UCF Defense Poses a Challenge
An offense that has just started to get on track, will run into the tenth ranked defense nationally, in UCF, on Saturday.
It is a challenge that the Huskies will have to cope with, if they want to hand the Knights their first ever conference loss, as a member of the AAC.
UConn head coach Bob Diaco spoke at length about the obstacles they will face, during yesterday’s media availability.
“I think the main component to their defense is the fact that it is all fourth and fifth year juniors and seniors,” he said. “There are a couple third year players in there, but they are all older players. They have a veteran grizzle to them and they are really well coached. They are sound, play hard and don’t miss tackles.”
The Knights play with a style that you can tell Diaco signs off on. At times, the former defensive coordinator has conveyed annoyance with the style of play some teams are running, especially out west, with the high octane, up-tempo offenses. What he does enjoy is solid defense and fundamental football.
“You watch them [UCF] accelerate through tackles, they play defense the way I like to watch it played,” Diaco said. “When they line up and the coverage presents, it looks like a coverage. They aren’t aborting gaps, they’re sound in the front and then they add to it by having exceptional players.”
Some of those players will look to impede the Huskies passing attack this weekend.
“They are talented all across, but their safety, No. 26 [Clayton Geathers], he’s a fantastic player,” Diaco said. “They have a veteran backfield that allows them to do some things up front, as they can tie down the play making abilities [on the outside].”
Senior QB Chandler Whitmer will be tested by that secondary, as will the running game with the presence of Terrance Plummer, a 6-1, 236-lb senior linebacker.
“At the second level, he’s [Plummer] an all-conference player,” Diaco noted. “He’s the battery of the unit, the heart and soul. Just a great leader, vocal leader, energetic play maker, very productive and always runs downhill.”
The most important match-up heading in, however, will be how the Huskies much improved offensive line, handles Jaryl Mamea and Demetris Anderson, two interior lineman who have wreaked havoc on opposing offenses. Their play has aided in the Knights averaging 3.0 sacks per game, good for 19th in the country.
“I’m not sure anyone has been able to handle them,” Diaco said. “They’ve been able to pretty much dominate the inside tackle area in every game they’ve played.”
UCF is ranked 17th against the run, surrendering just 3.1 yards per attempt. They are 14th, alongside Notre Dame, in surrendering just 19.1 points per game.
It will be an uphill battle, but the Huskies will be at Rentschler Field for the first time in 36 days.
“We’re excited, I think that month off kind of created an out of sight, out of mind mentality, or if you’re a romantic, maybe absence makes the heart grow fonder?” Diaco jokingly said.
“Hopefully there will be a nice crowd there. We’ll be appreciative of everyone that comes and cheers hard for the Huskies. We’re excited to get back into our stadium, our locker room and on our field. Hopefully not being at home for a month has not turned the lights off on the fan football experience.”
Tickets are still on sale for Saturday’s Homecoming game and can be purchased at UConnHuskies.com.
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