During his trip to Phoenix for his Playboy All-America photo shoot, Maryland linebacker Erin Henderson got a chance to meet Rutgers running back Ray Rice and get to know him a little.

Saturday, when the Terps face No. 10-ranked Rutgers (3-0) at 3:30 p.m. in Piscataway, N.J., Henderson will run into the Heisman Trophy hopeful again - this time with the intention of taking him down.

Over his past six games, Ray Rice has averaged 139.5 yards and has scored 12 touchdowns. He is fifth in the nation in rushing yards per game (143.7), and leads in scoring with 18 points per game.

"He's going to continue to run after contact," said Henderson, who has led the team in tackles every game this season. "He's not going to fall down because you touch him. He's going to keep fighting for that extra yard or 2, whatever else he could get. You've really got to put a pad on him, wrap your arms around him and get him down on the ground."

Tackling has been a problem recently for the Terps (2-2), Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said, particularly late in the game Saturday in the overtime meltdown against Wake Forest. It's an area that needs to improve if the Terps are going to have a chance of slowing an offense that's averaging 525.3 yards per game. Ray Rice is one rushing touchdown away from tying the school career record of 34.

"He's a very strong runner, has good vision, good acceleration," Friedgen said of Ray Rice. "He breaks a lot of tackles - that's our major concern. We didn't tackle well last week; we missed some tackles. I think we're going to have to get to the football. More than one person is going to have to tackle him."

Henderson, who has been bothered by a stinger in his shoulder, said he will continue to wear a black, noncontact jersey at practice this week.

Sticking by Steffy
As expected, Maryland quarterback Jordan Steffy was "very upset" after the 31-24 loss to Wake Forest, Friedgen said, but instead of coming down hard on Steffy, Friedgen used Monday's film session and team meeting to point out the good things Steffy has done and to encourage him.

"I try to accent the positive things with him," Friedgen said. "As I went through the tape with him, he did a lot of good things in that game, too."

Through the first four games, Steffy is averaging 151 passing yards and has thrown one touchdown and four interceptions. He has been sacked 16 times - the most in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

"I guess I know what it takes, and like I said, it's never as fast as I want it, and I know it's never as fast as you people want it," Friedgen said. "As impatient as I am, I understand this. ... I'm not disappointed to the point where I'm thinking of changing quarterbacks."

Haynos struggling
Before the season, Friedgen said he intended to use more two-tight end sets, but through the first four games, he has been impressed with only one of them.

Joey Haynos, a walk-on in 2003 , is a 6-foot-8 target who Friedgen said has been trying to get "back on track."

"He hasn't quite played as well as he had last year," Friedgen said. " ... It's not a lack of effort - he's wanting to do well, he's just having trouble getting uncorked."

Haynos has seven receptions through four games and is third on the team in receiving yards (64). Friedgen said he has been more impressed with 6-6 junior Dan Gronkowski, who has three catches this season.