John Silver on UConn football

The White team beat the Blue team 14-5 (weird score, I know) as Chandler Whitmer threw for 187 yards and two touchdowns.

That’s the final score of today’s Blue-White game and there are some great things to take away and some things to be very concerned about.

Naturally, we start at quarterback where of the four QBs who played it is of my opinion that Chandler Whitmer was far superior to everyone else.

Whitmer had 187 yards and two touchdowns and one very bad interception — a decision Whitmer characterized as “being greedy.”

After that it was a mixed bag. Michael Nebrich played with the same white team as Whitmer, but early in the game was under siege as the offensive line couldn’t block. It wasn’t Nebrich’s fault and he finished 5 of 9 for 48 yards and was picked off twice.  Nebrich was sacked five times and didn’t really have much time to throw.

On the blue side,  I thought McEntee really struggled with his footwork and finished 5 of 14 for 38 yards. I was expecting a better statistical play from McEntee. Redshirt frosh Casey Cochran was 4 of 15 for 46 yards and sacked three times. Cochran had several nice throws, but of all the quarterbacks looks like he needs that redshirt year. He’s also the youngest.

Any thoughts of Whitmer being named the starter are a bit premature off this performance according to coach Paul Pasqualoni.

Coaches like to take their time and Pasqualoni mentioned after that a lot of it depends on what teammates the QBs are playing with and what offensive line members. The White team had three starters on the o-line in C Alex Mateas, LG Steve Green and RT Kevin Friend.

Pasqualoni and offensive coordinator George DeLeone aren’t ready to anoint or christen anyone as the starter because at this time, they don’t have too.

DeLeone’s take? He couldn’t get past Whitmer’s one interception, a non-sensical up for grabs throw into the endzone that was intercepted.  DeLeone was strong coming out against that play after. “You don’t have to win us the game, but don’t lose it,” DeLeone quipped after.

Whitmer did have 18 interceptions at Butler, that number is worrisome because he had maybe 2 or 3 forces today.

Take those away and the offense ran fine with him. He was comfortable, crisp, showed his ability and was in command.

Whitmer also has some nice chemistry with WR Shakim Phillips, who had five catches for 55 yards. Those two are roommates and have been known to throw to each other as early as 6 a.m. Nick Williams also had a strong day as a slot receiver sitting underneath and had 87 yards receiving. Pasqualoni mentioned postgame that Williams has been a terrific weapon the last half of camp. Getting him the ball next year going forward will be a key.

When can we expect a QB decision? It won’t be this week, but it’s going to come some time early in camp. I don’t think the coaching staff wants to have quarterback uncertainty like it did last year. As DeLeone put it Saturday about all QBs getting their equal turns– “At some point the little league rules have to end.”

Whitmer was productive today, it’s a stepping stone, but far from a sure thing.

Some more thoughts:

* Kendall Reyes and Twyon Martin will be missed, but DT Ryan Wirth was a monster with 4 1/2 sacks as he dominated action. Wirth has had a strong spring and he capped it off with a big-time game in the Bliue White game.

*Not much out of the running game, Lyle McCombs had 25 yards on 10 carries, and Martin Hyppolite added 25 yards also on 10 carries. Joe Williams only had two net yards and Max DeLorenzo had six yards. The staff didn’t really try and run the ball (developing QBs important), but Pasqualoni would like to run the ball better.

*That brings us to the O-Line, which had a poor day overall.  It’s a make shift line with Jimmy Bennett and Adam Masters out and by mixing and maxing there was little chemistry. At this point, the defensive line with all its experience and knowledge is just running circles around the Huskies offensive line. I stated this earlier in the week, this is perhaps the most important area of development over the summer. Add Adam masters and Jimmy Bennett to the line and it is fine. the current group have developed some experience, but it’s a long way from starting at Rutgers in the Big East opener in October.,

* Dave Stevenson had a big game with eight tackles, 7 unassisted, and two interceptions. Dwayne Gratz and Blid Wreh Wilson are entrenched as senior starters, but the Huskies need some depth. Taylor Mack appears to be the third corner but Stevenson is pushing things and could be the fourth corner right now. It’s not a position of great depth, and after a spring of defensive coordinator Don Brown continually yelling at  Stevenson, he looked like it had an effect. He was all over the place on Saturday.

* Mike Osiecki had four catches for 33 yards. If he can learn how to block competently, he’s a major weapon at FB. Right now he blocks like a LB. He has plenty of time to learn. It’s a good position for him, he always looked to me like a FB.

* Casey Cochran can throw the ball, but, with 5 QBs, why push things unless he is the clear cut starter? Redshirt Cochran, get him in the pipeline and let him mature at his pace.

*Good crowd out there today. UConn said 5,500 fans attended which looked plausible, but I felt it was a little high. Certainly it isn’t Alabama and 70,000, but, this is Connecticut in April, there are things to do.  It certainly is better than some Northeastern competitors.  The game was televised on SNY too, which is a good start.

* Whitmer to Phillips is looking like a major 1-2 punch. These guys executed back shoulder throws and seemed to have good chemistry. Perhaps having the pair room together wasn’t happenstance.

That’s a quick wrap, quotes later and more thoughts later.

Gotta pay the bills.

I had several emails asking about George DeLeone’s “grave concern” comment on the offensive line and since I have some time here, it’s worth putting in some context.

Here is the direct quote from George DeLeone about the offensive line.

I asked DeLeone how much is the offensive line to blame for the sacks last season. DeLeone talked about how it’s not only the offensive line:

“Sacks are a team function… The offensive line deserves it’s fair share of the credit (for the sacks). It’s an area of grave concern for us; too many negative plays and too many long yardage situations (last year).”

When reading this, we have to remember DeLeone is a colorful and passionate talker and he uses hyperbole. Nothing about the offensive line is grave in the spring. Now, if it’s Sept. 1, then the problems on the line are grave.

I know we like positive thoughts in the spring, but, there are some problems on the line that haven’t been solved this spring.

I am not breaking any news here by saying the injuries to Jimmy Bennett and Adam Masters has frustrated the coaching staff. A healthy Bennett is the anchor of the line — two coaching staffs have thought this — and Masters is the most experienced player on the line. It’s difficult to build that chemistry when two of your top 5 are out and you are trying to break in a new center who has never played that position.

On the bright side,  Bennett looks to be on track for the fall. I saw him walking around with no braces and he is doing some work.

Masters is going to be a swing guy, he can play right guard or right tackle. DeLeone isn’t sure which position yet, though I think he’s best as a guard.

Not having Masters and Bennett is a problem for the chemistry of the line. DeLeone and Paul Pasqualoni are on the same page on this.

“We are pretty banged up. I wish Adam Masters was in here and Jimmy Bennett was healthy, but Jimmy is getting better. The guys that are there are working hard. (Tyler) Bullock looks comfortable at center (moved from guard). The other guys are getting better, Kevin Friend has been the right tackle, Steve  Greene left guard and Gus Cruz is a guy on the rise

“These reps and these practices, to me, are so important for these guys. We are competing, they better show up and play or they will get their heads beat in.”

With a line that’s incomplete, DeLeone is taking the glass half full approach and mentioned those young guys getting reps such as Mateas at center, Cruz at right guard and Dalton Gifford at left tackle.

DeLeone, once again with some imagery, said being able to build depth is  a “silver lining in a black cloud.”

“Black cloud, grave concern”, yes it’s a rhetoric, but the indication is clear — the line is a major concern.

The injury bug has hit the line and it’s a problem because the team can’t have a repeat of last year’s sieve.  Is the situation grave? It’s not grave until the season is played, but the expected offensive line hasn’t taken a snap together in camp. Coming off a season where it ranked 117 out of 120 in sacks allowed, it’s  a major question mark.

Those questions haven’t been answered this spring. Right now, 2/5s of that line aren’t even practicing and they have to replace a center who started at the position for three years.

If you want a sketch of how the depth on the line looks here’s the best guess assuming guys are healthy:

LT Bennett/Gifford

LG Greene

C Mateas/Kyle Bockeloh/Bullock

RG Masters/Cruz

RT Kevin Friend

That’s pretty much the pool the staff is choosing from.

The staff is high on Xavier Hemingway as a tackle, but Hemingway is coming off surgery and doesn’t have enough weight and bulk. He’s sitting under 280 pounds coming into camp. They have to really bulk him up.  There are other young guys on the roster like Hemingway, but they are also a long way off.

My two cents? I feel better about QB position than the O-line, and, I love the way the WR position is shaping up. I’ll get to that later on Thursday.

Max Delorenzo hasn’t been talked about much as a running back since he committed to UConn. The Berlin native sat last season as Lyle McCombs ran for over 1,000 yards and figured to be behind McCombs, D.J. Shoemate, Fork Union recruit Joe Williams and a fellow bruiser in Martin Hyppolite at RB.

That’s where I had Delorenzo pegged anyway because for as much as we think there is a need for a power back, this isn’t the NFL and speed and elusiveness are better bets at the college level where there is more opportunity for broken plays and missed assignments.

I am not the only one who has downplayed Delorenzo, his defensive teammates did too — until Saturday.

Last week it was freshman Joe Williams who showed explosiveness and speed, this week Delornezo looked like a MAC truck running the ball showing speed to the outside, good vision, and an ability to drive for yards. It surprised everyone.  The UConn defense couldn’t stop talking about him and joking to others (I think) “He’s fat, how he can do that?”  Others came off the field shaking their heads at his power and production. I heard a Mike Alstott rumble.

I commented to Jesse Joseph after practice that I didn’t now that Delornezo could do that, Joseph growled “I didn’t know either.”

Spring practice is about a couple of things, the first is to get better with the (Editors note: Edsallism coming) the Fundamentals and Techniques (TM). 

The second is to find out if the kids can play or not. Max Delorenzo can play.

He impressed me (no big deal), he impressed his teammates (big deal) and most importantly he impressed his head coach, Paul Pasqualoni (BFD).

“Max DeLorenzo showed he got a little wiggle and power and he can run the ball,” Pasqualoni, sounding impressed, said. “We know Lyle, we know what he can do. We are evaluating the tailback position and a week ago we saw #21 (Williams) do something and this week we saw #44 (Delorenzo) do something. I don’t know their roles, but we got to figure out who can play first.”

Another in-state player who impressed is FB Mike Osiecki. He is a threat out of the backfield and breaks one a practice. Now, can he block? That’s what’s going to get him on the field, and if he can ever do that he’s going to be a dangerous weapon. But, the blocking is a long way off.

“At the fullback position, (Osiecki) looks comfortable,” Pasqualoni said.  ”He’s learning it and has to learn which linebacker to block. He can catch the ball and he has a little wiggle too in him.”

The more weapons the better; let’s wiggle on off to the rest of this blog post.

* Not much excitement with today’s scrimmage. Mike Nebrich is looking better as a Wildcat as he is benefiting from the absence of QB Scott McCummings, who remains out with a toe problem.  I like the way Chandler Whitmer plays and throws.  He had a beautiful TD to little Nicky Williams (should I start lobbying for more touches this early?).  I can’t say whether Whitmer is way ahead, slightly ahead, or where the QB race stands if it’s even a horse race. I think he’s a real option, not just a hope. Or, it could be new quarterback bias.

*Talked with Joseph and Trevardo Williams about the d-line. These guys are going to have to anchor the team and they know that DTs Kendall Reyes and Twoyon Martin aren’t there to lean on anymore. The DEs are now the veteran group on the line, and a lot is expected.

Williams, who was third in the nation with 12.5 sacks. salivates at the prospect of him and a healthy Joseph who got injured going into the season and never seemed to get into a rhythm.

Here’s Williams on the potential 1-2 punch at defensive end.

“Him and me? Tough for the offensive line,” Williams said with a smile. “We get back there (in the backfield). Jesse has perfect technique, down to the core and can get to the backfield easily. With my speed and technique, we are going to get into the backfield.”

That’s it for now, enjoy the rest of this beautiful day. Be back this week.

Gotta pay the bills.

UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni was looking for different things than what you would expect during the Huskies’ first spring scrimmage.

Most of the 200 plus coaches on hand watching the scrimmage and the assembled media there (just a handful of us) wanted to see the quarterbacks do something. That would mean crisp passes, downfield precision and most of all production.

Can any of the five move the ball?

Pasqualoni, with only five practices in the books, wasn’t quite ready to jump off a bridge when his QBs struggled in the first scrimmage. Certainly decision-making and precision are something that will eventually decide who the Huskies start at quarterback, but Pasqualoni is taking this slowly. What did he want to see? tempo, getting to the line calling out theright pre-snap reads and plays.

No one won the quarterback job on Saturday, no one lost it, and no one stood out. That’s not what the scrimmage was for. Shuffling in five quarterbacks into the two-deep on offense and defense is a difficult thing to manage.

So how did Johnny McEntee, Casey Cochran, Chandler Whitmer, Mike Nebrich and Scott McCummings perform?

“Under the circumstances they competed hard. What I am looking for is them getting the calls, them verbalizing and getting it out of their mouths and manage the offense,” Pasqualoni said. ”Get us to the line and get us in the play and make the right reads. When I go back and grade the film, I don’t think we will see too many mental mistakes  now. “

It’s going to be a long process and patience is required. If you think Whitmer or Cochran were going to come in an dazzle, you are going to be disappointed. If you thought Johnny McEntee was going to quiver at new competition, you are going to be disappointed.

All five QBs did their thing and had things about them you like and don’t like.  At this point, production is secondary to making correct reads, snaps and managing the offense. There isn’t a game for six months and the coaching staff isn’t expecting a starter to emerge this spring.

I was impressed with Whitmer‘s throwing ability, McEntee‘s conditioning (slimmed down 15 pounds, looks like a new man) and Cochran’s tenacity. Cochran struggles, as expected, with the speed of the game and didn’t have a particularly good throwing day. But, he showed some toughness and wasn’t discouraged and even took a big-time blind side hit from Wilbert Lee that knocked him off his feet. Cochran took the hit and jumped up and got back in the huddle.

McCummings remains the best physically of the bunch and he’s running the wildcat, zone read and the pro-style offense while Nebrich probably had the best day of all five quarterbacks.  It’s a work in progress and no one is expecting this to be resolved soon.

OK, here are some quick observations.

*Frosh RB Joe Williams is an explosive runner who isn’t only track speed fast. He made several runs where he changed direction and then moved the pile. Pasqualoni praised Williams and liked what he saw out of the young back.  Williams has vision, cutback ability and can make defenders miss, a good complement to Lyle McCombs. D.J. Shoemate didn’t dress for the scrimmage, sitting out with a minor injury.

* Wilbert Lee looks like a playmaker at safety. Lee made several bigtime hits and nearly had a pick six go through his hands. He apologized to defense coordinator Don Brown for not intercepting it and Brown told him: “Don’t apologize to me, I want to see you get paid!”

Lee’s sack of Cochran off a safety blitz lifted Cochran off the ground. He closed pretty fast. Pasqualoni liked what he saw, but he wanted to watch the film and see if Lee was in the right spots, or, was freelancing.

* Not a good day to look at WRs. Shakim Phillips, Geremy Davis and Kamal abrams all sat out with minor injuries (muscle pulls). Mike Smith made a couple of nice catches and can get some YAC. He’s going to be a major piece to this offense.

* Shamar Stephen and Ryan Wirth are looking entrenched at DT. Backing up is Bryan McBride and Angelo Pruitt. All four look remarkably bigger than what UConn used to put out at DT. No more starting Kendall Reyes and Twyon Martin as 260 pound tackles.  If Wirth and Stephen can hold thier own, the defense returns eight starters plus Byron Jones, who has starting expereince at safety.   

CONNECTICUT
Thu., Aug. 30 Massachusetts
Sat., Sept. 8 North Carolina State
Sat., Sept. 15 at Maryland
Sat., Sept. 22 at Western Michigan
Sat., Sept. 29 Buffalo
Sat., Oct. 6 at RUTGERS
Sat., Oct. 13 TEMPLE
Fri., Oct. 19 at SYRACUSE (8 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Nov. 3 at USF
Fri., Nov. 9 PITTSBURGH (8 p.m., ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 24 at LOUISVILLE
Sat., Dec. 1 CINCINNATI (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)