A significantly slimmed-down Ralph Friedgen addressed the local media this afternoon before the Terrapin football team’s first fall practice tonight, and he discussed just about every aspect of his team. Here are some of the highlights:

>Friedgen said the speed at which the Terps’ inexperienced offensive line develops will be a key to the team’s success this season. He said he thought center Phil Costa “really was exceptional” in the spring and he is looking for left tackle Bruce Campbell, who has gotten his academics straightened out, to have a big year. “We’re going to be young at the other spots,” Friedgen said.

>Friedgen said he had his assistant coaches rank each player’s character on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, and about 85 percent of the team received either a 4 or 5. “I am very high on our players as people,” Friedgen said.

>Friedgen addressed defensive coordinator Don Brown’s new aggressive style of defense and also praised Brown’s leadership skills. “I know when people play us it’s not going to be the regular week in, week out form of defense that you’re going to see,” Friedgen said. “I think he’s been a real good hire.”

>Friedgen stated the obvious when he discussed the need for quarterback Chris Turner to play well this year. ”I think it’s critical that Chris has a good year for us,” Friedgen said. “This is his second year with the offense and his decisions are hopefully going to be faster and more accurate.”

>Friedgen addressed the Terps’ need to play more consistently after an up-and-down 2008 season. “It’s one of the things we need to get better at,” Friedgen said. “If we were more consistent last year we would have had a phenomenal season.”

>Friedgen said the team felt it was disrespected by the media in preseason polls and predictions. “I think [the players] are very anxious to prove people wrong about who the media perceives them to be,” Friedgen said.

>Friedgen is pleased with the depth of his running back corps, saying Da’Rel Scott, Davin Meggett and Morgan Green give the Terps three quality running backs, and he said true freshmen D.J. Adams and Caleb Porzel could also “figure in the mix.”

>He said the Terps’ wide receiver corps is even deeper. “I think we’ve got nine receivers that I wouldn’t be afraid to put into a game,” Friedgen said. “The problem is there is going to be tremendous competition to make our first two teams.”

>Friedgen said he thinks new special teams coordinator Charles Bankins will lead to an even better season for Torrey Smith as a kickoff returner after Smith led the ACC in return yards in 2008. “I think that’s going to be a real interesting marriage,” Friedgen said. He said Tony Logan is the front-runner to replace Danny Oquendo as the Terps’ main punt returner.

>Friedgen said Mike Barbour won the starting kicker job in the spring “but not by much.” True freshman Nick Ferrarra and Nick Wallace will continue to compete for the job over the next few weeks, but Friedgen said he hopes to make a decision sooner rather than later.

>Friedgen said defensive tackle Dion Armstrong’s academic eligibility is “still in question.” Armstrong sat out spring practice to focus on his academics, and Friedgen said he is the only player “who is not fully eligible right now.”

>Wide receiver Emani Lee-Odai has an ankle injury and will miss about a week of practice.

>Friedgen said he has now lost 105 pounds since last October 10, and his goal is to lose a total of 150 pounds. “The biggest things I’ve noticed is that I’m more flexible,” Friedgen said.

Greg Schimmel is The Diamondback’s Terrapin Football Beat Writer. He can be reached at schimmeldbk@gmail.com 

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