Coach Edsall goes with smaller, faster defense It didn’t take long for Keith Bowers and Andre Monroe to move into the starting defense for Maryland. Bowers, a true freshman, took over at end last week against West Virginia. Monroe, a redshirt freshman, will start at tackle Saturday against Temple.
The moves are part of Randy Edsall’s transformation of a defense that is lighter, quicker and better suited to defend trendy, high-tempo offenses such as the “Air Raid” spread employed Saturday by the Mountaineers.
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“We want to really increase our speed and athleticism and length at certain positions on defense,” Edsall said. “That’s really a charge we have as we go out and recruit.”
| Up next | ||||
| Temple at Maryland | ||||
| When » | Saturday, 12:30 p.m. | |||
| Where » | Byrd Stadium, | College Park | ||
| TV » | ACC Network (My 20) | |||
| Radio » | 980 AM | |||
| Note | ||||
| Coach Randy Edsall said that wide receivers Ronnie Tyler and Quintin McCree will remain on the suspended list for the Temple game. | ||||
Despite returning seven starters, Edsall’s unit bears little resemblance to the 2010 defense that ranked fourth in the ACC (340.8 yards per game). Only two of the seven returnees — tackle Joe Vellano and cornerback Cameron Chism — are starters at the same position.
Edsall shifted senior Kenny Tate from safety to linebacker and moved junior Demetrius Hartsfield from the outside to the inside. In addition, sophomore reserve linebacker David Mackall took over at defensive end. At each of their new positions, Maryland had a smaller, quicker player.
Last year’s defensive line averaged 275 pounds and the linebackers averaged 238. Saturday’s starters will average 265 on the line and 232 at linebacker.
Another position where the Terps will be lighter is tackle as the 6-foot, 275-pound Monroe replaces 6-4, 295-pound junior A.J. Francis, a starter for nine games last season. Part of the move is performance-based. Monroe has six tackles, including a team-high two sacks. But Monroe’s quickness edge and potential to disrupt also was a factor.
“Andre was a guy that we saw was very, very productive,” Edsall said. “We just thought, through his play on the field, he deserved to start.”
The promotion of the 6-2, 260-pound Bowers was hastened by an injury to junior starter Isaiah Ross. Edsall has shown no hesitation to use inexperienced players, especially when they bring speed. Another freshman, Lorne Goree, started last week as Maryland went to a 3-4 set to combat the West Virginia spread.
“They were freshmen. They were guys that went out and played hard,” Edsall said. “Keith Bowers is a little bit undersized right now. We gotta get him to eat more.”
A few extra pounds will endear Bowers to Edsall, as long as it doesn’t come with a decrease in speed.
Edsall’s emphasis on speed over power was apparent early to sophomore cornerback Dexter McDougle, and not just with the new coach’s personnel decisions.
“Our new strength coach really has us doing a lot of flexibility stuff,” McDougle said. “Before they were here, we were big and strong. But I feel we couldn’t move like we can now. Our hips are better. We’re way more flexible and faster.”
