Hartsfield’s return shuffles up defense

After being gashed on the ground in two straight resounding losses, the Terrapins football team is changing things up this week.

Demetrius Hartsfield, who hasn't played since Oct. 8, will make his return at middle linebacker as the centerpiece of a revamped corps.

Darin Drakeford, the Terps' weakside linebacker for much of this season, will play the "star" linebacker position, which has been inconsistently manned by freshman Mario Rowson after Kenny Tate's season-ending injury.

And on the weak side, 17-year-old Alex Twine's play has earned him the starting job.

All three linebackers have been involved in a Terps defense that ranks No. 118 nationally — out of 120 teams — against the run, has allowed 23 touchdowns and surrendered more than 200 rushing yards in five of its seven games.

But they've never played together as a unit, and coach Randy Edsall's hoping a bigger, more physical linebacking corps will help the Terps contain the run against Virginia on Saturday.

"As we evaluate and we're getting some guys back healthy, we're just trying to get our best people on the field," Edsall said yesterday at his weekly press conference. "Based on what we saw, [those are] the three guys that we feel can be the most productive and give us the best chance against Virginia."

Although the projected grouping for Saturday is certainly more favorable for the Terps than in weeks past — they started three freshmen against Clemson — it's still a combination few would have foreseen.

Considered the team's biggest defensive playmaker, Tate was expected to be a force at the "star." But after suffering a season-ending injury against Towson on Oct. 1, Edsall and his staff had to scramble.

With the newfound health of Hartsfield and Drakeford, both of whom missed at least two games this season, the new-look linebackers can at least say they're experienced.

And Drakeford's move to the "star" should give the Terps some much-needed experience and muscle on the outside, especially considering Rowson's lack of size as a converted defensive back.

"Drake's played there before," Edsall said. "So, again, we'll put him out there, and hopefully we'll be able to stop the run a little bit better with having a little bit more physicality at those positions."

The move should also take some pressure off a beleaguered defensive line.

"I trust [Drakeford]," defensive tackle Maurice Hampton said. "That's my thing right now. Just like coaches need guys they trust, I need guys I can trust behind me. I don't care where he plays at, I trust him."

ANDERSON OUT

While offensive lineman Justin Gilbert, who's been out for more than a year with a torn ACL, will likely make his return to the field against Virginia on Saturday, the progress report on defensive lineman Justin Anderson is less promising.

After injuring his foot during the opening day of preseason camp, Anderson underwent surgery and was given a recovery timetable of about six weeks.

But his recovery hasn't gone smoothly, and while the 6-foot-5 defensive lineman has been cleared for practice, Edsall said yesterday he'd be surprised to see Anderson play in a game this season.

"I doubt that we'll see Justin Anderson the rest of the year," Edsall said. "He's out there, he's practicing, but again, just because they've been cleared for practice doesn't mean they're going to go out there and play, because you have to see in practice that they can go out and play the way that they're capable, so they don't hurt themselves more or put themselves at risk of injury."

The junior hasn't been redshirted, so if he were to redshirt this season as a result of his injury, he would have two years of eligibility remaining.

EDSALL RESOLUTE

Amid growing unrest within the Terps' fanbase and increased speculation that Edsall's philosophy hasn't been well received within the team's locker room, Edsall emphasized yesterday his belief that he still has his team's trust.

"All you got to do is come out and watch practice," Edsall said. "You go out and you watch the kids in the game and you've got the kids who are playing hard and doing what they're supposed to do, so I have no doubt about that."

cwalsh@umdbk.com