Steady rain in the Washington, D.C., region Thursday didn't stop the Maryland football team from completing its final practice session before facing the Miami Hurricanes.
The Terrapins (6-2, 3-1 ACC) hit the on-campus practice field for roughly 60 minutes where the offense, defense and special teams made their final adjustments in the game plan.
Despite the fact Miami will be without its top quarterback (Jacory Harris) and tailback (Damien Berry), the Terps face a difficult challenge on the road.
The Hurricanes (5-3, 3-2) have one of the top defenses in the country. They have surrendered just 310.0 yards of total offense a game which ranks 18th in the FBS. Miami is also in the top 10 nationally in pass efficiency defense (No. 2 - 93.20), sacks (No. 6 - 3.1 per game) and tackles for loss (No. 2 - 8.8 pg).
Wide receiver Leonard Hankerson also leads the ACC in touchdown receptions (nine), just ahead of Maryland's Torrey Smith who is second with seven.
"This is a very, very talented team," Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen said after Thursday's practice. "They are huge up front and fast on defense. They say the top back is not playing, but they have five guys just like him."
The Terps struggled in their first two road tests this season (losses at West Virginia and Clemson), but had a breakthrough win two weeks ago at Boston College to snap a 10-game skid away from College Park.
Friedgen is hoping that 24-21 victory will carry over to Saturday (noon kickoff on ESPNU and Terrapin Sports Radio Network) where Miami will entertain a Homecoming crowd at Sun Life Stadium.
"I'm hoping we've learned how to do that," Friedgen said of the team remaining poised on the road. "In the games we've played, we should have learned how to do that. We should be seasoned enough to handle it now."
Friedgen feels the team has put in the necessary preparation this week to win a second-consecutive game in a hostile environment. "I like the way we've worked," Friedgen said. "I like the quality of our practices (this week). We seem fairly loose. Maybe that's good. Maybe that's bad. I told them to lay it on the line and go have fun."
Following Thursday's practice, Friedgen announced that linebacker Adrian Moten (defense), as well as wide receivers Adrian Cannon (offense) and LaQuan Williams (special teams) will serve as captains for Saturday's game. He also named wide receiver Adrian Coxson as the offensive scout team player of the week and cornerback Danny Thomas as the defensive scout team player of the week. Linebacker Nick Peterson, an Annapolis, Md., native, will carry the Maryland flag onto the field Saturday and offensive lineman Bennett Fulper will bring the American flag.
Terp Notes:
Baltz Earns Spot on Academic All-America All-District Team: Senior punter/place-kicker Travis Baltz was voted to the CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-America All-District II first team on Thursday. A three-time Academic All-ACC selection, Baltz is in line to earn Academic All-America honors. Members of the first team in all eight districts will be placed on the ballot with voting beginning next week. The 2010 CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-America team will be announced Nov. 23. For more details click here.
Turtle Bites: Redshirt freshman D.J. Adams, who rushed for a career-high 84 yards vs. Wake Forest (10/30), may see more time this weekend. He has been the team's short-yardage specialist this season, but the top two tailbacks - Da'Rel Scott and Davin Meggett - have taken the bulk of the carries this season. "We're going to put a package together for him and see what he can do," Friedgen said Wednesday. "We want to get him in the game. In this type of game, it could be good. It's going to be a physical game." ... De'Onte Arnett, who moved from defensive line to offensive line last week, has been serving as a reserve at guard in practice. "He's picked things up much faster than I thought he would," Friedgen said. "I'm not so sure he's not a tackle, but he's quick enough to play guard. He's kind of a natural (on the offensive line). That's been a good move for us." ... sophomore place-kicker Nick Ferrara, who has just handled kickoffs this season after injuring his leg in the preseason, showed improvement this week in practice, "If I had a real long (field-goal attempt), I think I'd put Nick in. It's tough for me to change from Travis (Baltz), but I think this was the best week (of practice) Nick's had this year." ... offensive lineman Pete DeSouza, who fractured his legs in a motor scooter accident two weeks ago, was moved out of the hospital Monday and into a rehabilitation center.
Injury Update: TE Dave Stinebaugh, who has missed the last three weeks with a knee injury, is close to returning to action. "He ran pretty good (Wednesday), he's cutting a little bit better," Friedgen said Wednesday. "We might have him back in a week." Both Avery Graham (leg) and Desmond Kearse (leg) are further away from returning to action.
Maryland Injury Report vs. Miami
Out:
RB 20 Gary Douglas (leg)
DB 24 Avery Graham (leg)
DB 39 Desmond Kearse (leg)
TE 86 Dave Stinebaugh (knee)
Out for season:
QB 16 C.J. Brown (shoulder)
OL 79 Pete DeSouza (legs)
OL 75 Justin Gilbert (knee)
LB 42 Ben Pooler (knee)
TE 80 Lansford Watson (knee)
DL 41 Marcus Whitfield (knee)
The Hurricanes (5-3, 3-2) have one of the top defenses in the country. They have surrendered just 310.0 yards of total offense a game which ranks 18th in the FBS. Miami is also in the top 10 nationally in pass efficiency defense (No. 2 - 93.20), sacks (No. 6 - 3.1 per game) and tackles for loss (No. 2 - 8.8 pg).
Wide receiver Leonard Hankerson also leads the ACC in touchdown receptions (nine), just ahead of Maryland's Torrey Smith who is second with seven.
"This is a very, very talented team," Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen said after Thursday's practice. "They are huge up front and fast on defense. They say the top back is not playing, but they have five guys just like him."
The Terps struggled in their first two road tests this season (losses at West Virginia and Clemson), but had a breakthrough win two weeks ago at Boston College to snap a 10-game skid away from College Park.
Friedgen is hoping that 24-21 victory will carry over to Saturday (noon kickoff on ESPNU and Terrapin Sports Radio Network) where Miami will entertain a Homecoming crowd at Sun Life Stadium.
"I'm hoping we've learned how to do that," Friedgen said of the team remaining poised on the road. "In the games we've played, we should have learned how to do that. We should be seasoned enough to handle it now."
Friedgen feels the team has put in the necessary preparation this week to win a second-consecutive game in a hostile environment. "I like the way we've worked," Friedgen said. "I like the quality of our practices (this week). We seem fairly loose. Maybe that's good. Maybe that's bad. I told them to lay it on the line and go have fun."
Following Thursday's practice, Friedgen announced that linebacker Adrian Moten (defense), as well as wide receivers Adrian Cannon (offense) and LaQuan Williams (special teams) will serve as captains for Saturday's game. He also named wide receiver Adrian Coxson as the offensive scout team player of the week and cornerback Danny Thomas as the defensive scout team player of the week. Linebacker Nick Peterson, an Annapolis, Md., native, will carry the Maryland flag onto the field Saturday and offensive lineman Bennett Fulper will bring the American flag.
Terp Notes:
Baltz Earns Spot on Academic All-America All-District Team: Senior punter/place-kicker Travis Baltz was voted to the CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-America All-District II first team on Thursday. A three-time Academic All-ACC selection, Baltz is in line to earn Academic All-America honors. Members of the first team in all eight districts will be placed on the ballot with voting beginning next week. The 2010 CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-America team will be announced Nov. 23. For more details click here.
Turtle Bites: Redshirt freshman D.J. Adams, who rushed for a career-high 84 yards vs. Wake Forest (10/30), may see more time this weekend. He has been the team's short-yardage specialist this season, but the top two tailbacks - Da'Rel Scott and Davin Meggett - have taken the bulk of the carries this season. "We're going to put a package together for him and see what he can do," Friedgen said Wednesday. "We want to get him in the game. In this type of game, it could be good. It's going to be a physical game." ... De'Onte Arnett, who moved from defensive line to offensive line last week, has been serving as a reserve at guard in practice. "He's picked things up much faster than I thought he would," Friedgen said. "I'm not so sure he's not a tackle, but he's quick enough to play guard. He's kind of a natural (on the offensive line). That's been a good move for us." ... sophomore place-kicker Nick Ferrara, who has just handled kickoffs this season after injuring his leg in the preseason, showed improvement this week in practice, "If I had a real long (field-goal attempt), I think I'd put Nick in. It's tough for me to change from Travis (Baltz), but I think this was the best week (of practice) Nick's had this year." ... offensive lineman Pete DeSouza, who fractured his legs in a motor scooter accident two weeks ago, was moved out of the hospital Monday and into a rehabilitation center.
Injury Update: TE Dave Stinebaugh, who has missed the last three weeks with a knee injury, is close to returning to action. "He ran pretty good (Wednesday), he's cutting a little bit better," Friedgen said Wednesday. "We might have him back in a week." Both Avery Graham (leg) and Desmond Kearse (leg) are further away from returning to action.
Maryland Injury Report vs. Miami
Out:
RB 20 Gary Douglas (leg)
DB 24 Avery Graham (leg)
DB 39 Desmond Kearse (leg)
TE 86 Dave Stinebaugh (knee)
Out for season:
QB 16 C.J. Brown (shoulder)
OL 79 Pete DeSouza (legs)
OL 75 Justin Gilbert (knee)
LB 42 Ben Pooler (knee)
TE 80 Lansford Watson (knee)
DL 41 Marcus Whitfield (knee)
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