For those wondering just when Maryland might start looking ahead to 2010, it doesn’t seem that far off.
Coach Ralph Friedgen said this afternoon the Terps could consider using Jamarr Robinson and even Danny O’Brien at quarterback if the losses continue piling up for the 2-5 team.
“I just mentioned to [offensive coordinator] James [Franklin], if we don’t start doing better, we have to start looking to the future, too,” Friedgen said. “We definitely need to make a decision how we want to go there. We’re definitely going to use Jamarr. It’s just a question of whether we use O’Brien, too. It’s not a reflection on Chris [Turner]. We’re not winning and we need to start making plans for the future.”
Beyond Turner, a fifth-year senior, the Terps have no quarterback on the roster who has attempted a pass at Maryland. Robinson has played about a dozen snaps, usually handing it off or taking off himself. O’Brien and C.J. Brown are true freshmen who have yet to play. Miami (Ohio) transfer Clay Belton played some for the RedHawks and will be eligible next year.
The near-future will consist of some combination of Robinson, O’Brien and Brown, and it probably isn’t best for them to go into next season completely raw.
The flip side of that is benching (or shelving for stretches) Turner, who was subjected to fierce pass rushes for much of the season.
One other thing for Friedgen to consider is spacing out O’Brien and Brown, so they don’t exhaust their eligibility at the same time. Of course, that would also mean O’Brien essentially wastes a year this fall.
Then again, Friedgen has praised him recently and did so again today.
“I think Danny is way ahead of most freshman quarterbacks as far as maturity and intelligence and work ethic and poise,” Friedgen said. “I’ve been pretty impressed by what he’s been able to grasp as a freshman quarterback. Right now, what’s consumed us is winning football games and doing the best we can. In a perfect world, if we were winning and could afford to play someone else, we’d get them some experience and get somebody ready for the future.”
A future, it would seem, that is right around the corner for the reeling Terps.
