The Terrapin football team participated in a behind-closed-doors mock scrimmage during practice Thursday, and coach Ralph Friedgen said the Terps “Got out of that what I wanted to.”
Friedgen said the Terps looked good on defense, and while the offense made a few big plays poor protection from the offensive line limited what they could do.
The first and second units each ran about 40 plays, Friedgen said.
Friedgen then went through his regular daily rundown about the Terps’ various positions, and he pointed out that the emergence of several young linebackers has added some unexpected depth to that position.
Friedgen said he was impressed by true freshman Darin Drakeford at the No. 2 SAM spot, sophomore Ben Pooler is closing in on redshirt freshman Demetrius Hartsfield for the starting WILL spot, and junior Drew Gloster and true freshman Avery Murray are playing well as the backup MIKE linebackers.
With those guys added to a group that already includes established starters Adrian Moten and Alex Wujciak, who each have another year of eligibility left after this one, it really is a deep, young and talented linebacking corps even after the departure of guys like Dave Philistin and Moise Fokou after last season.
“What once looked like we were in trouble, now has turned out to be a pretty good situation,” Friedgen said.
Friedgen also had more to say about safety Kenny Tate, the day my story about him appeared in the print edition of The Diamondback.
“He’s bigger and he’s stronger [then he was last year],” Friedgen said. “Because he played so many sports at DeMatha he hardly ever lifted weights so he wasn’t very strong last year. Genetically, he walks by the weight room and he gets stronger.”
Friedgen also elaborated on his declaration yesterday that Adrian Cannon has separated himself as the best receiver among a deep, yet unproven group.
Friedgen said while Cannon has been very good, he has been disappointed by the camp performances of Torrey Smith and Kevin Dorsey.
“Torrey hasn’t played as well as I would have liked him too and neither has Kevin Dorsey,” Friedgen said. “I don’t know what it is, but they’re not playing the way they’re capable of.”
INJURY NEWS: Friedgen will sporadically blurt out injury news during camp, and he revealed today that reserve defensive tackle Joe Vellano underwent surgery today for a stress fracture in his foot. Friedgen said Vellano should be back for the Clemson game, which is the Terps’ ACC opener on Oct. 3.
COACH’S TAUNT OF THE DAY: During the first five periods of practice that were open to the media, offensive coordinator James Franklin got tongue-tied when yelling at wide receiver Quinton McCree, but decided to go with it: “You’re timing is w’off!” Franklin yelled. “It’s way off! It’s w’off!”
Greg Schimmel is The Diamondback’s Terrapin Football Beat Writer. You can contact him at schimmeldbk@gmail.com You can follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Greg_Schimmel