Even if Healthy, Steffy Could Sit, Part II

Here’s the deal, but stay tuned:

Three days after Ralph Friedgen said Jordan Steffy had the best control of his offense, the Maryland Coach did not guarantee Steffy would start Saturday’s game at Middle Tennessee State even if the quarterback is healthy.

Friedgen said he replaced Steffy with popular backup Chris Turner early in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s victory over Delaware because Steffy had suffered an injury to the thumb of his throwing hand and could not “function.” Friedgen said Sunday that Steffy has trouble gripping the football because of a suspected injury to the bone, and that the fifth-year senior will undergo X-Rays on Monday.

“If he can’t hold the ball, it is probably a serious injury,” Friedgen said.

When asked whether Steffy would start at Middle Tennessee State if he is healthy, Friedgen said: “I have not made that decision yet.” Asked whether Steffy would have been replaced had he not injured his thumb, Friedgen said: “I don’t know that either. The decision was made after he got hurt.”

Friedgen believes Steffy injured the thumb in the third quarter when he was sacked and fumbled the ball. On the next play, Steffy threw his second interception. Steffy remained in the game for two more series.

Three offensive players [center Edwin Williams, receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and running back Da’Rel Scott] said they were unaware Steffy had been injured. Scott said Steffy “looked good to me. I just thought they made a change to see what Chris could do. So I wasn’t aware of it.”

Portions of the Byrd Stadium crowd booed Steffy periodically throughout the third quarter. At one point, fans chanted, “We want Turner!” Steffy was unavailable to clarify the situation about his injury after the game because Friedgen decided he did not want to subject Steffy to media scrutiny after the game.

“It was probably best for him not to be put in that situation,” Friedgen said. “I did not know the extent of the injury and was trying to help the kid out.”

Steffy threw two interceptions and looked shaky throughout his first start in 11 months.

“I think he did a good job in the opening series,” Friedgen said. “He made some good decisions and threw the ball well. Then as the game went on, he had some other opportunities and he didn’t take advantage of them. A couple guys have to make a couple plays for him, too. I think when every pass is scrutinized, it gets tougher for you.”

Regarding the play of Turner, Friedgen said: “He did some things that were good and some things that were bad.”