Late night with JSilver

Still ticking here early Friday morning.

It was an interesting practice today and if you were one of the fans attending you saw a good representation of the wide receivers. For the first time since I have covered the team there seems like real threats out there. Dwayne Difton impressed as always, but I also thought Isiah Moore made some nice plays. He did get screamed at by Edsall for not running out of bounds during a two-minute drill, but at least he made the catch and run, which is a big improvement from last year.

I like Malik Generett's potential. At 6-foot-4, if he can polish that route running and get his hands down, he could be a devastating receiver in the future. Today the team was missing Mike Smith (whose left for him after his grandmother passed away) and Kashif Moore (hamstring).

Even old Brad Kanuch showed some life. After an injury-riddled last 18 months, that was nice to see.

It wasn't all great. Cody Endres threw a pair of interceptions that went for TDs and Zach Frazer was inaccurate at times(still has a terrific arm). Still, I felt it was a crisp practice. The tempo is fast, it made me sweat out there. That Baylor game...let's just say they better be in shape.

The best play of the day was a terrific stiff-arm from Dwayne Difton on Jasper Howard. Howard then got up and gave Difton a shot out of bounds. It was a friendly exchange after.

Here is Howard on Difton,whom he has taken under his wing.

"He is nice to be a freshman to be honest. He is living up to whatever they have him and is doing a tremendous job. He is picking it up quick.”

Here is what I like most. I finally find some life with this offense and this team. I will admit, I am intrigued and interested to see this team play. That's a change from the tedium of the previous four years. And, I don't think it's smoke and mirrors with the offense. They may be young, but the playmakers are real.

Think back four years ago when Terrence Jeffers and Brad Kanuch started as true freshmen with D.J.Hernandez at quarterback. Kanuch has been solid in camp as a senior, but he isn't even being talked about much now. It's the increase of talent and competition.

It's difficult to make judgments because the media does not have access daily. What I can say is that there is talent and playmakers on this offense now. How explosive? I don't know. But, considering the dearth of viable options the last four years, it is an overflow.

Is the talent ready to explode? I don't know. They are young and Frazer is untested. But, for the first time you can see improvement in the corps. That's a good thing.

Other thoughts:

*Watched the offensive line closely. I like the strength and size of the starting unit. It is the best unit on the team, superior even to the running backs. I interviewed Jimmy Bennett and Dan Ryan after. These guys are monsters.

*I like Mike Box as a QB. Very mobile, throws a tight ball, and has a good enough arm. I don't know about arm strength, but he looked good in what he was doing. Most accurate passer on the team hands down in walk-on Johnny McEntee.

Media Day avalanche

What an avalanche of stuff at media day. Where do I begin?

On the field, here are some updates on position battles. In the vaunted WR battle it looks like Dwayne Difton has pushed himself into serious consideration as a true frosh. When asked if it is possible for him to start Randy Edsall said “Yes.”

He likes all the young receivers, but it looks like Difton has moved ahead of the pack (not surprising). Difton was coached in high school by former All-Pro Chris Carter and Edsall said he is one of the best route runners he has had.

As far as the rest of the receivers, they are all impressive too. Marcus Aiken is a little rawer than the other three, but he has impressed. Let’s not forget holdover Mike Smith and Kashif Moore. Smith thinks he can be the guy for this offense. Freshman receivers? They are good, but Smith isn’t taking a back seat.

If I had to bet right now, I would say two of the four frosh play this year. The other two stacked away. Malik Generett (converted QB) and Marcus Aiken aren’t as experienced as Difton and Mile Lang.

The receiver corps is better. I didn’t feel that last year.

On other positions, as offensive line Dan Ryan has moved ahead of Jimmy Bennett at left tackle. Why? Experience. Now, that could change, but here is the lineup at OL: Dan Ryan (LT), Zach Hurd (OG), Moe Petrus (C), Mattieu Oliver (G), Mike Hicks (RT).

The second unit is strong too. Jimmy Bennett, Adam Masters, Alex LaMagdelaine, Erik Kuraczea, Mike Ryan.

Let’s not forget Gary Bardzak at center, who is hobbled. That is 11 quality offensive linemen. That is not set in stone that’s where UConn is right now. This is the deepest unit on the team. Edsall has no problems playing any of the 11.

Other positions:

*John Delahunt and Ryan Griffin have separated themselves at tight end.

*At kickoff return and punt returns, Jordan Todman and Robbie Frey are the kick returners and Jasper Howard at punt. Edsall thinks Todman can handle the load as well as being a featured back. Injury is not a concern. Also, Nick Williams and Tevrin Brandin are in the mix at punt return.

*Nickelback is going to come down to Blidih Wreh Wilson or Dwayne Gratz.

*Edsall said Trevardo Williams has an incredible amount of potential at DE. Not only speed, but Williams has football speed, not just track speed. Williams’ strength is underrated.
I have so much more; I’ll see if I can synthesize it.

*Edsall doesn’t like the CIAC playoff format or practice time allotments. Connecticut players are at a disadvantage to other states because they are much more raw coming in. Take Marcus Aiken vs. Dwayne Difton at WR. Difton has played 30 games the last two years while Aiken has played 20. Edsall did some math, players from other states have a 1 ½ extra practice and playing after four years than their Connecticut brethren. Edsall also doesn’t like the new playoff format because it is 3 games in 9 days. Edsall’s son Corey is the quarterback at East Catholic High in Manchester and he isn’t keen on the injury potential with 3 games in 9 days.

Best quote of the day by Edsall: “Connecticut is the Ivy League of high school football.”

*The reports of the Champs Sports and Sun Bowl being No. 2 and No. 3 in the pecking order and the Meineke Car Care Bowl No. 4 is something that would satisfy Edsall. Reports are that the Champs and Sun are going to be No. 2 and No. 3 with Notre Dame also being involved. Edsall liked the information he heard at the coaches meeting in Newport.

More later, talked with Joe Moorhead, Terry Richardson and a host of players.

Time to pay the bills.

More passing stats

I can't get my head around the Huskies' passing game. I really can't. UConn runs a pro-style offense with the nations leading rusher, yet, only threw for 4 TDs all year?

UConn came into the game ranked 103 in the nation in passing. That's not a terrible stat considering its running game and as far as YPG, they are ahead of Ohio State, West Virginia and Virginia Tech. Still, Texas Tech has thrown 43 TD passes this year. It would take UConn a decade to reach that point at its current pace.

The lack of TD passes shows an incredible lack of production out of the offense. UConn will end the season tied for second to last in touchdown passes with New Mexico. Navy, which runs the option, will end the season with six touchdown passes.

The team with the least amount of passing TDs? No surprise, Army, and they are an option team that threw for less than 600 yards this season.

So, for a team that has a goal to be balanced offensively, the UConn passing game was perhaps the least productive in the country. The touchdown to interception ratio is 4/17. That-13 gap is the widest in the country.

UConn coach Randy Edsall said at the end of last season after a poor showing in the Meineke Car Care Bowl that WR and passing production was the No. 1 target for improvement. It has failed. The passing game has regressed to worse than ineffective. It was not competitive against Pittsburgh. This is the same Pitt team that gave up 54 points at home to Rutgers mainly through the air.

The funny thing is the Huskies offense isn't that bad statistically. They are ranked 64th in total offense and 69th in scoring.

The Huskies had a mediocre passing game, who tells where they could be. Mediocre is all the Huskies needed this season to get to 9 wins, and they couldn't do it. You can't sugarcoat this. It's a total breakdown from play call, to quarterback throwing, to the WRs getting open.

Tyler Lorenzen isn't the same QB as a year ago. This was a guy who in his first game threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns. What happened? He was never a big thrower, but he was accurate in 2007 when he wasn't under pressure. Did this team miss Terrence Jeffers that much?

I can't explain it. I am not sure UConn coaches can either. The production of Brad Kanuch and D.J. Hernandez was minimal. The loss of them this spring doomed their fall. They are good blockers, but didn't get open much this season.

Kashif Moore showed some flashes of speed and ability, but he is a redshirt freshman and not ready to be a primary guy. I like Michael Smith, not sure why he didn't get as many reps as others. He made the games best catch, a one-handed grab while falling down catching one Lorenzen's wounded ducks. He was about 6 yards out of bounds on the catch however.

Everyone else? Anthony Sherman is a keeper, but you don't want to rely on your fullback.

I don't know where the Huskies go. I think Frazer and Cody Endres have enough ability to become threats with their arms next year. But who will they will throw it too? Moore will be better, and I assume Smith is going to see more time. After that?

They have a pair of athletic redshirts in Gerrard Sheppard and Brian Parker. Both have size and athleticism. Sheppard is raw as he only played a year of high school football. That's a problem. The Huskies need someone who runs crisp routes and can make plays. They also have two committed recruits in 6-4 Malik Generret and St. Paul-Bristol wideout Marcus Aiken.
I like their size and reported athletic ability. But, can they run a crisp route and do they have good hands?

UConn needs one more WR to bring in. Perhaps a JC wideout would help. But, that is a road Edsall has only done out of desperation (Ryan Tracey and Lorenzen at QB). I doubt they do it for a WR.

The Huskies have a lot of explosive and athletic players, but they all seem to be on defense. Cody Brown, Darisu Butler and even Dahana Deleston are athletic players. All seniors, all of them very good athletes.

The defensive line prospects are tremendous. The young LBs in Scott Lutrus and Lawrence Wilson are fast and athletic. Corner Jasper Howard looks like he could be a 2-way player at defensive back. If I am him I lobby for some defensive plays.

Where is that explosion and excitement on offense? I don't know, and I don't know if it is ever coming.

Butler on the move ... kinda

It was a mild surprise that Darius Butler will be seeing some snaps at wide receiver this spring. It makes sense that the Huskies desperately would want to get their athletes on the field on offense, and Butler has lobbied for this for quite some time. Still, how much can one man take?

He is one of the top corners in the Big East, he is a team captain, and he will be returning kickoffs this fall. Add to that some time at wide receiver and I have to wonder how Butler is going to hold up.

Desperate times call for desperate measures however. The Huskies' wide receiver position is a mess. The top three are injured with only Brad Kanuch even scheduled to come back and play. d. J Hernandez is out for the spring and Ellis Gaulden is probably finished trying to play football. And, it's not like the WR crops wasn't an issue. The spring was supposed to spent finding some playmakers.

Offensive coordinator Rob Ambrose talked today about the WR corps. He likes walk-on Marcus Easley's size and strength. The Moore Brothers (no relation) Kashif and Isiah are still learning the system and it's going to take time. That leaves Rob Theoudele and Kevin Poles in the mix. That's not enough to go with this spring prompting UConn coach Randy Edsall to finally relent.

Very thin at wideout. Considering this was need No. 1 it is a setback for the team.

How much Butler plays and is used depends on his progress. It could be an extensive role, a limited role, or no role at all.

He is a great athlete and can be an explosive player. Does that translate?

The Huskies have no choice but to find out.

Huskies hurting at wideout

I didn't even have to go into practice at the Shenkman Center to realize something was wrong with the Huskies' wide receiver corps. Locked outside of the Shenkman Center I had already placed a call to UConn SID Leigh Torbin before a kind gentlemen opened up the door for me.

It was none other than Ellis Gaulden, and that is a bad a sign. UConn was practicing, and Ellis wasn't. Instead of opening up the passing game, Gaulden was kind enough to open the door to me. He walked out and went on his merry way while I went into practice.

VERY VERY BAD SIGN.

Gaulden is Mr. Glass and it looks like his career may be over after suffering a tendon injury in his foot. Coach Randy Edsall didn't know how serious the injury was, but anytime there is tendon detached from foot, it isn't a good scenario. Two knee injuries, a fractured foot and now a tendon tear. Kid can't catch a break.

Ellis is out, probably forever. Then D.J. Hernandez goes down with a left ankle injury in practice.
Brad Kanuch has yet to practice with a quad injury and now let's see...that's the Huskies' top 5 receivers from last season either injured, graduated (Larry Taylor) or transferred (Terrence Jeffers).

Hernandez is out for the spring.

OUCH.

It's s so bad Randy Edsall is contemplating moving someone to wide receiver off the defense. He didn't want to say who it was, but that player won't have much competition around.

Let's break it down:

With no Kanuch and Hernandez for the time being what's left is:

Rob Theodele
Kashif Moore
Isiah Moore
Kevin Poles

Everyone else like Marcus Easley, Erik Mushette and Alex Molina are walk-ons. Not very deep.

Who is going to be moved? I don't know. There is an excess of players in the secondary.

Edsall said Darius Butler is probably already in his office lobbying for WR time but is a non-starter. My guess?

Maybe Jon Louis from safety or even Gary Wilburn. Maybe Robert Vaughn (starting safety moved?). Jasper Howard could also be a candidate. I would assume a safety but you never really do know.