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COLLEGE PARK -
- It might seem early in the season for a "players-only" meeting.
But safety Terrell Skinner and cornerback Nolan Carroll wanted to make sure Maryland's defensive players were not sulking or blaming one another after the 52-13 loss to California in the team's season opener Saturday night.
So the two called a meeting of the defense Monday. That's what surrendering 542 yards of total offense will do.
"I woke up [Monday morning] and said, 'We've got to talk to these guys,' " Skinner said. "Nolan said, 'Let's do it.' We met in the visiting-team locker room after practice."
Skinner said the goal was "to make sure everyone is still one cohesive unit. I think I challenged them. I think I reached them."
Cal quarterback Kevin Riley threw four touchdown passes in the first game for new defensive coordinator Don Brown and his blitzing, pressing defense.
Brown said Tuesday night, "I am completely responsible for it, and I am accountable for it."
Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said he stands by Brown's defensive schemes.
"Cal did a very good job of picking up the blitzes," Friedgen said. "It's the first time running the defense, so I think there is some growing pains."
Friedgen said Maryland needed to be at its best Saturday night, and wasn't. "I felt like this was a situation where we played a very good team playing their best and we didn't play our best," he said.
Campbell has turf toe. Costa said Paul Pinegar would move to Campbell's spot and redshirt freshman R.J. Dill would fill Pinegar's old position at left tackle.
Costa, a team captain, said, "We have to move on" with the shuffled lineup and not fret about injuries.
There was no official word on Campbell's status from Friedgen, who said he wouldn't discuss injuries until Thursday.
The Atlantic Coast Conference has an informal rule that says schools update the status of players' injuries on Thursdays.
But Friedgen won't commit yet to Logan, also a receiver, as the punt returner.
Kenny Tate returned punts in Logan's place against Cal and fared well. He returned the first 18 yards and the second 2 yards.
"The first punt, he almost broke," Friedgen said of Tate. "If we had just finished a block, he might have popped that thing."
One player is sick and has been isolated, but Friedgen said it isn't yet known whether the player has swine flu.
He is not a front-line player, according to others on the team. "He actually just came on [the team] a week or two ago," defensive lineman Deege Galt said.
Said Friedgen: "I'm concerned about it, I really am."
The coach said the team was taking precautions such as more hand-washing and not sharing towels. Overall, university officials say they are dealing with 172 flu cases on campus, an unusually large amount probably related to the H1N1 virus.
Friedgen's concern is amplified by the number of players who live together in suites.
"The university policy is if a guy gets swine flu, then the whole suite gets confined," Galt said. "It could make a small deal ... a big deal."
Several players said they did not know why running back Davin Meggett was wearing a surgical mask Tuesday around the Gossett Football Team House. Meggett was spotted by a reporter wearing the light-blue mask. A few minutes later, it was gone. The running back was unavailable for comment.
But safety Terrell Skinner and cornerback Nolan Carroll wanted to make sure Maryland's defensive players were not sulking or blaming one another after the 52-13 loss to California in the team's season opener Saturday night.
So the two called a meeting of the defense Monday. That's what surrendering 542 yards of total offense will do.
"I woke up [Monday morning] and said, 'We've got to talk to these guys,' " Skinner said. "Nolan said, 'Let's do it.' We met in the visiting-team locker room after practice."
Skinner said the goal was "to make sure everyone is still one cohesive unit. I think I challenged them. I think I reached them."
Cal quarterback Kevin Riley threw four touchdown passes in the first game for new defensive coordinator Don Brown and his blitzing, pressing defense.
Brown said Tuesday night, "I am completely responsible for it, and I am accountable for it."
Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said he stands by Brown's defensive schemes.
"Cal did a very good job of picking up the blitzes," Friedgen said. "It's the first time running the defense, so I think there is some growing pains."
Friedgen said Maryland needed to be at its best Saturday night, and wasn't. "I felt like this was a situation where we played a very good team playing their best and we didn't play our best," he said.
Campbell a question mark
Center Phil Costa was talking Tuesday as if left tackle Bruce Campbell - a key figure on the offensive line - will miss Saturday's home opener against James Madison.Campbell has turf toe. Costa said Paul Pinegar would move to Campbell's spot and redshirt freshman R.J. Dill would fill Pinegar's old position at left tackle.
Costa, a team captain, said, "We have to move on" with the shuffled lineup and not fret about injuries.
There was no official word on Campbell's status from Friedgen, who said he wouldn't discuss injuries until Thursday.
The Atlantic Coast Conference has an informal rule that says schools update the status of players' injuries on Thursdays.
Logan expected back
Friedgen did say punt returner Tony Logan (shoulder) is expected back for Saturday's game.But Friedgen won't commit yet to Logan, also a receiver, as the punt returner.
Kenny Tate returned punts in Logan's place against Cal and fared well. He returned the first 18 yards and the second 2 yards.
"The first punt, he almost broke," Friedgen said of Tate. "If we had just finished a block, he might have popped that thing."
Swine flu scare?
Maryland said it has concerns about swine flu but that there are no confirmed cases on the football team.One player is sick and has been isolated, but Friedgen said it isn't yet known whether the player has swine flu.
He is not a front-line player, according to others on the team. "He actually just came on [the team] a week or two ago," defensive lineman Deege Galt said.
Said Friedgen: "I'm concerned about it, I really am."
The coach said the team was taking precautions such as more hand-washing and not sharing towels. Overall, university officials say they are dealing with 172 flu cases on campus, an unusually large amount probably related to the H1N1 virus.
Friedgen's concern is amplified by the number of players who live together in suites.
"The university policy is if a guy gets swine flu, then the whole suite gets confined," Galt said. "It could make a small deal ... a big deal."
Several players said they did not know why running back Davin Meggett was wearing a surgical mask Tuesday around the Gossett Football Team House. Meggett was spotted by a reporter wearing the light-blue mask. A few minutes later, it was gone. The running back was unavailable for comment.
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