Maryland football’s first scrimmage of spring ball is in the books as head coach Mike Locksley revealed the Terps “probably got around 85, 90 total plays” on Saturday.
“I think we made it out pretty healthy. I don't think there were any major injuries or anything of substance that took place there from an injury standpoint,” Locksley said on Saturday. “I like the work today. For the first scrimmage, I thought we got a lot of good things done. These are those controlled scrimmages where we hit the different situations and I thought there was the right kind of ebb and flow with the scrimmage, where I thought both sides did some good things offensively, and then did some good things defensively.”
But it wasn’t all positive as Locksley pinpoints areas of concern. “The one area coming out of the scrimmage that I share with our team is our special teams, it's got to be a point of emphasis and I want to see our specialist show more consistency in the punt game and in our field goals, which today wasn't to our standard.”
While Locksley and the Maryland staff look to iron out the Terps’ depth chart later this fall, the effort and progress from the 2022 early enrollees hasn’t gone unnoticed thus far. As the freshmen class wrapped up their first offseason conditioning program, Locksley has been encouraged from what he’s seen out of the latest wave of arrivals. “I like the way that they've responded and how they've handled and adapted. You look around on the defensive side, you see guys like Caleb Wheatland and Jaishawn Barham, both coming in and doing some really nice things as young players. I've been really pleased with Andre Roye and Maximus McCree two of the new guys, newcomers at the offensive line position that allows us to continue to develop depth. And I think all those young running backs even today, seeing Antwain Littleton and Roman Hemby as well as Colby McDonald those guys have really continued to show their work to us in the run game and did some nice things. So pleased with those guys.”
The trio of 2021 running back signees will play a bigger role in the Terps’ backfield rotation with veteran Challen Faamatau leading the group, giving Locksley and running backs coach Elijah Brooks confident after all three got a chance to get their feet wet last fall. “I know Colby McDonald played a lot of football for us last year and we picked our spots with Antwain and Roman Hemby in that we were able to preserve a redshirt year while also playing them in the bowl game, which, as I've said before, that bowl game is like the start of the ‘22 season for us,” Locksley added.
“Obviously the depth and experience we have at receiver kind of is one of the strengths of our offense, but these young running backs have continued to show us that they're talented enough and coach [Elijah] Brooks has done a good job of bringing those guys along.”
Corey Dyches, meanwhile, steps into an impact role this fall as the “Swiss army knife” for the Terps’ offense. Dyches has found himself lined up at receiver at times this spring due to the Terps’ limited depth, but that only adds to his toolbox as the potential receiving threat heading into the fall. “We kind of utilized him as a specialty piece in our system where we moved him to tight end to complement Chig. He's back playing some receiver for us this spring because of some of the depth issues there. Definitely a matchup issue because people have to figure out whether they want to match up and play treat him as a tight end or treat him as a receiver and he's really kind of flourished in that role, especially last year we came on late in the season.” While Dyches uses the spring to set the foundation for his junior season jump, receiver Jacob Copeland has settled in to become another weapon in the offense.
Days after Copeland revealed how he and receiver coach Gunter Brewer are teaming up to master the Terps’ offensive playbook, setting the stage to make an impact in College Park. “Getting him to come here, I think him understanding the type of system we've had on our offense and how we've been able to play with the multiple receivers where they all contribute to each other's success. And, his history of this offense and knowing that how we've used receivers and in the success that receivers have from Stefon Diggs, DJ Moore here at Maryland, to the Jaylen Waddle’s and the Devonte Smith's and Jerry Jeudy’s there at Alabama, Henry Ruggs, he's got a pretty good understanding.”
While Maryland will look ahead to fix the miscues ahead of next Saturday’s scrimmage, the term ‘discipline’ is a point that the staff has stressed this offseason as the Terps look to eliminate the unnecessary penalties that plagued them one season ago.
“That's a word that we use around here a lot. To me, the discipline piece is about not beating yourself and limiting penalties. And this is really the first opportunity in scrimmage situation, though we have referees at practice each day. I think we're coming along just fine. As a team, we've got kind of a veteran squad with a bunch of guys that are coming back that have played a lot of football for us on both sides which I think helps. But again, it's still a work in progress that we’ll continue to make a point of emphasis on.”
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Full transcript
Opening statement: “Was great to be back out on the field again. First time in The Shell this spring, probably got around 85, 90 total plays which is about a half a game for both groups. The one area, coming out of the scrimmage that I share with our team is our special teams, it's got to be a point of emphasis and, I want to see our specialist show more consistency in the punt game and in our field goals, which today wasn't to our standard. Some things to still work on, we got two more opportunities in The Shell again next Saturday and then the spring game on April 30 to get a lot of things corrected, but it was great to see a bunch of the young players get a lot of reps and really some be some good teaching from today's scrimmage.”
On team’s discipline: “That's a word that we use around here a lot. To me, the discipline piece is about not beating yourself and limiting penalties. And, this is really the first opportunity in scrimmage situation, though we have referees at practice each day. I think we're coming along just fine. As a team, we've got kind of a veteran squad with a bunch of guys that are coming back that have played a lot of football for us on both sides which I think helps. But again, it's still a work in progress that we’ll continue to make a point of emphasis on.”
On Jacob Copeland: “Recruiting is a relationship business. And, I spent a lot of time recruiting Jacob at my previous place, and came down to us and Florida and he chose Florida. But, when you develop the relationships that we do through recruiting, those relationships aren't just for the recruiting purposes, at least the way I recruit. And so I've always been a big fan of Jacob, followed his career there at Florida. Getting him to come here, I think him understanding the type of system we've had on our offense and how we've been able to play with the multiple receivers where they all contribute to each other's success. And his history of this offense and knowing that how we've used receivers and in the success that receivers have from Stefon Diggs, DJ Moore here at Maryland, to the Jaylen Waddles and the Devonte Smith's and Jerry Jeudy’s there at Alabama, Henry Ruggs, he's got a pretty good understanding. So I think that was the attraction for him is with the opportunity to maybe improve himself or create a little more value for himself as a receiver as he takes the next step to go to the next level.”
On what pass games looks like: “I would hope that we are able to efficiently throw the ball but for us, it's about balance and I talk about that all the time. It's if people are going to do things to take away the ability to throw the ball we've got to be able to run it efficiently, which is something we're really making a point of emphasis this spring is to get the complimentary run game going and today was the first time I saw us do some really good things in the run game this early in. Having a veteran [offensive] line back, she really helped us but for [Taulia], it's about taking that next step the veteran receivers that have been with them for a few years now. You would imagine that we should be able to continue to improve our offensive efficiency.”
On Taulia taking the next step: “I think the big thing at the quarterback position is being able to be efficient situationally. When we go back and look at our offense from our quality control this offseason, winning on third down, winning in the red area, limiting penalties and the turnovers are the areas that you'd like to see us take the next step. And so for us and as a quarterback, you're judged by how you operate in situational football. I think anybody that has seen ‘Lia play knows that the talent is there and I think now you'll continue to see, because of the consistency of the people that he's been able to play with over the last couple of years, there's a comfort level, but if there's any point of emphasis for us, it's his efficiency on third down, being able to sustain drives and keep us on the field with making the throws, and then in the red area, coming away with touchdowns and instead of the field goals and limiting those turnovers that that came candidates and then opportunity times.”
On standouts: “I think all those guys that just got here kind of, I've been really pleased with how they've managed it because this is the toughest part of the program to come into. When you come into our winter workouts, our ‘Terp Time’ phase of our team. That's the toughest area for these young players coming in. But I like the way that they've responded and how they've handled and adapted. You look around on the defensive side, you see guys like Caleb Wheatland and Jaishawn Barham, both coming in and doing some really nice things as young players. I've been really pleased with Andre Roye and Maximus McCree, two of the new guys, newcomers at the offensive line position that allows us to continue to develop depth. And, I think all those young running backs even today, seeing Antwain Littleton and Roman Hemby as well as Colby McDonald, those guys have really continued to show their work to us in the run game and did some nice things. So pleased with those guys.”
On knowing what he’s getting in ‘Lia: “Definitely something that we're excited about, not having to replace a bunch of people upfront this year, what we've got to do is develop the depth that's going to be necessary. So, having a veteran group of five, six guys that have all played a lot of football for us up front. That experience in our system should help us be able to take that next step. And then obviously, with the quarterback coming back for his third year as a starter and being able to have a comfort level with the receivers that’ll be back with him, the tight end. I know we lost Chig [Okonkwo] but it’s been great to see the way CJ Dippre has kind of stepped up into that role at the tight end position. So definitely a plus to have a veteran group of offensive lineman, I think we go about seven deep with guys that played a lot of football last year but then also good to have that veteran quarterback presence behind there.”
On TE Corey Dyches: “He's been one of those guys that is kind of that Swiss Army Knife for us. Came in and was a big receiver. We kind of utilized him as a specialty piece in our system where we moved him to tight end to complement Chig. He's back playing some receiver for us this spring because of some of the depth issues there. Definitely a matchup issue because people have to figure out whether they want to match up and play treat him as a tight end or treat him as a receiver and he's really kind of flourished in that role, especially last year we came on late in the season. As far as his off the field endeavors really talented, talented kid and I know he's got a passion for music and rap and. With our new facility here and having the ability to have the music studio downstairs, he's one of those guys that has taken advantage of some of these things and resources that we've provided. And there's no doubt that he's been a great student athlete for us, has done really well academically. And so I have no issues with Corey in terms of what he brings to the table as a football player, but as an even better person.”
On having three young RBs: “The good thing is, a lot of these young running backs, played significant time for us. I know Colby McDonald played a lot of football for us last year. And we picked our spots with Antwain and Roman Hemby in that we were able to preserve a redshirt year while also playing them in the bowl game, which, as I've said before, that bowl game is like the start of the ‘22 season for us. And both those guys play significant roles and minutes in that game against Virginia Tech. So we're looking to build on that with the young group of running backs. Obviously the depth and experience we have at receiver kind of is one of the strengths of our offense, but these young running backs have continued to show us that they're talented enough and coach [Elijah] Brooks has done a good job of bringing those guys along.”
On bowl practices: “Again, we've talked about that quite a bit that anytime you get postseason play and you're able to extend your season, it affords you the opportunity to get more practice opportunities for your young players. And as we're a team that as I like to say, is a developmental program, meaning our players are going to get better with the time they spend in our program because of how we practice and some of the things we do. And again, those 15 practices was like having an extra spring ball, which is what has allowed us to kind of. We started a little later than maybe we normally would, but it gave us more time to have the offseason program, the ‘Terp Time’ program where we could maximize getting bigger, stronger, faster. But there's no doubt the standard of being able to be a part of postseason play, those extra practices give you a chance to develop some of the really young players in your program, as we prepare for the Virginia Tech game with some of the young players that even though they redshirted, we were able to preserve the redshirt while also still playing them in a game significance like that bowl game. So it's definitely a win-win.”