Arkeel Newsome

[sdhusky]

Newsome is a good example of why we are better off Not getting high profile local kids at skill positions. While he might work out in no world was he ready for D1 football last year. Like Donald he should have been a redshirt. But when you have a bad team and a local hotshot there is a huge temptation to get him in there or give him extra chances. It happened with DJ Hernandez who had as much business playing quarterback as I did but was a local hero. It happened with Boyle who just happened to get his first start on homecoming as a true frosh. It happened with Newsome in a year that Diaco clearly had no intention of trying to win. So we wrecked Boyles career and lost a productive year from Newsome just to generate public interest. It is a huge temptation and coaches we've had have struggled to resist the urge to satisfy the locals. Recruit local linemen d-backs linebackers but let the quarterbacks and running backs go elsewhere. There are others just as good from New Jersey or Wherever most of the time.

I like it better when you post about why Ollie was a bad hire.

 

[Kgun7]

If you recall Edsall started the season with a redshirt freshman who later became A very good receiver. He said he was going to redshirt Orlovsky if at all possible which did not sit well with the locals. A few games in he finally relented and put Orlovsky in for a few series. Then the other kid got hurt and he had to go with Dan. But I still recall his comments after using Dan for the first time after saying he would only do it in an emergency...All he would say was "Coach's decision". Keaton Henry was the other kid. FYI

There was a 0% chance Keron Henry would take 100% of the snaps in 2001. How would you have saved Orlovsky's redshirt without burning Williams's??? Even if you decided to burn Williams's you could not guarantee you could save Orlovsky's.

Playing Orlovsky earlier in the season (a season in which he most likely would have burned his redshirt anyway) and allowing him an opportunity to learn under fire was probably the best choice .... among a lot of bad choices.

Ryan Tracey's left knee had more to do with losing Orlovsky's redshirt than any pressure applied by locals.

 

[Confident Carl]

Newsome is a good example of why we are better off Not getting high profile local kids at skill positions. While he might work out in no world was he ready for D1 football last year. Like Donald he should have been a redshirt. But when you have a bad team and a local hotshot there is a huge temptation to get him in there or give him extra chances. It happened with DJ Hernandez who had as much business playing quarterback as I did but was a local hero. It happened with Boyle who just happened to get his first start on homecoming as a true frosh. It happened with Newsome in a year that Diaco clearly had no intention of trying to win. So we wrecked Boyles career and lost a productive year from Newsome just to generate public interest. It is a huge temptation and coaches we've had have struggled to resist the urge to satisfy the locals. Recruit local linemen d-backs linebackers but let the quarterbacks and running backs go elsewhere. There are others just as good from New Jersey or Wherever most of the time.

At first I thought this post was a joke but then I realized you were serious.

I could just see the coaches in a recruiting meeting now. Verducci -" I really like this kid out of Norwalk High, Silas Redd." Diaco- "No way! He's too talented of a skill position player and we'll end up burning his redshirt because we'll be under political pressure to start him and ruin his career. Let Penn State take him. I'm sure we can find a back close to his skill set in another state outside of CT".

 

[Waquoit]

Ryan Tracey's left knee had more to do with losing Orlovsky's redshirt than any pressure applied by locals.

I think that's the entire reason. If Tracey stays, DanO would have redshirted.

 

[huskymedic]

desmondconner 9:04pm via TweetDeck
#UConnFootball RB Ron Johnson on Arkeel Newsome:You'll lose your ankles if you have a bad angle on him n he can power right through you too.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

If you recall Edsall started the season with a redshirt freshman who later became A very good receiver. He said he was going to redshirt Orlovsky if at all possible which did not sit well with the locals. A few games in he finally relented and put Orlovsky in for a few series. Then the other kid got hurt and he had to go with Dan. But I still recall his comments after using Dan for the first time after saying he would only do it in an emergency...All he would say was "Coach's decision". Keaton Henry was the other kid. FYI

I could be wrong but if memory serves didn't Henry suffer a knee injury that season?

 

[Waquoit]

I could be wrong but if memory serves didn't Henry suffer a knee injury that season?

I don't think so. I thought he moved to WR when Dan O got the starting nod.

 

[businesslawyer]

Newsome is a good example of why we are better off Not getting high profile local kids at skill positions. While he might work out in no world was he ready for D1 football last year. Like Donald he should have been a redshirt. But when you have a bad team and a local hotshot there is a huge temptation to get him in there or give him extra chances. It happened with DJ Hernandez who had as much business playing quarterback as I did but was a local hero. It happened with Boyle who just happened to get his first start on homecoming as a true frosh. It happened with Newsome in a year that Diaco clearly had no intention of trying to win. So we wrecked Boyles career and lost a productive year from Newsome just to generate public interest. It is a huge temptation and coaches we've had have struggled to resist the urge to satisfy the locals. Recruit local linemen d-backs linebackers but let the quarterbacks and running backs go elsewhere. There are others just as good from New Jersey or Wherever most of the time.

DJ shared the QB position for two years with Matt Bonislawski. The moment Tyler L. joined the program, DJ became a wideout. If you think DJ (who redshirted by the way) was on a totally lower level of QB play than Bones, I don't know what to say

 

[Hoophound]

DJ shared the QB position for two years with Matt Bonislawski. The moment Tyler L. joined the program, DJ became a wideout. If you think DJ (who redshirted by the way) was on a totally lower level of QB play than Bones, I don't know what to say

Bingo. DJ was the best available.

 

[Kgun7]

I don't think so. I thought he moved to WR when Dan O got the starting nod.

Pretty sure Orlovsky took snaps in mop up duty of week 2. Henry got hurt a few games later. It wasn't until the following year they made Henry a wideout. That's how I remember it ... I just know it wasn't local pressure forcing FHCRE to do it.