234 replies to this topic

[BSLMikeLowe]

Williams with his lack of experience is risky. Locksley needs to keep the program on an upward trajectory, and clearly the defense is where the most room for improvement is. They probably wouldn't have gotten someone with Steele's resume again, but that he went in that direction first is an indication that he wasn't comfortable with his internal options. This looks like a case of MD going cheap.

 

No surprise either that Stewart is leaving. I thought it'd be odd for him to just accept the demotion.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Williams with his lack of experience is risky. Locksley needs to keep the program on an upward trajectory, and clearly the defense is where the most room for improvement is. They probably wouldn't have gotten someone with Steele's resume again, but that he went in that direction first is an indication that he wasn't comfortable with his internal options. This looks like a case of MD going cheap.

 

No surprise either that Stewart is leaving. I thought it'd be odd for him to just accept the demotion.

It's definitely a risk. I'll be interested to see where he goes with the ILB and S coaching positions, maybe he adds someone with experience as a "co-defensive coordinator" or "assistant head coach".

[BSLMikeLowe]

They did make the hiring of Gunter Brewer official today. I'm sure he's a great coach and he has an impressive resume....but seriously, he looks more like someone who should be doing my taxes than coaching WRs.

 

[BSLZackKiesel]

There's obviously still some potential movement with the roster, but here's my projected depth chart post-NSD.

 

OFFENSE

QB: 1. Taulia Tagovailoa, 2. Eric Najarian

RB: 1. Challen Faamatau OR Colby McDonald

WR-X: 1. Dontay Demus, Jr., 2. Tai Felton

WR-Z: 1. Rakim Jarrett, 2. Jeshaun Jones

WR-H: 1. Jacob Copeland, 2. Marcus Fleming OR Octavian Smith, Jr.

TE: 1. CJ Dippre OR Corey Dyches

LT: 1. Jaelyn Duncan, 2. Maximus McCree

LG: 1. Mason Lunsford, 2. Ja'Khi Green

C: 1. Spencer Anderson, 2. Aric Harris

RG: 1. Johari Branch, 2. Amelio Moran

RT: 1. Delmar Glaze, 2. Marcus Finger

 

DEFENSE

DE: 1. Greg Rose, 2. Tyler Baylor

NT: 1. Ami Finau, 2. Anthony Booker, Jr.

DT: 1. Mosiah Nasili-Kite, 2. Darrell Jackson

SAM: 1. Demeioun Robinson, 2. Jaishawn Barham OR VanDarius Cowan

MIKE: 1. Ruben Hyppolite II, 2. Ahmad McCullough

WILL: 1. Fa'Najae Gotay, 2. Gereme Spraggins

JACK: 1. Durell Nchami, 2. Terrance Butler, Jr. OR Zion Shockley

FCB: 1. Deonte Banks, 2. Corey Coley, Jr.

SS: 1. Beau Brade, 2. Glendon Miller OR Shane Mosley

FS: 1. Dante Trader, 2. Gavin Gibson OR Lavain Scruggs

BCB: 1. Tarheeb Still, 2. Jakorian Bennett

(Note: Bennett and Still would likely split time as the team's nickel cornerback.)

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: 1. Chad Ryland, 2. Harrison Beattie

P: 1. Anthony Pecorella OR Colton Spangler

LS: 1. Ethan Gough, 2. Jake Foggia

KR: 1. Dontay Demus, Jr., 2. Rakim Jarrett

PR: 1. Tarheeb Still, 2. Rakim Jarrett

[BSLChrisStoner]

Offense looks strong, depending on how much you love the RBs. 
But QB, WR, O-Line all in good shape. 

Starting D-line looks okay.  Starting LB's look solid. 
Talk to me about what you see depth wise. 

CB's look good.  What do you think about S? 

 

How many guys do you count currently on the roster? (Including Class of '22.)

How many additional additions are you expecting via Transfer?

[BSLZackKiesel]

Offense looks strong, depending on how much you love the RBs. 
But QB, WR, O-Line all in good shape. 

Starting D-line looks okay.  Starting LB's look solid. 
Talk to me about what you see depth wise. 

CB's look good.  What do you think about S? 

 

How many guys do you count currently on the roster? (Including Class of '22.)

How many additional additions are you expecting via Transfer?

They're currently at their max number of scholarships for next year. Ryland was the final one, so unless we see someone transfer out, you shouldn't expect any more transfers other than some PWOs.

 

I think you'll be fine at RB. Faamatau and McDonald are a decent 1-A and 1-B until Brown gets his feet under him and can work his way into the rotation. This offense doesn't necessarily need a star RB to be successful, just someone to pick up the yards that are there in front of him.

 

I'd feel totally comfortable with the defensive line. You've got three very experienced guys starting, with very solid depth behind them. They played well last year, and were able to rotate 6-7 guys in during each game. That can continue with this depth.

 

Inside linebacker was the biggest issue last year. After Gotay went down, it was a revolving door at the WILL position and poor angles, missed tackles, and poor gap assignment were what broke off a lot of the big runs we saw up the middle. Getting him back will help, but I'd be concerned if McCullough and/or Spraggins were forced into significant playing time again.

 

I love the pass rushers. Robinson came on strong towards the end of last year, and is more than ready for a full-time starting job. Barham will play inside and outside, but I figure he'll primarily be a situational pass-rusher as a freshman. I'd like to see one (or both) of Butler and Shockley step up and find a role this year. Nchami can't play every down, but is very effective when you use him correctly and keep him healthy.

 

Safety will be the biggest question mark. Replacing two starters is never easy, but I think you have a group of guys who are more comfortable playing outside of the box. Cross and Mosley were both box safeties, so you had coverage issues when one or both of them were forced to play deep. Trader and Brade both saw playing time last year, and looked good. Finding two reliable guys here will be Williams' first job as defensive coordinator.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Need a couple LBs and a S off the portal, at least for experienced depth if not to push the projected incumbents. Otherwise, they look ready to roll.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Looks like they will be hiring Lance Thompson from Florida Atlantic to coach LBs.

 

https://www.on3.com/...coaching-staff/

[BSLZackKiesel]

Looks like they will be hiring Lance Thompson from Florida Atlantic to coach LBs.

Extremely accomplished recruiter, and has spent time as a defensive assistant at Alabama, Auburn, Georgia Tech, LSU, South Carolina, Tennessee, and UCF.

 

The only opening left on the staff is for a safeties coach.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Looks like Wes Neighbors will be the safeties coach. He spent last season coaching safeties on Billy Napier’s staff at Louisiana.

 

https://footballscoo...g-wes-neighbors

[BSLZackKiesel]

Looks like Wes Neighbors will be the safeties coach. He spent last season coaching safeties on Billy Napier’s staff at Louisiana.

https://footballscoo...g-wes-neighbors

Has experience coaching with Locksley at Alabama and Thompson at FAU. That finalizes the 2022 coaching staff.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Mike Locksley was interviewed on CNN yesterday and spoke on Brian Flores’ lawsuit. As the founder and president of the National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches, he’ll certainly continue to receive opportunities to speak on these issues as they dominate the news.

https://ahmedghafir....ey-137/comments

[BSLZackKiesel]

2022 Maryland Football Coaching Staff

 

Offense

Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks: Dan Enos

Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends: Mike Miller

Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers: Gunter Brewer*

Running Backs: Elijah Brooks

Offensive Line: Brian Braswell

 

Defense

Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line: Brian Williams

Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers: Ron Zook

Inside Linebackers: Lance Thompson*

Cornerbacks: Henry Baker

Safeties: Wes Neighbors*

 

* = new to the coaching staff

[BSLZackKiesel]

Reports are that Dontay Demus, Jr.'s recovery is going very well, and he's fully expected to be ready for the start of this season. While he won't be participating in spring practices, this is big news as it was initially thought he could miss a significant portion of the year.

 

Jeshaun Jones is also expected to be ready by summer camp, though the damage to his knee was less significant than Demus'.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Austin Fontaine has switched back to the defensive side of the ball. He'll likely be slotted in as a 5-technique on the line.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Austin Fontaine has switched back to the defensive side of the ball. He'll likely be slotted in as a 5-technique on the line.

 

He never should have left the Dline.  Now he's playing catch-up. Great if old instincts return.

[BSLZackKiesel]

With basketball season over, it's time to shift focus to football. We should have a spring practice schedule here shortly. They've recently aligned the Red-White Spring Game with the campus' Maryland Day festivities, which are happening on April 30 this year. That would put the start of practices sometime at the end of March.

 

Recruiting came out of a dead period at the end of February, and the current quiet period ends on April 14th. Things always tend to heat up along with the weather, so we should start to hear more about the 2023 class in the next month or so.

 

Maryland has had the following freshmen on campus since January as early enrollees, who will all participate in spring practices:

• 4-star LB Jaishawn Barham
• 3-star QB Jayden Sauray
• 3-star OL Keon Kindred
• 3-star OL Maximus McCree
• 3-star OL Ja'Kavion Nonar
• 3-star OL Andre Roye, Jr.
• 3-star LB Andrew Booker
• 3-star LB Caleb Wheatland
• 3-star DB Gavin Gibson

[BSLZackKiesel]

Spring practices will officially begin on March 29, with the Red-White Spring Game to be played on April 30.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Sounds like Andre Roye, Jr. has been very impressive in practices so far, and may work his way onto the two-deep as a true freshman. Reminds some of a young Jaelyn Duncan.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Spring practices will officially begin on March 29, with the Red-White Spring Game to be played on April 30.

The Spring Game will begin at Noon and be broadcast live on BTN.