UConn-WVU postgame

It wasn't pretty, it wasn't fun, but the UConn Huskies will take it.

Dave Teggart's 26 yard field goal gave UConn its first ever win over West Virginia and probably saved UConn's season.

The Huskies didn't play perfect, far from it, and the wide receiver play has to get better, but for the first time in a long time I see some hope.

The Huskies looked like zombies in the first quarter as they went without a first down on their first five possessions. Think about that.

Full post at: http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=2062

Frazer to start

Sorry for the late post and the general lack of post today. Johnny Jr.'s one year old birthday spoiled by the news that Mike Box is out and Zach Frazer is back in.

What do I think?

I should always take the cynical view and assume if a guy is nicked up he won't play and going on that assumption. Box practiced this week, spoke to the media and said he passed everything, and then is now out.

Full post at: http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=2044

Tuesday presser- Edsall defends his job, looks for leaders

Interesting Tuesday press conference.

Randy Edsall was asked about some fans wanting HCRE fired for his season. Edsall said he didn't want to get in trouble and talk about it, and then went on to talk about it.

"I didn’t get dumb over night and I didn’t get stupid over night," Edsall said. "Some years you have enough pieces for the puzzle, some years you don’t. You have to continue to work each and every day. Everything you are judged on is how many you win and some you lose. Sometimes you spoil people. "
Now, I am going to defend Edsall here

Full post at: http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=2039

Gameday 'Ville

Going to head to Cardinals Stadium in a bit, but I want to give some pregame thoughts.
First off, the more I think about it, the more I think Mike Box is the right call. Why?
I am saying this before the game because whether Box does well or struggles, I think it was the right call with an impossible choice.
Zach Frazer lost the job fair and square through ineffectiveness. Cody Endres threw away his career and I think for the sake of competition and fairness Box has to be the guy. He has waited patiently, and certainly has impressed in practice.


full post at http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/2010/10/23/gameday-ville/

Box to start

Mike Box is going to get his first career start Saturday at Louisville.

Randy Edsall has said Box is No. 2, and despite having former starter Zach Frazer sitting right there, will go with Box to sub for Cody Endres, who is suspended from the team for the year after failing his third drug test of his career.

Why Box? Well, it's just time and the staff feels he gives UConn the best chance to win.

"Box was No. 2. When he was the No. 2, and everything here I do is what I think and the staff thinks are the best people.  We made that move before. We feel Mike Box gives us the best opportunity to win. He has our faith and a lot of confidence, he just doesn’t have experience.”

http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=2016

Endres suspended

UConn quarterback Cody Endres has been suspended for the season for a violation of university policies.

He is no longer with the team.

Mike Box is the backup, will he start now? With Erik Kuraczea is also gone, he left Tuesday. Endres met with the media on Tuesday and everything looked fine.

Not the way the Huskies wanted to get into things after the bye week.

Saturday potsgame conference call

If you are out for blood or want some reason for the Huskies collapse against Rutgers now is the time to turn away.
It’s the big plays that led to UConn’s demise, most notably a 52-yard TD pass to Mark Harrison and a 45-yard catch by Jeremy Deering that set up the winning touchdown.
UConn coach Randy Edsall knows the ailment, but right now the cure is about as far away as one for the bubonic plague.

 full blog post at   http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/2010/10/09/saturday-potsgame-conference-call/

Postgame Rutgers

It took me 4 hours and 45 minutes to get to Rutgers from Farmington, Conn. I came in the stadium early first quarter.
My goodness, it seems like a lifetime ago.
The Huskies lost another heart breaker to Rutgers, 27-24, and gave away another game. The Huskies put the game in the ice box in the second half and played so conservative I don't think they gave the offense a chance. Then, when it needed to rev back up, the offense couldn't do it.
Two second guesses here. If I am Edsall, I go for the touchdown with 6 seconds left and a yard out at the end of the half. I think it's worth the risk, and if that TD scores, I think UConn wins going away. UConn needed two scores to prevent what happened tonight, a broken play leading to a death spiral.  It's a classic second guess, and UConn should have won anyway, but I would have liked Randy Edsall to have run the ball one more time. It's risky, no doubt about it, but the reward is tremendous. Imagine a 28-17 lead at the half? Not a chance Rutgers comes back.

http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1989

Tuesday presser -- back in the bunker

I could tell right away when UConn coach Randy Edsall walked into the room what team the Huskies were playing this week.  Edsall isn't a poker player and he wears his thoughts and emotions on his sleeve. Edsall heard a brief joke coming into the press conference and gave a polite laugh. He wasn't in an mood to talk to the press about the game on Friday because that would give the opponent an edge.
Edsall's answers were vague, short and intense, and in a half hour I am not sure he answered a single question.
When asked about Friday's game being a rivalry we were given the entire conference is a rivalry spiel. That could mean only one thing in Storrs -- IT'S RUTGERS WEEK!!

Full blog post at: http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/wp-admin/post.php?post=1978&action=edit&message=1

Sunday call

UConn coach Randy Edsall liked what he saw on game film of Saturday except for a handful of plays. Edsall said five plays went for 198 yards and 51 for 121.
It's a matter of correcting those plays.
On the injury front, Edsall is going to wait for Monday to give season enders and is going to abide by the injury report, but I didn't get a good vibe out of Jimmy Bennett and surprisingly Robbie Frey.  Frey played limited punt and kickoff coverages (saved a touchdown) and was on a stationary bike during the game. When asked if he needed more time to rest for Big East play Edsall said he want to talk with trainers etc. and will know more later.
Frey is a terrific football player. He is worth about 3 players to be honest with what he does on special teams and is a very good running backup running back. If he is out for an extended period of time that's really going to hurt the Huskies.
As for the offensive line, Adam Masters' status for this week won't be known until tomorrow at the earliest. We won't know until Thursday, but Edsall is hopeful to get him back.

Full post at  http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1971

Todman in a lunch pail effort

Now, Denard Robinson is the most impressive player in college football -- not going to even attempt to argue that he isn't -- but Jordan Todman has been flat out one of the best players in college football this season.
Todman had 190 yards and two touchdowns today on 37 carries.
UConn had nowhere to go at RB. D.J. Shoemate has fumbled twice and the staff has lost confidence in him. Kelmetrus Wylie is out for the year and Robbie Frey has a mysterious non-injury and is limited. Frey spent a lot of the game on a stationary bike and I assume it's a leg problem.
The staff moved Martin Hyppolite over to RB from LB, and the kid ran like a LB today. He just wasn't sharp and he looked slow getting the ball. Not sure they have something there. Hyppolite's body has to change if he is going to be a RB.

http://jiblogs.com/jsilvers_uconn_football_blog/?p=1967