5 4 2008 OUTLOOK 2008 Outlook Despite coming off their fifth bowl appearance in the Friedgen surrendered his dual role of head coach and of- of the receiving corps, headlined by 2007 All-America choice previous seven seasons, the Maryland Terrapins are hungry fensive coordinator, which he served the last two seasons. Darrius Heyward-Bey. to improve upon last year’s finish. He also hired three new staff members, including tight Now after working through the off-season program, The 2007 campaign began with promise as the Terps ends coach/special teams coordinator Danny Pearman, Friedgen is convinced the changes have been a plus. returned a number of key contributors from a 9-4 team which wide receivers coach Lee Hull and offensive coordinator/as- “I’m pleased with where we are offensively,” Friedgen dominated its bowl game. sistant head coach James Franklin, who was on staff during said. “There are still some things we need to improve on, The Terps won their first two games last season, and Friedgen’s first four seasons in College Park. but I like how we’re calling things. James is organized and despite a home loss to No. 4 West Virginia and a heart- “I think having a new offensive coordinator and new he brings a lot of enthusiasm to the offense.” breaking conference-opening loss to Wake Forest, were in special teams coach have really added a new excitement to The defense will have to replace six starters, including position to compete for an ACC title after wins over No. 10 our program,” Friedgen said. “I like our staff. They relate to first-team All-ACC performers Dre Moore and Erin Hender- Rutgers and Georgia Tech. the kids well and I think the kids are having more fun. son, and three members of the secondary. The defense also However, injuries began to mount midway through the “I also think our team morale is very good and that worked through some changes in the off-season, but those season and the Terps could not fully recover. In all, 17 mem- translated into good practices this spring.” were due mostly to injuries. bers of the two-deep missed at least one game, including Though the Terps will now employ more of a west-coast With a number of players having off-season surgery and three along the offensive line. based offense, much of what Franklin has learned offensively missing spring practice, third-year coordinator Chris Cosh But despite all the injuries, which led to four league losses comes from Friedgen’s influence. Franklin was also the of- had to shuffle the lineup. by a touchdown or less, Maryland still went on post a win over fensive coordinator at Kansas State the last two years after Linebackers Dave Philistin, Moise Fokou and Rick No. 8 Boston College and shut out NC State in the regular- spending one season with the Green Bay Packers. Costa joined DL Mack Frost on the sidelines. But all are season finale to earn a berth in the Emerald Bowl, the second “One of the reasons I was interested in James was the expected to be healthy and ready for fall camp. straight postseason appearance for the Terps. knowledge he had about what we did in the past,” Friedgen Seniors Jeremy Navarre and Trey Covington look like Head coach Ralph Friedgen is hopeful that last year’s said. the leaders up front. hard luck will turn to good fortune in 2008. While the offensive philosophy has altered some, there According to Friedgen, they each played extremely “The injuries impacted us, but a lot of guys got on the field shouldn’t be wholesale changes to a unit which returns 23 well in the spring. They are two of the most experienced who may not have last season,” Friedgen said. “Hopefully, letterwinners, including nine starters, the most in Friedgen’s players on the team, having each started more than 30 that adversity will help us this year. I think we have a chance seven seasons. career games. to have a very good team.” The Terps will have four of their five starting offensive Navarre spent the last three seasons at end, but moved The Terps return a mostly veteran squad in 2008 with 46 linemen back, as well as starting QB Chris Turner and all inside to tackle in the spring. Covington returns for his fourth letterwinners, including 14 offensive and defensive starters, season as the starter at LEO. back in the fold. Despite the loss of Henderson, one of the most productive Among the letterwinners are 20 players who have started players in the nation the last two seasons, the linebacker unit at least one game in their careers. should be the deepest group on the defense with a number of That group will look to return the Terps to the upper players who have seen significant action, including Philistin echelon of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a process that and Fokou. Philistin was fourth in the ACC in tackles last began shortly after the Emerald Bowl with winter workouts season, and Fokou was third on the team in stops. and spring practice. Philistin is drawing national attention. He was placed Friedgen was pleased with how the team performed on the preseason watch list for the Nagurski Trophy, which during the spring, feeling it was a productive five honors the top defender in the country. weeks. The Terps have some experience on defense as 20 let- “I think we had a good spring, we got a lot terwinners return from last season’s squad. There weren’t accomplished,” Friedgen said. “A lot of players quite as many injures on defense as there were on offense got reps. I saw a lot of kids develop. It was a last year, but there were a number of players, including learning experience. We were learning a Adrian Moten, a 2007 Freshman All-America choice, who new offense and we had some changes saw extended time in a reserve role due to teammates on special teams. being banged up. “We were able to get a good The Terps finished 24th in the country in scoring defense evaluation of a lot of the younger and 40th in total defense last season, but there are areas kids. We had 107 players in to improve upon. spring practice. We gave the “We need to do a better job against the run,” Friedgen younger kids a lot of opportunity said. “We want to try and become more flexible on the to show themselves and we’re defensive side of the ball and keep finding ways to play to pleased with where they are. But the strength of our players.” when we get back into fall camp, we’ll narrow that down and work mostly the first and second teams to get ready for the season.” Even before the team began its off-season program, there were Adrian Moten was a 2007 Freshman some changes in the program. All-American and is expected to play a key role for the Terps’ defense in 2008. 2008 FOOTBALL MEDIA & RECRUITING GUIDE 5 5 Senior cornerback Kevin Barnes is the lone returning starter on the back end of the defense. He was among the Offense Offensive Starters ACC’s best last season in passes defended. Quarterback Returning/Lost... While most of the regulars are back on special teams, Entering last year, the Terps had limited experience at they’ll have a new coach in Pearman, whose pedigree quarterback, as no one on the roster had started a col- Starters Returning (9) includes an eight-year stint on Frank Beamer’s Virginia legiate game. WR Isaiah Williams Sr.-3V 6-3, 200 Tech staff. Beamer is well known nationally for his special The situation has changed considerably with both junior • Started all 13 games in 2007; second on the team in teams success. Chris Turner and senior Jordan Steffy serving as the receiving yards (395). Senior Obi Egekeze and sophomore punter Travis Baltz starter last season. formed a good tandem last season as first-year starters and LT Scott Burley Sr.-3V 6-5, 335 should only improve this fall. • A preseason All-ACC selection; started 12 of 13 games Quarterbacks in 2007; second team All-ACC pick by Rivals.com as a All the staff changes have allowed Friedgen to become junior. more involved off the field. 10 Chris Turner QB 6-4 210 Jr. 1V 11 Jamarr Robinson QB 6-0 190 Fr. RS “This has allowed me to get more involved with the players 12 Josh Portis QB 6-4 210 Jr. SQ LG Jaimie Thomas Sr.-3V 6-4, 330 and to make sure I’m spending as much time as possible 16 Tyler Bass QB 6-3 220 Fr. HS • A preseason All-ACC choice; has played in 32 career motivating them,” Friedgen said. “I didn’t have as much time 19 Jordan Steffy QB 6-1 209 Sr. 3V games, including 11 starts, all at left guard; earned Iron for that the last two years.” Terp status for the first time in his career in Spring 2007; should vie for All-ACC honors this season. Team Notes: Turner enters the fall as the No. 1 quarterback after post- C Edwin Williams Sr.-3V 6-2, 315 • The Terps are scheduled to have a veteran team this fall ing nearly 2,000 passing yards and the third-best passing • A preseason All-ACC selection; a fifth-year senior who with 31 seniors on the roster, including 21 who are on efficiency rating in the ACC in 2007.