Arkeel Newsome

[Waquoit]

While I think Newsome has a world of potential, it doesn't seem to be as a KO returner. Some guys have the knack. Larry Taylor was brilliant at it. Some other guys who have what seems to be the ideal KO return package, never seem to really make the first guy miss. Not saying that Newsome can't make himself into a great returner but he wasn't a natural one last year.

That's fair. Those folks trying to make a big deal out of his all purpose yards need to stop. The number was almost totally aquired by KO returns and his average per return was ranked 92nd in FBS. His longest return is tied for DFL. Watching from the stands, I always felt we would be better off if he took a knee.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I suppose it's not possible or probable that our blocking on kick returns sucked? I may be hallucinating but I recall a kick being returned for a TD, then getting called back because of a penalty. I don't remember when or who. Never mind, couldn't be important.

 

[freescooter]

I suppose it's not possible or probable that our blocking on kick returns sucked? I may be hallucinating but I recall a kick being returned for a TD, then getting called back because of a penalty. I don't remember when or who. Never mind, couldn't be important.

I recall a few, or at least 2-3 very good ones called back. I think he had one over midfield called back in the opener. I remember another long one, not sure it was a touchdown though, called back too. Maybe Boise game?

 

[Carl Spackler]

I don't really remember. Like Will Munny in the Unforgiven, last season, I don't recollect that much, I was drunk most of the time. Now that I think of it, the example I was specifically thinking of I think was a kick coverage and not return, didn't we have one where we recovered a fumble for a TD and it got called back? That wouldn't have anything to do with this discussion though.

Whatever - Newsome needs to prove 2 things to be part of the regular offense, according to me, and that's #1 demonstrating reliable ball security both in practices and games, and #2, showing enough knowledge of the offense to be able to on the field and pick up blocking assignments and protections out of the backfield.

It seems from what coach has said, that he's going to get his chances early to work his way into the offense.

 

[Alum86]

Brown went to WestHill CI in Toronto. Played weak competition. 111 was against King Academy.That's like Uconn playing Simsbury High. I seem to remember Ansonia being a pretty good team in a competitive league. Newsome was a Parade AA. He will be dynamic and explosive this year. And unlike Lyle McCombs, Newsome will get the ball in open space a lot.

And he cost us in the Mason game.
LOL.

 

[Gblow8690]

Surprised there are so many haters on Newsome!!! The kid was a true freshman playing the second toughest position in football for us. Of course the kid needs to block better as he probably never blocked in high school and being a 165lb kid straight out of high school isn't easy. Not sure what you guys saw but nobody on the team is even close to being electric as this kid. If you wanna run the ball 2 yards at a time then Johnson is your man, if you want a chance to go the distance then the only guy who can do that is newsome and despite his size he always seemed to fall forward. I don't know about all of you but I am tired of this vanilla offense. Get it into the hands of playmakers.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Surprised there are so many haters on Newsome!!! The kid was a true freshman playing the second toughest position in football for us. Of course the kid needs to block better as he probably never blocked in high school and being a 165lb kid straight out of high school isn't easy. Not sure what you guys saw but nobody on the team is even close to being electric as this kid. If you wanna run the ball 2 yards at a time then Johnson is your man, if you want a chance to go the distance then the only guy who can do that is newsome and despite his size he always seemed to fall forward. I don't know about all of you but I am tired of this vanilla offense. Get it into the hands of playmakers.

You live in the valley. Dontcha?

 

[J187Money]

Surprised there are so many haters on Newsome!!! The kid was a true freshman playing the second toughest position in football for us. Of course the kid needs to block better as he probably never blocked in high school and being a 165lb kid straight out of high school isn't easy. Not sure what you guys saw but nobody on the team is even close to being electric as this kid. If you wanna run the ball 2 yards at a time then Johnson is your man, if you want a chance to go the distance then the only guy who can do that is newsome and despite his size he always seemed to fall forward. I don't know about all of you but I am tired of this vanilla offense. Get it into the hands of playmakers.

I'm not a hater. And I think Newsome will be really good. But when I was in HS Hamden was a decent class LL team. Derby was unbeatable in class S and we stomped them. Last year was likely a wake up call. He should be bigger, stronger, faster this year. But last year he was in over his head. Given that we ended up 2-10 he probably should have redshirted.

 

[Confident Carl]

Surprised there are so many haters on Newsome!!! The kid was a true freshman playing the second toughest position in football for us. Of course the kid needs to block better as he probably never blocked in high school and being a 165lb kid straight out of high school isn't easy. Not sure what you guys saw but nobody on the team is even close to being electric as this kid. If you wanna run the ball 2 yards at a time then Johnson is your man, if you want a chance to go the distance then the only guy who can do that is newsome and despite his size he always seemed to fall forward. I don't know about all of you but I am tired of this vanilla offense. Get it into the hands of playmakers.

But I think Ron Johson is gonna be great too! Kind of like Thunder and Lightening! NY Giants Ron Dayne & Tiki Barber in the the early 2,000's!

 

[Stainmaster]

But I think Ron Johson is gonna be great too! Kind of like Thunder and Lightening! NY Giants Ron Dayne & Tiki Barber in the the early 2,000's!

View attachment 10233

Tim Boyle is Tom Brady, our 3 QBs are Braxton Miller/J.T. Barrett/Cardale Jones, and now this...I have to hand it to you, at least you're consistent.

 

[Excalibur]

That's fair. Those folks trying to make a big deal out of his all purpose yards need to stop. The number was almost totally aquired by KO returns and his average per return was ranked 92nd in FBS. His longest return is tied for DFL. Watching from the stands, I always felt we would be better off if he took a knee.

To me he always looked tentative on returns -- never seemed like he was going full speed.

 

[Confident Carl]

Tim Boyle is Tom Brady, our 3 QBs are Braxton Miller/J.T. Barrett/Cardale Jones, and now this...I have to hand it to you, at least you're consistent.

You're consistently obnoxious. Noting that Ohio State won with their third string QB does not compare Garrett Anderson with Cardale Jones. It simply makes a case that the Buckeyes went through 3 QB's last year and ran the table. Also, you had better have more than one talented QB. The comparison of Brady to Boyle was the fact that Brady did nothing until his Junior year at Michigan. You stretch things like that long neck in the picture.

 

[Gblow8690]

You live in the valley. Dontcha?

Actually I am not from the Valley. Just root for CT kids to do well. Do you need to be from the Valley to see he is our biggest big play threat on the team?

 

[Gblow8690]

I'm not a hater. And I think Newsome will be really good. But when I was in HS Hamden was a decent class LL team. Derby was unbeatable in class S and we stomped them. Last year was likely a wake up call. He should be bigger, stronger, faster this year. But last year he was in over his head. Given that we ended up 2-10 he probably should have redshirted.

Sadly Hamden probably couldn't beat a good class S school anymore

 

[Stainmaster]

Actually I am not from the Valley. Just root for CT kids to do well. Do you need to be from the Valley to see he is our biggest big play threat on the team?

There's a difference between being supportive of local kids and having a bias that prevents accurately analyzing their skills and weaknesses. Newsome is talented as all hell, but he's not playing if he doesn't hold onto the rock. I also think you're way underselling Johnson.

 

[Gblow8690]

There's a difference between being supportive of local kids and having a bias that prevents accurately analyzing their skills and weaknesses. Newsome is talented as all hell, but he's not playing if he doesn't hold onto the rock. I also think you're way underselling Johnson.

If you read my original post I said IF he can hold onto the ball. Secondly you look at his stats its 47 yards,65 yards, 29 yards in a game and he had the majority of the carries. Granted our line sucked but Newsome can get those yards on one carry. We need to open this offense up and he is not a threat out of the backfield. If your happy just running on 1st and 2nd down then throw on third so be it.

 

[Waquoit]

Surprised there are so many haters on Newsome!!!

Stop right there. Not drinking the kool-aid doesn't make one a hater.

 

[Waquoit]

But I think Ron Johnson is gonna be great too! Kind of like Thunder and Lightening! NY Giants Ron Dayne & Tiki Barber in the the early 2,000's!

I remember when Ron Johnson gained a 1,000 yards for the Giants.

 

[huskyblooz]

I'm not from the Valley either, but Newsome & Foxx were the only two guys last year who could make something out of nothing.

It did seem that he never tried to juke anyone on KO returns. Maybe he was just doing what he was told. He was met at the 10 yard line too often.

 

[Palatine]

I suppose it's not possible or probable that our blocking on kick returns sucked? I may be hallucinating but I recall a kick being returned for a TD, then getting called back because of a penalty. I don't remember when or who. Never mind, couldn't be important.

Maybe you're recalling Boise State fumbling the ball into the end zone on a KO, UConn recovering for a TD but it was nullified due to a penalty. I remember that killer.

It is, of course, possible our KO return team was sub-par. It just my opinion that Newsome didn't seem to have the "it" factor returning KOs.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Actually I am not from the Valley. Just root for CT kids to do well. Do you need to be from the Valley to see he is our biggest big play threat on the team?

It's nice to see local kids do well, but once you get on the field, it don't matter where you're from, or how you got there, it's what you can do.

I'm not sure that Newsome is our biggest play threat on O. I think that title is going to go to Noel Thomas, I'm hopeful at least that we've got a threat out there and a QB that can deliver. We haven't had one being featured in the offense really since Marcus Easley. Davis could have been, I suppose, but he'll get his chance in the NFL too.

Newsome has the ability to make game momentum changing type of plays, but until he can demonstrate that he can be on the field in multiple situations on O, he's a liability. It's that simple. It's not easy to be a back, you got to know the offense and be able to block. In all of this, you can't count of Delorenzo either. Senior player is not going to want to give up playing time. Newsome will get his touches, the coach has said so, and if he shines, he'll keep getting more.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Maybe you're recalling Boise State fumbling the ball into the end zone on a KO, UConn recovering for a TD but it was nullified due to a penalty. I remember that killer.

It is, of course, possible our KO return team was sub-par. It just my opinion that Newsome didn't seem to have the "it" factor returning KOs.

That's fair enough. I didn't get the same impression, but it's ok to disagree.

 

[Dooley]

From today's scrimmage...can't wait to see him "just go"...

- Arkeel Newsome may be that second back. The Huskies want to get him space because he can break your ankles but he ran like a power back Saturday and behind that second team line of Peart and Steve Hashemi on the left and Kyle Bockeloh and Trey Rutherford on the right wrapped around Oak. This group started slow and picked it up and Newsome benefitted.

"I was a little hesitant last year," Newsome said. "I have experience now and feel comfortable enough to just go."

 

[Justin M]

 

[Bonehead]

Surprised there are so many haters on Newsome!!! The kid was a true freshman playing the second toughest position in football for us. Of course the kid needs to block better as he probably never blocked in high school and being a 165lb kid straight out of high school isn't easy. Not sure what you guys saw but nobody on the team is even close to being electric as this kid. If you wanna run the ball 2 yards at a time then Johnson is your man, if you want a chance to go the distance then the only guy who can do that is newsome and despite his size he always seemed to fall forward. I don't know about all of you but I am tired of this vanilla offense. Get it into the hands of playmakers.

A dig a my POY favorite...

 

[FDNY99]

I see Johnson and Newsome as UCONN's version of the Marion Barber II and Laurence Maroney tandem at Minnesota 2003-2004.

 

[huskymedic]

From Fuller's Article on today's scrimmage:

>>I probably saw Newsome play in high school at least 12 times. I barely recognized him a season ago with how tentative he was when he carried the ball on run or pass plays and especially on kickoff returns. Today as I watched his incredibly quick feet set up blockers and tacklers and then see him aggressively dart through the hole, I thought to myself that is the Arkeel Newsome I remember.

"Wherever I am, I am just fighting for that extra yard and focusing on ball (security) and keeping my feet moving at all times," Newsome said. "Moving faster is just me knowing everything I had to do. I think it was a lack of focus and being nervous about making mistakes which made me a little timid and nervous."

When I asked Newsome is he was carrying a ball with him everywhere including to bed at night, he chuckled and said he was. Whatever he is doing, it is working. Diaco said all the running backs are doing a much better job in the ball security department than they did at a similar point during last year's camp.

"The ball carriers have been much better," Newsome said. "Obviously the proof will be in the pudding on game day but even leading up to this point, there is a lot less ball security issues." What does Newsome credit for his ability to run between the tackles without putting the ball on the ground? "Strength is definitely a big part of that. I make sure I am doing whatever I have to do," Newsome said.<<

 

[Palatine]

NHRJimFuller4:42pm via TweetDeck
Saw Arkeel Newsome play perhaps 12 times in high school, today's scrimmage was first time he looked like that back while at #UConn

That's very promising.

 

[noeynox]

If there was ever a kid I wished got red shirt ed last year it was him. He just wasn't big/strong enough for the pounding especially with that line. He had some impressive runs,last year against Tulane that ended in fumbles when. He got rag dolled on the tackle.

Felt that with Mariner and Delorenzo you didn't have to burn both redshirts of the freshmen in what ended up being a 2 win season. In spite of that, I just hope he is better this year for that experience from last season. This kid has outstanding vision, and I think that gets confused with being tentative.

 

[jazyj]

If there was ever a kid I wished got red shirt ed last year it was him. He just wasn't big/strong enough for the pounding especially with that line. He had some impressive runs,last year against Tulane that ended in fumbles when. He got rag dolled on the tackle.

Felt that with Mariner and Delorenzo you didn't have to burn both redshirts of the freshmen in what ended up being a 2 win season. In spite of that, I just hope he is better this year for that experience from last season. This kid has outstanding vision, and I think that gets confused with being tentative.

sometimes experience is more valuable than a year waiting