Camp conundrums
Maryland reported for football camp Saturday, and in coach DJ Durkin’s first season at the helm, there’s no shortage of excitement for the Terps.
Struggles abounded during last season’s 3-9 season, but the new regime appears to have put the pieces in place for improvement this fall.
Ahead of the first practices this week, here are five storylines to watch through August and into the season. 1. How will Walt Bell mold the offense to Maryland’s talent?
The top question about Maryland’s offense in August is who will be under center Sept. 3 against Howard. But there’s plenty more to watch on offense.
By giving players the chance to contribute last season and adding a few more recruits, Maryland has built depth in its wide receiver corps, while the recruiting and transfer market helped add plenty of running backs to the roster. So with all of these pieces, how will offensive coordinator Walt Bell make it work? What will wide receiver D.J. Moore do in his sophomore season? What can freshman wide receivers Tino Ellis and DJ Turner add? Bell has at Details: least six running backs with different skill sets who could contribute.
It’s easy for quarterback to overshadow everything else — Maryland showed how devastating poor quarterback play can be a season ago — but it will be worth watching how Bell positions his players for success. 2. Newcomers have a chance to make a quick impact.
Many of Maryland’s recruits in the Class of 2016 were at positions of need: three running backs, a host of defensive backs and several blue-chip offensive linemen. The Terps were also active on the transfer market, with wide receiver Teldrick Morgan (Meade) and running back Trey Edmunds joining the fray with opportunities to contribute immediately.
While Maryland lists seven returning starters on offense and five on defense, several of the faces making things happen likely will be new. Morgan and Edmunds have been top options at their previous schools. 3. Can special teams be a strength?
Durkin is a former special teams coordinator, and he’s emphasized that phase of the game during his short tenure. Maryland is already set with All-America returner Will Likely waiting deep for opponents’ kicks, but on the other side, Maryland has several questions. The Terps are carrying seven punters and kickers into camp, and competition is wide open.
Maryland ranked 125th in average yards per punt last season, with then-freshman Nicolas Pritchard handling most of the load. Australian Wade Lees appears to be a strong candidate to win the starting job this month.
The Terps also have to replace kicker Brad Craddock. Junior Adam Greene (Broadneck) went 3-for-5 in his attempts in November after Craddock went down with an injury, but he’s still competing for the job in a crowded group of kickers. There’s work to be done for Durkin and special teams coordinator Pete Lembo. 4. Maryland needs to take advantage of a softer schedule.
Maryland’s Big Ten Conference schedule is going to be tough every year, barring anything unexpected. Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State show no signs of slowing down at the top of the East Division, while Penn State, in coach James Franklin’s third season, has continued to recruit at a high level and has a talented roster. Those four games on the schedule every fall are tough.
But in its third season in the conference, Maryland catches a break with its opponents from the West — Minnesota, Nebraska and Purdue — and in its nonconference schedule, with Howard, Florida International and Central Florida.
The key for Maryland is to take advantage of the softer schedule this season. A strong showing in September could put the Terps halfway to bowl eligibility. A postseason berth in Durkin’s first season would be a significant boost to the program, but the Terps will have to avoid any untimely losses. 5. What happens to Maryland’s recruiting momentum?
Durkin has gotten off to a blazing start on the recruiting trail since he arrived in College Park in December. He put together a truncated class that met a number of needs in two months, and Maryland’s Class of 2017 is a top-20 class nationally, depending on the recruiting service.
But it’s up to Durkin and his staff to keep selling their vision for the program, even if the Terps struggle this fall. Maryland will have to hold its class together, and there’s a long time between now and National Signing Day on Feb. 1.