Endres to start, Lutrus doubtful

Zach Frazer is questionable but a touchy Randy Edsall said that Cody Endres is his starter Saturday at Pittsburgh. There are going to see how much work Frazer can do and whether he could be the backup this week. Frazer hasn't taken any snaps yet since the injury. Ryan Griffin is also questionable and will try and be ready for a backup role.

It couldn't be anymore clear.  Edsall accused some of the media of  trying to stir something up (no idea what or who he's talking about) and then answered the question as asked -- Endres is the starter, Frazer is going to push to see if he may be able to backup. They will figure it out after this week. So, Frazer is not in the mix this week, to start anyhow.

More importantly in my opinion, it would seem Scott Lutrus' stinger is still giving him a lot of trouble. He is doubtful for Saturday's game and will be re-evaluated this week again. He hasn't had any contact in two weeks.

I tried to ask if the injury is more serious than originally thought and Edsall said the trainers give him the info about how he is progressing. Nerve endings are tricky. No idea when he could get better.I would start to be worried now about that.

Team is much healthier than two weeks ago.

Got to pay the bills.

Reality check

Encountered this while writing my story.

The 292 yards is the most a UConn quarterback has thrown for since Tyler Lorenzen threw for 298 against Duke in 2007.

That surprised you, didn't it? Why am I being a Debbie Downer? Because the most important thing in college football to me is week-to-week consistency. I remember that game from Tyler Lorenzen and he looked terrific, as did the UConn receiving corps. Terrance Jeffers had 8 catches that day (as did Mike Smith today). I am telling you this because I think it's important not to jump the gun and to use a Randy Edsall term "anoint" anyone. URI was averaging giving up 315 yards per game passing against UMass and Fordham. If UConn couldn't throw it today, they weren't going to be able to on anyone.

Lorenzen had a terrific junior year, and a mediocre to poor senior season. But, looking at his career that first game was the best he ever played. Hopefully, this will be a jumping off point for Endres and not a pinnacle.

Where do the Huskies go from here? TBD. Endres has managed the offense nicely in his two starts and avoided turnovers. I don't think we have see enough of Frazer to make a determination on his abilities or effectiveness. I have seen enough of Endres in these two games that I think he has what it takes to win. That's for sure.

What I liked about  Endres today was his ability to get the ball down field. This wasn't dinking and dunking for 289. Endres stretches the field and can really throw the ball when given time. His accuracy on short passes is dreadful, but that can be worked on. He makes the hard throws, he has to learn to make the touch ones.

Endres gained confidence. I have been harping on Endres to get rid of the ball quicker and Edsall alluded to that in the postgame. Confidence seems to be the issue here. Endres isn't slow reading his plays, he is waiting too long for the guy to get open. Edsall would like him to throw it and let the receiver make a play. Perhaps Endres is trying to be too fine. That said, he can throw the football and he is so relaxed it borders on comatose.

There were players free all day on the field. It was a good performance by the offense and the wide receiver corps should gain confidence. I wouldn't anoint Endres yet however. I also don't see how you immediately make a change. If Frazer can't practice this week because of injury I would be inclined to go with Endres for Oct. 10. How long will Frazer be down for? It's week-to-week right now and the assumption is he will return for Oct. 10. We are assuming and that's dangerous. Until he steps out on that practice field however Cody Endres has to be the starter for this team.

This business about you should never lose your starting job because of an injury is a pro football thought. I don't think it applies in college football. That said, the offseason, spring practice and summer camp should mean something.

Three years ago the Huskies didn't have anyone who could play quarterback. Now they have at least two. That's a comforting thought.

Some other notes.

Mike Smith bounced back nicely and showed no ill effects of a bum knee. Smith is a terrific route runner and is good underneath and over the middle. Smith is going to have to be a major player for this team. The Huskies are probably going to whittle it down at wide receiver. They can't keep playing 9. I know Mike Smith will be there, and I think Isiah Moore makes enough plays. After that no one has done much. Dwayne Difton is two games without a catch (or a ball thrown at him) and Kashif Moore has had few snaps and even less action in the passing game. Brad Kanuch gets 1 long one a game, but just doesn't get enough looks. Perhaps they should give Smith and I. Moore more snaps and then work the other guys in situationally. I don't like shuffling that many receivers in and out. Hard for one guy to get in a rhythm.

Frosh receivers show promise. Mike Lang is a deep threat and I like Nick Williams in space. Would like to see Difton get more balls thrown his way. All in all, a good crops of young ins.

If you didn't notice, Jerome Junior may have lost his job a strong safety. Junior has tremendous potential, but he is still learning the position and Aaron Bagsby has returned from a suspension. Bagsby is a playmaker and a ballhawk, and he was flying around there making plays. He isn't the size of Junior, and probably will return to free safety when Robert Vaughn graduates, but now Edsall has options at safety. Harris Agbor has returned and Bagsby is back along with Kijuan Dabney. It isn't Macus Aiken backing up at safety.

In the secondary, playing Reggie McClain at the nickel has worked well. McClain had two more INTs today. Having him play there and with Blidi Wreh-Wilson at corner has worked well.

On to the Big East:

Incredible win for USF over Florida State. That's a program builder though the quite "It changes history" is kind of silly. What does that mean? You can't change history, you make it. It sounds profound, but I don't get it.

Rutgers won over at Maryland in a crucial game for the Scarlet Knights. I don't know how Maryland got so bad. Considering the light schedule Rutgers plays they couldn't lose this game. A lot of pressure and that they came away on the road is a positive. Lastly, there is Pittsburgh.

The Panthers had a chance late and scored 31 points, but surrendered over 500 yards of offense to NC State. The Panthers are on the cusp of the top 25 and they lose another head scratcher. First and goal for the 8 and they can't get it in with the game on the line? Pittsburgh is a tease, and they always have been.

When you get excited, they always disappoint (Sun Bowl last season). I am done with Pittsburgh.

Yes, "40 points a game"

Was up in Storrs on Wednesday for a little chat with a couple of players. It's not on the JI website and not sure if it ran Friday for space, but Zach Frazer is looking to be quite confident at quarterback.

I asked him to explain the offense as if he was talking to someone who knew nothing about football.

Here is Zach Frazer:

“It’s a put 40 up a game offense,” Frazer said. “It’s going to be a high-scoring offense. It’s going to be great.”

More Frazer, who has slimmed down 13 pounds and needs to be more mobile and athletic in the pocket. He didn't try and downplay or soft pedal expectations which is absolutely going to happen when we talk to the coaching staff next week and in coming months. Frazer is beyond thrilled at the hiring of Joe Moorhead and the offense.

"I knew something had to change. Donald Brown was going to leave and after he announced it, I thought, ‘Are we going to a more passing or more traditional offense?’,” Frazer said. “I am excited that coach Edsall hired Moorhead. It’s exactly what I wanted.”

I talked to Cody Endres also and he is excited about the quarterback opening and did a "may the best man win thing."

I was struck however by Frazer's matter of fact confidence and demeanor. This is the offense he ran in high school, and he isn't shy about telling us what his expectations are.

As far as the Huskies' offense, I think that kind of confidence is sorely needed. The Huskies the last two years have been to gun shy on offense. The offense showed little confidence, and the offense played very close to the vest. Sure, some of that was the play-calling, which in turn was a reaction to the talent and ability of the players on the field.

What was always lacking was a sense of confidence. I don't think anyone on the team last year would have said that "We are going to score 40 a game."

Sure, talk is cheap, but Frazer was aggressive and confident in an interview on February. Perhaps it would be best if he carries that through the spring and into the fall.

It looks as though the entire offense is going to come out of its shell. That starts with the quarterback.

It's a good change. The humility of the offense (we do what we have to do to win) was a little tough to take the last two years.

Thursday no news teleconference

Wow. Missed the call because of computer issues, should I even write anything? It's comical.

True story. I was emailed a replay of the conference call because I missed it. The link I was sent was a Pre-Syracuse call in the subject line. I clicked on it and listened for five minutes and took notes off the internet. Predictable stuff about the injuries,and nothing major happening. I am thinking to myself, same old same old. Then, there was a question about North Carolina's big offensive line...WHAT?

No joke. I couldn't tell the difference between the call five weeks ago and this one. It's the same answers every week.

This week was the same as last week's call when I actually dialed in on my phone into the replay.

Is Tyler available?

Edsall says: "I don't know?"

The coach doesn't know two days before the game?

Come on. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

Listen to this nonsense on Cody vs. Zach and what will determine which one will play ahead of the other:

"Zach was ahead before Cody got hurt. Cody got his opportunity when Zach got hurt. Both guys are healthy and played and did some good things and did things they need to improve upon. We will see what transpires this week and what transpires (Thursday)."

Quarterback shuffle

One and only update today unless there is major breaking news. I am a news guy at heart, and the excitement of elections is too much for me to ignore.

First off, who is going to be the QB for the Huskies? If you take Randy Edsall's words, Cody Endres, Tyler Lorenzen and Zach Frazer are all in the mix for Nov. 15 at Syracuse.

Lorenzen seems to me to be the biggest longshot since he hasn't played since September. He hasn't officially returned to practice yet, but that's not to say he can't this week. Lorenzen is walking around fine and has resumed "land-based drills." No idea what land based drills are, but considering football is played on the planets surface I take it as a good sign.

As far as Endres vs. Frazer. I have been told that Frazer was ruled out of the West Virginia game on Tuesday after practice. Frazer did practice last week, he just wasn't fully cleared by the medical staff, which is being very conservative with him (as it should). He was never going to play.

So, in essence, Endres was the only possible option against West Virginia as opposed to being selected over Frazer on performance. Frazer is back and cleared to practice, so it's going to be a QB duel, or a three-way race if Edsall isn't blowing smoke about Lorenzen, for Nov. 15 at Syracuse.

As far as my view on the three. I like all three quarterbacks. Cody Endres has to work on his accuracy. It hasn't been good in the two games he started. Even on some completions, the passes sailed on him and in the middle of the field you are playing with fire if you do that. 46 percent completion percentage isn't going to get it done (though not all of it is Endres' fault with a lot of drops).

Still, unlike Bones or D.J. Hernandez a couple of years ago, I think Endres can play at the Division I level in the Big East. Endres is good enough for this level though he isn't ready just yet.

Frazer impressed me when he had time to throw the ball, and looks to be a much more accurate passer than Endres, though not quite as nimble. Accuracy is superior to arm-strength in my book. Lets see Frazer in a home game at Rentschler Field. it's hard to compare the two considering the circumstances. His two games were on the road while Endres was at home for two. That's a big difference with a young quarterback.

What can Lorenzen's role be? Depending on the Huskies record and how Endres/Frazer do, I would imagine that would dictate how much or if he ever sees the field again. His running ability makes him an option to split time with Frazer/Endres I would start one of the young guys, and then maybe for a series or two go with Lorenzen.

Thinking out loud here. But, the offense could use another playmaker and I like Lorenzen's wheels. It all depends on how that foot feels.

Here is the queston of the by week. Put your headsets on assuming all three are healthy and can go, who do you start, and why?

Wednesday off week

What a refreshing change today. Just the usual beat writers were up on campus and we were actually able to spend time with some of the players, not the usual 5-10 minute gang interviews. I talked with Rob Lunn, Zach Frazer, Donnie Brown and Tyler Lorenzen about 20 minutes each way. You can get conversational, and that leads to greater insights. I wasn't just looking for a quote.

You actually get a chance for open ended questions which lead you down paths you never thought about.

It's nice to get outside the fish bowl. During normal weeks there is such a crush and a rush. Not any ones fault (I think the Tuesday's have gone smoothly), but a different atmosphere this week.

Hopefully, the stories that come out of it are better. I think they will be.

As far as topics, there really isn't much breaking news at this point. Lorenzen hopes to return against South Florida at the earliest, and the bowl game the latest. Of course there is a chance we have seen Tyler in his last game. That would be a shame. I am not sure how they would work him back in (depends on how Frazer plays), but I imagine if he is able to go Randy Edsall will find a way to use him. He deserves that chance.

Lorenzen knew it right away when he broke his foot (he had a growth plate fracture in his left foot in high school) and he asked the trainer right away how long he would be out. That left a difficult position for Tyler to be in.

He had to cheer lead, but also come to grips with the injury.

"It was bittersweet," Lorenzen said. "I was happy for the team, but I was down because of the injury."

What is Lorenzen's role now?

"I can bring some leadership, be upbeat as possible," he said.


Frazer did almost an hour of interviews. He answered everything that was throw at him. On why he left Notre Dame? "I wasn't happy in regards to the football program."'

He had a close relationship with QB coach Peter Vaas (now an assistant coach at Duke) who left abruptly before spring practice. There were other things.

Frazer watched the tape of the UNC game and he said he was to blame for the loss. I think that is a bit much, one of the interceptions was Kashif Moore's fault and the interception return for a touchdown was at 24-6. Game was over already.

UConn lost this game because of penalties and punt blocking. Frazer is a nice humble person. I found him down to earth and personable. Not shy, he was mature and had command and didn't fluster.

I asked an awkwardly phrased question about him being the last of his Elite 11 campmates (Tim Tebow was at the camp among others) to throw a college pass.

He immediately interjected, "Well that's all right."

He then made a case that most QBs sit for 2 years at least before playing. Command of the facts and composure. He could have handled 10 minutes the week before (we never give up).

Let's talk about a Fat White Guy.

Lunn's blog has taken off bigtime. He destroys this site in blog hits. Part of it is the angle, he can provide what no one else provides, and that its a football player is even more remarkable.

It's also such a different perspective, absolutely captivating at times. The kid (I am only 7 years older than him) is a talented writer. Don't know if he can(actually, wants) to do the nuts and bolts journalistic work, but he has the makings of a columnist.

Superior whit and talent, it's kind of like taking a guy with a 4.35 40 and molding him into a player. Lunn is rough around the edges (focus, style and he has to prove he is versatile) but that that ability is too good to pass up. He can be a star writing if he wants to be, and of course catches a couple of breaks. He already has a niche though and that's important.

I hope this doesn't offend him, but he is a better writer than he is a football player.

On an aside, Lunn went to the Daily Campus as a freshman and asked to write, but because he was an athlete they kind of brushed him off. I can't tell you how poor a decision that was. He wasn't a journalism major, so he gets turned down?

I am mortified as an alum. Whatever happened to openness?

And, no wonder my business is in the tank. No vision, can't think out of the box. Even in college.

Gotta pay the bills.

Later...

P.S. May consider live blogging Celtics Preseason game.

P.S.S Not kidding

P.S.S. GO RAYS!

In NC ,day before

It's a beautiful day down in NC.

I have talked to some people that know Zach Frazer down in Mechanicsburg and the two things that seems to be universal is that Frazer is a humble guy, but extremely poised.

Also, how is this for coincidence.

Zach Frazer's first game as a high school player he came in late in the game with his team trailing 10-0 to Hershey (chocolate makers). Frazer was a sophomore, and it was his first season on varsity.

Frazer comes in an immediately catches fire. There were some growing pains however. There was a fumbled snap, and a couple of snaps that went bad.

Here is the account

The key play of the game was Frazer. Here is the Oct. 24, 2003 game.

When you're going for a win on fourth-and-39 at your own 6-yard line with 78 seconds and no timeouts remaining, there's not much you can do but scratch a makeshift altar in the dirt and make some appropriate appeal to the football gods.

On Hersheypark Stadium's artificial turf, you can't even do that. So rather than compose a prayer, Mechanicsburg backup quarterback Zach Frazer threw one.

And it was answered.

True, it came in the form of a yellow flag and a controversial pass interference call, but that kicked open the door for Mechanicsburg's unbelievable 14-10 triumph over Hershey last night.

Frazer, who entered the game with just 6: 25 to play in relief of struggling Ryan Melick, needed no more intervention, but was divine just the same: He completed 10 of 13 passes for 162 yards and two scores for a most extraordinary comeback.

His 34-yard scoring bomb to streaking tight end Josh Koontz with just 27 seconds remaining completed at once one of the most thrilling and mortifying finishes in midstate history.

Looks like Frazer has a taste for the dramatic. I talked to several of his confidants down there this week. I am going to get something going next week for the bye as far as a story, but there is some good insight on who Frazer is.

One of his coaches in high school was Chris Hakel, the current coach at Mechanisburg, but an assistant to the late Rich Lichtel when Frazer was there. Hakel's team defeated Waynesboro 45-6 last Friday night. Hakel saw the game in the trainers room after his high school game and rushed back home.

Here is what Hakel's impression of Zach was. It reminded him, almost uncannily, like Frazer's first high school game. I had three people bring that up to me independently.

"I thought he was poised,” Hakel said. “He didn’t get rattled and made some nice throws. People got a chance to see his arm strength. He threw it on a rope and the corner was sitting by him (on the Butler touchdown). All he needed was that first completion. I said to him when I (sent a text message), you got to go about preparing now. The secret is out.”

One of the big themes on why Frazer picked UConn was Ambrose and Edsall. He felt comfortable. He had two QB coaches at Notre Dame leave in his one year,David Cutliffe and Peter Vaas. He needed stability.

Also, UConn kept in touch with Frazer even after he committed to Notre Dame.It wasn't overt recruiting, but they were always dropping by when they were in the area to see how he was. Just keeping a face. It also helped that Grant Preston, from the same town, enjoyed his time up here.

Some interesting stuff. Frazer seems humble, but confident. He was still going back to practice at Mechanisburg this summer and working with the quarterbacks when he was home.

Lastly,Hakel has sold me on UConn recruit Tyler Bullock.

When I asked about Bullock, Hakel goes "Now I am not BS'ing here, he is 6-4 280."

Wow. Defensive tackle is his likely spot, though he is on the o-line for the Wildcats.

That's what we call a teaser, I got plenty of more stuff,most of it won't even make it into the paper. Blogs are great aren't they?

Here is the email of the day. Some investment advice from the experts.

I am really not trying to depress anyone but our economic situation should scare us all, look at the facts and enjoy the possible solution:

If you had purchased $1,000 of Delta Air Lines stock one year ago, you would have $49 left.

With Fannie Mae, you would have $2.50 left of the original $1,000.

With AIG, you would have less than $15 left.

But, if you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drank all of the beer, then turned in the cans for the aluminum recycling (say you bought 67 thirty packs of red dog at $15 dollars each - deposit and hangover included)

REFUND, you would have $100 cash.

Based on the above, the best current investment advice is to drink heavily and recycle.

It's called the 401-Keg

In Today's JI

Zach Frazer story of course. It's Zach Frazer all the time this week.

Reading everything today about Frazer, I must say that sometimes good intentions go bad in Randy Edsall's case. He knew what was going to happen, I can't believe he went through with it. Why not a teleconference call with reporters? No cameras?

Edsall has been better this year, but his first reaction is always to protect, and that burned him again. How the heck is the conversation about whether Frazer can speak or not the story as opposed to 5-0 Top 25 UConn team facing North Carolina?

That's not good for the university. Speaking as a professional, I do the stories that are there. I can dig a little more and am working on it. Am I angry that Frazer isn't available? No. It's football for God's sake. I am mostly disappointed because I could have wrote a good story this week on him. I hate giving up a good story.

I will give a brief journalistic lesson. Frazer, as everyone knows, is the story this week. When Edsall says he is available Saturday night, to him 5 days doesn't matter. That may seem to the lay person as reasonable.

To a journalist, five days as well could be a 1,000 years. An important part of story telling is timing. The Frazer story has a time element in it, and by the time he is allowed to speak on Saturday night that time element would have expired.

It's gone forever. Every journalist worth their salt can see the time element of the story. That's why there is push back.

The point that he is available on Saturday and thereafter is moot to someone as myself who want to interview this man who is now the face of the Huskies program.

Frazer is a compelling story this week, but once Saturday happens, the story shifts to something else. The Frazer story loses its time element, and its impact. Frazer may be the story, but it isn't the same story. Friday's story is different than Sunday's.

What does this have to do with the team? ZILCH. It is a distraction, not for the team but the writers. It is getting side tracked from the issue at hand.

Still, my one regret is I think people who read this blog and follow the Huskies enough to read feature stories would have liked to have read the Frazer story.

You will get a Frazer story eventually. But, it won't be the one that would have been written this week. And it's the die-hard fan who gets enjoyment out of reading that story who loses out.

Tuesday presser

The first 20 minutes of Randy Edsall's weekly media day press conference had one subject -- Zach Frazer. From my quick notes on the presser that I will expand on later, a lot of it we already know.

Frazer is a better thrower than Tyler Lorenzen, though not as athletic. Frazer impressed Edsall with his poise and makeup against Louisville.

"I liked his poise in the game,"Edsall said. "He did a good job of going in the game and having fun. He was showing good leadership on the field. Any quarterback wants that opportunity and he wanted to make the most of it."

The offense is going to change some, but Edsall wasn't letting on how much. Edsall thought the Butler TD throw was outstanding as the one he caught on the sideline.

Butler had a great quote on that throw:

"It was tight, I think even if the defender got a finger on it, it wouldn't have stopped the spiral,"Butler said.

The kid can throw the ball, that's for sure. Frazer is not available for interviews this week. Sorry to disappoint everyone. Trust me, it didn't go over well, but I won't bore any of you with inside machinations of the beat. It's not about Edsall vs. the press. If that is the focus this week it's a win for Edsall.

Edsall explained his thoughts on shielding Frazer from the press this week.

"I will tell you what, it's unbelievable. Everyone will want to do a story on it and that is the big thing...


The young man is making his first start this week. The only thing he needs to focus on is getting himself ready for the game. To play the best game he can. It's my prerogative to protect my players and allow them to prepare the best way I feel possible for them to be successful. That is what I am doing. I told him that and he appreciated that, very much so.

"This is what I feel is best for him and our program. It isn't a slight to anyone. Just like you make decisions, you write what you want to write. I am making decisions on what's best with young man and best for the program. He was all for it when I told him about it.

"If I thought 10 minutes would have been good, I would have done it. It will be all over newspapers and blogs this week. I can take some of the tension off him. I like this."

I think Frazer should be available. We aren't the White House Press corps and Edsall is giving me too much credit if he thinks my questions can have any impact whatsoever on the psyche going into the game. Frazer could have handled the 15 minutes.

Anyhow, not having Frazer available to talk to me is a distraction of the real issue:

Is Frazer good enough to step in and lead this team?

That's the important question. I guess we will find out Saturday.

Other notes:

* Rob Lunn, Kendall Reyes, and Alex Polito will all play this week. Good news.

* We are going to see more of D.Butler on offense. His playing only on third downs and only in the red zone rule was broken. Edsall had a heart attack moment against Louisville when his star corner went down injured. Edsall thought Butler hurt a knee (he got kneed in the back). Edsall said an increased role of Butler is "to be determined." I would determine the answer is yes. Butler is the team's most dangerous wideout.

*Donald Brown and Knowshon Moreno of Georgia were Pop Warner football teammates. Brown and Moreno would alternate as the running back and the wing back. Brown said Moreno seems like the same guy, a ton of energy. He hasn't talked to Moreno since they went to college, but Brown expects to see him at the Downtown Athletic Club in December (okay, I asked Brown that and he started to laugh, but it's still a good line). Anyhow, South Jersey has become tailback central for college football.

*Brown laughed when I asked him if he had 4.29 40 speed as was reported in an SI article on him. No he doesn't. Edsall said if anyone has that speed they should be trying for gold medals.

Be back for more later.

Gotta to pay the bills.

In today's JI

Randy Edsall went after guard Zach Hurd pretty hard. No one was spared. If Hurd and company are feeling down let me give a word of advice: Don't be worried when the coach yells at you. Be worried when he doesn't yell at you. That means your not an option to play.

My take on the Zach Frazer first-team? A bit of a dog and pony show. Tyler Lorenzen never looks great in practice. Until further notice, I think Randy Edsall was just trying to send a message. Zach Frazer did look pretty good at times and has a good arm.

On the other hand, the wide receivers for the Huskies dropped a ton of balls. It is early, but the unit has a long way to go. Got a feeling Edsall is going to give Kanuch the Ryan Henegan silent treatment soon.

This year Edsall does have options however and if Lorenzen doesn't get the job done, Frazer is likely to get a shot sooner rather than later. One thing is sure, Frazer is dying to play.

Saturday quick practice update

Quick update, will give some more thoughts when I get a chance to sit down.

The offense was shaky. Zach Frazer (who is No. 2 on the depth chart almost certainly) struggles with his mechanics. Still, this was the entire offense of first and second team's that looked a step slow. Randy Edsall didn't hide his displeasure at the performance.

The big news in the injury bug:

Tyler Lorenzen is out with a right ankle sprain. When I walked in, Rob LUnn was walking out on crutches with another ankle sprain.

Lorenzen's availability for Saturday is questionable. Regardless, the Huskies are going to play a real game this spring. First team offense vs. first team defense.

More later...