Stefon Diggs, Brandon Ross highlight uneventful Maryland spring game

Looks like Maryland's football staff might've done a little too good of a job evenly splitting up their roster. The Terps' spring game ended in a 13-13 tie between the Red and White teams, a final score observers say was fitting given the (perhaps predictable) low quality of play.

Not that the score or performance really matter, though; the real headliner here is that Maryland got through without any apparent long-term injuries, which is a boon given the vengeful, ligament-hating deity still skulking around back-alleys in College Park. Nigel King did hyperextend his knee, but is expected to be fine; thankfully, that seems to be the most major injury occurrence of the evening.

At least the few thousand who trekked to Byrd on a Friday night were treated to a few encouraging performances, unsurprisingly led by Stefon Diggs, who took a screen pass 51 yards and finished with eight receptions for 159. Brandon Ross was productive as well, leading the team with 122 rushing yards and looking every bit like the starter material he was assumed to be. (For all the hype around Wes Brown last season, who in fairness didn't get a chance to show what he could do as he's injured for the spring, Ross was the more productive option.)

A few more newsworthy notes cobbled together:

Ricardo Young was mostly unremarkable. It was a bad day for offenses all around, but Young did throw a touchdown (even if it was mostly Diggs' doing) and finished 12-21 with an interception. That type of showing is unlikely to persuade Randy Edsall and Mike Locksley that he should be the starter and it's indicative, perhaps, that Maryland's quarterback situation is still a tad muddled. Still, if that's the same Young that's shown up to practices, he may have an outside shot of challenging C.J. Brown come fall.

The running game seemed to work. Aside from Ross, who dominant, Maryland also got a very good outing from Albert Reid, who went from 119 yards himself. That's perhaps a statement of what Maryland's running back depth is shaping up to be: very, very good. (Oh, and Reid threw a touchdown pass, too.) To do that well, though, the offensive line had to perform solidly as well, plus the scheme had to be executed to boot. The Terps are going to build around the running game by necessity next season; it better be good, and it's looking like it just might be.

Hey, Brad Craddock went 2-2! Say what you will about the punter-turned-kicker from down under, but he's got a leg. The biggest problem has always been the lack of technical prowess at placekicking, plus probably some mental issues as well. But with an offseason to settle his mind and refine his mechanics, there's no reason Craddock can't be a serviceable kicker for Maryland. He knocked in both a 24-yarder and a 40-yarder, and didn't miss all day (although one time his holder failed to get the ball down in time).

As always, the defense is ahead of the offense at this point. And, as always, that's both good and bad. Of course, Maryland's offense has some extenuating circumstances, like, oh, missing their presumed starting quarterback (although it's debatable how much that'd actually affect production) and being without one of their top running backs. Of course, offenses take longer to install and perfect than defenses, too, which is why most spring games are ugly, low-scoring affairs. But the expectation heading into the year was that the defense would be a liability (probably) and a high-powered offense would carry the day. It's too early to judge that one way or the other, but tonight certainly didn't reinforce it, either. Neither side could score; it was 3-0 at half, and the first touchdown came from a trick play. Odds are, this is just the traditional "it's easier to get a defense performing than an offense" deal, but it's at least moderately noteworthy.

We'll have the traditional roundup of links come Monday, but for those who attended, what were your impressions?