Don - thanks for the updates.

Now we can watch Flacco on Sundays instead of Saturdays. I saw him play two games last year. Obviously has all the tools, but what I liked was that he made many more smart decisions than dumb ones.

Wow! Great coverage!
"Then there was the way Josh Portis was used. Either the Florida transfer still has no grasp of the offense or Friedgen and Franklin didn't want to show much to any potential spies infiltrating the Red and White game."

Ralph came out last week and said that Portis still is having trouble calling plays and is way behind the other two quarterbacks. This is old information.

Could not agree more with your assessment. Personally I don't need to see any more of Jordan Steffy to understand that he is a gunshy, checkdown guy that does not fair well under pressure. He does not have an accurate arm when throwing more than about 15 yards. I don't get the Portis deal either, he didn't look good but it also didn't seem like he had the balance of play calls other QBS had. All I know is that 2 years ago nobody could get hand on him and he seemed to throw crisp, accurate passes. Turner is a serviceable QB but seems inaccurate at times and can't alude rush. I wish they would just give Portis a chance to showcase talent! If our offense it that complex maybe it should be simplified so we can get the best athletes on the field, seems to work for other programs!

Agreed that the lack of playing time Portis got is a mystery. He's the most talented guy. And maybe Ralph is keeping him under wraps. As for Steffy, he's had three concusions and it's time to let him keep what remains of his scholarship to finish school off the field. Turner is a good man to have as a backup--got experience now. So here it is. The best quarterback the Terps have is Jamarr Robinson. Acts like his having lots of fun. Has speed and a better arm than you'd think. And he could run the option. And there are three solid backups.
Running game should be could. Here's the bottom line. Terps can win 8 or 9 games if they execute (meaning Ralph doesn't call the plays).
By the way, how come Wujiak didn't get a single down? I think he may be their best defensive player.

Thanks for the update. Could you give me a word on how Lansford Watson has looked all spring? Will he break out this year? E-mail me if you don't want to post about it.

For the most part, we witnessed a typical mistake-laden Spring game for the Terps.

Despite weeks of practice, offensive linemen missed snap counts, punters and place kickers shanked kicks, and quarterbacks overthrew receivers by several feet.

I've been watching the Terps for years, and I assess this team as mediocre. This team is going to have trouble winning 7 games this year.

The biggest strength of this team, in my opinion, is the running attack. I think the combination of Green and Scott gives the Terps one of the best tandems in the ACC.

I'm also impressed by Ronnie Tyler, who I predict will become one of the best receivers in the ACC before he leaves College Park.

The Terps have a number of guys with big-play potential on offense, the real question is whether any of the quarterbacks can get Heywood-Bey, et al the ball. Another question revolves around whether the offensive line can protect the quarterback.

I think everyone pundits are looking too hard between the lines for some latent meaning regarding how quarterbacks were used in the Spring game.

I don't think Friedgen has announced a starter yet, and he even asserted that not one of the quarterbacks have emerged as the starter.

Rewind back to last year when Friedgen gushed over Steffy's play, saying that he was far ahead of the other other quarterbacks.

The offense seemed a bit conservative to me, but I think that's because the offensive line has had a tough time protecting the quarterback.

I also think Friedgen may have been a little gun shy about going all out in the Spring game, considering how injuries plagued the team last year.

I can't see this team competing for an ACC championship. But if this team avoids major injuries and sticks to the run game, I think a bid to the Meinecke Car Care Bowl may be in the offing.

I would like to see Portis get more action, but I have to agree that he seems a bit confused out there.

It's obvious he lacks a grasp of the new offense at this point. I noticed several times he was glancing down at his wrist to determine which play to call. He overthrew a couple of receivers by three feet on a normal out route.

However, he displays the best arm strength of any of the quarterbacks and can elude the rush better than Steffy or Turner.

I think it's too early to make any rash judgements on who will be the starter. We're likely to have quarterback by committee this year.

The quarterback situation probably won't be ironed out until after the first few games. When the dust settles, I think we will see Portis as the starter.

Don,

RF is comfortable with a QB he can control. One who is basic & predictable (Jordan). He is uncomfortable with spontaneous, unpredictable, free thinking QBs who may not look their best in practice(Chris and Josh) because they are often improvising when plays break down rather than forcing the issue or throwing the ball away.

The difference IMHO is that while there is a comfort level with predictability - you'll never get 'the big play' and rarely come from behind. You also allow opposing defenses to "cheat" because they pretty much know whats coming.

I dont know if its RF is looking for that perfect fit (i.e.: Scotty OBrien) who ran RFs offense to perfection or if its more fear of losing. RF has lost that daring approach to the offense that he had his first three years in CP.

If Coach Franklin is just going to reflect RFs conservative approach I'll be disappointed. If Franklin is an open-minded aggessive play caller the its time RF let go and trust him. We have the RBs, WRs, and TEs to be explosive if the OL gels. The key is the selecting the QB that gives us our best chance to win. Not in practice but in real games.

Jordan was predictably late with his throws Saturday - often waiting for plays to overdevelop (and defenses to catchup) instead of leading plays with his passes while the receivers still had an advantage. Nothing has changed. Trying to run plays perfectly, not being able to adjust, and fear of failure as his greatest motivator.

CT proved last year in games what he could do. Is he perfect? No. But based on what we've seen in games he gives us our best chance to win. He does need to improve his practice performances however. He needs to show the coaches what they want to see...in practice. He also needs to see some love public love from RF.

Josh is a mystery so far. You look at him and see the potential but then you dont see enough to really be able to judge anything as a fan. I'm sure the coaches talk to him, work with him and give him every opportunity to prove himself. At least I hope so.

RF: Instead of always thinking worst case coach or what didnt work - go with praising your players for what did work and merely tell the press "but theres still al lot to do in practice to get better" and leave it at that. Share the praise with everyone who will listen and keep the criticism and critiquing behind practice doors. These young men need to be built up in a positive way.

I hope things start to gell when practice starts in the fall. Choose a starting QB and go witrh him. End the speculation and trying to make the perfect or right choice. If choice A doesnt work, have choice B ready to go. Stop stressing over it and worrying about the press, the fans, and things you cant control. Get back to being aggressive and a risk taker on offense. We have the talent even if we dont have the perfect QB.

Steffy should retire. Too many concussions, can't throw deep, doesn't have an accurate arm. Turner played well being given the job when Steffy went down with yet another injury. If Steffy starts, the Terps go nowhere. Turner gets them a bowl appearance. Portis...who knows. But he's been here long enough to have learned the offense if he had the desire to learn it. If not, he's lazy or dumb, but eventually you run out of time to get by on athletic ability.

I agree with BIG Z with your assessment of the game. I was happy to see the Terps go after each other with passion like they really want recognition in the ACC this year. I was also thrilled to see my littleman (#17) running routes and catching balls on that knee.
Steffy is kinda holding the ball too long. Exampl: 3 wide set, they run #8 up and out, #17 dragging across the middle shallow behind the linemen in front of the LB's. 3 step drop, looks to #8, pats the ball 3 times, then throws to #17 who gets leveled by the LB. If he throws down the middle as soon as he plants the 3rd foot, the middle is open for 2 seconds but he must release with confidence. He always throws when the pattern is finished not while in route. Hopefully he can get it together, but a note to the coaches, the receivers need a quaterback, they are tirde of the going back and forth. Make a decision and stick to it so the offense can get accustomed now not in the first week of the season. Go Terps

Steffy hits his receivers after the route instead of during. He threw a couple of passes late due to indecision. Its obvious he does not want to take the chance of a turnover but he has a talented group who can make plays, they just need someone to throw it to them consistently. It was nice to see my boy(#17) running on that repaired knee and heart catching passes. Msg to coach: the wideouts need a QB decision today not tomorrow. All the back and forth is making for an unstable situation that does not need to be corrected after the first game. The wideouts need to get used to one guy. Also, try Porter in another position. Talent, athleticism is being wasted. Go Terps!!

Actually, I believe the staff gave the bulk of the reps to Steffy for the #2 role. I think they already have Turner pegged as the #1. And it's impossible to tell about Portis unless he's in a game situation. The spring game is stupid in the fact that if you graze a pinky on a QB, he's down. I'd love to see Portis in open space.

#1 - Turner
#2 - Portis (he'll definitely see time)
#3 - Steffy (he'll be Turner's direct backup for injury)
#4 - Robinson (who actually is a pretty decent backup)

Turner looked good for the limited time he was in. Steffy is not the answer. He looked indecisive getting sacked too many times. Did Portis play? Overall I was underwhelmed. Scott may be a very good back and Green showed potential. I think Ralph has already decided to start Turner and wanted to give Steffy a chance to change his mind. Portis should be converted to a corner or safety if he wants to play.

If I remember correctly James Franklin was the recruiting coordinator and the direct recruiter for Jordan Steffy. I hope this does not influence the decision on a starting QB. Steffy has yet to overcome the "deer in the headlights" syndrome on Saturdays. Maybe Franklin would help with this, but I'd rather see Chris Turner on the field.