Scouting UCONN

[Omaha Cy]

Recap of the UCONN spring game
Connecticut spring game review - Big East Blog - ESPN

Ive been reading a bit from various UCONN boards, and it appears the defense should be pretty stout. Lots of experienced DL and DBs in the mix.
Seems despite the new staff, they feel the D should be good.

The problem resides with a 4 or even 5 man QB competition they have going on right now. Weather was miserable for the spring game(rain/wind) but guys were barely completing passes, and that has the fan base very concerned. Todman(stand-out RB) is gone, but apparently they have a USC transfer to try and pick up the slack...and figuring there will be a RB by committee this fall. They feel a QB needs to emerge and just be competent for them to have a decent year(all this sounds real familiar huh?)

Also seems to be some questions on the offensive line, and possibly not really having a game changer at WR. The final score was 16-14, and 2 scores were pick 6's. Great defense, or really inadequate offense? It appears its easily one or the other. Rhoads talked like he saw enough good by both ISU units to be pleased.

Looking like ISU/UCONN could match up fairly even for both teams, and perhaps ISU can win one on the road.

Also read something that suggest the style of offense hasn't been really established just yet, and they work on figuring out who will win the job. That does sound a little alarming this late in the process especially if they don't even have an idea of the #1 or #2 option.

I see ISU having an edge in a few areas, but hopefully the UCONN defense won't be as good as advertised, and they are drinking some Kool-Aid.

I'll do some UCONN defense research tonight just to get an idea of how good they were last season.

[ISU_Alum_2000]

The UConn game is very winnable, and should be treated as such, IMO.

My biggest concern is that it is a long road trip on a short week (Friday night) after the Iowa game.

[Omaha Cy]

Reading more from the Big east blogger. He talks about 3,000 yard throwers in the BE this fall. UCONN was ranked last and figured to not have one. Appears the new staff will air it out more than Edsall.

Quote below.....

8. Unnamed Connecticut quarterback: UConn almost gets the No. 8 slot by default since we don't know who will be the quarterback this year. It's entirely possible that more than one player starts under center in 2011, which would hold down the individual numbers. Paul Pasqualoni and George DeLeone will throw it more than Randy Edsall did. But when you see the horrific stats that Huskies signal-callers amassed in the spring game (albeit in bad weather) and factor in the continued lack of big-time playmakers at receiver, it seems doubtful that a UConn QB will be challenging for any league passing titles in 2011.

[Wesley]

Sounds like UCONN is us.

[Sloup]

Nebraska won alot of games in 2009 with a stellar defense and an unbearably bad offense, so a good season for UConn isn't out of the question. All things considered, it sounds like we're ahead of them.

We might have a chance to make it through the non-conference schedule unscathed.

[CylentButDeadly]

UConn lost Todman and and their starting QB as the article references. They also lost their stud LB Lawrence Wilson (I believe that's his name). They do return a lot on defense, but they're going to have issues with the new staff.

Biggest concern as was already mentioned is that it's a Friday night game coming off the iowa game. Last time we did that was '05 and it took a miracle call by an official for us to pull that game out against Army.

On the plus side, they have a new staff and they still might be working out the kinks by then.

[Aclone]

My biggest concern is that it is a long road trip on a short week (Friday night) after the Iowa game.

So, you're saying, a chance for a big let down after an emotional win?

If it helps even things out, they play us following a road trip to Vandy. So, in some ways, an even shorter week.

[tazclone]

UConn lost Todman and and their starting QB as the article references. They also lost their stud LB Lawrence Wilson (I believe that's his name). They do return a lot on defense, but they're going to have issues with the new staff.

Biggest concern as was already mentioned is that it's a Friday night game coming off the iowa game. Last time we did that was '05 and it took a miracle call by an official for us to pull that game out against Army.

On the plus side, they have a new staff and they still might be working out the kinks by then.

Good thing we don't put much effort into the Iowa game. We should be well rested for UCONN. I joke I joke

[driegner]

Nebraska won alot of games in 2009 with a stellar defense and an unbearably bad offense, so a good season for UConn isn't out of the question. All things considered, it sounds like we're ahead of them.

We might have a chance to make it through the non-conference schedule unscathed.

I would settle for "scathed just once."

[Sloup]

[/B]

I would settle for "scathed just once."

Honestly, I would put money on us having two non-conference wins. If I had money.

[Yes13]

UConn lost Todman and and their starting QB as the article references. They also lost their stud LB Lawrence Wilson (I believe that's his name). They do return a lot on defense, but they're going to have issues with the new staff.

Biggest concern as was already mentioned is that it's a Friday night game coming off the iowa game. Last time we did that was '05 and it took a miracle call by an official for us to pull that game out against Army.

On the plus side, they have a new staff and they still might be working out the kinks by then.

I'm pretty sure that Army team was ranked at the time.

We sound pretty similar. If it comes down to a defensive match I think our playmakers are better (god, it feels good to say that). We also have a couple QBs with strong arms (Tiller and Jantz) that can atleast open up the game by going vertical. Even with a USC transfer (didn't UNI have one of those a couple years ago that did nothing) I think our RB group is more complete.

[gwoodclone]

I'm pretty sure that Army team was ranked at the time.

Nope. But we were ranked #22.


I'm really looking forward to the UCONN game. Sounds like we're fairly evenly matched.

[CyBroncos]

I'm pretty sure that Army team was ranked at the time.

We sound pretty similar. If it comes down to a defensive match I think our playmakers are better (god, it feels good to say that). We also have a couple QBs with strong arms (Tiller and Jantz) that can atleast open up the game by going vertical. Even with a USC transfer (didn't UNI have one of those a couple years ago that did nothing) I think our RB group is more complete.

No way Army was ranked. They were terrible that year and we were lucky to get by them.

I agree with you that our offense should be tough this year if we can find a QB...and Herman isn't our own worst enemy with his playcalling (my number one offensive concern)

[theshadow]

Biggest concern as was already mentioned is that it's a Friday night game coming off the iowa game. Last time we did that was '05 and it took a miracle call by an official for us to pull that game out against Army.

Except there was an open week between those games.

Sept 10 - Iowa
Sept 17 - open
Sept 23 - at Army

[Bipolarcy]

Recap of the UCONN spring game
Connecticut spring game review - Big East Blog - ESPN

Ive been reading a bit from various UCONN boards, and it appears the defense should be pretty stout. Lots of experienced DL and DBs in the mix.
Seems despite the new staff, they feel the D should be good.

The problem resides with a 4 or even 5 man QB competition they have going on right now. Weather was miserable for the spring game(rain/wind) but guys were barely completing passes, and that has the fan base very concerned. Todman(stand-out RB) is gone, but apparently they have a USC transfer to try and pick up the slack...and figuring there will be a RB by committee this fall. They feel a QB needs to emerge and just be competent for them to have a decent year(all this sounds real familiar huh?)

Also seems to be some questions on the offensive line, and possibly not really having a game changer at WR. The final score was 16-14, and 2 scores were pick 6's. Great defense, or really inadequate offense? It appears its easily one or the other. Rhoads talked like he saw enough good by both ISU units to be pleased.

Looking like ISU/UCONN could match up fairly even for both teams, and perhaps ISU can win one on the road.

Also read something that suggest the style of offense hasn't been really established just yet, and they work on figuring out who will win the job. That does sound a little alarming this late in the process especially if they don't even have an idea of the #1 or #2 option.

I see ISU having an edge in a few areas, but hopefully the UCONN defense won't be as good as advertised, and they are drinking some Kool-Aid.

I'll do some UCONN defense research tonight just to get an idea of how good they were last season.

Haven't there been three or four high-profile USC RB transfers of late, none of whom amounted to much at their new team? Broderick Green is the only one I can think of by name, but I don't know where he went. Alabama had one, I think, and didn't UNI have a former Trojan RB a couple of years back? There's another one or two that I'm forgetting as well, I think. Didn't Florida get one who didn't do much? EDIT: I just remembered the Florida guy's name, Emanuel Moody. Did he do much at Florida, I really can't remember. And I looked Green up. He transferred to Arkansas, where he sits second on the depth chart.