The Hit Man reuturns

Greg Lloyd was unsure if the knee would hold up.

But there he was in a full contact scrimmage looking in the backfield as a hole opened up.
The running back was someone he knew well -- former safety/linebacker and now running back Jonathan Jean-Louis. Greg Lloyd is known as the Hitman for his bone-crushing hits. Jean-Louis was his sidekick on defense and also known to be a hard-hitter.

There was no way they were going to avoid contact. It was 1-on-1. Lloyd’s eyes lit up. This was a test moment.

Full blog post at: http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1726

Tuesday Presser--Michigan Week!

Game week is here.
It’s been 9 months since the Huskies flattened an overconfident South Carolina team in the Papajohns.com Bowl and staring down the barrel at the Huskies is Michigan.
There is just something about game week and an opening game in particular. Jordan Todman can’t stop thinking football. Zach Frazer has been focused on it since last season.
There are starts to the season (Rhode Island, Hofstra, Sisters of the Poor). This one is different.

More at http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1722

Lloyd is back

Got a confirmation from UConn that the Lloyd at MLB is not an error. He's going to start at MLB, Lutrus to the outside and Wilson at weakside linebacker.


I am stunned in the sense that no one talked about him the entire camp about him starting at middle linebacker. I saw him practicing with the second team, but we have been shutout from practice since last week when we only saw the backups during the opening of 2-a-days. (for example, I haven't seen Zach Frazer throw a ball in 2 weeks during practice. He sits out the media session.).

http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1717

Depth chart is up

Some notes: Greg Lloyd listed as starter at MLB.  Will confirm that later.that would be a major development.
Harris Agbor and Kijuan Dabney to start at safety. Top 6 WRs include Leon Kinnard as a wideout. Also, Adam Masters is the LT. Backup RB is an or with DJ Shoemate and Robbie Frey.
Will confirm if Greg Lloyd listing is accurate.

More at http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1713

Martin gets it

Back for Round 2 today as I take a breather from work (blogging is a breather?).
I talked to Twyon Martin for the first time since the spring on Tuesday and if it weren’t for the No. 4 on his chest, I wouldn’t have recognized him. The trademark dread locks that the Florida native has sported are gone.

In it’s place is a clean short cut of hair. Add to that about 15 more pounds and the 295 pound Martin (yes, that’s right. Huskies’ D-line is now 295, 295 at DT) looks like a new man.

 Full post at http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1701

In today's JI -- Special backup

STORRS – No one comes to play college football with the hopes of being a special teams star.
Every one of the University of Connecticut’s 105 players were the best player at their high schools. They know what it’s like to be the big man on campus and before stepping foot in college, have never been asked to be a role player. Some players struggle with that change, others never actually make it.
Then, there are players like UConn backup running back Robbie Frey.
Frey embraces his role.

Read the full post: http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1686

Back at practice!

Nice to be back at practice, it’s been over a week since I have seen the team live and it’s hard to get a good sense of the position battles that way.


I hope you guys aren’t too hungry (yeah, right) for information. I have some info and a lot of it comes from Coach Randy Edsall, who was kind of enough to be held hostage by myself and a couple of others for an extended time after practice. It was more of a conversation than an interview, but I have about a 30 minutes worth of tape that I will transcribe. I’ll filter out some stuff and eventually get you some good stuff on recruiting, the team, and a whole bunch of other stuff in the next day or so. One thing I didn’t know was that every assistant as well as coach stays up on campus during camp. I always knew Edsall used to sleep on an air mattress in his office, but a lot of the assistants stay in the dorm rooms during camp. It’s an intensive process and grueling.

Anyhow, to the matters at hand and practice. It’s still difficult to figure out

more at http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1683

Thoughts on Endres

http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1674

Now that I have a chance to digest the suspension of Erik Kuraczea and Cody Endres it is cause for concern no matter what comes out officially.

I wasn't at practice Thursday morning, the JI is a PM paper and I was working in the office (went in ungodly early), but the reports I have read had UConn coach Randy Edsall saying he  is confident in Michael Box and Johnny McEntee at QB. I can't say I am surprised  Edsall said that (what's he supposed to say? If Zach Frazer goes down we are doomed?), but all that Endres did by getting suspended was perhaps put some early season games in jeopardy if Frazer goes down.

More at JIblogs.com

Endres, Kuraczea suspended

Per UConn Cody Endres and Erik Kuraczea suspended indefinitely. Hurts depth, though it looked like neither was going to start. Backup QB just got a little more interesting:  

STORRS, Conn. (August 18, 2010) --- University of Connecticut redshirt junior quarterback Cody Endres (Washington, Pa.) and redshirt sophomore offensive guard Erik Kuraczea (Ansonia, Conn.) have been suspended indefinitely from the football team due to a violation of University of Connecticut and Division of Athletics policies.

In today's JI

Story on Blidi Wreh-Wilson.

Read more at http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/2010/08/17/blid-wreh-wilson-has-come-a-long-way/

UConn media day

Looks like the UConn safety position is still in flux.  UConn coach Randy Edsall said right now sophomore Mike Lang -- a converted wide receiver -- would be the starter at free safety. At strong safety? Looks like junior Harris Agbor is right now at the head of the pack. part of this is injuries as both Jerome Junior and Kijuan Dabney have missed times with "dings" to the head.

It's not welcome news for the Huskies, who need to be healthy in the secondary because there are a dearth of options.  Lang looks like he is going to be a factor sooner or later and this is a move I liked.

Lang's move to free safety was an interesting one. He came in last year to UConn as a wide receiver and eventually was pushed into action as a true freshman at the position. He showed explosiveness with a 70 yard TD catch last year and also ran back a touchdown as a kick returner. I thought Lang was a pretty good receiving prospect, but after this spring the staff moved Lang to safety. The staff saw Lang play safety in high school and came away impressed. There was a need there, and the Huskies are deep at wide receiver, so the switch was made.

Read the rest at http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1664

Campbell out for season

Tough break for Campbell and Huskies.


UConn Athletic Communications --- August 15, 2010 – Campbell Out For Season

STORRS, Conn. (August 15, 2010) – University of Connecticut junior defensive end Marcus Campbell (Bloomfield, Conn.) will miss the entire 2010 season after he torn an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in practice on Saturday.

Campbell suffered the injury in a non-contact drill. He will have surgery for the injury later in the week.

Campbell has played in 23 games for the Huskies in 2007 and '08 and has 24 career tackles with a pair of sacks and 4.5 tackles for a loss. He did not play during the 2009 season.


-- Post From My iPhone

First practice: Edsall takes over safeties

Crossposted here: http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1648

There is perhaps one position on the UConn football team that could derail their hopes for a Big East title in a hurry. UConn's safety play a year ago was inconsistent and led to big plays on numerous occasions including last second losses at West Virginia and Rutgers among others.

That was before it lost Robert Vaughn to graduation. Currently at safety UConn's most veteran player is Jerome Junior, a promising prospect who was wildly inconsistent last season. On the other side there is converted linebacker Kijuan Dabney, who has spent sparse time at the position. The Huskies have plenty options at safety, but almost no experience there.  How they play may determine UConn's season.

As the Huskies kicked off fall camp today UConn coach Randy Edsall put his own neck on the line in regards to the safety play. If they don't improve all Edsall has to do is blame himself.  First year secondary coach Daryl Perkins is going to work exclusively with cornerbacks during camp while Edsall is taking over the instruction of the safeties.
This is like taking a CEO and putting him as the foreman on an assembly line. As the Huskies prepare for the season opener Sept. 4 against Michigan, Edsall isn't going to take any risks with the one unit on the team that could be called a serious question.

"Darrell (Perkins) is an excellent coach," Edsall said. " But it would be too much to place on one guy with the youth and inexperience back there. We are going to do it that way.

"As a CEO, president and head coach,  you have to take a look at the organization and see how you can be the strongest. It's no indictment of Darrell. He's an outstanding coach. Looking at it, it was too much for one guy to handle because of the youth and inexpereince."

The safety play was torched in the spring game with Zach Frazer throwing for four touchdowns passes of over 50 yards. Sophomore Jerome Junior has heard all about the safety play. He knows having Edsall, a defensive backs coach with Jacksonville Jaguars under Tom Coughlin at one time, there means the unit has a lot of work to do. Junior welcomes the head coach's continued attention.  He's also confident that the unit can get better.

"I always had coach Edsall on my back about everything, especially last year," Junior said. "He is coaching all the safeties instead of being behind me every play.  Coach Edsall is getting in depth and everything. The first meeting I was nervous because it's the head coach, and now he's quizzing me, but I think I am ready for it. It doesn't worry me."

There are things the Huskies can do to help the safeties. They pressured tremendously in the papajohns.com bowl win over South Carolina and that negated the weakness. There is also a lot of coaching up that can help and while the team is in training mode Edsall plans to make the most of it.
.
More notes:

• *This was perhaps the most relaxed first practice I have ever seen since covering UConn. It was smooth, eerily efficient, and focused. Edsall didn't raise his voice once. They ran it like a machine today. They weren't exactly sharp, but there was a giddy-up in the team's step. Most unusual, and most unexpected. I think it's a good sign.

• * I asked Edsall about Greg Lloyd's situation and Edsall didn't want to force Lloyd into action unless he was comfortable and confident. Lloyd eventually could have ben healthy and contributed, but Edsall could tell Lloyd wasn't comfortable with the rehab and how he fit in coming off an injury. Since Scott Lutrus can play the middle, they are going to give Lloyd, a senior, a redshirt year he never got. On the move of Hyppolite from RB to linebacker. It was a numbers game at running back, but the staff liked him as a linebacker in high school and this is a way to get him  on the field quicker. It's a work in progress, but Hyppolite has good size and speed for the position.

• * Talked a bit with left tackle Jimmy Bennett about his coming back from injury. Bennett is massive, and his knee is healthy, but he is rusty as expected. Today was his first contact since last year. The strength, footwork and agility are there for Bennett. Bennett said the key for him was getting his timing. He was actually moving too fast today. Edsall firmly believes Bennett can be the player he thought he could be last year. It's a battle at left tackle, but Bennett looks like he is ready to fight for it against Adam Masters.

That's the quick version. Got to play the bills now.

Lastly, check out today's story on D.J. Shoemate in today's JI. He is well-spoken and I think a pretty nice guy. I can see why they wanted him on the team. 4.5 40 at his size helped I bet too.

Wilson on Bednarik watch list

http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1637
UConn Athletic Communications — August 9, 2010 – Wilson On Bednarik List

SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. (August 9, 2010) — University of Connecticut senior linebacker Lawrence Wilson (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) has been named to the watch list for the 16th annual Chuck Bednarik Award, given by The Maxwell Football Club.

Wilson was a first team All-BIG EAST Conference pick in 2010 and led the Huskies in tackles with 140. He also had five sacks and 11 tackles for a loss. He was first in the BIG EAST in tackles per game with 10.8 – which was also tenth nationally.
The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented to the nation’s top defensive player since 1995. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 69 and the NFL Hall of Fame in 1967.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Awards will be announced on November 8th and three finalists will be announced November 22nd. The winners of the 2010 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show which will be held on December 9, 2010. The formal presentation of the award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala on March 4, 2011.

UConn Football on TV in 2010

Cross posted at http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1638

Had a nice long conversation with our TV writer Matt Buckler and we went over the SNY deal.  The Huskies get a ton of original programming and branding, but as far as men's basketball, all the local games were on SNY anyway but blacked out locally. So, the amount of additional games for football and men's basketball won't increase by much.

This helps UConn immensely with original programming and the branding and breaking into the NYC market like this is a coup for UConn. In sheer number of people watching a local game, it will actually decrease the number of sets coming off a broadcast network. Now, the exposure is much greater -- they became a feature team -- but for live games, less people will actually be watching (no free TV will show the game). 


In the Manchester, Conn. and Enfield areas the dominant cable provider is Cox, and right now there is no deal. So, what could UConn fans miss on the football side if Cox doesn't carry SNY?

09/04/10     at Michigan TV     Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Mich.     3:30 p.m. ET
09/11/10     vs. Texas Southern TV     Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Conn.     12:00 p.m. ET
09/18/10     at Temple TV     Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pa.     12:00 p.m. ET
09/25/10     vs. Buffalo     Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Conn.     TBA
10/02/10     vs. Vanderbilt     Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Conn.     TBA
10/08/10     at Rutgers * TV     Rutgers Stadium, New Brunswick, N.J.     7:30 p.m. ET
10/23/10     at Louisville *     Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Louisville, Kent.     TBA
10/29/10     vs. West Virginia * TV     Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Conn.     8:00 p.m. ET
11/11/10     vs. Pittsburgh * TV     Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Conn.     7:30 p.m. ET
11/20/10     at Syracuse *     Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.     TBA
11/27/10     vs. Cincinnati *     Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Conn.     TBA
12/04/10     at USF * TV     Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.     TBA

Two games are locked into SNY -- Texas Southern and Temple. There are 4 other potential games on the schedule that could be on SNY.
Now, this decision will be made 12 days before the telecast. ESPN has the option to take any of these games and put them on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU. I am not sure of ESPN3 internet broadcasting.

Sept. 25 against Buffalo likely isn't going to be picked up as an ESPN, 2/U game. This one is a good candidate for BE Game of the Week which would put it on SNY.

Oct. 2 against Vanderbilt could also be on SNY. But, the SEC/Big East matchup makes me think we will see this one on ESPNU at a minimum.


Oct. 23 against Louisville looks like another ESPNU game.

Nov. 20 against Syracuse. This game has traditionally been a BE game of the Week, and I would think unless both teams are contenders (not expecting Cuse to be there) that this one would be on SNY as a Game of the Week. 

Nov. 27 Cincinnati. I imagine this one will be on ESPNU at a minimum.
So, if your cable outlet has ESPNU and SNY, you are going to be in heaven.

If you are in a Cox household you might want to start calling the company. The JIs office is in Manchester and we don't get SNY here. Jeff Hathaway has Cox Cable at home, and he doesn't get SNY either.

As my friend Matt Buckler  -- best TV writer in the state -- has pointed out these are going to be contentious hearings. First off, in Enfield's Cox system, they don't carry the YES Network that has made Yankee fans irate. So, now, Cox is going to offer Mets game, but not Yankees games?
If Cox says no, and won't put SNY on a expanded basic (doubt SNY would accept being in the sports tier), then it looks like UConn fans in these areas could be shutout of a maximum of 6 UConn games, and asurredly already 2.

Basketball season would be a disaster for these communities as 13 games would be unavailable.  Can Cox Communications really shut out the Manchester and Enfield areas from UConn men's basketball and football games?

It could happen. If Cablevision can take Yankees out of NYC, then anything can happen. Perhaps, people should start looking into ATT U-Verse or a dish.

Greg Lloyd will redshirt

Greg Lloyd is going to redshirt in 2010. He will move back to MLB. Coach Randy Edsall said Thursday night at an Evening of Randy Edsall.

Lloyd wasn't ready for the season and from what I understand wants to be a linebacker.

Other news from Thursday evening, Jory Johnson has a sprained wrist. In response,  they move David Kenney to Husky. Also, Martin Hypolite moved from RB to Husky backer. Byron Jones and Josh Alexander are now safeties.

Also, had a chance to meet D.J. Shoemate. Very nice person and he is anxious to see what he can do. he was at the Notre Dame game supporting Johnny McEntee. He said he was blown away by the effort. It planted a seed, and when things went down at USC he felt very comfortable. He wants to be a running back.


Look for something on Shoemate in the coming days. Very personable person.

NYC UConn's town?

Cross posted at http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1626


The SNY deal is huge exposure for the Huskies. Virtually the entire area that has cable gets SNY. UConn is going to be the featured college team on SNY and will have premium access into New York, New Jersey and Eastern Pa. UConn's local package will be 12 million homes, which is 3 times population of the State of Connecticut.

Why UConn? While there are plenty of teams in the NYC area, SNY felt UConn was a unique program.

"When you think of the excellence of football and basketball, who else is there?," SNY president Steve Raab said. "It became an obvious fit for us. UConn is unique in it's football, basketball and fan support than a lot of the schools in our region."

Edsall finally has something to fight with on the recruiting trail now as he battles other teams.

"When you take look at schools we compete against, we have more exposure in the Metropolitan area than any other school we have to compete against," Edsall said. "That's something we will use in recruiting."

So then I asked the loaded question...is NYC now UConn's town?'

Edsall laughed:

"I will say this, we get the most exposure of any team."

Huskies-SNY ...mainlining into NYC

Cross posted at http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1623


I don't think we can underestimate the partnership that UConn and SNY just announced. SNY is now essentially the home of the UConn Huskies.
That's Sports New York, with a reach of 8.8 million people in the Tri-State area.  This is a LOCAL package, meaning local non-network games. UConn's local package will have a reach of 12 million people through SNY nationally. Jeff Hathaway said this was one of the most significant days in UConn history.

"In our home game market, our local games will go to 9 million homes in a 3 state area. Throw in satellite and telcom (ATT U-Verse), it will go to 12 million nationally. That's a great local TV package. "

For football, the benefits are incredible. Huskies have unfiltered access into New York and New Jersey. Randy Edsall found out last Friday and couldn't contain himself.

"It covers our primary area we want to recruit," Edsall said. "We're on a 5 hour drive off your campus. The exposure we will get in that area with 4 million more homes and then nationally, you open up a bigger avenue. That wil make a huge huge difference. We can tell kids to go to SNY and watch this. We never had capability to do that."

Edsall loved the fact that UConn games on SNY will be replayed during the week. Some of them condensed. The Tuesday pressers will be televised.

For hoops, it makes virtually every UConn game that is on ESPN Regional (which are most) accessible to fans and recruits in New York, New Jersey and Eastern Pa. That's an incredible reach for the Huskies. The non-ESPN games are going to be televised to an incredibly broad area.

For football it's even more. While there are games that can't be televised (such as what happened at baylor last year), UConn football will be featured and highlighted from Connecticut, into New York, and New Jersey as well as Eastern Pa. That folks, is UConn's recruiting base right there. It's not going to take an ESPN national game to get regional exposure.

What Jeff Hathaway has done is break the Huskies out of Connecticut. This isn't access into the New York market for UConn -- it's a mainlining into NYC.

I know there are some Cox people out there. There is a lot of Cox subscribers in JI land, but I cant' see Cox holding out here. UConn is a religion on the hoops side in Vernon/Manchester. It will get on. All other Comcast outlets in CT will now have SNY including Vernon. Don't worry about Charter in Storrs. It will get on to. That's just one system, and SNY are on other Charter systems.
The exposure and reach of this is incredible.

Day After Media Day

(Cross posted at http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/2010/08/04/day-after-media-day/).

Sorry about not getting back here. I had a nice post all ready to go and instead of posting it my computer went into an automatic update and shutdown for some kind of serious Windows Update. I gave up after (ha).
Press conference tomorrow at the Rent about a partnership with SNY. That’s great for UConn getting on NYC TV. I wonder if Cox is going to get SNY up in Manchester.

If you thought the ESPNU spat was bad, I would hope getting SNY up for UConn games is something that’s coming in the Manchester area.
I also hope to see many of you out at Rentschler for An Evening with Randy Edsall. If you are a fan it’s a terrific opportunity to talk with some players and the coach and get a preview of the coming season. Even more so, you can meet me and say hello. Just kidding. I’ll be there.

Here’s today’s top sports story on what really was a sad newspaper in Manchester. I can’t get the shootings out of my mind. Just terrible. UConn is certainly piqued the interest of the nation.
Anyhow, here’s the lede to my work in today’s JI about Skip Holtz.
http://journalinquirer.com/articles/2010/08/04/sports/doc4c5987dd99593809300040.txt

NEWPORT, R.I. — It’s been 12 years and a world of difference since Skip Holtz left as the head coach of the University of Connecticut football team.
Holtz was hired as a 29-year-old neophyte in 1994 and was originally the choice of then-athletic director Lew Perkins to lead the Huskies into Division I-A. Holtz was coach of the Huskies for five seasons, which culminated in a 10-3 record in 1998 and an appearance in the Division I-AA playoffs.
Holtz left after the 1998 season to coach with his father, Lou, at South Carolina and Randy Edsall was tabbed for the Huskies soon after.
Twelve years later, the program that Holtz left bears little resemblance to the one he will compete against in his first season as head coach at South Florida. Memorial Stadium has been replaced by Rentschler Field and its 40,000 seats. The office trailers and small weight rooms gave way to an indoor practice facility and football complex. The Huskies now have appeared in four bowl games, including each of the last three seasons, and pulled off a win at Notre Dame last season.

There are also some other notable things coming out of media day. The thought is courtesy of Greg Auman out in Tampa. The Big East doesn’t have many experienced quarterbacks back. The combined starts for all 8 is 43. That is perhaps the reason why the Big East is thought to be so wide open.

Let’s not confuse that with talent however. Zach Collaros was as good as any player in the Big East last year and B.J. Daniels from USF is a star on the rise. Geno Smith out of WVU looks to be another keeper while Tom Savage at Rutgers has shown a ton of improvement.

Zach Frazer is going to have a terrific year for UConn and looks primed to finally live up to his promise coming out of high school. I don’t know who has the best QB in the league, but at this point talent trumps experience. Frazer seems to have everything you need around him with a good and tested offensive line as well as experienced receivers, though he will miss Marcus Easley.

Tino Sunseri at Pitt has 17 passes under his belt. Shows you how chaotic the league is. Perhaps my undying love of the Panthers in 2010 should wait until I see Sunseri throw. No wonder coaches laugh at the preseason poll. Who knows what’s going to happen?
Later.

Big East Media day part II

(Cross Posted at JIblogs.com.  http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1610)

Back home in Farmington after a long day and I before I finish work for the JI I want to express my shock and sadness about what happened in Manchester today. One is a tragedy, but to have so many taken in such violent fashion doesn't make sense. It hit way to close to home here as I know someone who works there (he's fine). We were getting updates at media day and I just can't believe this kind of violence is possible.

I do want to get back to media day and it was a good day for the popular Huskies in Newport. Edsall had a crowd of reporters around him for the entire hour and the players, notably Scott Lutrus, had more than there share of interviews.

Lutrus is a player to watch this season. Coming off an injury-plagued season he looks primed to resume form of 2008. That would be great for the Huskies who struggled defensively last season. Lutrus' move to to the middle and that allows Lawrence Wilson and Jory Johnson on the outside. That speeds in the linebacker corps as Lutrus will be a fast linebacker.

Lutrus also was sporting the motto of the team Tuesday -- "Win the day."  It sounds simple. All the Huskies have to do is win 12 days and they are golden. Not so easy, but with all the hype coming their way it's a way to keep grounded. UConn is turning into that team that it becomes "cool and sexy" to pick to win the Big East. It's a different place they are in right now.

Kendall Reyes also knows that UConn is getting a lot of attention these days.

    "I see more expectations. Analysts say we are the upset team in the Big East. That's cool, but we take it one game at a time. We can't get caught up in the hype. That's when you become complacent and lose your drive.

    "Towards end of season we started to hit all cylinders. The season edned, and in the spring we were hungry. We are hungry right now."Reyes looks huge. He came to UConn at 6-3 245 and after eating lobster Monday night is at bout 295. Reyes' arms are like oak trees and he says he is still as quick and agile as he was before.He still said he can dunk a basketball.

    "I can't do all the things I used to do. I can still dunk, but I used to be real acrobatic and do back flips," Reyes said. "I haven't tried it. At 295, I don't want to try it. I still feel pretty good."

Zach Hurd is looking to be the next NFL Draft pick on the UConn line and by the looks of things he is well on his way. Hurd has become one of the top linemen in the Big East and considering the success of Donald Thomas and Will Beatty in the NFL UConn linemen are something to watch out for. I know there a lot of people who will like what Hurd had to say about blocking.

This on what he sees when the play is a sweep and he's pulling -- a staple power play.  Keep in mind he is 6-7 325.

    "I get to run full speed and hit a guy who is a lot smaller than a D-tackle and it's a lot of fun," Hurd said. "It's all down blocks on the front side, I come around the corner and the fullback takes out the first backer and I take out the second. That leaves running back 1-on-1 with the safety. That's what running backs get paid for to make the safety miss."

I then asked Hurd what is the reaction of a linebacker when they see him come clean.

    "Some will take it on like a man, but some crumble," Hurd said.

Ouch. I would like to think I would stand-up, but I run away when Jordan Todman is running out of the sidelines during practice. Take on Hurd? No thanks.

Some bit of bits for you

    * * Greg Lloyd's status is still unknown. Edsall will get an update Wednesday. If Lloyd is healthy he will play (won't redshirt to learn new position). If not, the Huskies do have other options including Marcus Campebell, Jesse Joseph and Trevardo Williams at DE.
    * *Kijuan Dabney has dropped a lot of weight for the move back to safety opposite Jerome Junior. "He looks like a safety and note a linebacker laying safety." Edsall also is thinking of ways to perhaps scheme to help out the safeties, who were torched in the spring game. It's the biggest hole on the team but Edsall is confident they can get better.

Got some more later. Talked to Skip Holtz, Edsall responds to the BC email, and also new rules for injuries.

Catch ya'll in the nightcap and everyone stay safe.

UConn fourth in preseason poll

Blogging at the new address. http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/

Big East predictions

(Cross posted at our new website: http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1592)

The Big East will put out its writers' predictions on Tuesday and I am going to bet UConn will be no better than 5th.

I don't vote in the preseason poll (I think only 1 writer for a school), but if I was going to vote here's my list.

1. Pittsburgh -- QB is an issue, but from running back in Dion Lewis, Baldwin at WR and terrific defensive unit led by Greg Romeus I think this is going to be the year. If they had Stull back (who is playing for the Colonials this year) I would have picked them first without a thought. But, right now I place them first with a little trepidation because of the QB question.

2. UConn -- The Huskies are in for a big year. I think everyone around the program can feel it. They are the most complete team back, but I am cautious about the secondary. While I like the receivers, they do have to establish a Marcus Easley type.  UConn will pressure more this year to make up for the struggles at safety, and if they can get good safety play and return to the physical defense of the past I think we will see them in the Fiesta Bowl.  Zach Frazer is going to have a big year. Secondary scares me -- specifically safety. Offense is going to be terrific. Smash mouth football with a QB who can pass. Big year out of Kashif Moore at WR and Ryan Griffin at TE is what I predict. Plus for UConn --  Pitt, WVU and Cincinnati all at the Rent. the more I am writing, I am tempted to move the Huskies up to first.

3. West Virginia -- Lost a lot, but still have a lot of talent.Love Noel Devine and Jock Sanders. Geno Smith intrigues me at QB. I like this team a lot and there are a ton of starters returning. Under Stewart, however, the team has had two straight 9-4 season. I don't think WVU is going to do better than that this year. Enough talent to win the league, not sure they will be able to put it all together to do it though.

4. Cincinnati -- I don't fear the Bearcats as much without Brian Kelly. Zach Collaros looked great running Kelly's offense, but Cincy getting absolutely waxed in the Sugar Bowl bothers me. Collaros returns at QB, they have Pead back at running back, but no more Mardy Gilyard at WR which is going to hurt. This defense has a lot to replace for the second straight year. Last year Cincinnati was able to overcome a defense overhaul and win big. Butch Jones did a great job replacing Kelly at Central Michigan. Can he do it again? Eventually, but not this year.

5. USF -- Old friend Skip Holtz is now in Tampa and with that fertile recruiting area this program may explode in several years. They have a lot of talent and speed and what's not to like about QB B.J. Daniels? Defense lost a ton with Jason Pierre-Paul and George Selvie off to the NFL. There are holes there. If USF wins the league I wouldn't be surprised. If they finished in 6th I wouldn't be surprised. The big question is can USF stop the October swoon that plagued them under Jim Leavitt?

6. Rutgers -- Tough to put Rutgers here since they are a bowl caliber team. But, someone has to be sixth is my best defense. More likely Rutgers will be tied with a couple of teams for this spot. I don't expect a 2-5 year in the Big East from the Scarlet Knights.  Why behind the others? This team lost an awful lot of talent. Anthony Davis is gone from the O-Line, Tim brown is no longer at WR and the running game has hardly been explosive with the workman-like Joe Martinek. Mohammed Sanu is their best skill player and Tom Savage has the makings of a terrific player. Rutgers is returning only two offensive linemen. They also lose their top five tacklers from last season including Ryan D'Imperio at linebacker. Rutgers has some pieces -- Savage, Sanu and DE Jonathan Freeny (9 1/2 sacks), but if you think like me that the Top 6 in the Big East are all relatively competitive I would think Rutgers is a question mark with the amount of holes to fill. for my money, top 6 in conference get to bowl games.

7.  Syracuse -- Team is going to be better than  last year, and there is light in Syracuse. Defense looks like it may be a terrific unit. Doug Hogue returns as well as 10 other starters. Delone Carter is a good running back, but at QB who much will the Orange get? Doug Marrone has turned the corner, but it's still years off.

8. Louisville -- Where have you gone Bobby Petrino? New coach in Charlie Strong and while I don't put a lot of stock in recruiting rankings, the Cardinals are making progress. The defense needs to be revamped and while I would expect a bounce-back year for Victor Anderson I don't see much else. Cardinals could challenge for a bowl spot, but this looks to me like it may take a couple of years for Strong to get his players in there and on the field.