Like I did in the 2009 season, I felt it was best to ask the UConn Huskies football beat writers some questions about the team instead of doing a preview. It’s not that I’m lazy, they are really the only outsiders who have had a chance to look at the team for the 2010 season.
And what better way than to get insight from the same people who cover the Huskies on a daily basis.
Fortunately for me despite their busy schedules, Desmond Conner of the Hartford Courant, Neill Ostrout of the Connecticut Post, Joe Perez of the Norwich Bulletin and John Silver of the Journal Inquirer took a few minutes to answer some questions from me through email. You can also get to their blogs by going to my blogroll page and looking under the UConn links.
I have personally thanked each and every one of them via email but I would also like to extend my thanks and appreciation for them doing this again here as well.
So without further adieu, let’s get to the questions (in bold) and the answers from the UConn beat writers:
1. The defense, especially the secondary, took a lot of slack after the spring game. What can we expect this year from them?
Desmond Conner: They should be more focused given the slack they took. The unit was a concern even coming out spring ball but they were better – from what we saw – in the preseason. The two corners, Dwayne Gratz and Blidi Wreh-Wilson are solid. Apparently true freshmen Taylor Mack and Gilbert Stlouis are too, since they’re backing them up. It really surprised me that they past a couple of redshirt freshmen who were improving but honestly, it’s getting so much harder to gauge things at these practices. The media was kept in one section, basically one end zone, while the team, for the most part, practiced at the other end. It was very difficult to make any real calls on anything or anyone based on what we were allowed to see Ian.
Neill Ostrout: I think it took some “flack” and I think it could continue to for a short time. The secondary, especially the safeties, are young and/or inexperienced. Everyone knows this. It will probably take a little time for that unit to gel.
Now, if it’s getting things together during 35-28 wins, OK. If it’s struggling during 41-21 losses, the Huskies have a problem.
Joe Perez: It’s a pretty inexperienced lot, and probably the weakest link for the Huskies. That’s what led to coach Randy Edsall taking over as the position coach for the safeties while Darrell Perkins works with the corners. There is certainly a lot of promise and potential, but teams are going to try and expose them from the start. Getting Kijuan Dabney back on the field will be a help, as he is one of the few who have seen substantial playing time. Guys like Dwayne Gratz and Blidi Wreh-Wilson, who is also returning from injury, will be leaned upon heavily. Harris Agbor is stepping into the starting lineup ahead of Jerome Junior and Mike Lang is moving from wide receiver.
Freshmen corners Taylor Mack and Gilbert StLouis will be expected to shore up a weak might make a difference this season.
John Silver: I think the front 7 of the defense will be very good unless they suffer more injuries. I love the tackles in Twyon Martin (assuming he wins the job back) and Kendall Reyes, and the defensive ends will get after the passer. No issue except depth with the linebackers. The big concern for me is the secondary. The corners should be OK, but the safety play concerns me. I don’t feel confident in it at all. Now, if the defensive line rushes the QB like I think they can, then it really masks the secondary. The key is going to be whether the Huskies can generate pressure with the front 7 to help out the secondary.
If you’re on the homepage, you can see the rest of the questions and answers by clicking the read more button below.
2. After struggling early on in 2009, the Huskies definitely took to Joe Moorehead’s new offense. What can we expect from the offense in 2010.
Conner: To see guys more comfortable and more experienced flourish in it. Last year was one step with the offense. This year, it’s time to take another. UConn has all the tools offensively to keep teams off balance all year, experienced QB, outstanding running backs, receivers and a tight end playing with purpose all anchored by, arguably, one of the best offensive lines in the country so the expectations should be much higher this year.
Ostrout: A little variation on last season’s theme but probably just more consistency. The players have a had a full year to learn the system and it should be almost second nature to some of them. That should allow Moorhead a little more freedom when it comes to play-calling, trusting the offense to know the basics and therefore expanding the play book a bit.
Perez: Until they prove otherwise, I expect much of the same in terms of the approach. The Huskies are a run-first team, and with Jordan Todman and the way Robbie Frey has looked in camp, why go away from what works. But there is the year under Moorhead’s system that should make the offense a bit more fluid. I can’t say defenses are exactly losing sleep over the Huskies’ stable of receivers, but they should be good enough for UConn to win week in and week out. The big question mark is whether or not Zach Frazer can take the positive vibes of spring ball and training camp and stretch it into the season when he faces defenses that want to hit him.
Silver: I think it is going to run like a well-oiled machine. The running game is tremendous and Zach Frazer knows this offense fully.
His decision-making has really improved and if he makes good decisions and doesn’t force things, the offense is going to move the ball. I also think we will see a lot more variety in the formations this year with 4 receiver sets as well as perhaps two tailbacks in at the same time.
3.With Marcus Easley and Brad Kanuch gone from the receiving corps, who can we expect to step up their game this season?
Conner: Mike Smith is probably the guy you’re looking for here. He wants to be the guy who tries to fill those shoes. You’ve got to give him credit for that and for the fact the young man caught the eyes of the coaching staff as a true freshman. He’s junior now. Mike has good size (6-2, 202), speed and, most importantly good hands. I’d love for Gerrard Sheppard to surprise in here, too.
Ostrout: Mike Smith and Kashif Moore, perhaps in that order. Moore has more experience and more of a flare for the dramatic (as in the one-hander against South Carolina in the bowl) but Smith could have a big year if what he does in practice translates to the games.
Isiah Moore, too, will contribute and we’ll see what shifty freshman quarterback/wide receiver/H-Back/wildcat/athlete Leon Kinnard can do.
Perez: The No.1 wideout should be Kashif Moore. It was his for the taking pre-Easley, and now that there isn’t a big target for the Huskies, Kashif is the most polished. He’s made some difficult catches in practices — jumping higher than defenders, snagging passes in traffic. It will get easier if UConn can find another reliable option between Isiah Moore and Mike Smith. Let’s not discount Ryan Griffin, who already has great chemistry with Frazer. If you are UConn, though, you don’t want your tight end as your No. 1 or 2 option.
Silver: Kashif Moore is the odds on favorite. He ended the year really strong. Mike Smith is also coming off a spring game where he showed great game-breaking ability. Those are the likely candidates with Isiah Moore and Dwayne Difton next in line. I. Moore has come a long way and is competent. Difton? I haven’t noticed him this fall. I have to see it first after really a lost freshman season.
4. Who are the sleepers on the team this season? Anyone in particular we should be keeping our eyes on?
Conner: I’m going to go with Adam Masters at left tackle. I’m wondering if the young man can hold the position all year or will Jimmy Bennett come on and wrest the job away from him? He’s been impressive in the spring and preseason.
Ostrout: My pick is Adam Masters. He didn’t back into the starting left tackle job. He’s good. It’s not like Jimmy Bennett is still too injured or stinks (he isn’t and he doesn’t). Masters has just played well.
You may not hear his name called a lot on TV (which is good for an offensive lineman) but I think he’ll be a big contributor up front this season.
Perez: It’s funny to list Leon Kinnard as a sleeper because if teams sleep on him, he might make them pay. I really like what Kinnard, a true freshman, brings to the offense. He practiced at quarterback and wide receiver, and made the two-deep as a wideout. But because of his skills at both positions, the Huskies can use him in a variety of ways. Does he keep the ball? Does he make a make a catch only to throw downfield? Just the threat of what he might do should eventually keep teams honest when he’s on the field while creating big-play possibilities.
Silver: Hmm, does D.J. Shoemate count? I would take a look at OLB Jory Johnson as well as CB Tevrin Brandon on defense. Johnson is the starter at Husky, and with a year experience he looks ready for a big year. Brandon is battling for the nickel corner spot, but he had a strong spring and he is an excellent cover corner.
5. How do you think UConn finishes up record wise (plus Big East) and will they head to a bowl game for the fourth straight season?
Conner: I think they’ll win at least six or seven and qualify for a bowl game. I’m thinking 9-3 but I’m reserving the right to change it to 10-2 if UConn at least plays well at Michigan, especially the secondary, and linebacker Greg Lloyd truly looks like his old self. I have them finishing second or third in the league this season.
Ostrout: The second part of the question is yes. It’s hard to see the Huskies not taking advantage of the talent and experience they have.
As for a win total? I think 10 wins is absolutely possible, though I’d probably include a bowl game win in that total just to hedge my bets
Perez: I think this team is good enough to win the Big East title. The trick is getting at least a split of the West Virginia and Pittsburgh games. The non-conference schedule is favorable, even with the opener at Michigan. That, combined with wins in the first two conference games (at Rutgers and at Louisville), puts the the Huskies at 7-0 to start the season. However, I believe they end the regular season 10-2, 5-2 in the conference before heading to another bowl game.
Silver: Record is going to be 9-3, with losses at Michigan, Rutgers and to Pittsburgh at home. I predict 5-2 in the Big East and they end up in the Yankee Bowl…It’s preseason, no one wants to read that!
Huskies are going 11-1, 6-1 in the Big East and heading to the Fiesta Bowl as the No. 8 ranked team in the country where they will beat up on Oklahoma.
Once again, I want to thank each and every one of them for taking the time to answer the questions. It is much appreciated by me and I’m sure the readers as well.
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