Smaller linemen work well in uptempo offense At 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds, Josh Cary doesn’t have the typical size of a major college offensive lineman. But his lack of girth went from being a negative to a positive at Maryland when Randy Edsall was hired and installed an uptempo, no-huddle offense.
Tall, lean and nimble enough to score 80 goals one season in high school lacrosse, Cary is an example of the type of linemen the Terrapins’ new offense requires. In Monday’s 32-24 victory over Miami, the Terps didn’t start an offensive lineman who weighs more than 300 pounds. By contrast, all five of Miami’s starters were heavier than 300.
| Maryland notes |
| » Randy Edsall praised the opening-game work of Terrapins’ offensive line on Wednesday saying, “When you can rush the ball the way we did and protect the passer the way we did, the offensive line did a real fine job.” |
| » Maryland rolled up 499 yards, including 151 on the ground, and didn’t yield a sack. |
| » Sophomore Nick Klemm got some snaps at left tackle behind Max Garcia. Redshirt freshman Sal Conaboy also spelled Bennett Fulper at center. |
Previously buried on the depth chart behind heftier teammates, Cary ascended to a starting role in the spring, solidified it in the preseason and had a decent night against the Hurricanes.
In his starting debut at right guard, Cary drew a false start penalty on the Terps’ first possession and surrendered some playing time to Pete White. But after that, he helped contain massive Miami tackle Darius Smith (6-2, 360), who finished with three tackles.
At the end of last season, Cary was behind starter Justin Lewis (6-3, 315) and White (6-4, 330). But with Lewis out last spring after shoulder surgery and later dismissed for violating team rules, Cary leapfrogged White on the depth chart. Last month, Edsall said White — a prized recruit out of St. John’s — was overweight and that had contributed to his lack of progress.
“Justin was a great player. His leaving brought a little more sense of urgency,” Cary said. “There was one less guy at our spot. It was up to us to pick it up.”
Cary was lightly recruited out of Chenango Forks High in upstate New York, where his athletic ability was more apparent on the lacrosse field. In a sport in which the largest players are usually assigned to defense, Cary was a unique force, playing attack and taking faceoffs. At 270 pounds, Cary modeled his game after former Navy All-American Ian Dingman, a 260-pound attackman.
“I never played against anybody my size, not in lacrosse,” Cary said. “A teammate of mine in high school [Nick Mirabito] played with Dingman at Navy, so I kind of patterned my game after his. I’d stand in the middle and dish.”
Cary gave up lacrosse for good when he suffered a basketball injury that sidelined him for his junior season.
“I just figured with my size football was where my future was,” Cary said.
On a line that has a nice blend of youth and experience, Cary is one of three sophomore starters. The others are first-year starting tackle Max Garcia (6-4, 290) and second-year starting center Bennett Fulper (6-4, 295).
“The biggest thing up front for those guys is technique,” Edsall said. “Josh is strong enough, everything else. It’s just getting better with his feet, being flexible and continuing working on those techniques.
