2013 Maryland Spring Football Analysis

Maryland Terrapins 2013 ... Head Coach: Randy Edsall

Maryland Terrapins

2013 Schedule
8/31 FIU
9/7 Old Dominion
9/14 at Connecticut
9/21 West Virginia
9/28 OPEN DATE
10/5 at Florida State
10/12 Virginia
10/19 at Wake Forest
10/26 Clemson
11/2 OPEN DATE
11/9 Syracuse
11/16 at Virginia Tech
11/23 Boston College
11/30 at NC State

Why To Get Excited … the passing game has no choice but to be more potent in 2013. Injuries forced the Terps to employ a fifth-string quarterback last season, but everyone is on the mend, including likely starter C.J. Brown. Brown will delight in forming a bond with an up-and-coming receiving corps that includes Freshman All-American Stefon Diggs and JUCO All-American Deon Long.

Why To Be Grouchy … line play will cause many sleepless nights for Randy Edsall and the coaching staff. The O-line got routinely abused last season, while the D-line will be busy trying to replace standout ends Joe Vellano and A.J. Francis. If Maryland can’t perform a turnaround in the trenches, the end result in the standings might look eerily similar to last year.

The Number One Thing To Work On Is … remaining off the trainer’s table. Maryland really never had a chance last season, succumbing to a spate of injuries, especially at quarterback. A healthy Terrapins team won’t be required to stretch its depth or rip the redshirt off players who aren’t quite ready to excel at this level. Spring will be a success if the injury report is flush with white space.

Team Concerns For 2013: Healthy quarterback, healthy quarterback, healthy quarterback. The Terp season went into the tank after the O lost quarterback after quarterback in a disappointing season. Randy Edsall was known for cranking out great running games at UConn, but it hasn't started to work yet in Maryland because the line has been so awful. The punting game could use a little work, too, after sophomore-to-be Nathan Renfro struggled and didn't get any help from the coverage team.

The 2013 Class Is Heavy On ... Offensive linemen. It was a mediocre class, and then Randy Edsall was able to sign star middle linebacker Yannick Ngakoue out of D.C. and get receiver Taivon Jacobs. The skill spots got the most help over the last few classes, and now it's time to build up the infrastructure so they can all do their thing. Offensive tackle Derwin Gray is a phenomenal get from the D.C. area with all the tools and the potential to become an anchor for the Terp line. Moise Larose and Jajuan Delaney aren't bad options for down the road after a few years in the weight room, while JUCO transfer Silvano Altamirano is for now to provide depth at guard. Watch out for JUCO transfer Deon Long to become an instant factor, while tight end Andrew Isaacs should be a part of the passing game early on.

2012 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 50. That Class Was Heavy On ... The running backs. The defense will end up getting the most help with a ton of great linebackers coming in, but head coach Randy Edsall wants to run the ball, run the ball, run the ball. His ground attack is what made him such a success at UConn, and his first job in his first full recruiting cycle is to beef up the talent in the backfield.

2011 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 56. That Class Was Heavy On ... Receivers. Apparently, Randy Edsall is going to start throwing the ball more in College Park than he did at UConn. He brought in four new targets with decent speed and impressive size with Jeremiah Hendy and Nigel King the future of the air show. His offensive line class is small, but excellent with some good guard prospect and a nice center in Evan Mulrooney. Picking up corners Makinton Dorleant and Michael Williams was a plus, and end Quinton Jefferson should be a terror.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 49. That Class Was Heavy On ... Defense. Wasn't Ralph Friedgen supposed to be a lame duck head coach? This class certainly didn't reflect that with several very good, very promising prospects to provide both instant help and a foundation for the future. Tyler Smith was the key to the offensive class as the quarterback to be groomed for down the road, and Sean Conaboy is a promising guard who should be a steady starter in a few years. The defense was the key starting with linebacker Javarie Johnson, a lightning fast playmaker who'll be all over the field the second he gets a chance. 13 good defensive players signed on, and they need to be factors early.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 28. That Class Was Heavy On ... linebackers. Maryland continues to stockpile the type of versatile linebackers that eventually move on to play on Sundays. Seven, in fact, are packing their bags for College Park, even though there’s no urgency for any to play right away. From New Jersey to South Carolina, Ralph Friedgen swept down the Eastern seaboard searching for athletic defenders who can play with range. It’s obviously early in the process, but Lorne Goree appears to be the best of a deep bunch.