Brattan looks at this week

I've spent a lot of time this week asking about the past with regard to Maryland's offensive line --- its recruiting, its philosophy and how much decisions of three or four years ago are influence the course of events this fall.

But there is the present to account for as well. And with the same three positions up in the air as they were at the start of camp, offensive line coach Tom Brattan updated where Maryland is at all of them.

Most significantly, it appears right tackle Paul Pinegar will be available after missing more than a half of Saturday's loss to Rutgers with (as coach Ralph Friedgen described it) a bruise on his butt.

"Paul should be fine," Brattan said. "Paul's ready to go."

Next up: Guard

"In flux," Brattan said.

For now, Bennett Fulper, Andrew Gonnella and Justin Lewis are at right guard, with Maurice Hampton and Lamar Young at left guard. And Brattan kindly confirmed my eyes weren't deceiving me when I saw Gonnella play a series at left guard Saturday.

Of course, that doesn't mean there's any certainty as to who will start this weekend.

"Not to be redundant, but they each bring something to the table, so you try to tweak or tailor what you're doing to their strengths," Brattan said. "They have to come to play on Saturday."

--- Patrick Stevens