For the University of Maryland football team to make a school-record fourth consecutive bowl game, the Terrapins' Prince George's County contingent will have to play a big role.
The county will be especially well-represented on defense, where the Terps welcome a new defensive coordinator and a change in philosophy. Maryland will now feature a 4-3 defensive scheme with players being more aggressive and attacking from different angles.
That was the focus of players and coaches alike on Monday as the team held its annual media day. The new defense is a change that has players excited about this season's possibilities. Defensive lineman and fifth-year senior Travis Ivey (Riverdale Baptist) said the new defense will give the Terrapins a major advantage.
"The scheme alone is going to be tough for the first couple of opponents to figure out," he said. "We are a lot more aggressive and disruptive. I think we were playing on our heels last year and letting other teams dictate what we could do."
New defensive coordinator Don Brown comes to Maryland from the University of Massachusetts, where he spent the past four seasons as head coach. He said his main philosophy is to turn all 11 players on defense into playmakers.
"I don't want our defensive linemen to just set plays up for the linebackers," he said. "I want them making the plays in the backfield. I want to put these guys into position so they can all make plays. The players have been very receptive to the new defense and have put in a lot of work."
DeMatha High grad Anthony Wiseman and Ivey are among four returning starters on defense. Gwynn Park grad Adrian Moten is one of the team's top returning linebackers.
Despite all of the changes to the defense, head coach Ralph Friedgen said he is impressed by the knowledge Brown brings to the Terrapins.
"He is such a student of the game and is so much more different than anyone else," he said. "When people play us they aren't going to see a regular defense. He is the right fit for this team and with the coaching staff."
Changes aren't just coming to the defensive side of the ball for the Terrapins. The offense will have a new look – especially at wide receiver.
Maryland must replace Darrius Heyward-Bey, Danny Oquendo, Isaiah Williams and Dan Gronkowski. That quartet combined for 120 catches, 1,391 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2008. The leading receiver returning for the Terrapins is Torrey Smith, who finished last season with 24 catches, 336 yards and two touchdowns. But Friedgen said he is confident in the Terps' revamped receiver corps.
"We have nine receivers that we feel are capable of making plays," he said. "It's going to be a tough competition just to make the first and second teams. We have a lot of quality wide receivers."
One of those players looking to crack the starting lineup at receiver this season is sophomore Quintin McCree (Gwynn Park), who led the team in the annual spring game with four receptions for 163 yards and touchdowns of 58 and 75 yards. He said the team is deep at the receiver position and there are several players who could be the next star.
"You always have to make sure you are on your best in practice because anyone is capable of taking your job," he said. "Every one of us has a leadership role because of the guys that we lost. We all have to step it up."
The Terrapins are a young team with five returning starters on offense and four on defense. Lack of experience is a big reason why Maryland is picked to finish near the bottom of the Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic Division by several media outlets.
Maryland opens the season on the road at No. 12 California on Sept. 5, and its home opener is a week later on Sept. 12 against James Madison.
E-mail Joshua Hudson at
jhudson@gazette.net.
