A few juicy nuggets from UConn football coach Randy Edsall’s Thursday chat with reporters:
– The coach has decided on a quarterback for Saturday’s game against West Virginia, he’s just not telling many people about it.
Zach Frazer appears likely to return but Cody Endres is a possibility, too.
“That will be game time announcement,” said Edsall, correcting the phrase he used last week.
(It was a “game time decision” last week, though the decision was obviously made much earlier. I, for one, appreciate some accuracy and proper syntax from coaches when they lie to me).
Frazer, who suffered an apparent concussion in the closing moments against Rutgers two weeks ago, has been practicing all week and is cleared to play.
“Yeah, we’re good to go from an injury standpoint,” Edsall said. “Everybody that we talked about earlier in the week all practiced this week and should be good to go.”
That appears to include DT Rob Lunn, who has battled a shoulder (upper extremity) injury.
– As first reported in the Daily Campus (good job, boys), it seems cornerback Darius Butler might play almost exclusively at wide receiver this week.
Edsall wouldn’t comment specifically on Butler’s move but did say that reserve cornerback Robert McClain could start this week.
“Robert might be starting this week,” Edsall said. “Robert or Terrence Baltimore just might be starting this week.”
This is just a guess but I’d say it’s more likely the Huskies open and play most of the game with a nickel defense, putting McClain in as the fifth defensive back. I’ve got a hunch that Butler will start on defense as usual.
I’m not saying he won’t play a lot more offense (seemingly a good idea) and a little less defense (probably OK against a team that doesn’t air it out too much) but I’d be surprised if Butler didn’t start on D.
– The Huskies were honored by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) for the graduation rate in the football program. it’s the fourth time in the last six years UConn has been so recognized.
“We are happy to be recognized by the AFCA for our graduation rates once again,” Edsall said in a statement. “This is a great credit to our players and to Ellen Rennie and her staff at CPIA (Counseling Program for Intercollegiate Athletes) which works so diligently to help the student-athletes here at the University of Connecticut.”
– Bring your “gently used” coats to Saturday’s game for the UConn Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s “Winter Wear Drive” at Rentschler Field. You can also donate hats, scarves and gloves.
The items will be distributed to charities across the state including the Salvation Army.
- Neill
Do you think UConn will use the 4-2-5 often again this week? I know Edsall said the defense was dictated by the offense Cincinnati ran, but WVU also has a spread offense and I would imagine Edsall wants as much speed as possible on the field. If this is the case, McClain could play opposite Howard at CB and let Butler contribute more on offense. That way we still have a CB playing with experience, McClain, but still have 5 DB’s on the field without playing an inexperienced CB in Baltimore.
Comment by Pete — October 31st, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
Yes, my guess would be they stick with the 5 DB’s for most of the game.
I still think Butler will play most of the game on defense (I’ll believe he sits when I see it), with McClain starting as a fifth DB. But I’d think that Aaron Bagsby will see some time back there, too, making it three safeties and two cornerbacks more often than not.
Comment by Neill — October 31st, 2008 @ 5:01 pm