High school coaches all over the joint. About 350 people attended the clinics yesterday where Chris Palmer talked about qbs. Tremendous program according to Andy Baylock. The former head coach and now nfl qb coach got his first job as an assistant at uconn many moons ago.
As far as the rest of day, I will post thoughts over on twitter. Qbs are in redshirts and off limits as they should be.
Chow
-- Post From My iPhone
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Pro Day thoughts
It was a coming out party for UConn football on Wednesday. Proday had 21 teams including Bill Belichick and A.J. Smith, GM of the Chargers among many others. Those guys don't come if there is no reason.
I would say Darius Butler's 40 time has put him in the first round. 4.38 is explosive. He expects to be first round. He said he was doing 4.34 at Prime U.
Julius Williams was a beast with a 41 inch vertical and 36 reps at 225 pounds. He is headed to a camp if he doesn't sneak in to the late rounds. I can't find the 40 time, in my notes, it was around 4.61. Williams should be a bouncer. He is built like a tank.
Dahna Deleston has really helped himself. He benched 225 20 times and his vertical jump was 36 inches and measured out at 6-0 1/2. That and his 40 speed was 4.45. That's very good for a potential safety and special teamer. He put himself into late round draft contention. Height, weight and speed guy. Still no hands.
On request of Bill Belichick, Tyler Lorenzen went and worked with the DBs (as a safety I presume). San Francisco also wanted to get a look at him as a receiver where he showed some good hands.
Tyler is a good athlete with good size. He is going to make it into someones camp. As a QB? Maybe not, but you take it anyway you can get it.
Will Beatty benched 225 30 times. I don't know if that is good or bad, but it does show some strength.
Donald Brown is a pro. When he is done playing he is made for television. He is just a flat out pro.
Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees raved at the football complex. Said to Randy Edsall it's the best one he has been at in his travels to college.
Got to pay the bills
I would say Darius Butler's 40 time has put him in the first round. 4.38 is explosive. He expects to be first round. He said he was doing 4.34 at Prime U.
Julius Williams was a beast with a 41 inch vertical and 36 reps at 225 pounds. He is headed to a camp if he doesn't sneak in to the late rounds. I can't find the 40 time, in my notes, it was around 4.61. Williams should be a bouncer. He is built like a tank.
Dahna Deleston has really helped himself. He benched 225 20 times and his vertical jump was 36 inches and measured out at 6-0 1/2. That and his 40 speed was 4.45. That's very good for a potential safety and special teamer. He put himself into late round draft contention. Height, weight and speed guy. Still no hands.
On request of Bill Belichick, Tyler Lorenzen went and worked with the DBs (as a safety I presume). San Francisco also wanted to get a look at him as a receiver where he showed some good hands.
Tyler is a good athlete with good size. He is going to make it into someones camp. As a QB? Maybe not, but you take it anyway you can get it.
Will Beatty benched 225 30 times. I don't know if that is good or bad, but it does show some strength.
Donald Brown is a pro. When he is done playing he is made for television. He is just a flat out pro.
Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees raved at the football complex. Said to Randy Edsall it's the best one he has been at in his travels to college.
Got to pay the bills
Lorenzen at db?
On request from bill belichick. Lorenzen is working out at db and one team wants to watch him catch on at wr. Deleston has helped himself. Could move into draft.
-- Post From My iPhone
-- Post From My iPhone
More updates
Darius butler 40 ---- 4.38 twice
Cody brown 4.6 and 4.61
Dahna Deleston 4.45 and 4.6
Don't have them all
-- Post From My iPhone
Pro day update
Beatty 30 at 225 Lbs
Julius Williams 36 at 225 41 inch vertical
Donald brown 15 reps
Dahna Deleston 20 reps
Keith gray 28
-- Post From My iPhone
Julius Williams 36 at 225 41 inch vertical
Donald brown 15 reps
Dahna Deleston 20 reps
Keith gray 28
-- Post From My iPhone
Pro day
Crazy day for uconn, I don't think I need to go into details. As far as pro day. About 45 expected including belichick. I will post more as I get around.
Talked to lorenzen, he has a nice tan from working out in San Diego.
Saw Deleston, butler and julius Williams. They were all business.
-- Post From My iPhone
Talked to lorenzen, he has a nice tan from working out in San Diego.
Saw Deleston, butler and julius Williams. They were all business.
-- Post From My iPhone
Friday, March 20, 2009
Spring honorary coaches announced
UConn Athletic Communications – March 20, 2009 -- Honorary Coaches For UConn Blue-White Spring Football Game Announced
STORRS, Conn. (March 20, 2009) - Two former University of Connecticut head football coaches and a pair of former Husky student-athletes who played for them will serve as honorary coaches for the UConn Blue-White Spring Football Game on Saturday, April 18.
The game will be played at Rentschler Field and kickoff is slated for 12:00 p.m. with parking lots opening at 9:00 a.m. and stadium gates opening at 11:00 a.m. Both admission and parking are free.
Former UConn head coaches Walt Nadzak and Tom Jackson will each guide a side along with former players Ken Sweitzer and Rick Jackson.
The 2009 game marks the third year that former coaches and players have returned to coach in the Blue-White game. Last spring, former coaches Larry Naviaux and Bob Casciola were among the honorary coaches along with former players Ray Tellier and Brian Usher. In 2007, former Husky head coaches Rick Forzano and John Toner along with former players Gary Blackney and Rick Robustelli had the honor.
Nadzak was the head coach at UConn from 1977-82 and led the Huskies to a share of the ’82 Yankee Conference championship. He came to Connecticut after serving as the head coach and athletic director at Juniata College in Huntington, Pa., for eight years. In 1973, he led Juniata to the NCAA Division III national championship game. Following his coaching career at UConn, he served as Director of Athletics at The Citadel from 1985-2000 and now serves as a color analyst on the radio for the Bulldogs’ football games.
Jackson followed Nadzak as the head coach of the Huskies and posted a 62-57 record at the school from 1983-93. The 62 wins are the second-highest in school history as are his 119 games coached. He led UConn to Yankee Conference championships in 1983, ’86 and ’89. His UConn teams won eight games twice and seven games on two other occasions.
Jackson served as an assistant coach at UConn under Nadzak for five seasons before being named head coach. Jackson is a 1970 graduate of Penn State and was tri-captain of the 1969 Orange Bowl champion Nittany Lions. He also played in the 1967 Gator Bowl and 1968 Orange Bowl.
Sweitzer, a native of Madison, Conn., was the Yankee Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 1981 under Nadzak and earned All-Conference honors in three different positions during his Husky career – as a wide receiver in 1979, a quarterback in 1980 and ’81 and as a punter also in 1981. He remains fifth in school history in pass attempts with 692, fourth in completions with 345 and fourth in passing yardage with 4,949.
He is currently the owner of Sweitzer Insurance, LLC and a MaxGXL distributorship – both based in Madison.
Rick Jackson, a native of Fanwood, N.J., is the nephew of Tom Jackson and was a three-year letter winner for the Huskies and his uncle at wide receiver in 1989, ’91 and ’92. He made 25 receptions in his senior year of 1992 for 377 yards.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Update thoughts
Sorry no update late. I couldn't get to a computer and had work to do. Got to pay the bills first.
It was a good practice on Tuesday and pretty much the players with the starting unit were all chalk. All the upperclassmen got deference with Dan Ryan at LT and Zach Frazer at QB. I wouldn't read much into who is working with the first unit until the end of the second week. There was no depth chart this spring because Randy Edsall felt it changes too much. Perhaps he doesn't need a depth chart, but it's always good message board and blog fodder so I was a bit miffed. Practice is open this year with interviews available on Tuesday's and Saturday's. There is going to be plenty of access.
Here is my unofficial depth chart for spring practice based. Offense first, didn't really pay much attention to the defense on Tuesday.
QBs: Zach Frazer and Cody Endres are 1 and 1a.
Thoughts: Frazer is a lot slimmer and much more quick. Is he Pat White? No. But he is down 13 pounds and closing. The speed and footwork is noticeable. He looks a lot more athletic than he did last year. Frazer ate salad for about a week to lose weight and said he starved himself. He now eats small options. Randy Edsall wants him slim, so he will be slim. Portion control is Frazer's friend: "I am not a diet guy."
As far as ability, Frazer and Cody Endres can throw the ball. Endres throws a nice deep ball and showed some mobility in the pocket. Accuracy is going to be an issue, but he has ability. Frazer can make all the throws and since he ran a similar offense in high school, he is comfortable in it. It's decision-making with Frazer. The improved athleticism should help with moving in the pocket. He looked glued to the field at times last year.
I think the staff wans to make a decision by the end of camp. I think they need to have one of these guys win the job. They won't hand it to someone, but would the opportunity to take it is there.
Running backs: Andre Dixon, Jordan Todman, Kelmetrus Wylie and Robbie Frey.
Notes: Dixon and Todman are going to get a lot of work with this offense. I like the short passing game and getting Dixon as a receiver out of the backfield. This worked so well in 2007, no idea what it was scrapped in all circumstances in 2008. Look for Andre to be a pass threat this season. Todman is explosive. Questions are if he can be an every down back and carry the load. Wylie looks like he could be an every down back. He looks quicker than I remember though we have to be careful because they aren't in pads.
Offensive line: Mo Petrus is the center and Mike Hicks entrenched at right tackle. they had Dan Ryan working at left tackle. he had Jimmy Bennett, a highly touted redshirt, will battle. Zach Hurd is entrenched at LG guard when he returns. RG is up for grabs with Petrus moving inside.
WR: Can anyone stand up? Working with the first team were Kashif Moore, Brad Kanuch, Marcus Easley and Michael Smith. Brian Parker also got some first team reps. I saw isiah Moore make a couple of plays and Gerrard Sheppard is athletic.
This is wide open, and will be until the summer when they get some reinforcements with incoming recruits.
On a side note, I have joined Twitter and I will do some tweets at practices. This is just going to be a UConn football tweets, and any updates I get will be sent to it. If enough people join, then I may continue it during the season.
So, I have a blog, facebook blog page, feedburner, an RSS Feed, email updates and now twitter. If you can't get updates from me then just give up.
You can follow me on Twitter to the right. Hey, now I can write my phone off for tax purposes.
Later,
It was a good practice on Tuesday and pretty much the players with the starting unit were all chalk. All the upperclassmen got deference with Dan Ryan at LT and Zach Frazer at QB. I wouldn't read much into who is working with the first unit until the end of the second week. There was no depth chart this spring because Randy Edsall felt it changes too much. Perhaps he doesn't need a depth chart, but it's always good message board and blog fodder so I was a bit miffed. Practice is open this year with interviews available on Tuesday's and Saturday's. There is going to be plenty of access.
Here is my unofficial depth chart for spring practice based. Offense first, didn't really pay much attention to the defense on Tuesday.
QBs: Zach Frazer and Cody Endres are 1 and 1a.
Thoughts: Frazer is a lot slimmer and much more quick. Is he Pat White? No. But he is down 13 pounds and closing. The speed and footwork is noticeable. He looks a lot more athletic than he did last year. Frazer ate salad for about a week to lose weight and said he starved himself. He now eats small options. Randy Edsall wants him slim, so he will be slim. Portion control is Frazer's friend: "I am not a diet guy."
As far as ability, Frazer and Cody Endres can throw the ball. Endres throws a nice deep ball and showed some mobility in the pocket. Accuracy is going to be an issue, but he has ability. Frazer can make all the throws and since he ran a similar offense in high school, he is comfortable in it. It's decision-making with Frazer. The improved athleticism should help with moving in the pocket. He looked glued to the field at times last year.
I think the staff wans to make a decision by the end of camp. I think they need to have one of these guys win the job. They won't hand it to someone, but would the opportunity to take it is there.
Running backs: Andre Dixon, Jordan Todman, Kelmetrus Wylie and Robbie Frey.
Notes: Dixon and Todman are going to get a lot of work with this offense. I like the short passing game and getting Dixon as a receiver out of the backfield. This worked so well in 2007, no idea what it was scrapped in all circumstances in 2008. Look for Andre to be a pass threat this season. Todman is explosive. Questions are if he can be an every down back and carry the load. Wylie looks like he could be an every down back. He looks quicker than I remember though we have to be careful because they aren't in pads.
Offensive line: Mo Petrus is the center and Mike Hicks entrenched at right tackle. they had Dan Ryan working at left tackle. he had Jimmy Bennett, a highly touted redshirt, will battle. Zach Hurd is entrenched at LG guard when he returns. RG is up for grabs with Petrus moving inside.
WR: Can anyone stand up? Working with the first team were Kashif Moore, Brad Kanuch, Marcus Easley and Michael Smith. Brian Parker also got some first team reps. I saw isiah Moore make a couple of plays and Gerrard Sheppard is athletic.
This is wide open, and will be until the summer when they get some reinforcements with incoming recruits.
On a side note, I have joined Twitter and I will do some tweets at practices. This is just going to be a UConn football tweets, and any updates I get will be sent to it. If enough people join, then I may continue it during the season.
So, I have a blog, facebook blog page, feedburner, an RSS Feed, email updates and now twitter. If you can't get updates from me then just give up.
You can follow me on Twitter to the right. Hey, now I can write my phone off for tax purposes.
Later,
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
First impressions
Towards end of first practice, two things are most noticeable.
1. The tempo of offense is quick. The practice is being run at a quick pace it's hard to describe. I like the 45 minutes I have seen
2. Zach Frazer has lost a ton of weight. Much much more mobile and quicker than I remember.
Frazer is working with first team. Cody Endres with 2nd team.
More later on.
Update: Cody Brown and Will Beatty sighting. Cody is taking classes. Will working out. Cody said he is happy he is not practicing. Will said he got his card taken away. He had to be buzzed in.
-- Post From My iPhone
Monday, March 16, 2009
Spring Practice quick hitter
Some info off the pre spring conference call:
Alex Polito is out for spring practice as he recovers from ankle surgery that he had after the bowl game. Zach Hurd is also hurt and had surgery, but the staff expects him back next week. Lindsey Witten is out this week and is back in Ohio to be at his grandmother's funeral.
No one has left the roster since the bowl game and the team is intact. As far as position changes. Not a big surprise, but Mo Petrus is being moved to center (where he was recruited) and Alex LaMagdelaine will compete for a spot at guard. As far as replacing Beatty at left tackle, it's Dan Ryan and redshirt frosh Jimmy Bennett.
Randy spoke a bit about the QB position. He had Zach Frazer in for a talk after the "40 point a game offense."
Here is Edsall:
On Zach vs. Cody and if they will name a starter by spring. Essentially, if someone stands out, yes:
It's still odd talking college football in March in Connecticut.
Old habits die hard.
Alex Polito is out for spring practice as he recovers from ankle surgery that he had after the bowl game. Zach Hurd is also hurt and had surgery, but the staff expects him back next week. Lindsey Witten is out this week and is back in Ohio to be at his grandmother's funeral.
No one has left the roster since the bowl game and the team is intact. As far as position changes. Not a big surprise, but Mo Petrus is being moved to center (where he was recruited) and Alex LaMagdelaine will compete for a spot at guard. As far as replacing Beatty at left tackle, it's Dan Ryan and redshirt frosh Jimmy Bennett.
Randy spoke a bit about the QB position. He had Zach Frazer in for a talk after the "40 point a game offense."
Here is Edsall:
You have to temper it. Be enthusiastic, but you have to be under control," Edsall said. "Better off letting production speak yourself. He didn't do it in a bad way. He is excited about the opportunity he is going to have to get on the field. He is familiar with that offense from what he did in high school."
On Zach vs. Cody and if they will name a starter by spring. Essentially, if someone stands out, yes:
"There is a competition between Zach and Cody. Nobody has the No. 1 position. That's up to the players. If there is a guy that determines that he is No. 1 at end of spring we will do that. If there is not a guy in that position we will go through to the fall. The players will determine that. If it gets determined at end of spring that would be great."
It's still odd talking college football in March in Connecticut.
Old habits die hard.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Early NCAA thoughts
Like uconn's draw. Love pitts draw to the final 4. South region is tough, as is Louisville's sweet l6 matchup. Btw, huskies vs. Huskies again in the sweet 16?
-- Post From My iPhone
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Bracketology --Memphis and UConn will be tied
The topic of the hour and what is going to shape this tournament is what to do about UConn.
Up until a week ago this team was the No. 1 overall seed. Now they are a No. 2 seed after losing to PItt and in 6 overtimes?
This is going to get tricky for the committee. Pitt and Louisville are top seeds certainly. Add in UNC and there is one No. 1 left.
Where does that leave UConn? If the committee thinks UConn stumbled at the end and is a No. 2 seed, the question of the hour for everyone else is what region?
That is what I find the most interesting.
Assume they won't matchup UConn against Pitt or Ville. That leaves UNC as a possible elite 8 opponent. No way will the committee do that to Carolina. That is an incredible game to get to the final four.
UConn is either a No. 1 or No. 2 seed and Memphis is on the other side. That's how it will break. They are going to be tied to Memphis and likely have a weak 3 seed and a good 4 seed however they are slated.
The key here for the committee is to not destroy a bracket. UConn as a No. 2 seed will ruin the bracket unless the opposite one seed and three seed are soft. Any other scenario and it could destroy the balance of the tournament.
Up until a week ago this team was the No. 1 overall seed. Now they are a No. 2 seed after losing to PItt and in 6 overtimes?
This is going to get tricky for the committee. Pitt and Louisville are top seeds certainly. Add in UNC and there is one No. 1 left.
Where does that leave UConn? If the committee thinks UConn stumbled at the end and is a No. 2 seed, the question of the hour for everyone else is what region?
That is what I find the most interesting.
Assume they won't matchup UConn against Pitt or Ville. That leaves UNC as a possible elite 8 opponent. No way will the committee do that to Carolina. That is an incredible game to get to the final four.
UConn is either a No. 1 or No. 2 seed and Memphis is on the other side. That's how it will break. They are going to be tied to Memphis and likely have a weak 3 seed and a good 4 seed however they are slated.
The key here for the committee is to not destroy a bracket. UConn as a No. 2 seed will ruin the bracket unless the opposite one seed and three seed are soft. Any other scenario and it could destroy the balance of the tournament.
No. 1 seed
Spring practice starts next week. Will have a preview later. This Is my first post with my iPhone, I'll give real time updates of practice if it works well. Btw, no. 1 seeds should be 3 big east teams and unc. God forbid if duke wins acc and jumps everyone. Memphis is probably the one team that may bounce uconn down a line. I am more interested in who is paired with uconn. Anyhow this is a test.
-- Post From My iPhone
-- Post From My iPhone
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Random thoughts: Hoops observation
Spring practice starts next week, but the Big East tournament through the first two rounds of the NCAA are perhaps my favorite time of year for sports.
Not going to bore everyone with analysis, but watching the Marquette-Villanova I wanted to point something out about the end.
I am a big hater of over coaching, which is calling endless time outs to set up a play in the final minute. Managing the clock is one thing, but calling a timeout without first testing the defense has become a cardinal rule of college coaches. They try to control the game too much. All of them do, even the great ones.
But, look what happened at the end of the Marquette game. Marquette missed a shot and with 15 seconds left Villanova had the ball down one with no timeouts. What happened? Experienced players ran the offense and a guy broke free for a layup.
When you have experienced guards, as Nova does, the best thing to do in that situation is to allow your guards to run the offense and try and take advantage of the mismatch. Calling a timeout to set up a play is an advantage to the defense because it allows them to set up and relax. Sometimes you need a quick hit play, such as a 3 off a double pick. That's fine for a timeout. But, under 10 seconds left? I want the game to be chaotic.
In a scramble situation, I will always take the team with guards and the ball over the defense. I would say good job by Jay Wright, but I am positive he would have called a timeout if he could have.
Let's remember this as we watch hoops for the next month. Watch out for over-coaching.
Okay, random post over
Not going to bore everyone with analysis, but watching the Marquette-Villanova I wanted to point something out about the end.
I am a big hater of over coaching, which is calling endless time outs to set up a play in the final minute. Managing the clock is one thing, but calling a timeout without first testing the defense has become a cardinal rule of college coaches. They try to control the game too much. All of them do, even the great ones.
But, look what happened at the end of the Marquette game. Marquette missed a shot and with 15 seconds left Villanova had the ball down one with no timeouts. What happened? Experienced players ran the offense and a guy broke free for a layup.
When you have experienced guards, as Nova does, the best thing to do in that situation is to allow your guards to run the offense and try and take advantage of the mismatch. Calling a timeout to set up a play is an advantage to the defense because it allows them to set up and relax. Sometimes you need a quick hit play, such as a 3 off a double pick. That's fine for a timeout. But, under 10 seconds left? I want the game to be chaotic.
In a scramble situation, I will always take the team with guards and the ball over the defense. I would say good job by Jay Wright, but I am positive he would have called a timeout if he could have.
Let's remember this as we watch hoops for the next month. Watch out for over-coaching.
Okay, random post over
Friday, March 6, 2009
Huskies 2009 schedule released
2009 UConn Football Schedule
DATE OPPONENT STADIUM, CITY TIME TV
Sept. 5 at Ohio Peden Stadium, Athens, Ohio TBA TBA
Sept. 12 NORTH CAROLINA RENTSCHLER FIELD TBA TBA
Sept. 19 at Baylor Floyd Casey Stadium, Waco, Texas TBA TBA
Sept. 26 RHODE ISLAND RENTSCHLER FIELD 12:00 p.m. TBA
Oct. 10 at Pittsburgh* Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pa. TBA TBA
Oct. 17 LOUISVILLE* RENTSCHLER FIELD TBA TBA
Oct. 24 at West Virginia* Moutaineer Field, Morgantown, W.Va. TBA TBA
Oct. 31 RUTGERS* RENTSCHLER FIELD TBA TBA
Nov. 7 at Cincinnati* Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio TBA TBA
Nov. 21 at Notre Dame Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, Ind. 2:30 p.m. NBC
Nov. 28 SYRACUSE* RENTSCHLER FIELD TBA TBA
Dec. 5 SOUTH FLORIDA* RENTSCHLER FIELD TBA ABC/ESPN/ESPN2
* - Denotes BIG EAST Conference game
Home Games in BOLD CAPS
All Times Eastern
End up with two Big East games at home. Sure USF isn't going to be happy about Dec.5 in East Hartford.
Swing game this year? Big East opener at Pitt Oct. 1o. Huskies win there that could set them up real well. I can realistically see being undefeated at home in the Big East.
DATE OPPONENT STADIUM, CITY TIME TV
Sept. 5 at Ohio Peden Stadium, Athens, Ohio TBA TBA
Sept. 12 NORTH CAROLINA RENTSCHLER FIELD TBA TBA
Sept. 19 at Baylor Floyd Casey Stadium, Waco, Texas TBA TBA
Sept. 26 RHODE ISLAND RENTSCHLER FIELD 12:00 p.m. TBA
Oct. 10 at Pittsburgh* Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pa. TBA TBA
Oct. 17 LOUISVILLE* RENTSCHLER FIELD TBA TBA
Oct. 24 at West Virginia* Moutaineer Field, Morgantown, W.Va. TBA TBA
Oct. 31 RUTGERS* RENTSCHLER FIELD TBA TBA
Nov. 7 at Cincinnati* Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio TBA TBA
Nov. 21 at Notre Dame Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, Ind. 2:30 p.m. NBC
Nov. 28 SYRACUSE* RENTSCHLER FIELD TBA TBA
Dec. 5 SOUTH FLORIDA* RENTSCHLER FIELD TBA ABC/ESPN/ESPN2
* - Denotes BIG EAST Conference game
Home Games in BOLD CAPS
All Times Eastern
End up with two Big East games at home. Sure USF isn't going to be happy about Dec.5 in East Hartford.
Swing game this year? Big East opener at Pitt Oct. 1o. Huskies win there that could set them up real well. I can realistically see being undefeated at home in the Big East.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Moorhead speaks
There was a nice round table today with UConn assistants Hank Hughes, Lyndon Johnson and of course the man of the hour -- Joe Moorhead.
It's a wonder we don't do this more often. All three were terrific and handled it well. It's nice to get a different voice in stories.
Anyhow,I will whet your appetite with some quotes from Moorhead on the offense. I have to finish writing and depending when, I will post before a detailed look at what went down. Here is some brief thoughts from Moorhead.
Here is some more info on the offense. It is a west coast offense passing game that will be no huddle to start. The running game is going to stay the same. The point is to create tempo and be aggressive on offense. It isn't going to be a crazy passing offense like Texas Tech. The Huskies are still going to run the ball, but they hope to do it with a quicker tempo.
He learned the offense under Walt Harris at Pittsburgh, where he was a grad assistant, and Incorporated a bunch of things from different stops.
Moorehead quotes:
On Zach Frazer's 40 point a game thoughts.
On Running game:
On offensive style and how it will look:
On Personnel:
On a no huddle offense being soft:
Lastly, Lyndon Johnson is doing well after undergoing a cornea transplant last week. He has a degenerative eye condition and lost most of his vision in his left eye necessitating the replacement. He will need the same for his right eye eventually. He is doing well.
Good luck to Lyndon.
It's a wonder we don't do this more often. All three were terrific and handled it well. It's nice to get a different voice in stories.
Anyhow,I will whet your appetite with some quotes from Moorhead on the offense. I have to finish writing and depending when, I will post before a detailed look at what went down. Here is some brief thoughts from Moorhead.
Here is some more info on the offense. It is a west coast offense passing game that will be no huddle to start. The running game is going to stay the same. The point is to create tempo and be aggressive on offense. It isn't going to be a crazy passing offense like Texas Tech. The Huskies are still going to run the ball, but they hope to do it with a quicker tempo.
He learned the offense under Walt Harris at Pittsburgh, where he was a grad assistant, and Incorporated a bunch of things from different stops.
Moorehead quotes:
On Zach Frazer's 40 point a game thoughts.
"I appreciate Zach’s exuberance, but we have to crawl before we can walk. We got to figure out who we are and who we can be before we talk about scoring any points."
On Running game:
“You will not see many major changes in run game. It was (will be) tweaked, but the run game was tremendously productive and not much of a reason to change. It is a strong suit of the UConn football program.”
On offensive style and how it will look:
"I would be remiss. I don’t know what these kids can do. We will try a bit of everything. I don’t think we can necessarily have personnel fit scheme. The scheme fits the personnel.
On Personnel:
“The offensive line is an exciting thing. To produce a 2000 plus yard rusher like they did in Donald Brown, and they were 15 in country in sacks, that strikes you. Any offense begins with what happens up front. Those guys, losing Will Beatty and the center are big blues, but the guys who replace are adequate"
"We have a tremendous stable of running backs. We saw first hand what Andre Dixon can do 2 years ago, and Jordan Todman does some exciting things.”
Wide receivers: “A bunch have been on the field, we just got to see what they do in the spring and how we develop.”
On a no huddle offense being soft:
“It doesn’t. That is another thing. The definition of the spread and you hear a team is going into the shotgun carries a connotation that it will somehow make you soft upfront. That can't be any further from the truth. We will line up, be physical, and look to knock people off the ball. All you are doing is moving the quarterback and move him 5 yards away from center"
"We will come at people with a physical mindset. Any idea that this is some finesse offense where we will be passive is sorely mistaken. Linemen are linemen. They are going to knock people over in the running game and protect the quarterback.”
Lastly, Lyndon Johnson is doing well after undergoing a cornea transplant last week. He has a degenerative eye condition and lost most of his vision in his left eye necessitating the replacement. He will need the same for his right eye eventually. He is doing well.
Good luck to Lyndon.
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