The wait is over.
Now that the starting quarterback has been named for UConn, it is time to see if this exciting Huskies offense can hang behind its front line for the season opener against BYU.
In the first ever meeting between schools, a Husky-Cougar game usually triggers my Pac-12 senses, but for this Week 1 matchup it will be Bob Diaco’s first game as a head coach.
Casey Cochran, the starting quarterback named by Diaco last week, is capable of producing major offense with star wide receiver Geremy Davis as seen in last year’s record-breaking 461-yard performance against Memphis. It was the final regular season game for the Huskies’ 3-9 campaign in a season they would like to forget.
Likewise, BYU traveled to Connecticut on Wednesday, two days before game day, to try and avoid a first week surprise like last year’s 19-16 loss to Virginia. The Cougars finished 8-5.
Despite being a 16-point favorite as the road team, BYU will be missing its leading rusher from last year, Jamaal Williams.
BYU RB Jamaal Williams is suspended for the season opener due to an honor code violation. http://t.co/Pr87CmpV5H pic.twitter.com/RXykVh0PEk
— Dr. Saturday (@YahooDrSaturday) August 2, 2014
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Instead the running game will be a tandem of Adam Hine, Algernon Brown and Paul Lasike.
The lack of a ground-and-pound game shouldn’t stress BYU’s dual-threat quarterback Taysom Hill. The 6-foot-2 junior quarterback is one of the toughest to contain and is a dark horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy this year, and can pick a defense apart with his arm and legs.
Containing him is UConn’s problem, specifically the young front seven.
The secondary does feature senior cornerback and team captain Byron Jones. Jones played his first two seasons as a safety, but transitioned to cornerback last year and led the team in interceptions. The three-year starter, along with his defense, has to be disciplined against BYU’s versatile offense and apply pressure in key moments that throw Hill off balance.
Does BYU escape the East Coast this time with a win?
This seems like a trap game for BYU, and that’s what I’ll call it.
UConn, behind Cochran and his training camp mullet, has a chance to spoil BYU’s season before it starts. It will be a statement win for the program and for Diaco, if the weakish offensive line can protect Cochran when needed and if pressure is put on Hill while in a gap-contain defense — all on national television.
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