Thursday update

Quick Thursday update on injuries.

First off Cody Endres and Lindsey Witten have practiced. The bug has worked its way though team and Edsall is hopeful that it's done. As for injuries, the usual suspects are out including Sio Moore, and Scott Lutrus is questionable. Mike Smith, wide receiver, is OUT for this game. He has a knee problem and didn't respond in the few plays he got Saturday. They had an MRI and the results were negative. Right now, they are going to shut Smith down and see if rests help. That moves Kashif Moore into the WR spot full-time (or at least on the depth chart). Edsall continues to indicate there is going to be a change at wide receiver somewhere.

Edsall also talked about how unforgiving the first three games have been. The Huskies offense hasn't had the opportunity to take some risks and perhaps find out what it can do.At this point, Edsall has a good grasp at playmakers.

    "I think now after two games and after this week in practice, what you might see on Saturday, from a personnel stand point, we got it to where we need to be and who can be out there and who is there to make plays for us. With three teams we opened up with you can't do too much experimenting. If we were paying some other teams some of these issues can be worked out. With the quality of teams playing this year it is tough. Some of these guys are young and some of these guys are playing for the first time."

So like I said a month ago...the schedule is too tough. That's not an excuse, it's a reality. UConn is a young team and a work in progress. It's a brutal opening in my own opinion.

Scout team players of the week are Brian Parker, who is a WR by trade and played Robert Griffin this week. David Kenney on defense, a safety, and Malik Generett on special teams. Quick comments on these guys. Parker is a 6-4 wide receiver and a redshirt freshman who is ineligible this year. If he is athletic enough to simulate Griffin, and considering his height, I would think that he is a player that would have had a good shot at playing some major minutes when he is eligible to play. I don't remember talking about him much, but quick, tall and athletic is a combination the Huskies don't have at that position. They could really use a player like Parker, especially if he can sumlate Griffin in anyway. 

Also, when I see Malik Generett on the scout team would lead me to believe that he isn't one of the WR options Edsall is talking about. Perhap's it's a plant, if it is Machivelli would be proud.

Kenney is a 6-foot-0 205 pound safety out of the Peddie School.  Now why am I telling you this? It's a bit of an inside joke, but a couple of weeks ago Edsall mentioned his name about a move to the Husky backer position (I think when Harris Agbor got hurt or Aaron Bagsby was suspended, and they moved Kijuan Dabney back to safety). Well, I never heard of the kid (or least couldn't remember the name -- hey there are 100 plus, give me a break), and let's just say it's hard to ask questions about someone you don't know a thing about. Well, I tried to ask some questions and it didn't turn out well.The interview is sketchy but I remember Edsall looking at me funny and then I asked.

"Who the hell is David Kenney?"

Well, he is Scout team player of the week. Congrats David, good job, hope to meet you some time.

Chow folks. Time to pay the bills and pack for Texas.

Thursday update

Theme of the week. No drama on the Thursday conference call and there were no injuries. This is hold your breath time. The story angles are in a holding pattern. It's all about how this offense is going to perform. Case closed, no other story angle in the opener is even close.

We are all in limbo. Saturday night at 7 p.m. we'll figure it all out.

As for in today's JI. We have a story on hard hittin' Jerome Junior.

Here is a snippet:

Junior looks like a linebacker at 6-foot-1, 214 pounds, but the speed and athleticism that he showcased as a raw camp invitee has turned him into a player with enticing potential.

Junior will replace Dahna Deleston, who is in NFL camp with the Chicago Bears. He is an athletic hard-hitting safety who also has also shown an ability cover the deep ball.

“Jerome is good at exactly what you want at strong safety,” UConn coach Randy Edsall said. “He is big enough, strong enough, fast enough, physical enough to play the run. And he’s athletic enough and fast enough to do the things that you want to do in passing game, play the deep pass and put him in the corner or in the post. He is a guy who has speed and isn’t afraid to hit you.”

 As for a bit of news. Desmond Connor of the Courant is reporting that there is no TV for the Baylor game and no URI TV. The URI TV slight is not surprising, but Baylor's TV rights are controlled by the Big 12. It would take a local affiliate to buy the rights to the Baylor game to show it here. That is assuming the game will be on local TV in Waco. I am not even sure about that.

Think about this, 3 of the first 4 games aren't on TV, and the one game that is on ESPNU which a lot of the state doesn't get. Some people won't be able to watch the Huskies play until October.  That's not how you want to build a base. Perhaps this will drive ticket sales. That's the Huskies only hope. Remember, there is a consequence to playing on Saturday's and this is it -- no TV.

Thursday update

Well, Minister of Information Randy Edsall was in top form on Thursday splicing words and being careful. Top form. If he ever wants to leave football he should be a consultant for some politicians.

It really is an art form. Why do I say that?

Who is starting at QB?

"It will be a game-time announcement."

Cornered a bit on his careful choice of words, Edsall said:

“Decisions are made. Anyone who needs to know what the decisions are know what they are.”

I'll put it through the Edsall translator: "I have already made a decision on who the quarterback is going to be and I am not going to tell you, because, you don't need to know."

On perhaps having a quick trigger on the QB position and switching mid game.

"I know that we have played 3 quarterbacks this year. Hopefully, we don’t have to play four. It’s good to have guys that do have experience.”

About Darius Butler and his full time move to wide receiver that was reported yesterday:

“I have no comment on that. I don’t know what you are talking about, but I have no comment on it.”

Later on he mentioned that either Robert McClain or Terry Baltimore could start. Don't know why that was thrown out there.

Smoke and mirrors everywhere.

As far as injuries. There is nothing new or significant. All the banged up guys are playing. Zach Frazer is healthy and could play if Edsall chooses.

That's the short take.

Got to play the bills...

Thursday teleconference

Listened to a recording, studio time went long. Got a nice seat at the NBC anchor desk. Once again, 2 hours of prep for two minutes. Wow, not very efficient.

Not much big news, Kendall Reyes, Alex Polito and Rob Lunn are all schedule to play, though Edsall through in the disclaimer one of the trio is more doubtful than the other. It will be decided today.

I also get the feeling Andre Dixon is buried. Dixon has carried the ball only a coule of times this year, and doesn't seem to have the role that was intended. Thank Donald Brown for that. He was 1a. at the beginning of the year. It's just 1 now. Edsall said Dixon is fine physically and emotionally.

Big worry is Brandon Tate, he is averaging over 20 yards a return on putns and kickoffs. Scary.

I have a lot to do, tommorrow is travel day. I will be back late.

Thursday update (On Tuesday of course)

Quick updates from Randy Edsall's pre-game teleconference today, moved up because of the Thursday game.

Andre Dixon hurt an ankle (don't know which one) and will likely miss Thursday's game against Hofstra. In his place, Robbie Frey will get the backup carries to Donald Brown.

Also, Jordan Todman and Brad Kanuch are getting closer, but probably won't play Thursday. Todman is in pads, but no contact.

Lastly, Aaron Bagsby is back at full-speed and is a candidate to play on special teams and perhaps see some action on Thursday.


That's about it, let me make some money and be back with some thoughts.

Update: About 5,000 seats are left for Thursday's opener. The season ticket base is 28,000 with the student allotment of about 4,700 also sold out. There are a lot of weekday and night games this year. If this was Saturday at noon there would be probably be a sellout for every game.