Joining the Bloguin Network has been great for many things. Amongst them is being able to talk with other blogs from the opposing teams. It gives us the ability to pick the brains of some great writers.
This week with the UConn Huskies playing the Pittsburgh Panthers, I was able to get together with Bryan from The Pitt Script Blog.
Thanks to Bryan for being gracious enough to answer my questions. Be sure to check out Bryan’s blog to get your Pittsburgh Panthers fix.
Below you’ll find the questions and answers we both answered.
1.Obviously Pittsburgh got off to a slow start this season but right now they are in the driver’s seat in the Big East. What has helped them turn around?
Bryan – Pitt Script Blog: Their recent success can be largely attributable to two factors: the offensive line and Tino Sunseri. The offensive line was absolutely terrible at the beginning of the season, particularly in the middle, where all three interior linemen were replaced due to graduation. There’s been some shuffling of the line and now it seems the coaching staff has found the correct combination (or at least the best that they have). This has helped sophomore quarterback Tino Suneri find his groove and show why there was no quarterback competition over the summer. I will readily admit that I was one of Sunseri’s biggest doubters, but he has really shown over the past four games that he has the ability and the decision-making ability to be Pitt’s signal-caller. This has also lead to improved confidence in him by the coaching staff, which has resulted in more down field throws as opposed to the screen passes and four yard out routes that were being called to start the season.
2. If there is any Big East team that can claim to be in the same stratosphere of disappointment as Pitt, it’s UConn. What the hell happened?
Ian – SOX & Dawgs: There are many things that can be attributed to the disappointment. The suspensions of Cody Endres and Erik Kuraczea during the preseason. Zach Frazer not playing to his ability, no real downfield threat, too many holes in the defense, poor special teams play. Then of course you have the dismissal of Endres from the team right before the Louisville game which didn’t really help matters at all.
But to me is this team isn’t as good as all the preseason hype. They have weaknesses which teams have been able to exploit and take advantage of.
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3. Everybody was expecting a big season out of Dion Lewis but yet he’s not producing like he was as a freshman. Could we consider this a sophomore slump or has there been other issues?
Bryan: The above mentioned offensive line has been a big part of it. His fellow sophomore Ray Graham is having no such trouble, however, with a 7.3 ypc and 7 touchdowns on the season. A big part of it is running style – Dion excels at hitting the hole and powering through the next level of defenders while Ray is a bit shiftier and can create more at the line of scrimmage. As Ray Graham becomes a bigger part of the offense, I’d expect both players to get nearly equal touches, which will limit Dion’s ability to put up the gaudy numbers he was able to last season.
4. UConn’s two headed running back monster of Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon has been condensed into one insanely talented Jordan Todman. For those of us who haven’t seen Uconn’s running game this season, what has been the keys to its success?
Ian: Don’t forget that it started as Andre Dixon and Donald Brown. Then it was just Brown then last year Dixon and Jordan Todman went off and as you said now Todman. The key to their success has been the offensive line. Head coach Randy Edsall may not get the best recruits but he gets guys that can work. And over the past few years, he brought in a great group of guys on the offensive front who battle in the trenches to open up holes for those backs.
5. Jon Baldwin is having a big season at WR. How can UConn shut him down?
Bryan: Pressure, pressure, pressure. If Connecticut’s pass-rushers can make Tino uncomfortable, Baldwin won’t have time to get down field where he excels. He and Tino were clearly having some issues at the beginning of the season, but success has a funny way of working those things out. Aside from a constant pass rush, I’d also recommend forcing Baldwin into inside routes. It’s not that he’s not good over the middle, but if his homerun ability down the sideline is eliminated, he’s much less of a threat.
6. Give us a player or two to watch for Thursday that a non-UConn fan might not know of?
Ian: Running back Robbie Frey would be one guy. He’s been injured at different points of the season but when he’s healthy, he’s been able to spell Todman and put up good numbers doing it.
Fullback Anthony Sherman is another guy. It’s not too often you’ll see him carrying the ball but what you will see is him helping out with the blocking on the running plays or even in pass protection. But where you’ll really see him all over the place is on special teams. He has a knack for getting down there and making the tackle similar to how Deon Anderson did a few years back.
7. Give us a player or two to watch for the non-Pitt fans.
Bryan: As boring as it seems, watch Pitt’s center Alex Karabin. The fifth-year walk-on earned the starting job in the summer and has been below average to say the least. Opponents have had a lot of success blitzing through the middle and if UConn wants to pressure Sunseri, that’s where I’d attack the line early and often.
If you’re not into to spending your Thursday watching poor blocking technique, also watch for Mike Shanahan, Pitt’s #2 wide receiver who seems to have great chemistry with Sunseri. In terms of receptions, he’s only four behind Baldwin (33 to 29) with a similar ypc (16 to 13). Shanahan is much more a possession receiver than a true deep threat, but his 6’5″ frame makes him a tough matchup, especially if Baldwin draws double-coverage.
8. UConn’s defense is top 40 in terms of points against at 21.4 points per game. However, the Huskies are dead last in the conference is total defense, run defense and 5th against the pass. What gives?
Ian: Part of the problem has been UConn’s inability to stop a mobile quarterback. Denard Robinson ate them up, Vanderbilt’s QB ate them up and they’ve given up to many big plays from being burned in the secondary. What it comes down is the fact that they are simply not executing their assignments on defense.
9. If the Panthers don’t win the Big East title, could the mustache (Dave Wannstedt) be on the hot seat after the season. I know many people were down on him after the slow start.
Bryan: The Stache is a polarizing guy among Pitt fans. To some, he can do nothing right. I’m generally a fan of Wannstedt, but yes, if he managed to collapse at the end of the year like last year, there would be many legitimate calls for his head. Those calls would likely be ignored, however, as the administration seems to love him. He’s a great ambassador of the program and graduates players, so as long as Pitt wins 8-9 games a season and keeps players out of trouble (this current off-season aside), I think the Pitt job is his for as long as he wants it. Certainly anything could happen, but it would probably take an epic collapse this season and a terrible start next season for Wanny to begin feeling any heat.
10. Where do you see UConn in 5 years: in the Big East, in a post-schism Big East, or other?
Ian: I’m hoping to see the Huskies continue to improve over time. One thing that’s killed them since they joined the Big East is their inability to win a game in an opponent’s stadiums. It’s been a rare thing to see. I am hoping the Big East stays together for football and adds a couple of more quality teams because I think if UConn ended up in any other conference they would get smoked.
Photo credit: AP Photo
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