If spring practice is any reflection of what is to come in the fall, Maryland has one position for which it has no clear answer.
Right guard.
And that, for anyone who saw last year's offensive line crumble and shuffle and endure all sorts of other calamities, is a problem.
"It's an issue," coach Ralph Friedgen said. "We get [walk-on] Josh Cary matched up on [Joe] Vellano, and he loses most of the time."
The Terrapins' situation at all the guard spots is a headache. Andrew Gonnella looks like the choice at left guard, but backup Pete White hasn't taken a huge leap this spring. Lamar Young is both injured and struggling academically, a potent cocktail certain to curb progress.
Things are just as limited on the right side, where Bennett Fulper is returning from shoulder surgery and Justin Lewis simply hasn't impressed. Then there's Cary, who probably received more work than he could have bargained for the last three weeks simply because he's a guard who can walk without a limp.
And that just exacerbates matters on a line where anywhere between two and four spots will probably turn over.
"We have limitations on the line, whether by ability or experience, and we're seeing every blitz known to man right now," Friedgen said. "But there were times today they were very frustrated and there were times as the practice went on they started picking some things up. I just have to hope they keep seeing things enough and they start getting better at it."
Help could be on the way, in the form of freshman Sal Conaboy. Maybe Young gets healthy and contributes. Or perhaps Friedgen gets creative; he even floated the possibility of moving De'Onte Arnett to the offensive side on Thursday.
But most of all, Friedgen needs a plan to head into August with. It won't be bulletproof; an injury could certainly shake any number of things up.
What can't happen again is a repeat of last year's patchwork disaster.
"What I'm looking for is five guys I can count on each and every day," Friedgen said. "Right now I would say the five guys who have shown up for most of the practices are Justin Gilbert, Gonnella, [Paul] Pinegar, Fulper most of the time, and then [R.J.] Dill is playing very well right now. If Fulper can get well and start improving --- and I see him getting better. What he has to do this summer is get his strength back in his arms."
Right guard, not long ago, seemed like it would be Lewis' spot for however long he wanted it. But after a spotty redshirt freshman year, he hasn't made the strides the Terps would have liked this spring.
Some of it could be youth and inconsistency. But it certainly isn't safe to ticket him for substantial playing time next year. At least not yet.
"Lewis, he's a guy who's there one period, not there the next period," Friedgen said. "I need somebody I can count on each and every day. And that was part of our problem last year. We kept trying to move guys around. It's like you dance with a different girl every day. Playing offensive line, you've got to know your partner. You're not going to be winning Dancing with the Stars if you have a different partner every time. That's what it's like playing the offensive line."
In Maryland's best-case scenario, last year's o-line struggles turn out to be an investment in this year. Gonnella has hundreds of snaps and has improved. Pinegar has a full season of starting, albeit not at center. Dill was a fixture at right tackle for must of last season. All three figure to at least be a bit better than a year earlier.
But that hole still lingers at right guard. And until it is plugged, Friedgen will rightfully be peppered with questions about the sturdiness of a unit that dealt with its share of problems last season.
"I'm looking for stability, to lock in [and say] these are the starters and build around that," Friedgen said. "What that does as coaches is you know what you've got. You know what their weaknesses are, so you can kind of coach around it, or you know what their strengths are and you can kind of coach to it. But when you guy in one day or period or week and one guy in the next, you never get any continuity. That's what I'm kind of looking for, some continuity."
What has happened to White??
His signing pushed MD into the top 25 recruitting list 2 years ago. He stayed home, instead of TENN,or 1 of the big 3 in FL.
I hope he gets a chance. He could be very nice.
Posted by: curt shaw | 04/10/2010 at 05:11 AM
Curt ---
From the sounds of things, White is having the typical freshman struggles to pick up the offense. I do think Maryland remains fairly high on him, and it wouldnt shock me if he starts at some point in the fall.
Of course, I wouldnt be shock me if a lot of people started at some point in the fall.
Posted by: D1scourse | 04/10/2010 at 09:09 AM