Edsall discusses offseason moves for football

After a season in which his Terrapins football team allowed more than 34 points per game and ranked 108th out of 120 FBS teams in total defense, coach Randy Edsall knew something had to change.

So last month, the athletics department negotiated a buyout with oft-criticized defensive coordinator Todd Bradford and brought in Brian Stewart, formerly of Houston, as his replacement. Stewart vowed to shake up the defense, bringing an aggressive 3-4 scheme to revamp the Terps' defense.

A month before the Terps open their spring practice March 10, that defense is starting to take shape.

"We're going to be an attacking defense that's going to bring pressure," Edsall said during a press conference Friday. "We haven't decided on where some of those guys are going to be placed. We're evaluating to make sure. … We're going to be a pressure team."

Edsall did elaborate on the team's defensive line, which he said will likely see all-ACC defensive tackle Joe Vellano move to defensive end. Andre Monroe will line up at the opposite defensive end, while tackles A.J. Francis and Darius Kilgo will move to nose tackle.

Where other players, like linebacker Kenny Tate, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, will fit into Stewart's scheme remains to be seen.

STILL A CONTROVERSY

Considering the end to last year's quarterback controversy between Danny O'Brien and C.J. Brown came only after O'Brien suffered a season-ending collarbone injury late last year, it should come as no surprise that the Terps will enter spring practice with the same uncertainty under center.

O'Brien established himself as the better passer of the two last season, but Brown's dual-threat capability makes him difficult to ignore.

Despite their respective talents, Edsall said he'd like to avoid a repeat of last season's controversy.

"We'd like to have a starter [by the season]," Edsall said. "Those are the things that are going to play out during spring. What we want to be able to do is take our personnel and use the best people and put them in a position to do the things that they do best."

PERSONNEL ROUNDUP

In the midst of an offseason that's already seen the replacement of two coordinators and the departure of a slew of players, the Terps are no strangers to roster turnover.

Which made Friday's announcement of further change no surprise. Edsall announced two more players — linebacker Desmond Kearse and offensive lineman Pete DeSouza — will no longer play for the Terps. Kearse's departure is the result of academic issues, while DeSouza will be considered a medical hardship, as he has not played since breaking both of his legs in an on-campus scooter accident in 2010.

DeSouza will remain with the Terps as a student-assistant coach, "learning the tricks of the trade so he can be involved with us and we can keep him involved in football," Edsall said.

Edsall also revealed the team's injury report heading into spring practice. Five players, including kicker Nick Ferrara (hip surgery) and Tate (knee), will not participate in spring practice. Several others, including O'Brien, defensive tackle Joe Vellano, wide receiver Kevin Dorsey and safety Matt Robinson, will be limited in spring practice as they recover from injury.

cwalsh@umdbk.com