Brown has Terps' quarterback job all to his own

As a seemingly endless quarterback controversy enveloped the Terrapins football team for much of this season, Randy Edsall often spoke of his hopes to establish a regular starter under center.

The coach got his wish Nov. 12. Just not the way anyone wanted.

Quarterback Danny O'Brien will be out for the season after breaking his left humerus, a bone in the upper arm, against Notre Dame, and Edsall said yesterday that the sophomore signal caller will be in a cast for 12 weeks.

In his absence, quarterback C.J. Brown becomes the team's clear-cut starter for the season's final two weeks.

"Danny, of course, is disappointed," Edsall said yesterday at his weekly press conference. "He's still in quite a bit of pain right now, but getting better. He wants to try to do everything he possibly can. The doctors won't allow him to travel to the game [Saturday]; he wants to go and help and do whatever he can to help his teammates win."

Brown orchestrated two scoring drives after O'Brien went down in the third quarter of Saturday's game, and while he, like O'Brien, has struggled with his consistency, the elusive sophomore has proved capable under center.

"I feel good about C.J. leading our football team these last two weeks," Edsall said. "C.J.'s started for us, that's the thing. He's started for us, and he's been productive for us."

O'Brien's injury does, however, leave the Terps thin at quarterback. True freshman Troy Jones and senior wide receiver Tony Logan, who played quarterback in high school, will back up Brown against Wake Forest on Saturday.

Edsall said he's not sure who will be the preferred backup. He knows he'd like not to have to find out.

"I hope that nothing happens to [Brown]," Edsall said as he knocked his fist against his wooden lectern for luck.

In response to growing speculation that O'Brien, who's reportedly set to graduate in May, might consider transferring upon graduation, Edsall also said yesterday O'Brien has given him no indication of doing so.

"We had a conversation, and first of all, I don't know if he can graduate in the spring based on the records that I have," Edsall said. "But he's very happy here, so I have no knowledge of that happening or anything."

INJURY PILE

With the Terps' season falling apart at the seams, it's easy to forget the plague of injuries that has so far bedeviled the team.

In addition to O'Brien, the Terps have lost four starters — linebacker Kenny Tate, offensive lineman Andrew Gonnella, safety Matt Robinson and defensive lineman Isaiah Ross — for the season. Tate and Gonnella are also team captains.

Couple those injuries with less serious ailments, suspensions and inconsistent play, and the Terps' defense has only three players — defensive tackle Joe Vellano, cornerback Dexter McDougle and safety Eric Franklin — who have started each of the team's 10 games.

"It's been tough," Edsall said. "You lose the continuity … that you'd like to have with guys being in there. The injuries that we've had, they're just kind of freak things. It's not because of strength or conditioning.

"Some years don't go the way you'd like to. Some years with injuries you are luckier than others. With injuries, it is pretty much luck."

TWINE HURT

Freshman linebacker Alex Twine, who was named the ACC Rookie of the Week on Monday for his breakout performance against Notre Dame, is nursing an injury and may be out against Wake Forest, Edsall said yesterday.

Twine finished Saturday's loss to Notre Dame with 12 tackles — three for a loss — and his first career sack.

On Sunday, though, he tweeted, "Messed up my ankle, not feeling to[o] good right now."

If he's unable to play against the Demon Deacons, Edsall said true freshman Cole Farrand will replace him.

"We're hoping that Alex Twine plays this week," Edsall said. "We're going to go with Cole Farrand [if Twine can't play]. We've seen Cole and wanted to be able to take a look at him, so we'll see how that all plays out this week."

cwalsh@umdbk.com