Fuller:
Virginia at UConn football: 5 things to know
1. Hit the ground running: UConn’s next two games are against teams ranked 121st and 127th among 128 FBS teams in rushing yards per carry allowed, so perhaps it will give former Ansonia High star Arkeel Newsome the spark he needs to get going. Newsome averaged 4.4 yards per carry en route to being the Huskies’ leading rusher in 2015 but he is at 2.2 yards per carry this season.
2. Spreading the wealth: Senior receiver Noel Thomas has 20 catches, the most for a UConn player after two games. The drawback is other players have not been involved in the passing game. Newsome, Tyraiq Beals, Alec Bloom and Tommy Myers combined for 261 yards on 16 catches with three TDs in the first two games last season, but they have just 77 yards on five receptions this season, with 25 of those yards coming on a fake field goal.
3. Guarded optimism: UConn’s depth on the offensive line was viewed as a strength with six players with previous starting experience returning. That depth could be tested with starting guard Tommy Hopkins likely to miss his second straight game. His replacement, Brendan Vechery left last week’s Navy game for a bit, and if he isn’t 100 percent, reserve tackle Trey Rutherford could move back to guard where he started the St. Petersburg Bowl.
4. Familiar faces: Not only is UConn coach Bob Diaco a former assistant coach, but defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter and quarterbacks coach Wayne Lineburg played and coached at Virginia. Defensive line coach Vincent Brown is another former assistant. Virginia’s top four tacklers (Micah Kiser, Quin Blanding, Zach Bradshaw and Kirk Garner) were recruited by Poindexter or Brown.
5. Road woes: Virginia has lost its last 16 road games, including last week’s 44-26 at Oregon. The Cavaliers’ last road victory came on Nov. 3, 2012 against North Carolina State.
