UConn Football

The Connecticut Huskies sure have their work cut out for them when they take the field Saturday at Noon for the home opener of the 2009 season. Coming to town is 19-ranked North Carolina, who is coming off a 40-6 thumping of The Citadel.

UConn certainly made some mistakes against Ohio, and if they continue to repeat those mistakes, Saturday could be a long game for them. Then again, the coaches saw the film and know what they need to correct to be successful against a talented Tar Heels team.

Randy Edsall wasn't a happy coach after beating Ohio 23-16 Saturday night. He had every right to be upset with some areas of his football team. He has been around long enough to know how to address a problem quick and fix it. That is why there is a lot of excitement surrounding this weekends game.

North Carolina is a strong team, but this game is certainly winnable for the Huskies as long as they successfully complete the game plan. It certainly plays into the Huskies favor that this game is at home. Last year UConn struggled when they faced North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

There are three major objectives that if UConn can accomplish they have a strong chance of winning this game. Obviously to pull out a W in this game, it is going to have to be a lot better then it was against Ohio.

3. The Huskies are going to need to put pressure on the quarterback T.J. Yates.  Lindsey Witten has a superb game last week with three sacks and safety. There's going to need to be just as much if not more pressure up the middle against North Carolina.  Look for defensive tackle Kendall Reyes to anchor the defensive line.  He has the size and strength to get to Yates any play he drops back to pass.

2. The pass coverage for the Huskies needs to be significantly improved from where it was against Ohio. Redshirt freshman Jerome Junior needs to just be himself out on the field. Last week, he was lost in coverage and that led to easy touchdowns for Ohio.  He's got the talent to succeed at his position all he needs to do is put that to work.

Senior leader of the secondary Robert Vaughn needs to be a leader on the field. He was a second team All Big East selection last season and now is when they need to his playmaking ability the most. The Huskies need their secondary to give its all on Saturday if the Huskies plan on being in the game.

1. The Huskies need to continue to the dominant running duo of Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon.  If the Huskies get the same kind of production as they did last week out of the backfield, they will be right in it at the end.

Just as important as the backfield is the offensive line. They are the ones opening up the holes for Dixon and Todman to run through.  Mike Hicks and Moe Petraus have continued to win the battle at the line of scrimmage time after time.

Lastly, and maybe the most important is the decision-making of quarterback Zach Frazer. He had an inconsistent game Saturday where he made some poor decisions.  Those same mistakes can't be made against North Carolina if UConn expects to win.

Yes, the wide receivers need to do a better job of securing the football but it is Frazer who's throwing the football.  Dwifton, Kanuch, and Moore all need to make sure they are timing their routes right and finding the right places in the open field.

This might be UConn's toughest opponent all year. North Carolina and its coach Butch Davis had built a quality football team. Then again so has Randy Edsall and his Connecticut football team. Looks like this one is going to be settled on the gridiron come Saturday afternoon.

The Huskies went into last nights game with a new offensive package.  Then again if you knew nothing about the team it was the same performance and same result.  Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon carried the load rushing for 157 and 100 yards.  A win is a win, but every week is a new week in college football.

Last night the Huskies survived a scrappy Ohio team that came up with four turnovers.  That was largely due to the inconsistent play of Huskies QB Zach Frazer.  He threw three interceptions and had a fumble. 

Lucky for him, the UConn defense played tough all night.  Defensive End Lindsey Witten had three pick sacks.  Robert Vaughn had an interception of an option deep inside the red zone.  When Connecticut needed a big stop its defense delivered.  A fourth and inches stop in the second quarter set the tone for how physical the Huskies played.

There needs to be a lot of credit given to the big guys up front.  Mike Hicks and Moe Petreus continue to do what they do best, and that is opening up big holes for the running backs.  They are the anchors of the line and are a big reason why UConn continues to have such strong success running the ball game after game.

Zach Frazer has to play better if he wants to win football games against the ranked teams.  He will get his shot this Saturday at home when North Carolina comes to town.  After North Carolina, the Huskies go into Waco to face the Baylor Bears.  Another up and coming team in the Big Twelve.

Frazer did throw two touchdowns last night, but at times he missed wide receivers, and all of his interceptions were either tipped or deflected in some way.  He didn't look comfortable in the pocket and struggled trying to scramble.

The great thing about college football is each week has that much significance, and this week is unlike like any other.  Frazer remembers how North Carolina manhandled them down in Chapel Hill and he wants to give some serious payback when the Tar Heels come into The Rent.

Coach Edsall will make the game adjustments to have fill some of the holes they see from the Ohio film.  The first home game of the season against a ranked opponent is going to set a fantastic scene for Saturday football.

Ohio is no North Carolina, and the Huskies know that there execution has to be better this week if they want to beat North Carolina. The Huskies did go on the road and get the win to start the season.  Now is the time for UConn to make the improvements needed and prove they are the team to beat in the Big East.

Tonight is the night Huskies fans have been waiting for since January.  With the departure of All-American Donald Brown to the NFL, and other notables such as Cody Brown and Will Beautty, this team is sure to have some new flashes.

The mostly highly talked about newcomer is wideout Dwayne Difton.  A four star recruit out of Florida, there is a lot of hype surrounding this freshman.  It should be interesting to see how the Huskies use him in the new offensive scheme.

Starting quarterback Zach Frazer has had an entire offseason to improve his skills and passing ability.  New offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead has installed an offense that is expected to bring new offensive sets of four wide receivers, and two tight ends.

Moorhead was at Akron before so he knows what kind of football to expect from a tough Ohio University team that lost to Ohio State by only two points in Columbus last season.  Moorhead has come to UConn and has plans to revive a passing game that has been non-existent in the past.

Last year the Huskies had Donald Brown to carry the workload.  This year there will be some familiar faces running the ball for UConn.  Sophomore Jordan Todman is expected to start.  Last season he showed flashes of speed and power when he came in to spell Brown.

The other back that everyone is excited to see is Andre Dixon.  A former All Big-East running back in 2007, last season was one Dixon hopes he will forget by running the ball well for the Huskies.  He has capabilities to catch the ball out of the backfield and is hard to tackle in the open field.

As long as the Huskies continue to play tenacious defense like they have in the past they should win this game.  It's not going to be easy, but if UConn has plans to be a contender in the Big East this season they need to take care of MAC opponents. 

The defensive leaders such as Vaughn and Lutrus are ready to stop this two quarterback air attack offense of Ohio University.  If the Huskies come out and put points on board early the Bobcats better beware.  UConn's defense is one that has been among the league leaders in various categories over the years.

How this UConn offense performs on the road should give Huskie fans an good idea of what to expect this season.  Especially with a big game at next Saturday against ranked North Carolina, the Huskies want to go out and make a statement tonight.

Randy Edsall is a man who has been around football for a very long time.  Beginning his 11th season at the helm of UConn football, this year he looks to continue on the success of the past two years.

Edsall played football at Syracuse and right out of college worked at Boston College. He also has coaching experience under Tom Coughlin in the NFL as a coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was an assistant at Georgia Tech, and eleven years ago took the job here at Connecticut.

When Randy Edsall first came to UConn he started with nothing. It was a I-AA program that was coached by Skip Holtz, who abruptly left to take a position in South Carolina with his father, Lou.

There were a lot of small steps and frustrating events, but look what Edsall has built now. Connecticut is a legitimate program in the Big East, and has competed strongly in recent years. It has only taken a decade to build a Division I-A Big East program that has all brought all sorts of excitement to the campus here at Storrs.

Randy Edsall began with poor facilities, a tough spot to get recruits, and was in the northeast corner of the small state of Connecticut. There was a lot of work to be done, and Edsall was the one that took the initiative to build this program where it is today.

He has recruited players who are playing in the NFL today, and was able to convince talented players that UConn was the place they wanted to play football. What Edsall does, unlike most coaches, is getting the most out of each and every individual. The way he teaches and understands his players is something that exemplifies his leadership and commitment.

Coach Edsall has a lot of confidence in the direction this team is headed in this year.  Yes, they lost some very talented players such as Donald Brown, Cody Brown, and Darius Butler, but this is a new year.

Edsall's contract ends after the 2012 season. I wouldn't be surprised if he continues to coach here as long as he desires. Other offers have come up in the past, but time and time again Randy Edsall has stayed at UConn.

He has raised his family in nearby Glastonbury, Connecticut and has made a name for himself regarding the University of Connecticut program. He's built it top to bottom.

Just look at the 40,000 seat stadium in East Hartford, most commonly known as "The Rent". UConn has a tremendous record at home, because of the massive turnout and support they get during the season.

Coach Edsall and the University of Connecticut have built the Burton Family Football Complex. A state of the art facilities with meeting rooms, weight facility, and practice fields in-doors. It is truly a football recruits dream.

That is just another example of the hard work and dedication that Randy Edsall has put into the program at the University of Connecticut. He has done it all and made the UConn program the success it is today.  That's a testament to who he is not only as a person but a highly talented collegiate football coach.

The 2009 season is a fresh start for starting quarterback of the UConn Huskies Zach Frazer.  A redshirt junior, Frazer has had a tough road since his days as an All-American High School QB.  Now he's physically and mentally prepared to torch opposing Big East defenses.

Frazer first found himself at Notre Dame as part of the famed Fighting Irish.  After getting behind star Jimmy Clausen, he realized that transferring was going to give him the best chance to play somewhere else.

That's where the University of Connecticut came into the picture.  After sitting out the 2007 season, last year Frazer came into the season as Tyler Lorenzens backup.  Due to injuries sustained early on in the season, Frazer found himself starting for the UConn Huskies.

He came off the bench at home against Louisville after Lorenzen broke his foot, and illustrated a nice come from behind victory.  He went 8 for 15, 90 yards, and 1 TD.  The best thing he did was manage the game well, and do what was necessary to win.

Frazer then got his first career start in North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  A game that featured two up and coming programs resulted in a hostile crowd and tough defeat for the Huskies.  He threw three interceptions, and along with three blocked punts UConn struggled in every area of the game.

Zach Frazer took this as a lesson and against Rutgers was an impressive 14-20 for 236 yards and a touchdown.  Unfortunately Frazer suffered a head injury and had to leave the game.  This was a tight game that special teams once again played a factor in the loss.

Frazer looked solid at times behind center for UConn.  He has all the tools and intangibles to be successful.  With a new offense in place this season there's even more excitement around what this team could accomplish.

It's clear that Frazer is taking a serious approach this season.  He's come into this season looking like he has toned down with more muscle.  There's a lot riding on the right arm of Frazer. 

There have been a lot of critics of Frazer decision-making ever since he was at Notre Dame.  That was in the past and he's got a new attitude towards the game of football.  He will be judged by the number of wins he puts up come this season.  There's a lot of expectations for him, but it's his time to go out and win football games for the Huskies.

Expect a large crowd to be in attendance Saturday night in Athens, Ohio as the Ohio Bobcats try to win their 5th season opener in the last seven years. An interesting matchup between the Huskies and Bobcats. The oddsmakers have made the Huskies a -3.5 point favorite! Handicapper Craig Trapp will give you his breakdown and Free ATS winner.

Will the Connecticut Huskies be able to replace Running Back Donald Brown as well as four other 1st day draft players who have departed to the NFL? When the Huskies take the field in Athens on Saturday night they will be missing numerous players from a team that has emerged in the Big East over the four years. Look for Jordan Toddman or Dixon, a Big East selection in 2008 to replace Brown. Look for the Huskies to incorporate less of the power and rely a little more on the play action pass this season to try to keep teams off balance. Expect Zack Frazier to start at QB and if he struggles look for Cody Ednes to play. Frazier is 1-3 during his career and has 2 td’s to 6 int’s in his four games. The Huskies were ranked 116 in passing last season.

Ohio will counter Connecticut’s running game with DT Williamson 330 and DE Hodge 280. If these two guys can control the line, look for the Huskies to struggle to move the ball. Ohio has a veteran group in the secondary and at linebacker, the best in MAC, which can lock down the Huskies receivers.

Ohio returns two quarterbacks, Scott and Jackson, Scott will get the start on Saturday night but Jackson will also take some snaps in the 1st half. Both quarterbacks are athletic and have played for the last 2 years. They will have Garrett at tailback and a talented receiving core. One concern is the offensive line of the Bobcats. Look for LB Scott Lutrus to have a big game for the Huskies D.

The Bobcats have a huge edge in special team with very athletic return men.

Ohio looks at this as a great opportunity with a BCS school coming to Athens, Ohio for a night game. Ohio also has more veteran players and are replacing a lot less than Connecticut. Look for a motivated Bobcat team led by Frank Solich to cover the 3.5 and win this game outright. Believe the line makers are giving the Big East to much credit and are hoping the public plays the team that has been better over the past 4 years. Take the points and watch OU win straight up!

Free Football Pick: Final Score Ohio 24 Connecticut 21

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Desi Cullen is a senior captain of the 2009 UConn football team. 

He always holds the duties of punting and kicking off the ball when needed. 

Last year the Huskies had some serious protection issues when it came to 4th down and punting situations. 

Cullen 6'2", 200 lbs took a lot of heat last season, and he's determined to have a successful year as a captain of this team.

Last year the weakness in the punting game cost the Huskies when it came to the field position battle.  Not to mention that the Huskies had six punts blocked in 12 games last year.

This is one statistic that will hurt a team in many ways.

Last year in a pivotal game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill the Huskie struggled mightily.  They had three punts blocked, one which was returned for a touchdown. 

It was obvious the punt block coverage was flustered, and they had no answer for the blitzing linebackers of North Carolina.

This is something that Cullen can't really control. 

His job is to catch the snap and punt the ball.  That's his job and he's done it better then any other punter in school history.

Coming into this season, Cullen has punted in all 26 games that he's started. 

He holds the highest average of any punter in school history booming the ball 40.3 yards.  Last season, Cullen also pinned the opponent inside the 20 yard line, 24 times. 

There's no question surrounding the ability of Cullen being able to punt or kick the ball when needed.

As long as Cullen is protected on punt coverage, his numbers should be as good if not better then ever.

Cullen is one of four team captains coming into this season.  He's teammates view him as a leader and his special teams performance will lead the way as the Huskies open up their season this Saturday at Akron 7 p.m.

The Huskies are back at it again.  This summer they've picked up the intensity level, and with new offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead the Huskies should be even more exciting to watch this season.  Zach Fraser will be under center on offense and linebacker Scott Lutrus will be leading the defense this season.

UConn is a team in the Big East that has now been to two straight bowl games.  They have played well against other Big East opponents and have become a team that you certainly don't want to take lightly. 

With the loss of All-American running back Donald Brown in the backfield, and Will Beautty on the offensive line, the Huskies are going to be forced to find production elsewhere.  A combination of Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman could be that one-two punch that is delivered to opposing defenses week in and week out.

On the other side of the ball two big losses came from the outside with do-it-all Darius Butler and DE Cody Brown. Now with the Patriots, Butler defended as a cornerback, ran back kicks, and even played a little time at wideout.  Cody Brown was also a force at the defensive end position that will need to be replaced with a quick, strong pass rusher.

The core linebacker unit of Lutrus, Lloyd, and Wilson will be the big three stoppers on defense. The Huskies also return Jasper Howard and Robert Vaughn in the secondary. These two both saw playing time last season and will be mentors to the younger players.

Zach Fraser's right arm will be put to work early on in the season.  With new coordinator Joe Moorhead installing a new offense with various routes and pass plays, this team could be exciting to watch get up and down the field. It's all about balance in the rush and passing attack. 

After being one-dimensional last year with a passing game that ranked among the worst in the nation, Moorhead has a plan to drastically turnaround those numbers.  It all starts with the guys catching the ball out there.

The two leaders at the wide receiver position are Brad Kunich and Kashif Moore. Both players have showed glimpses of success, but neither has yet to stand out among them all. Keep your eye on a freshman wideout by the name of Dwayne Dwifton.  A four-star recruit out of Florida, Dwifton has the potential to make an immediate impact if he can adjust right to the college level.  That's exactly what the Huskies need: a playmaker catching the ball.

Randy Edsall has been the head coach for 10 years now.  He's taken this program to levels that many thought would take twice as long, if not longer. The way he uses the talent he recruits and develops players is a true testiment to his work ethic and coaching ability.

The big game to circle early on this season's schedule is Uconn's home opener on Saturday, Sept. 12th when the North Carolina Tar Heels come to The Rent.  UConn is an even tougher team at home, and there's nothing like playing a nationally ranked team on your home turf early on in the season.

How the Huskies play in this game should give a pretty good indication what the outlook is for the rest of the season.  The Big East better watch out, UConn is hungry to get the respect they deserve.

It looks like the state of Connecticut, UConn Athletic Director Jeff Hathaway, and Coach Randy Edsall finally got the message—ultimately it just didn't make sense!

The Star Ledger's long-time college football writer Tom Luicci, while covering Big East Media Days in Rhode Island, reported that, "Randy Edsall said his school was likely going to opt out of a scheduled four-game series with Notre Dame because the Irish won't play at Rentschler Field."

Chip Malafronte, UConn football beat writer for the New Haven Register, when speaking of the proposed series, wrote, "With no games in Connecticut, it is no longer being pursued by UConn."

The Hartford Courant's Jeff Jacobs pretty much agreed.

In today's column Jacobs said, "While it would be factually premature to report the six-game football series for Notre Dame and UConn is already dead, it would be equally irresponsible to assert that UConn has any intention to sign a contract for an agreement of such length."

One thing is certain; nobody appeared to know just how long the proposed series was supposed to last. Four games, six games, or 10 games?

At first, it seemed that playing Note Dame was just what UConn's rising football program needed to put them on the map. However, the powers that be realized they didn't need the Fighting Irish and the fans of Connecticut grew increasingly upset that they could have been serious about entering into agreement where not one game would be played in the Nutmeg State.

Jacobs went on to suggest that playing the series the way Notre Dame wanted it was a slap in the face to Connecticut and now, "UConn finally has the hand to slap back."

I don't know if he was referring to Michigan announcing they would play the Huskies in East Hartford in 2013 when he talked about "slapping back" or whether he just felt that UConn knew it was time to take a stand.

He went on to say that he thinks most fans of Connecticut would, "applaud Hathaway for showing some cojones."

Connecticut's football program is certainly on the rise. In 2007, they won a piece of the Big East title and this past season, they finished 8-5 and had four of their players selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft.

Everyone in the state was upset—lawmakers in particular. They argued that the state didn't construct a brand-new football stadium only to have it's team play their home games in Gillette Stadium or the Meadowlands.

The state legislature was already hearing it from hotel and restaurant owners in the greater Hartford area that didn't want to lose revenue that home games at Rentschler Field create.

Fans were upset that Notre Dame was, in their eyes, "bullying" the Huskies and pointed out that Notre Dame was using history to make their case. In 2009, they felt there was no reason for UConn to bend over backwards for them.

Jacobs feels that the Big East has accepted the fact that Notre Dame is not going to join the conference in football. Although they admire Notre Dame's national marketing campaign, he says in reference to their opponents, "It's demeaning to the other team."

Rutgers was in a similar situation when they entered into negotiations with Notre Dame. When the Irish told Rutgers they wanted them to play their three home games  in the Meadowlands, they pulled out of the process.

UConn has made huge progress in football. Ten years ago they didn't even have a FBS division team but until they stand up to Notre Dame, they're not big-time. 

Standing up to Notre Dame shows how they feel about themselves and where their program is headed.  Congratulations UConn—today, you are a man!

Once again, with the way this series appears to have self-destructed, it seams that scheduling could become more complicated for the Irish in the future.

All but four of the 120 FBS teams are in a conference and some of those teams, like UConn, are likely to stand up for their conference and not let anyone push them around.

Is there a coach out there that has done more with less the past few years than Randy Edsall?  If you put any value in recruiting rankings, then there probably isn’t.

Despite an average recruiting ranking of 65 by Scout.com over the past five years, Edsall has turned the Huskies into contenders. In the past two seasons they’ve won 17 games, played in two bowl games, won one, and they also captured a share of the Big East title in 2007. 

This season Connecticut is losing four players who were first day picks in the NFL draft, which means the Huskies could be in for a rebuilding season in 2009. Finding ways to replace Cody Brown, Darius Butler, William Beatty as well as the nation’s leading rusher last year, Donald Brown will be vital for the Huskies if they want to make it to a third straight bowl game.

Last season the Huskies were forced to rely heavily on Donald Brown, due to an anemic passing game which was ranked 116th in the nation.

UConn will attempt to create a more balanced attack this season under new offensive coordinator, Joe Moorhead. Moorhead brings with him from Akron, an up-tempo, spread style offense that should be far more exciting to watch for Husky fans. 

If the offense is going to achieve the kind of balance that they desire though, they’re going to need more production from their wide receivers. Last year their leading receiver Kashif Moore totaled only 273 receiving yards and one touchdown. 

UConn will also be breaking in a new quarterback, former Notre Dame transfer, junior Zach Frazer. While it’s tough enough for a young quarterback to take over as a starter, it will be immensely more difficult if his receivers can’t step it up. A legitimate receiving threat could go a long way in shortening the learning curve for UConn’s new starting QB.

Fortunately for Connecticut, they do have two talented running backs that should be able to step in nicely for the departed Donald Brown in sophomore Jordan Todman and senior Andre Dixon. 

Dixon was the starter for Connecticut in 2007 and earned all-Big East honors but he currently finds himself second on the depth chart behind the younger Todman. The two will prove to be a dangerous combination for the Huskies and running behind a veteran offensive line, they should be able to make up for the loss of Brown. 

Defensively Randy Edsall’s squad could be outstanding in 2009. On the defensive line, the Huskies will be breaking in a few new starters but the unit could still be very good.

Sophomore defensive tackles Twyon Martin and Kendall Reyes combined for 42 tackles and three sacks as freshman a year ago, and they should give opposing offensive linemen fits.

On the edges senior Lindsey Witten and junior Marcus Cambell can cause havoc in the backfield. The two defensive ends both played in 11 games last year and they combined to sack opposing quarterbacks seven times.

As talented as UConn’s young defensive line is, the strength of the defense will be the linebackers. They return all three of their starters from a year ago, juniors Scott Lutrus, Greg Lloyd and Lawrence Wilson.

Lutrus and Wilson were the top two tacklers on the team in 2008 with 106 and 73 tackles, respectively. Lloyd was sixth on the team with 56. 

The trio helped the defense allow the second fewest rushing yards in the Big East last year with just 109.8 yards per game.  With all three back, teams are going to have a tough time running the ball against UConn again this season.

While the linebackers are shutting down the run, the Huskies’ secondary should prove adept at picking off opposing quarterbacks and making plays. The combination of corners Robert McClain and Jasper Howard along with free safety Robert Vaughn grabbed nine interceptions last season.

 That’s one more than either Syracuse or Louisville had as a team, and only one less than USF and Rutgers each had last year. 

While the defense should be great in Connecticut this season, the offense still may not be as balanced as they’re hoping for. If they do figure out how to create a more efficient passing attack then the sky is the limit but with a new quarterback and a new offensive scheme they’re probably a year or two away from achieving the kind of balance they want.

Then considering they have non-conference games against North Carolina, Baylor and Notre Dame as well as conference road games against Pitt, West Virginia and Cincinnati, there is a chance UConn could struggle this year. 

The most likely scenario for the Huskies in 2009 is that Frazer and the rest of the offense will struggle at times and Connecticut will finish somewhere in the middle of the pack in the Big East.  However, if Frazer can step in and provide UConn with a legitimate passing game then they could have a chance to win the Big East this year.  

As long as Randy Edsall is at the helm, you can be sure the Huskies will continue to be extremely competitive and they will continue to exceed expectations.