Pretty good profile - for the most part accurate as far as I can tell - any glaring mistakes you all see?
Maryland opens its 2015 campaign Sept. 5 with a noon bout against FCS opponent Richmond of the Colonial Athletic Association. The Spiders, headed by Danny Rocco, a former Terps’ linebacker coach who was actually on the same Boston College staff as UMD headman Randy Edsall in 1991, finished 9-5 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2009 last season.
Now, based on that 2014 campaign, Richmond looks to be a potentially potent foe, especially offensively. The Spiders, who threw more than any other FCS team last year, ranked eighth in passing offense at 314 yards per game; 20th in total offense (461 yards per game); and scored 31 points per (40th in the FCS). The Spiders’ defense, meanwhile, was a respectable 33rd in yards allowed per game (352) and 50th in scoring (25 points allowed per).
Offense
After Streetor left for Clemson, Richmond promoted associate head coach Charlie Fisher to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Based on both personnel and personal philosophy, Fisher will be ditching the spread offense in favor of a traditional pro-set. In a 180-degree turn from 2014, the Spiders, with two running backs in the backfield, should be primarily a running team this season. Look for Richmond to shorten games, grinding out yards and methodically moving the chains with their two experienced runners.
Quarterback
Replacing Strauss is redshirt sophomore Kyle Lauletta (6-3, 208), a pocket passer who actually played at the same high school as current Maryland commit Michael Clark (Downingtown East/Exton, Pa.). Lauletta saw some time as a true freshman, but wasn’t needed last year and ended up red-shirting. Therefore, not much is known about him other than what reporters have witnessed during camp.
Word is Lauletta is a stationary quarterback, who is not a threat to scramble or run the read-option. He does his best work off of play-action and play-action rollouts, as he’s had some issues telegraphing throws when dropping straight back.
Lauletta has average arm strength and accuracy, so while he’s developing, he’ll likely be more of a game manager than a gunslinger. Expect him to hand the ball off the majority of the time, at least early during the season.
Running Backs
It would behoove Lauletta to let his backs do the work, because seniors Seth Fisher (6-2, 232) and Jacobi Green (5-9, 192), two of the squad’s most prolific offensive performers, are back for one last go-around.
The thunder-and-lightning label has become a cliché, but that’s basically what this duo is, Fisher grinding out the tough yards inside and Green providing the open-field speed. Against FCS defenses, though, both have been physical, tackle-breaking runners who can burst into the second and third levels.
Wide Receivers
If the quarterback can get them the ball, the Spiders actually have a pair of big-play wideouts to complement the backs. Senior Reggie Diggs (6-4, 200) and junior Brian Brown (6-1, 198) both return, the duo leading the Spiders in receiving.
Diggs, who combines size with solid speed, ended up with 85 receptions for 1,157 yards and seven scores in 2014, while the field-stretching Brown hauled in 79 passes for 1,089 yards and four touchdowns. Many consider Diggs to be the best NFL prospect the CAA has this year.
Defense
The Spiders aren’t switching defensive coordinators this year — Bob Trott is back for his fifth season – but they are switching schemes. After losing almost their entire starting defensive line from a year ago, Richmond is shifting from a 4-3 base to a 3-4 in 2015.
Not that the Spiders won’t throw in a few different wrinkles, Trott stressing the need to become more multiple. Richmond will morph into a 3-5-3, employ a “bandit” linebacker, a “rover” safety and so on and so forth.
The main worry, though, is the defense as a whole lacks depth. Not only did the unit graduate seven starters from a year ago, but many of the key backups are gone as well, leaving inexperienced defenders across the board.
Linebackers
The key cog in Richmond’s defense is inside linebacker Omar Howard (Jr., 6-0, 231), a tweener type who plays with reckless abandon. A fleet-footed, powerful backer, he’s considered the team’s “energizer.” Howard finished second on the team with 92 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks last season.
Defensive Backs
Richmond’s No. 1 defensive back is corner Ayo Aguniye (Sr., 6-0, 193), a former star at Westlake High (Waldorf, Md.). A physical, fast corner who has a nose for the football, Aguniye racked up 55 tackles, three picks and nine pass defenses a year ago. More than likely teams will shy away from Aguniye in 2015, preferring to pick on the team’s more inexperienced defensive backs.
The second cornerback spot should go to sophomore Tafo Mainsah (5-10, 200), a nine-game starter last season. Mainsah has had some issues locking down receivers so far, but he did have eight breakups and 37 tackles in 2015. The staff is expecting him to raise his game, although he’s received mixed reviews during camp.
Special Teams
Richmond’s special teams unit might best be described as “so, so.” The Spiders have a good punter, an OK field goal kicker, and a return game that hasn’t generated much production.
Sophomore D.J. Helkowski (6-0, 231) handles the punting duties, last year averaging 38 yards per boot and placing 10 kicks inside the 20-yard line. A left-footer, Helkowski excels at angling his punts and spinning them in order to get a favorable bounce. (Oddly enough, Helkowski, who can kick too, attempts field goals with his right foot).
The kicker, Peter Yoder (Jr., 6-4, 180), is accurate inside of 40 yards, but tends to waver beyond that distance. He was 10-for-10 from 20-30 yards last season and 3-for-4 from 30-40, but just 6-for-13 from 40-plus. Yoder had a long of 43 yards last year, while one of his kicks was blocked.
Maryland opens its 2015 campaign Sept. 5 with a noon bout against FCS opponent Richmond of the Colonial Athletic Association. The Spiders, headed by Danny Rocco, a former Terps’ linebacker coach who was actually on the same Boston College staff as UMD headman Randy Edsall in 1991, finished 9-5 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2009 last season.
Now, based on that 2014 campaign, Richmond looks to be a potentially potent foe, especially offensively. The Spiders, who threw more than any other FCS team last year, ranked eighth in passing offense at 314 yards per game; 20th in total offense (461 yards per game); and scored 31 points per (40th in the FCS). The Spiders’ defense, meanwhile, was a respectable 33rd in yards allowed per game (352) and 50th in scoring (25 points allowed per).
Offense
After Streetor left for Clemson, Richmond promoted associate head coach Charlie Fisher to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Based on both personnel and personal philosophy, Fisher will be ditching the spread offense in favor of a traditional pro-set. In a 180-degree turn from 2014, the Spiders, with two running backs in the backfield, should be primarily a running team this season. Look for Richmond to shorten games, grinding out yards and methodically moving the chains with their two experienced runners.
Quarterback
Replacing Strauss is redshirt sophomore Kyle Lauletta (6-3, 208), a pocket passer who actually played at the same high school as current Maryland commit Michael Clark (Downingtown East/Exton, Pa.). Lauletta saw some time as a true freshman, but wasn’t needed last year and ended up red-shirting. Therefore, not much is known about him other than what reporters have witnessed during camp.
Word is Lauletta is a stationary quarterback, who is not a threat to scramble or run the read-option. He does his best work off of play-action and play-action rollouts, as he’s had some issues telegraphing throws when dropping straight back.
Lauletta has average arm strength and accuracy, so while he’s developing, he’ll likely be more of a game manager than a gunslinger. Expect him to hand the ball off the majority of the time, at least early during the season.
Running Backs
It would behoove Lauletta to let his backs do the work, because seniors Seth Fisher (6-2, 232) and Jacobi Green (5-9, 192), two of the squad’s most prolific offensive performers, are back for one last go-around.
The thunder-and-lightning label has become a cliché, but that’s basically what this duo is, Fisher grinding out the tough yards inside and Green providing the open-field speed. Against FCS defenses, though, both have been physical, tackle-breaking runners who can burst into the second and third levels.
Wide Receivers
If the quarterback can get them the ball, the Spiders actually have a pair of big-play wideouts to complement the backs. Senior Reggie Diggs (6-4, 200) and junior Brian Brown (6-1, 198) both return, the duo leading the Spiders in receiving.
Diggs, who combines size with solid speed, ended up with 85 receptions for 1,157 yards and seven scores in 2014, while the field-stretching Brown hauled in 79 passes for 1,089 yards and four touchdowns. Many consider Diggs to be the best NFL prospect the CAA has this year.
Defense
The Spiders aren’t switching defensive coordinators this year — Bob Trott is back for his fifth season – but they are switching schemes. After losing almost their entire starting defensive line from a year ago, Richmond is shifting from a 4-3 base to a 3-4 in 2015.
Not that the Spiders won’t throw in a few different wrinkles, Trott stressing the need to become more multiple. Richmond will morph into a 3-5-3, employ a “bandit” linebacker, a “rover” safety and so on and so forth.
The main worry, though, is the defense as a whole lacks depth. Not only did the unit graduate seven starters from a year ago, but many of the key backups are gone as well, leaving inexperienced defenders across the board.
Linebackers
The key cog in Richmond’s defense is inside linebacker Omar Howard (Jr., 6-0, 231), a tweener type who plays with reckless abandon. A fleet-footed, powerful backer, he’s considered the team’s “energizer.” Howard finished second on the team with 92 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks last season.
Defensive Backs
Richmond’s No. 1 defensive back is corner Ayo Aguniye (Sr., 6-0, 193), a former star at Westlake High (Waldorf, Md.). A physical, fast corner who has a nose for the football, Aguniye racked up 55 tackles, three picks and nine pass defenses a year ago. More than likely teams will shy away from Aguniye in 2015, preferring to pick on the team’s more inexperienced defensive backs.
The second cornerback spot should go to sophomore Tafo Mainsah (5-10, 200), a nine-game starter last season. Mainsah has had some issues locking down receivers so far, but he did have eight breakups and 37 tackles in 2015. The staff is expecting him to raise his game, although he’s received mixed reviews during camp.
Special Teams
Richmond’s special teams unit might best be described as “so, so.” The Spiders have a good punter, an OK field goal kicker, and a return game that hasn’t generated much production.
Sophomore D.J. Helkowski (6-0, 231) handles the punting duties, last year averaging 38 yards per boot and placing 10 kicks inside the 20-yard line. A left-footer, Helkowski excels at angling his punts and spinning them in order to get a favorable bounce. (Oddly enough, Helkowski, who can kick too, attempts field goals with his right foot).
The kicker, Peter Yoder (Jr., 6-4, 180), is accurate inside of 40 yards, but tends to waver beyond that distance. He was 10-for-10 from 20-30 yards last season and 3-for-4 from 30-40, but just 6-for-13 from 40-plus. Yoder had a long of 43 yards last year, while one of his kicks was blocked.
