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Kickoff returns still concern Friedgen

On the list of things that could possibly plague Maryland at midseason, struggles on kickoff returns seemed like the most unlikely inclusion.

Yet here are the Terrapins, struggling to generate much of anything despite the presence of the electric Torrey Smith, who is averaging 18.6 yards a return.

Smith hasn't busted a big one --- his longest return after five games is 31 yards --- and he was clearly limited in Saturday's defeat of Duke with an apparent ankle injury.

But in general, the unit's struggles have caught coach Ralph Friedgen's attention.

"Where I think we should be farther along is on our kickoff returns," Friedgen said. "Our returner's not at full speed right now, but we're not doing a good job of executing like we can. And we can't keep changing people because of injuries. We are a lot better than we've been."

The personnel issue is an interesting one, and worth taking a peek at. Here's (roughly, obviously not to scale) a look at Maryland's kickoff return units used fairly early in each of the Terrapins' first five games:

NAVY

12	59	29	52	15	13
		89	32
		17	25
		82

MORGAN STATE

13	59	29	52	15	12
		89	32
		17	25
		82

WEST VIRGINIA

13	59	52	29	51	12
		89	32
		17	25
		82

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL

13	88	29	51	59	12
		89	32
		17	36
		82

DUKE

83	88	29	45	51	12
	89	32	40
		20
		82

Only four of Smith's blockers from the opener against Navy were used in the initial kickoff return on Saturday. Only six of 10 were held over from a week earlier, and Maryland tweaked its alignment against the Blue Devils as well.

Injuries have held some contributors (Will Yeatman, Taylor Watson, Emani Lee-Odai, Darin Drakeford, Gary Douglas and David Mackall) out.

That group doesn't even include linebacker Marcus Whitfield, who made a brief appearance on this unit against Navy and was lost to an ACL tear the next season. Same goes for Ben Pooler, who might have factored in if not for a preseason knee injury.

So what's the solution? Some continuity will help. Whether Maryland can actually achieve that won't be determined until it knows just how much healing will be accomplished during the bye week.

Maryland special teams notes --- Duke

Items from the notebook on the personnel Maryland used on its special teams units in Saturday's 21-16 defeat of Duke.

KICKOFF RETURN

12-51-45-29-88-83

(Kevin Dorsey, Ryan Donohue, Nick Peterson, Austin Walker, Will Yeatman, Emani Lee-Odai)

40-32-89

(Matt Robinson, Haroon Brown, Matt Furstenburg)

20

(Gary Douglas)

82

(Torrey Smith)

Maryland switched up its formation for this game, going with a group of three in front of Douglas rather than two pairs in front of Smith. Look for more on this on the blog tomorrow. There was a turnover of four players from the Florida International game to the defeat of Duke.

KICKOFF

The alignment for Maryland's first kickoff:

13-3-45-40-29-43-12-52-24-51-21

(Kerry Boykins, LaQuan Williams, Nick Peterson, Matt Robinson, Austin Walker, Nick Ferrara, Kevin Dorsey, Darin Drakeford, Avery Graham, Ryan Donohue, Trenton Hughes)

Drakeford returned from injury this week, replacing David Mackall (concussion) on this unit.

PUNT

Punter: Travis Baltz (35)
Snapper: Tim Downs (92)

Blockers: 1-3-9-12-21-24-29-51-52

Adrian Moten, LaQuan Williams, Demetrius Hartsfield, Kevin Dorsey, Trenton Hughes, Avery Graham, Austin Walker, Ryan Donohue, Darin Drakeford

This unit varies a bit, even inside of a game.That list is more of a composite based on notes from several punts than a concrete evaluation of 11 guys on the field each time out.

PUNT RETURN

On the field for Tony Logan's 84-yard return:

RETURNER: Tony Logan (85)
GUNNERS: Kerry Boykins (13) and Quintin McCree (17)

BLOCKERS: 3-12-24-29-40-44-45-83

LaQuan Williams, Kevin Dorsey, Avery Graham, Austin Walker, Matt Robinson, Derek Drummond, Nick Peterson, Emani Lee-Odai

Yet again, six receivers were on the field for a punt returned for a score.

FIELD GOAL

KICKER: Travis Baltz (35)
HOLDER: Ted Townsley (37)
SNAPPER: Tim Downs (92)

BLOCKERS: 63-67-74-78-81-88-89-96

Bennett Fulper, Pete White, Nick Klemm, Justin Lewis, Ryan Schlothauer, Will Yeatman, Matt Furstenburg, A.J. Francis

Looks like White might be taking over a spot here for Gonnella. Noticed R.J. Dill and not Lewis a week earlier on this unit. Otherwise, no changes.

FIELD GOAL BLOCK

This group was on the field for Will Snyderwine's first field goal attempt of the game:

2-6-9-15-21-22-33-52-56-72-96

Antwine Perez, Kenny Tate, Demetrius Hartsfield, Drew Gloster, Trenton Hughes, Cameron Chism, Alex Wujciak, Darin Drakeford, Isaiah Ross, Joe Vellano, A.J. Francis

This came just after Adrian Moten's ankle injury, which explains why Drakeford would be in. Otherwise, no changes from a week earlier.

Maryland special teams --- Florida International

After a week's absence, some special teams notes from Maryland's 42-28 defeat of Florida International. ...

KICKOFF RETURN

Maryland's alignment for the opening kickoff:

12-59-51-29-88-13

(Kevin Dorsey, David Mackall, Ryan Donohue, Austin Walker, Will Yeatman, Kerry Boykins)

32-89

(Haroon Brown, Matt Furstenburg)

36-17

(Taylor Watson, Quintin McCree)

82

(Torrey Smith)

A couple weeks back, Darin Drakeford (injured) and Drew Gloster were up front, while Donohue and Yeatman (who was then injured) were not. In addition, Watson has settled into a role on this unit as well. Dexter McDougle, Smith's top backup, wasn't on the field for this return.

KICKOFF

Alignment after Maryland's first score of the game:

13-3-45-12-59-43-29-40-51-24-21

(Boykins, LaQuan Williams, Nick Peterson, Dorsey, Mackall, Nick Ferrara, Walker, Matt Robinson, Donohue, Avery Graham, Trenton Hughes)

Louis Berman subbed in for Mackall when he suffered a concussion.

PUNT

Punter: Travis Baltz (35)
Snapper: Tim Downs (92)

Additional players: 1-9-12-15-21-24-29-51-89

Adrian Moten, Demetrius Hartsfield, Kevin Dorsey, Drew Gloster, Trenton Hughes, Avery Graham, Austin Walker, Ryan Donohue, Matt Furstenburg

Also saw LaQuan Williams in on an early punt team as well.

PUNT BLOCK/RETURN

Returner: Tony Logan (85)

Blockers: 3-12-13-17-29-40-45-51-59-87

LaQuan Williams, Kevin Dorsey, Kerry Boykins, Quintin McCree, Austin Walker, Matt Robinson, Nick Peterson, Ryan Donohue, David Mackall, Webb Dulin

That was the unit on the field for Logan's 85-yard return for a touchdown.

Early on, Maryland used a safety team --- basically, a punt team composed mostly of defensive regulars whose job it is to avoid falling victim to a fake.

FIELD GOAL/PAT

Kicker: Travis Baltz (35)
Holder: Ted Townsley (37)
Snapper: Tim Downs (92)

Blockers: 63-67-74-76-81-88-89-96

Bennett Fulper, Pete White, Nick Klemm, R.J. Dill, Ryan Schlothauer, Will Yeatman, Matt Furstenburg, A.J. Francis

Klemm took Justin Gilbert's spot on this unit from earlier this season. White was filling in for Andrew Gonnella for this particular extra point.

FIELD GOAL/PAT BLOCK

1-2-6-9-15-21-22-33-56-72-96

Adrian Moten, Antwine Perez, Kenny Tate, Demetrius Hartsfield, Drew Gloster, Trenton Hughes, Cameron Chism, Alex Wujciak, Isaiah Ross, Joe Vellano, A.J. Francis

Basically, the first team defense with Ross subbed in for Justin Anderson.

Maryland special teams notes --- Morgan State

Special teams tidbits from the game day notebook compiled during Maryland's 62-3 victory over Morgan State. ...

KICKOFF RETURN

The primary kickoff return team remained the same as the opener. Of course, it only took the field once --- at the start of the second half. A bunch of reserves were in the game by the time Morgan State made it 48-3.

Maryland's alignment:

13-59-29-52-15-12

(Kerry Boykins, David Mackall, Austin Walker, Darin Drakeford, Drew Gloster, Kevin Dorsey)

89-32

(Matt Furstenburg, Haroon Brown)

17-25

(Quintin McCree-Dexter McDougle)

82

(Torrey Smith)

KICKOFF

Maryland's alignment for its kickoff after it went up 7-0:

25-83-41-12-59-37-52-40-29-3-13

Dexter McDougle, Emani Lee-Odai, Marcus Whitfield, Kevin Dorsey, David Mackall, Ted Townsley, Darin Drakeford, Matt Robinson, Austin Walker, LaQuan Williams, Kerry Boykins

There were a few tweaks from the opener. Ryan Donohue and Antwine Perez were subbed out, with Whitfield and Robinson taking their places.

Obviously, the kickoff unit looked a little different after injuries (Whitfield and Townsley) and substitutions (plenty) took hold in the second half:

21-16-51-12-49-35-58-40-29-87-13

Trenton Hughes, Anthony Green, Ryan Donohue, Kevin Dorsey, Louis Berman, Travis Baltz, Bradley Johnson, Matt Robinson, Austin Walker, Webb Dulin, Kerry Boykins

PUNT

Punter: Travis Baltz (35)
Snapper: Tim Downs (92)

Additional players: 1-9-12-15-21-24-29-51-52

Adrian Moten, Demetrius Hartsfield, Kevin Dorsey, Trenton Hughes, Avery Graham, Austin Walker, Ryan Donohue, Darin Drakeford.

For a second-half punt, Dexter McDougle was slipped in for Walker.

PUNT RETURN

Returner: Tony Logan (85)

3-12-13-17-29-40-45-51-52-83

LaQuan Williams, Kevin Dorsey, Kerry Boykins, Quintin McCree, Austin Walker, Matt Robinson, Nick Peterson, Ryan Donohue, Darin Drakeford, Emani Lee-Odai

A glance at a third-quarter return unit (with Logan still as the return man):

13-16-19-24-29-40-45-46-51-52

That group took four receivers out (Williams, Dorsey, McCree and Lee-Odai) and used Anthony Green, Travis Hawkins, Avery Graham and (so far as I can tell) Herbert Law as well.

FIELD GOAL

Kicker: Travis Baltz (35)
Holder: Ted Townsley (37)
Snapper: Tim Downs (92)

Blockers: 46-54-63-75-76-77-81-89

Herbert Law, Cody Blue, Bennett Fulper, Justin Gilbert, R.J. Dill, Andrew Gonnella, Ryan Schlothauer, Matt Furstenburg

Blue was subbed in for Carl Russell from a week earlier. Russell was a DNP.

FIELD GOAL BLOCK

Since most of the starters were done for the day by the time this unit was used, reserves were used the one time this group was needed.

Maryland special teams notes --- Navy

Another D1scourse tradition during football season is taking note of some special teams personnel whenever possible.

Sometimes, that's easier than others. But for the most part, it's important to attempt to have a good idea of who is playing where when you're covering a team, even if that centers on an extra point unit.

Some notes, then, on Maryland's special teams personnel gleaned from Monday's 17-14 defeat of Navy. Typically, I try to note the numbers on every team, then translate it into actual names later. It's usually easy to get formations correct with kickoffs, though it's a lot tougher in other areas without a pause button.

One guy who is getting used absolutely everywhere is Kevin Dorsey. He played on both kickoff and punt units and seems like a good bet to be a frequent special teams contributor as a sophomore.

Onto the tidbits from my game day notebook

KICKOFF RETURN

Kevin Dorsey, David Mackall, Austin Walker, Darin Drakeford, Drew Gloster, Kerry Boykins
(12-59-29-52-15-13)

Matt Furstenburg, Haroon Brown
(89-32)

Quintin McCree, Dexter McDougle
(17-25)

Torrey Smith
(82)

*** When McDougle got hurt, Avery Graham subbed in. In addition, Marcus Whitfield got a look in place of Gloster on the return after Navy's first touchdown.

KICKOFF

25-83-51-12-59-37-29-2-52-3-13

Dexter McDougle, Emani Lee-Odai, Ryan Donohue, Kevin Dorsey, David Mackall, Ted Townsley, Austin Walker, Antwine Perez, Darin Drakeford, LaQuan Williams, Quintin McCree

PUNT

Punter: Travis Baltz (35)
Snapper: Tim Downs (92)

Additional players: 1-9-12-15-21-24-29-51-52

Adrian Moten, Demetrius Hartsfield, Kevin Dorsey, Drew Gloster, Trenton Hughes, Avery Graham, Austin Walker, Ryan Donohue, Darin Drakeford

PUNT BLOCK

Navy only punted twice. The first time, Maryland left much of its defense in. The second time, I scrambled to scribble down eight of the 11 names. So it's incomplete, but it's a start. Any help would be appreciated:

Marcus Whitfield, Kerry Boykins, Bradley Johnson, Ryan Donohue, Kevin Dorsey, LaQuan Williams, Quintin McCree, Tony Logan (PR)

FIELD GOAL

Kicker: Travis Baltz (35)
Holder: Ted Townsley (39)
Snapper: Tim Downs (92)

Blockers: 81-89-75-46-77-63-76-99

Ryan Schlothauer, Matt Furstenburg, Justin Gilbert, Herbert Law, Andrew Gonnella, Bennett Fulper, R.J. Dill, Carl Russell

*** Did a double take both then and while writing this about Russell's presence