The Terps opened up Thursday's practice to the media and we finally got our first look at some spring football. Although they began spring camp several weeks ago, Thursday marked just the fifth spring practice because the university/the team recently had spring break.
Since the coaching staff is still trying to get a feel for what they have and see who separates themselves in the early stages of this team's development, there has been no depth chart released and the practice reps are being split up evenly between the players at each position. Although that makes it somewhat tough to tell who might be the frontrunners in the competitions for certain starting spots, it does give a good look at just about every player currently on the roster.
With that being said, here are a few things that stood out from yesterday afternoon's practice.
Since the coaching staff is still trying to get a feel for what they have and see who separates themselves in the early stages of this team's development, there has been no depth chart released and the practice reps are being split up evenly between the players at each position. Although that makes it somewhat tough to tell who might be the frontrunners in the competitions for certain starting spots, it does give a good look at just about every player currently on the roster.
With that being said, here are a few things that stood out from yesterday afternoon's practice.
- I know I said there's no depth chart at the moment, and rightfully so since a very talented 2017 recruiting class will enter the mix come fall camp, but the pecking order of quarterbacks who are currently on campus appeared pretty evident: Caleb Henderson, Ty Pigrome, Max Bortenschlager and Ryan Brand. Henderson is the most complete quarterback on the team and I don't think it's a stretch to say he's going to be the Terps' starter under center next season. He has size, good footwork, solid throwing mechanics, a strong arm and mobility. Something would have to go terribly wrong for him not to be named the starter, but Durkin will likely keep the "open competition" label on the position until he feels the time is right. Also of note, Henderson was one of the first players and only quarterback made available to the media for interviews after practice. Last season when the quarterback competition was truly open, it was Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe who addressed the media after the first open practice.
- The real quarterback competition will be to see who can earn the second spot on the depth chart. Pigrome was the next in the rotation of passers after Henderson, but the majority of plays called while he was in were runs either to a tailback or a read-option quarterback keeper. During 11-on-11 drills in the red zone, Pigrome failed to pick up a first down for the Terps on three straight runs. Conversely, Bortenschlager threw the ball three times during the same drill. He was able to move the ball slightly closer to the end zone, but both drives by the sophomore passers ended with field goal attempts. To his credit though, Pigrome did drop a dime down the sideline to Jacquille Veii during a different 11-on-11 drill, so he does show flashes of being able to throw the ball. Brand is newer to the team and actually shorter than Pigrome. He had several balls swatted down with ease by defensive linemen and his chances of seeing the field at quarterback are very slim.
- Sticking with offense, the backfield looks as explosive as ever. Ty Johnson, Lorenzo Harrison and LaDerrien Wilson are a nice combination of skill sets and give the Terps plenty of depth at running back heading into next season. Wilson brings the thunder, Harrison the lightning and Johnson is a bit of both. The offense seemed to be most effective in 11-on-11 drills when Henderson was under center and Johnson was in the backfield. The versatility of those two playmakers and numerous threats they pose kept the Terps defense guessing the whole time they were on the field. Henderson's ability to throw or run, along with Johnson's superb field vision, makes the read-option a thing of beauty between these two.
- The offensive line looked pretty good for the most part but Damian Prince was struggling a bit at times, which could have just been a result of the offense installing some new protections. Offensive coordinator Walt Bell and offensive line coach Tyler Bowen both gave Prince an earful on separate occasions, but Prince is going to be a huge factor in Maryland's success this season so it's better for him to work out the kinks now.
- D.J. Moore tends to always impress at receiver, but DJ Turner and Jacquille Veii really jumped off the page on Thursday. Turner is a pitbull. During Oklahoma drills with DBs, he was getting under guys and jacking them up. He also looks healthy and was running crisp routes to get open regularly in 11-on-11 drills. Veii is one of the fastest guys on the team and he showed it by getting behind DBs a few times, including on the play where Pigrome hit him deep.
- Before practice started D.J. Durkin let the media know that linebacker Shane Cockerille will not be practicing with the team this spring until he "handles other responsibilities off the field." This allows more practice reps for early enrollee linebackers Bryce Brand and Nick Underwood. Both looked good on Thursday with Brand in particular really showing some good instincts. He laid a couple of nice hits on guys coming across the middle and seemed to have a good grasp of the playbook which generally put him at the right place at the right time.
- Another early enrollee on defense that turned heads on Thursday was former four-star safety Markquese Bell. He already has the look of an NFL safety. Now that's not to say that he's ready to play like one yet, but he's definitely huge and fast. On one play in particular during 11-on-11s, he blitzed from the free safety position and made it from the secondary all the way to the quarterback in about three or four strides in what seemed like a split second. He covers a ton of ground in a hurry and looks to be a potential game changer for the Terps defense.
- I was also impressed with CB Antwan Richardson who saw a couple deep balls come his way but always seemed to be right in the back pocket of the wide receiver he was covering. Richardson could end up starting at cornerback opposite of JC Jackson, who wore a yellow non-contact jersey at practice on Thursday and mostly did individual workouts on the side.
