall sees All-ACC tackle Joe Vellano as a defensive end in the system with A.J. Francis and Darius Kilgo plugging the nose. “It will be an attacking defense that brings pressure.”
- Spring practice will begin on March 10. There will be three sessions before the players are released for spring break. The Spring Game will be on April 21, with scrimmages set for the previous two Saturdays. Coaches will be on vacation from Feb. 16-21.
- Defensive line coach Greg Gattusso is now the assistant head coach, assisting Edsall in a wide range of duties including “discipline, academics, fundraising,” Edsall said. “It’s not something just to give a title out … If I’m not around, he’s the guy in charge.”
- Offensive coordinator Mike Locksley will recruit Prince George’s County, D.C., Southern Maryland, Orlando and Tampa. Defensive backs coach Brian Stewart will take Northern Virginia and the east coast of Florida. Special teams coach Lyndon Johnson will take Howard County and upper New York. Linebackers coach Keith Dudzinski will recruit Carroll County, New Jersey, New England, and lower New York. Wide receiver coach Lee Hull will recruit Baltimore County. Running backs coach Andre Powell recruits Baltimore City. Gattuso takes Frederick County and western Maryland. Tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator John Dunn will take the Eastern Shore of Maryland and eastern Pennsylvania.
- The team’s GPA the last two semesters under Edsall – 2.589 (spring) and 2.544 (fall) — are the two highest in eight years (16 semesters).
- Edsall spelled out his alcohol policy, saying he doesn’t allow players to drink during the season or “while in training.” The policy applies to spring workouts.
