With Kickoffs Moved Back, Terps Need to Step Forward

In an effort to prepare the Maryland Terrapins for situations they will face in games this season, Coach Ralph Friedgen devoted a large chunk of a practice earlier this week to staging a mini-scrimmage. He hired referees to run the proceedings and joked about seeking volunteers to sit in the stands -- anything to add to the simulation.

Although Friedgen used the scrimmage to evaluate offensive line depth and take another look at the quarterback battle, he expressed his greatest concern over the performance of his place kickers.

"That could be disastrous," Friedgen said, of a day in which his kickers failed to clear the 15-yard line on kickoffs.

In past years, it might have been easier for Friedgen to dismiss what would have been a relatively minor problem. But in the offseason, the NCAA rules committee enacted several rule changes in its latest effort to reduce game times. Under the changes, kickoffs have been moved five yards back to the 30-yard line, which would nearly eliminate touchbacks.

"Bottom line, it's going to be very hard for any kickers in NCAA football now to reach the end zone consistently," Terrapins special teams assistant coach Al Seamonson said. "It's not one of those things that's going to happen 50 percent of the time."

Instead, the number of kicks and the potential for momentum-changing plays likely will skyrocket, not a small concern for a Terrapins team that relied on solid special teams play to help win several close games last year. Meanwhile, defenders around the country will lose what had been a longtime ally in the battle for field position.

"I remember some of my good games, and they wouldn't bring the ball out if it was five yards deep. That was a touchback," said Maryland kicker Obi Egekeze, who recorded 15 touchbacks last season. "But from five yards back, that kick's to the goal line and they're definitely going to bring it out."

When he first started kicking off from the 30-yard line during spring practice, kicker Chris Roberts said he didn't think he would notice a difference. But he said he didn't need a long time to realize the potential ramifications of losing just five yards.

"It doesn't seem a lot, five yards," Roberts said. "But last year when we were kicking it as hard as we could, we were only getting it to the goal line."

Friedgen said he is still unsure of his opinion on the new rule, but he doesn't doubt the impact it will have. The ramifications could begin with the pregame coin flip.

For years, the conventional thinking has been to defer possession of the football until the second half. Coaches figured that most kickoffs would result in touchbacks and it was more important to have possession later in the game. But under the new rules, a team with a strong return game could benefit so much from early field position that Friedgen is considering a shift in his thinking.

"I don't think I'm going to defer if I can get the ball and get good field position," Friedgen said. "You could establish field position in the first quarter and it could be a big factor in the game."

Assuming that fewer touchbacks translate into better starting field position, the rule change could also be a boon to offensive coordinators, who may be more likely to expand their playbooks.

"If you have a really good return game, here's where it's really going to affect you," Terrapins special teams coordinator Ray Rychleski said. "You're going to start usually on the 30-yard line or better. Before, starting on the 20, you would probably be more conservative. You want to get that [initial] first down before you open it up a little bit. And now, as an offensive coordinator, you're free to call any play you want."

The timing of the changes has also had an effect on the Terrapins. Last season, Maryland ranked as one of the most dangerous kickoff return teams in the country mainly because of cornerback Josh Wilson. In his first season returning kicks, Wilson averaged 27.3 yards, highlighted by a 100-yard return for a touchdown against Georgia Tech. Wilson finished 11th in the country among kickoff returners.

But with Wilson gone and only a handful of inexperienced candidates trying to replace him, the Terrapins are taking a defensive approach.

"Even though kickoff returns are a fun thing and we've been very good at it with Josh Wilson, I still think we've got to keep other teams backed up," Rychleski said. "We've got to be great at kickoff coverage, more so I think than kickoff returns."

The emphasis on defending kickoffs can be easily seen by who the Terrapins are thinking of playing on the cover team, which has become an important unit.

Earlier this week, Friedgen said three-fourths of the starting secondary and at least three linebackers -- who are either expected to anchor their positions or at least share time as part-time starters -- are penciled in to cover kicks.

"We've got to have our best guys out there," Friedgen said.