No easy answers for Maryland's tight end troubles

Navy was already going to show up to its Sept. 6 opener against Maryland without any tight ends on its active roster.

At this rate, so is Maryland.

The revelation of Devonte Campbell's knee injury last night --- one that is likely to keep him out of at least the Terrapins' first game, if not a few more --- is just the latest development to hamper what figured to be an improved unit this year.

Lansford Watson is done for the year, an MCL tear taking him out in the first week of camp.

Will Yeatman, nearly two years removed from his last game at Notre Dame, is recovering from a broken finger.

Campbell, who missed a week with a concussion, is now out, too, leaving the Terps without the most versatile player in the unit heading into the opener.

What's left are players who are mostly untested (Matt Furstenburg), still probably a little undersized (Dave Stinebaugh) and generally unknown (Ryan Schlothauer). In some form or fashion, all three have to be considered likely possibilities to play in 11 days.

Furstenburg has one catch for nine yards, and did start last year's opener at California. Stinebaugh and Schlothauer have never taken a college snap. It's an understatement that Maryland is uncertain just what it can expect at the position.

The short-term answer could simply turn out to be a lot of wide receiver sets, since Maryland's injury bug hasn't zapped that unit just yet.

Or it might mean using more fullbacks (although that's relative, since Taylor Watson is still rehabbing a knee injury and won't be back).

Furstenburg, in particular, stands to gain from the injuries. Campbell and Watson entered camp as the most experienced options, and Furstenburg seemed ticketed for a season of blocking and perhaps not a whole lot else.

Not anymore. And to his credit, he's enjoyed a strong camp while attrition impacted his unit.

But just to be safe, maybe he should ask for the position's name to be changed. At this point, it's clearly tempting fate to be a tight end in College Park.

Comments

[BuddhaUMD]

What about 6'9 260 lb Jake Wheeler who came in as a Tackle? Isn't he being looked at as a TE until he fills out?

Maybe he could atleast provide some blocking with that size?

[D1scourse]

Buddha ---

I doubt that Maryland will sacrifice a year of Wheeler (a guy whose name hasnt been mentioned all camp) down the road as an emergency solution to a problem that could possibly be solved before September is out.

I think a glance over to the fullbacks is the most likely answer for a stopgap if its needed. But even thats just a guess.

[Chris Stoner]

I imagine Gloster is now too entrenched on the DL to be considered for a move back to TE?

Gloster was a PrepStar All American, 21st receiver in the nation on ESPN.com, 30th wr in the nation on Rivals.

[D1scourse]

Chris ---

Yeah, the tight end thing didnt work out well for Gloster, regardless of what the recruiting rankings said. Drew will admit he didnt much take to the blocking side of things.

Plus, hes starting and happy at defensive end. If he wasnt going back to linebacker when there were depth issues there, hes not going back to tight end.

http://d1scourse.typepad.com/blog/2010/08/after-latest-move-gloster-feels-at-home-at-defensive-end.html