Connecticut News, Raphielle Johnson, Uncategorized

BIG EAST FOOTBALL SUMMER SCHOOL: CONNECTICUT

Huskies looking to take the next step in 2010 on the gridiron

By Raphielle Johnson

The University of Connecticut football program (and campus) went through one of the toughest seasons in recent memory in 2009. The tragic murder of starting cornerback Jasper Howard on October 18^th came just hours after one of his best performances as a Husky, and for many programs that would have touched off a downhill spiral that would have been understood. But as a testament to those young men and the program that head coach Randy Edsall has built this was not the case. They lost heartbreakers to West Virginia and Rutgers in the following weeks but a watershed moment took place in South Bend as UConn knocked off Notre Dame in overtime.

From there they lost to just Cincinnati by two points, finishing the season with an impressive 20-7 win over South Carolina in the PapaJohns.com Bowl to go 8-5 on the season. But 2009 on the field was also a season full of “what could have been” moments; UConn lost those five games by a combined fifteen points. This was a young team that went through a lot, learning how to win as the season progressed and players who weren’t counted on as much in 2008 stepping into expanded roles. Considered to be the Huskies’ major weakness going into 2009, the offense was led by quarterbacks Zach Frazer and Cody Endres on a run that few envisioned them being capable of.

Marcus Easley, once a walk-on who saw the field only on special teams, became a standout wide receiver while Kashif Moore also played a role in the improvement of the passing game. Running backs Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman shared the load on the ground, nearly matching the numbers of 2008 star Donald Brown behind on of the Big East’s best offensive lines. But injuries stunted the overall growth of the Huskies, especially on the defensive side of the football. The lack of experience in the secondary as a result combined with poor tackling in space to prove costly in each of the losses, especially against teams who run spread attacks.

Spring football brought about two primary needs: develop the receiving corps in order to make up for the graduation of Easley and Brad Kanuch and improve the secondary in all aspects. The receivers made strides in those fifteen practices, with Moore stepping up along with Michael Smith catching three long touchdown passes in the spring game. And tight end Ryan Griffin has the ability to become an All-Big East honoree as well. If youngsters such as Dwayne Difton, Malik Generett and Gerrard Sheppard just to name three can step up the passing game should continue its development.

Jordan Todman will get first dibs on the carries in the running game but there are other options as well. This reminder was given to the junior in a not-so-subtle fashion during the spring in the form of being held out of practices due to not taking care of things in a fashion required by Coach Edsall. Robbie Frey, who is also a serious threat in the return game, will fight for carries as will Kelmetrius Wylie, Jonathan Jean-Louis and Martin Hyppolite. Leading the way for them is Anthony Sherman, one of the best fullbacks in the conference who can also be an option in the passing game.

Zach Frazer ended spring practice as the unquestioned starter under center in Joe Moorhead’s offense but there are intriguing options behind him. Endres also has starting experience while redshirt freshman Michael Box had enough pure talent to have folks wondering whether or not his redshirt would be burned last season given the injuries. Johnny McEntee has also been a part of the program and there is also freshman Leon Kinnard, who may stand at just 5’10” tall but his athletic ability could result in a special package should Coach Edsall decide to not redshirt the Maryland native. The quarterback position is essentially a reflection on this team as a whole; while young in some areas the depth across the board is impossible to ignore.

Greg Lloyd, Jr., who missed spring drills due to a knee injury suffered last season, was shifted from middle linebacker to defensive end with the hope that he can help offset the graduation of Big East sack champion Lindsey Witten. Tackles Kendall Reyes and Tywon Martin will form a very good tandem inside, and the depth is good enough to challenge Pittsburgh for the label of best defensive line in the Big East. And the linebackers, as usual, will once again be a strength going into 2010. Scott Lutrus and Lawrence Wilson are both All-Big East candidates, and “Husky” linebacker (strong side) Jory Johnson saw plenty of reps last season due to injuries to other players.

But once again the concern is the secondary, which will need to replace the solid Robert Vaughn and Robert McClain. Dwayne Gratz and Blidi Wreh-Wilson were pressed into more service that the Huskies would have liked last season but that experience could pay off this year. Jerome Junior will need to improve and the move of Kijuan Dabney from linebacker to safety will also play a significant role in the development of defensive backs coach Darrell Perkins’ group. Connecticut was the worst team in the Big East against the pass, an issue that was most apparent in games against teams that were able to neutralize their pass rush. This, plus the fundamentals of tackling in space, will need to be taken care of in order for UConn to win the Big East.

Question mark: Secondary

There is no secret what did the Connecticut defense in last season. The struggles against the pass forced Hank Hughes to play a “softer” defensive scheme, something that may have played a role in their tackling struggles. If Jerome Junior and the young corners can step up this becomes a Big East title contender.

Post-Spring Depth Chart (courtesy of UConnHuskies.com)

                Offense                                                                                                               Defense

QB 10 Zach Frazer (RSr.)                                                                                DE 91 Jesse Joseph (Soph.)

      12 Cody Endres (RJr.)                                                                     48 Travardo Williams (Soph.)

RB 23 Jordan Todman (Jr.)                                                            DT 99 Kendall Reyes (RJr.)

      44 Robbie Frey (RJr.)                                                                                      54 Alex Polito (RSr.)

FB 49 Anthony Sherman (Sr.)                                                      DT 53 Ryan Wirth (RSoph.)

     39 Bret Manning (Sr.)                                                                      4 Tywon Martin (RJr.)

TE 94 Ryan Griffin (RSoph.)                                                          DE 26 Marcus Campbell (Jr.)

     89 John Delahunt (RSoph.)                                                           95 Greg Lloyd, Jr. (Sr.)

WR 80 Michael Smith (Jr.)                                                            HLB 28 Jory Johnson (RSoph.)

       87 Malik Generett (RFr.)                                                                9 Andrew Opoku (Fr.)

WR 82 Kashif Moore (RJr.)                                                           MLB 32 Scott Lutrus (RSr.)

       31 Nick Williams (Soph.)                                                                55 Jerome Williams (RSoph.)

WR 83 Isiah Moore (RJr.)                                                              WLB 8 Lawrence Wilson (RSr.)

     88 Gerrard Sheppard (RSoph.)                                                    46 Sio Moore (RSoph.)

LT 63 Adam Masters (RSoph.)                                                     CB 5 Blidi Wreh-Wilson (RSoph.)

     72 Jimmy Bennett (RSoph.)                                                         20 Tevrin Brandon (RFr.)

LG 66 Mathieu Olivier (RSr.)                                                        S 15 Jerome Junior (RSoph.)

     60 Erik Kuraczea (RSoph.)                                                           34 David Kenney (RFr.)

C 57 Moe Petrus (RJr.)                                                                   S 19 Kijuan Dabney (Sr.)

   70 Gary Bardzak (RJr.)                                                                    7 Mike Lang (Soph.)

RG 78 Zach Hurd (RSr.)                                                                   CB 24 Dwayne Gratz (RSoph.)

      50 Tyler Bullock (RFr.)                                                                    21 Gary Wilburn (RJr.)

RT 71 Mike Ryan (RJr.)                                                                  

     77 Kevin Friend (RFr.)

Special Teams

P 13 Chad Christen (RFr.)

   86 Cole Wagner (RFr.)

K 38 Dave Teggart (RJr.)

   13 Chad Christen (RFr.)

LS 93 Derek Chard (Sr.)

     61 Stephen Brown (RFr.)

H 13 Chad Christen (RFr.)

    10 Zach Frazer (RSr.)

PR 21 Gary Wilburn (RJr.)

      31 Nick Williams (Soph.)

KR 44 Robbie Frey (RFr.)

      23 Jordan Todman (Jr.)

2009 Huskies in the NFL (draftees in italics)

WR Marcus Easley (Bills)
CB Robert McClain (Panthers)
S Robert Vaughn (Packers)
DE Lindsey Witten (Steelers)
RB Andre Dixon (Giants; Hartford Colonials/UFL)
P Desi Cullen (Bears)
OT Mike Hicks (Lions)
OT Dan Ryan (Dolphins)

2010 Schedule (Big East games in CAPS)

9/4 at Michigan (ABC/ESPN2)
9/11 Texas Southern
9/18 at Temple
9/25 Buffalo
10/2 Vanderbilt
10/8 at RUTGERS (ESPN)
10/23 at LOUISVILLE
10/29 WEST VIRGINIA (ESPN2)
11/11 PITTSBURGH (ESPN)
11/20 at SYRACUSE
11/27 CINCINNATI

12/4 at USF (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)

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