McBrien keeps it all straight

When Maryland quarterback Scott McBrien called an unexpected timeout last season, coach Ralph Friedgen figured the passer was simply confused. Instead, McBrien was still reeling from a hit.

“He said he couldn’t see straight,” Friedgen recalled with a chuckle.

It’s little wonder McBrien isn’t cross-eyed trying to follow the multi-receiver sets Friedgen relishes. Three targets is a conservative call. Often there are two outside receivers and another in the slot, plus a tight end, H-back or running back as potential targets. Some formations even have two tight ends.

The Terrapins’ optimism for a third straight 10-win season is based heavily on McBrien returning for his second year. Maryland stumbled to a 1-2 start last season while McBrien learned the offense, but after that he led the Terps on a 10-1 run, including a 30-3 drubbing of Tennessee in the Peach Bowl.

McBrien now looks the confident veteran during practice. There’s no more happy feet while he tries to find alternate receivers. The senior shows the kind of precision gained through experience.

“My guys have a lot more confidence in me knowing that I’m the returning starter,” McBrien said, “and that feels good when the guys are behind you, and they know who to turn to.”

Said receiver Steve Suter: “We know he’s the leader. I might say something to him coming out of the huddle like, ’If I’m one on one, give me a look,’ and he says, ’I got you.’”

McBrien took a roundabout route from nearby DeMatha High School, where he led the Stags to a 13-0 season and a No.13 national ranking in 1999. McBrien started one game as a freshman at West Virginia before sitting out 2001 when transferring to Maryland.

He was a walk-on that season, working on the scout team before gaining a scholarship last year, when he beat out Chris Kelley as the starter. McBrien passed for 2,497 yards with 15 touchdowns and a 141.3 efficiency rating, fifth best in school history, and earned the outstanding offensive player award in the Peach Bowl.

This season seems even more promising for McBrien. The left-hander is showing much more poise than in the spring game four months ago. There is a sweetness in his delivery during practice, a confidence in his mechanics when he throws across his body.

“Scott’s better than he was last year, not even close,” Friedgen said. “His footwork is better. But his decision-making is better, so he’s not tapping his feet where he has indecision. He’s throwing sharp, crisp balls where he knows what he’s doing. Our passing game is going to be much better than it was last year.”

Friedgen has put in some new plays for McBrien even though the quarterback originally wasn’t sure he could make the throws. Friedgen convinced him to try the plays during the summer, and soon they were added to the bulging playbook. Friedgen appreciated McBrien trying something that several pro passers had resisted when the coach was a San Diego Chargers assistant from 1992 to 1996.

“If pro quarterbacks didn’t want to do something, they weren’t going to do it,” Friedgen said. “They wouldn’t even try to do it well, so you might as well throw it out.”

Friedgen has developed McBrien steadily, being careful not to overload him. In the past, McBrien needed to be comfortable or the play faltered.

“Sometimes Scott gets out of sync. When he does, he’s just another guy,” Friedgen said. “Sometimes he blows a fuse.”

McBrien has tutored the Terps’ three freshman quarterbacks, remembering how Marc Bulger helped him as a West Virginia newcomer. He spends nights in the dorm with Suter and cornerback Dominique Foxworth, remembering when the trio were on the scout team instead of playmakers.

“Scott’s always joking,” Foxworth said. “It’s always about making each other laugh. We just hang out in the room and laugh.”

But Foxworth and McBrien forget their friendship during practices. Each likes to get the last laugh on the field.

“When we’re out there, I’m sure he doesn’t like me much, and I don’t like him either,” Foxworth said.

Notes — Defensive end Scott Smith left practice with back problems, and Friedgen was unsure when he would return. … Receiver Jafar Williams was rested during the morning session with a sore hamstring. … Friedgen felt the team’s last three practices have been the best of camp, saying, “They’re hot and tired, and yet I don’t see the loafing I saw before. I see us making progress.” …

Maryland will open its men’s basketball season against visiting American on Nov.22. George Mason (Nov.25), Hofstra (Nov.29) and Wisconsin (Dec.2) also come to Comcast Center. Maryland will release its full schedule Wednesday.