UConn Has Question Marks As It Prepares To Open Camp
The Hartford Courant
August 10, 2009
The media picked UConn to finish sixth in the Big East primarily because of losses at key positions, while not having much knowledge of the players waiting to step in.
As good as the defense is expected to be, the Huskies must get more offensive production, particularly at quarterback. UConn has brought in an innovative, lively and charismatic offensive coordinator in Joe Moorhead.
Here are a few questions facing the Huskies as they open practice Monday.
? Who will be the starting quarterback and will he be a threat with his arm?
Not since Dan Orlovsky left after the 2004 season have the Huskies been a productive passing team. It may be hard to believe but UConn was 10th in the country in passing offense in 2003 (297.92) and again in '04 (281.33), which is way off the 105.5 average ranking they hold over the last four seasons, including the 109th best ? or worst ? passing offense of 119 Division I-A teams last season. One can only imagine how much better the Huskies (8-5) would have been last season, a season in which Donald Brown rushed for over 2,000 yards, if they averaged more than an anemic 139.6 yards passing. New offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead has a penchant for balance and moving the ball in the air. The Huskies have the players with the arms to do it in Zach Frazer, a redshirt junior and Cody Endres, a redshirt sophomore. The big-arm Frazer starts camp as the No. 1 quarterback but Endres is expected to make a push for the job. Frazer and Endres also come in slimmer as they compete to guide a new fast-paced offense. Neither Frazer nor Endres are runners and that's a good thing. The Huskies have been there and done the dual threat thing ? much of the last four seasons.
? Are the receivers capable of making big plays?
They're capable or they wouldn't be on scholarship, right? But capable and doing are two different things. There were encouraging signs during spring practice. Senior Marcus Easley had a 10-catch, 169-yard, two-touchdown effort. It was encouraging because the Huskies need a legitimate go-to guy. Actually, they need several of them and that is supposed to be the point of the offense Moorhead has installed. It is designed to take advantage of the receivers' speed and skill and get them into open space against the defense. The hope is that big plays come as a result and the Huskies will be looking for Easley, Kashif Moore, the team's leading receiver last year (27 catches, 273 yards, one TD), Brad Kanuch and Isiah Moore to emerge. Gerrard Sheppard, a redshirt freshman who turned down basketball scholarship offers from ACC schools, looks like a playmaker. The freshman class includes four receivers, led by Dwayne Difton and Mike Lang. If they are what they're supposed to be, they could elevate the play of the entire group.
? What is the strength of the team?
The Huskies' offensive and defensive lines are as deep as they've ever been in coach Randy Edsall's first 10 seasons. Some linemen lack experience but they've been good enough to compete for starting jobs against returning starters. On the offensive line, the coaching staff has been chomping at the bit to play guard Eric Kuraczea (6 feet 1, 328 pounds) of Ansonia, Jimmy Bennett, a 6-7, 298-pound tackle, and tackle Mike Ryan, a 6-5, 313-pound sophomore. Kuraczea and Bennett are redshirt freshmen. Bennett and Ryan battled redshirt seniors Mike Hicks (6-6, 323) and Dan Ryan (6-8, 313) so well in the spring that both tackle positions are open going into camp. A healthy competition is expected there. On the defensive line, the Huskies are strong at the tackle positions, led by Twyon Martin and Kendall Reyes. While senior Lindsey Witten is poised to start at one defensive end spot, the jury is out on the other. When Bloomfield's Marcus Campbell was ruled ineligible this season it meant inexperience was coming. The Huskies have been solid at end for years with Cody Brown and Julius Williams. Now, freshmen are going to have to step up. Fortunately, the Huskies had two, Jesse Joseph and Trevardo Williams, join the program in January. A.J. Portee, a redshirt freshman, has an opportunity.
? What areas need to be strengthened the most?
The secondary and, perhaps, at linebacker. The front line of these units is excellent. If injuries don't become a problem, UConn could have one of the best defenses in the Big East, certainly one of the best the program has had. There are some question marks in the secondary. The reserves looked OK during the spring but they're young. They also looked like they could use more work. Scott Lutrus, Greg Lloyd Jr. and Lawrence Wilson make up one of the best linebacking crews in the game but Edsall is a little concerned about depth. One player who should give him reason for optimism is redshirt freshman Sio Moore (6-1, 221), who had 16 tackles in the spring game.
? Will the Huskies be better on special teams?
They need to be. Particularly at decision-making and catching the ball on punts and kickoff returns. Mishaps cost the Huskies a win at Rutgers. Breakdowns in punt protection helped lead to a disheartening loss at North Carolina.
? How good can the defense be?
The unit finished sixth in the country, ninth against the pass, 16th against the run. If some of the talented yet inexperienced players step up, the answer is very good. The Huskies lost five highly productive starters. Four of them (CB Darius Butler, DE Cody Brown, DE Julius Williams and SS Dahna Deleston) are currently on NFL rosters. But the six starters who return were quite productive as well. Lutrus led the team in tackles (106) and Wilson was second with (73) and had three interceptions. Cornerback Jasper Howard led the team in interceptions (four) and Robert McClain, who replaces Butler, had three.
