Terps, Friedgen running out of answers

By

Posted 5:08AM on Monday, October 18, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - Ralph Friedgen has run out of options at quarterback. This isn't the NFL, where he can check the waiver wire or make a trade. So he's stuck with Joel Statham and Jordan Steffy for better for worse. Neither quarterback played particularly well Saturday in Maryland's 13-3 loss to North Carolina State, a defeat that effectively ended the Terrapins' bid to earn a fourth straight 10-win season. The focus now is on extending their run of three successive bowl appearances. Maryland (3-3, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) must win three of its final five games to get the six victories necessary to qualify for a bowl bid. Unless Statham and Steffy improve, that probably won't happen. Statham went 6-for-11 for 18 yards before being lifted in a second straight game. Steffy was no better, completing only one of seven passes for six yards. So what now at quarterback? ``That's all I got. What do you want me to do, manufacture one?'' Friedgen said. Statham, a sophomore, is at a loss to explain his erratic play. He's cut down on the turnovers that tormented him during the first four games of the season, but over the last two weeks he's been unable to complete even the simplest of passes. Asked what he must do to improve, Statham replied, ``That's a really good question. If I knew the answer to that I'm sure we'd be playing a lot better. I just really don't know.'' Part of the problem Saturday was a young, battered offensive line that simply couldn't cope with a blitzing Wolfpack defense. Injuries have forced Friedgen to repeatedly shuffle his guards and tackles during games and throughout the season. As a result, the running game has suffered, too. Josh Allen was limited to 45 yards on 16 carries Saturday, and Sammy Maldonado gained only 37 yards on 11 tries. ``Our biggest problem up front is that we just don't have a lot of continuity. We're moving guys in and out,'' Friedgen said. This isn't the only time under Friedgen that the Terrapins have had to cope with injuries. It is, however, the first time they've had to deal with real adversity. The fourth-year coach has tried everything to motivate the team to play better but has found the task as difficult as settling the quarterback issue. ``I don't know. You got any suggestions?'' he said. ``I thought they were ready to play (Saturday). I worked my butt off to try to get them to play, but obviously I'm not reaching them.'' After losing two straight at home, Maryland now must face Clemson in Death Valley on Saturday. Statham will likely remain the starter, but if he's to return to form his receivers must cut down on the dropped passes and his line has to provide better protection. ``It's pretty obvious it's not all the quarterback. There are other problems there, too,'' Friedgen said. But it all starts at quarterback. ``I'm going to look at that very closely, see which guy is progressing, then I'll make my decision where we're going based on that,'' he said. ``If one guy improves more than the other and a change is merited, then we'll make it. We've got to do something.'' This much is certain: There is no easy solution to lifting the team out this unexpected funk. ``I wish I could just wave a magic wand and make things start happening,'' Friedgen said.