Brown stunned

Donald Brown saw the number on his cell phone and was trying to figure out what area code. His heart fell into his stomach.

Here comes the voice:

"Do you want to play for the Indianapolis quotes?"

Brown: "Yes, sir."

Colts coach Jim Caldwell was on the other line. Brown was a Colt.

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That's my lede. Brown was nervous all day, it was pretty crazy day for him. He played golf and took his mom out.

He hadn't heard a word from the colts since the combine, where all he talked to was his sports psychologist.

Brown was real kind to do the call. He is heading to Indy tomorrow for a press conference.

I'll be back later.

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

Combine, Combine, Combine...

Here is a tidbit about Donald Brown's performance at the combine via the Chicago Tribune.

Connecticut RB Donald Brown. He may have moved into the first round with his performance. One scout described his day as "sensational." It included a 41.5-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot-5-inch broad jump and a 11.30-second 60-yard shuttle—all bests for running backs.

Looks like Darius Butler has also answered some concerns. Not surprised. Brown and Butler are two of the best athletes in the country. Brown is a physical specimen. The thing about the combine is it takes the uniform and the hype off. Brown is probably the best RB athlete in the draft. And, considering his production and vision, 1st round might not be a reach (though RB is hard to project unless the player is top 5).

UConn has two first round picks and a second round picks when you throw Will Beatty into the mix? Will they have 4 players drafted in the first 3 rounds?

Another question, considering the top shelf talent --- Did the Huskies underachieve this year?

Edit, made the above post a separate entry.

Postgame Cincinnati thoughts

Sorry so late, had a family issue. Everything is fine, good news. So I am home writing this.

What struck me today was the tone of Randy Edsall's postgame press conference. He was so happy, he almost seemed down. It's an odd emotional state. Perhaps satisfaction is the best way to describe it. Very very low key.

He didn't know how today was going to end up, and he was worried about that. That the Huskies came through with a 40-16 win (though it was piled on late) left a certain amount of satisfaction. It's been a month. Good win for the Huskies, one they could have very easily lost.

Here are some of my impressions as I am sure others have touched on the notes. I am going to do some work, and get back late.

Cody Brown was an absolute monster. Two sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, twp pass deflections, a tackle for a loss and two holding penalties called on the people trying to block him. That's as dominating as you can get. NFL caliber today.

I talked to him earlier in the year and he told me the one team he wanted to beat was Cincinnati. Why? Because they talk trash at Nippert, they are physical, and UConn came out of that game with injuries all over because of the physical play (not dirty).

When reminded, Brown started to smile. He then said he "felt like dominating today." Brown laughed when he said it. Then he mentioned something about how Endres was good because his name is Cody too. Get the TV cameras off him and he is hilarious. TV cameras on? He buttons it down.

The other Brown?

When Donald Brown was told he set the single season rushing mark he said, I didn't know that, cracked a smile and laughed and then quickly thanked his offensive line. When he was asked about it 5 minutes later he brushed it off like he already knew. It was actually funny how it sounded. His initial reaction was a smile and excitement, then he went back into a "aww, it doesn't mean much." routine. Funny stuff. Brown rushed for 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Big time game. He now has 1,324 yards rushing this season, a UConn record in only eight games.

Key to the game was 0-for-14 on third down conversions. That is as good as you can get defensively. 0-for-16 on third down and fourth down conversions.

Edsall did make a mistake in the press conference. When asked about Dave Teggart he said Teggart made him look good. You know what? Teggart was so good he made the coaching staff look bad. How the heck has this kid not kicked since he has been on campus?

With the wind, Teggart said he could have kicked it from 60. It was stunning how easy and confident he was today. Teggart from 47 into the wind was a stretch, but he made it look easy.


As far as Cody Endres. Shaky at times, and not as accurate as he needs to be, but he managed a winning game. First time out against a defense like Cincinnati is as tough as it comes. UConn was stubborn throwing the ball. Patience is very important and he made enough throws. The kid has a good arm, and he has great poise. He has a little more mobility than Zach Frazer, though I think Frazer has the better arm and is a flat out better thrower. Endres has to work on his touch. Good arm, tight spiral, but he has a little too much mustard on the short throws.


Tidbits

Edsall made a decision on Endres over Frazer Tuesday. Thanks coach. Also, Zach Frazer is day-to-day. I will try and figure it out next week.

*Rob Lunn was injured with a shoulder injury in the first half and didn't return. Edsall termed it an upper extremities injury.

*Edsall went after weathermen Saturday. He kept waiting for it to rain like forecaster. "If only I could be wrong so much and still have a job." Nice of his to beat up on some other media for a change.


The best quote of the day comes from Donald Brown and sums up this game:

"I feel if we didn't win it could have turned into a long season. We got it done, now we have to focus up, have a great week of practice, and get ready for West Virginia

More great quotes from the Bearcats. I get these courtesy of JI basketball guru Phil Chardis, who was kind enough to be my gopher.

For you aspiring writers. A bit of advice. You want to know what really happened in a sporting event go to the losers' locker room. Losing is truth serum.


From Cincinnati defensive end Connor Baldwin:

"Donald Brown is better than I thought and a real good player. He is really hard to take down. I don't think the holes were that big. He is just really hard to take down."

Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly:

"UConn whipped us in the second half. It was a tale of two halves. The real thing is Donald Brown ran it when he needed too. He was the story. He was more physical and proved why he is the leading rusher in the nation."

Big East Media Day

Greetings from Newport. Big East Media Day went without a hitch, though when I got back to my hotel room the Internet was down.

The only shock for me on Tuesday was that UConn was picked to finish sixth in the conference. I know the sentiment amongst college football's elite is that the Huskies were a fluke last season, but I didn't think it was that pervasive. Of course, no one argues UConn should be picked to win the Big East, and I could even see USF getting a lot of action. But, it boggles the mind to me that Pittsburgh is viewed so strongly while Cincinnati (5th place, a vote ahead of UConn) and the Huskies were banished to the second tier. There is no on field evidence in the last couple of years to support this.

Coming off last season, I don't feel there is a basis to drop UConn and Cincinnati this far down. Obviously, the Bearcats lose Mauck, but UConn? Unless you think it was a fluke last year, no justification.

I would have pegged UConn from third-sixth with the likely spot probably fourth place. But, to get this far down means the entire voting mechanism had UConn in fifth or sixth place. Certainly possible with the balanced Big East, but taking in last year's play a sixth place finish is not entirely deserved. I wonder how many voters slipped UConn into seventh place or even eighth? Is Diebold running the Big East voting poll?

No questions, UConn isn't viewed as a Big East co-champ much less a contender. That much is clear.

In other news:

• Brandon Dillon is going to return to the team at defensive tackle. That is going to greatly enhance depth. Kid s a player.

• D.J. Hernandez is fine injury-wise while Brad Kanuch had an MRI on his knee. Ellis “Mr. Glass” Gaulden will only take part in two a days.

• UConn is likely to lose one roster player before practice at least though Randy Edsall won't say who. There are also five walk-ons who because of roster limits won't be with the team until school begins.

• Tyler Lorenzen spent the last month as an intern at Merrill Lynch. Former center Bobby Fry was hired after his internship just a couple of weeks ago. Lorenzen said he was doing spreadsheets, making some calls. He loved it.

• Golf highlights at Newport National on Monday: Mr. Silver skulled a 60 degree lob wedge and almost hit Doug Flutie and his 4-some eating a hot dog in their golf carts. It was an ugly round.

• I have some funny quotes from my new favorite quote Cody Brown. I promise to share them when I get the transcriptions. Teaser: Brown referred to the offense as “square as a box of Apple Jacks”

I have to pay the bills now and finish writing for everyone else.