The UConn Huskies have a tough assignment on Saturday as they host the Boise State Broncos in the third game of a season-opening three-game home stand.
The Huskies and Broncos are both 1-1 but you would be hard pressed to view the teams as even. These aren’t the BCS bowl-winning Broncos, but they are still a good football team and one that has designs on winning a lot of games and returning to a bowl game for the 13th straight season.
UConn is coming off a lackluster 19-16 victory over FCS Stony Brook on Saturday, while Boise State led Colorado State 37-10 and racked up nearly 700 yards of offense in a 37-24 victory.
How can UConn win? Well, all joking aside, play better. The Huskies haven’t put four solid quarters together yet. Can they Saturday? It remains to be seen but here is how they will have to do it to have a chance to spring an upset and earn the first significant win of the Bob Diaco era.
Whitmer has to be the man
Quarterback Chandler Whitmer is the man for the time being, now he has to play like it. Casey Cochran was named the starter to begin the season but he suffered a concussion late in the season opener against BYU and announced Monday that he will no longer play for the Huskies while he transitions into a mentor/coaching role. Whitmer has started 17 games for UConn and is 6-11 with 15 touchdown passes. He was 12-of-27 for 142 yards and a TD with three sacks against Stony Brook and those numbers won’t cut it against the Broncos.
Get playmakers involved
Geremy Davis has 13 receptions for 207 yards and a TD in two games, not bad production but UConn will likely need more Saturday to have a chance. A lot of that is on Whitmer to deliver the ball accurately, something he is struggling with, but some pressure will fall on Davis to make a play, win a battle to two and do something to give UConn hope and confidence.
Freshman running back Arkeel Newsome needs to get the ball more too. This one is on Diaco and the Huskies offensive coaches. A Parade All-American and one of the best HS players Connecticut has ever produced, Newsome has had just eight carries and two receptions in two games. He already has a 22-yard rush, the longest run by a Husky this season, an 18-yard reception and a 34-yard kickoff return. Diaco said Newsome will get the ball more. Will he? He should and it should start Saturday.
Turnovers
UConn was buried by turnovers and Taysom Hill in the opener against BYU and has had four turnovers on the season. The Huskies have to protect the ball against the Broncos or they will get blown out of the building. Boise State has too many weapons to keep giving them the ball.
Defense
The Huskies are going to have their hands full defensively. Last week Jay Ajayi had 219 yards rushing, 61 yards receiving and three touchdowns, QB Grant Hedrick threw for 352 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 80 yards and a score and Matt Miller had eight catches for 151 yards and a score.
The team’s 676 yards was the fifth-most in school history. That’s what is facing the UConn defense, which allowed 300 yards to Stony Brook and 513 to BYU. The D is going to have to get off the field on third down, create a turnover or two and give UConn’s offense decent field position for the Huskies to have a chance.
“They have a very unique offensive system, very explosive,” Diaco said during his weekly teleconference. “Not only explosive in the style that they run their offense, but the players are explosive. So it creates a major problem.”
Off day for the Broncos
Look, Boise State is the better team and UConn has yet to turn Rentschler Field into its own personal Dog Pound that opponents fear playing in. The Broncos win if they are anywhere close to their normal selves but look ahead and have the Huskies get a few breaks and you never know.
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