UConn Football Open Practice in August (Update > 8/14 @ 1p)

[huskymedic]

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Observations from yesterday in no particular order: caveat, I missed the first hour (thank you legendary coastal CT traffic).

1) OL/DL - so is our DL/front seven super good or our OL not so great? Honestly its hard to say. I want to believe our OL is perhaps a 4 or 5 on a scale to 10 while our DL is closer to an 8. Lots of penetration with LBs and DLs blocking throwing lanes and getting to the QB after a couple seconds. Travis Jones, Watts and Uguak look ready.
2) #28 Brian Brewton - on special teams drills it was apparent the freshman RB from FL is very fluid, with burst. I would like to see him start with kick off duties this year, maybe punt return too.
3) #86 Kevens Clercius - 6'3'' third year WR from Canada got the call up to 1st team to replace injured Matt Drayton. He provides the big body WR to balance out Ross.
4) #91 Collin McCarthy - 6'6'' 256lb RS FR DE from NJ - seems like he was rotating in with the 1s. Looks like he will be an early contributor. Able to set an edge. Interested to see what he is like in a real game.
5) #89 Jahkai Gill - RS Soph slot walk on WR looking great on second team. He should get some touches this year. Very fluid.
6) #26 Nate Carter - RS FS RB looks like he will be a difference maker in 2021 and years ahead. Able to run inside, outside and catch passes, he will leave the opponents guessing.
7) #30 Robert Burns - I didn't happen to notice much from Burns, I can't say I was able to absorb everything that was going on yesterday. I do think Burns will be an effective change of pace back or more.
8) #19 Durante Jones...RS FS safety is rather visible on the field.
9) Corners - didn't seem that busy, because it didn't seem that our QBs challenged them very often. I left yesterday wondering, are our corners just much better, our QBs not as good or did the staff just keep this open practice so vanilla there was no good opportunities for the WRs. Hard to say....but on its surface #21 Jeremy Lucien (who has filled out nicely) and #7 Wortham (getting snaps for Bell who I believe was nicked up) seemed to have the edge over the offense.
10) #44 Max Modeste - I like what I saw on third team, intriguing RB for a year or two into the future.
11) #45 Chris Johnson - seemed to stand out a bit on third team at TE.
12) #55 Quay Evans - big seemed to stand out to me a bit on second or third team on DL. Maybe simple because he ahead of the others at this level with by filling out his body.
13) #22 Alfred Chea - seemed active on second team D at safety. Had an interception of Tyler P.
14) Kudos to Tyler P for tossing that smooth practice ending bomb TD to his HS bud #88 Josh Tracy. Tyler tried to push the ball downfield with some of his reps earlier in the session without great success. Of note, when he decides to run he is shifty and demonstrates that he can easily move like our best slot WRs.

Okay - again I missed the first hour.

Its one practice....so its easy to read too much into anything.

Think Carter looked liked the best pass catcher of the RBs too. Yeah Brewton needs to touch the ball. The need is not there at RB, hopefully as a return man.

 

[RSTuthill]

One final question for the attendees. In the scrimmages 11 v 11, did the O have any success running the ball against the first unit D? What was your overall impression of UConn's strength vs strength? Running offense vs. run defense?

 

[huskymedic]

Some nice pics in the gallary:

 

[Slick]

So either ML is injured or he is starting. Is that the reasonable conclusion? If he is not injured, then they certainly do not want to reveal that the playbook has changed to pro sets against Fresno.

More likely JZ is #1 and SK is #2. But we shall see.

No chance ML is starting unless JZ and SK are injured

 

[Exit 4]

One final question for the attendees. In the scrimmages 11 v 11, did the O have any success running the ball against the first unit D? What was your overall impression of UConn's strength vs strength? Running offense vs. run defense?

Maybe others can judge better- but sense the drills are run without tackling to the ground it’s not legit live action. That said, there were some chunks of yardage, running game seem far from stifled.

 

[hardcorehusky]

Maybe others can judge better- but sense the drills are run without tackling to the ground it’s not legit live action. That said, there were some chunks of yardage, running game seem far from stifled.

What you missed was RE telling us that the NCAA mandates the following: 25 practices, only 9 allowed to have hitting. All can have helmets but 8 need to have helmets and spider pads and 8 have helmets and regular pads. Allowed to have only 2 scrimmages- 1 was last week and the next and last one is Tuesday.

Also, Gill looked really good yesterday. Wasn't he a walk on?

 

[Exit 4]

What you missed was RE telling us that the NCAA mandates the following: 25 practices, only 9 allowed to have hitting. All can have helmets but 8 need to have helmets and spider pads and 8 have helmets and regular pads. Allowed to have only 2 scrimmages- 1 was last week and the next and last one is Tuesday.

Also, Gill looked really good yesterday. Wasn't he a walk on?

Oh yeah, I’m not complaining - I know the contact is all tightly controlled.

Gill is a walk on and local kid from the Hartford area. He’s looking good- looking forward to seeing what happens for him.

 

[Forte]

SK looked very good while I was there throwing the football. He looked like he was throwing right on the money.

But did he look like a leader?

 

[CCSUblue]

It keeps nagging at me that SK is always the holder. Why aren't they using a punter to do that? Otherwise it seems like SK would have to be 2nd string.

 

[hardcorehusky]

It keeps nagging at me that SK is always the holder. Why aren't they using a punter to do that? Otherwise it seems like SK would have to be 2nd string.

I saw the punter holding for the kicker in warmups

 

[CCSUblue]

I saw the punter holding for the kicker in warmups

Fair enough. Only thing I've seen is picks of 8 holding, and I recall a tweet or IG from the kicker that included SK. So hopefully it's just a part of practice and not an indication of his place on the depth chart.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Life Is Good]

But did he look like a leader?

Absolutely. He got his teammates together and raised over $1,000 for the Husky Ticket Project. That kind of thoughtfulness and organization carries onto the field.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Woof 101]

This is sad, annoying and condescending ...

. Redshirt junior Micah Leon, another quarterback in the rotation, was on the field at times but mostly played a spectator's role. "He just didn't practice today," Edsall said when asked about Leon. <-

Randy for the life of him has a hard time of growing the fan base when a honest quick response is required. Time and again he has the ability to speak and ask for the 12th man back. Just before practice he asked for all present to bring friends and family to support the team.
His reply to the question was a insult to everyone present. Pretty much only hard core fans attend a practice and are observant of who is participating and who is not. We all knew he did not practice, the question was why. Post practice dropped ball by the HC ...

 

[Rosebud70]

Absolutely. He got his teammates together and raised over $1,000 for the Husky Ticket Project. That kind of thoughtfulness and organization carries onto the field.

I agree. Between the lines a kid who had that idea on his own and get the players involved with him to me has great character on and off the field. Hopefully he gets a chance to do his thing on the field. He showed promise in his limited time and toughness and leadership playing injured. Hopefully this isn’t Tim Boyle 2.0 for RE 2.0. That being said I feel who ever starts the season as QB 1 will not end at QB1. After a foreseen Mary go round and different qbs playing hopefully we will have our guy by week six.

 

[AllThings34]

Any feedback on Houston #25? I know there were some high expectations for him and Brian Brewton. I think we’ve saw or heard about the other rbs besides him.

 

[Exit 4]

Any feedback on Houston #25? I know there were some high expectations for him and Brian Brewton. I think we’ve saw or heard about the other rbs besides him.

I didn’t happen to notice him, but that doesn’t mean too much. Hard to see everything with 100 kids out there.

 

[metsfan2323]

Hopefully this isn’t Tim Boyle 2.0 for RE 2.0.

Not for nothing but Randy was at Maryland when Tim Boyle was recruited and departed. Contrary to popular myth on the Boneyard HCRE always get the QB position in the hands of the best player and has never had a QB transfer who has gone on to do anything special. Boyle and Nebrich (and even Shirreffs who Randy re-recruited after Dibacle shunned him) were other coaches mistakes. I'm sure your boy will get his shot as history shows with RE it always comes down to performance, as it should.

The Boneyard is always and forever obsessed with the back-up QB as many on the board have an attitude that they are somehow smarter than the coach. Even Calhoun was frequently criticized by the know it all's.

 

[hardcorehusky]

Any feedback on Houston #25? I know there were some high expectations for him and Brian Brewton. I think we’ve saw or heard about the other rbs besides him.

He looked outstanding in drills. It might be too early for him with Mensah Burns, Brewton and Modeste ahead of him due to time in program. He is one for the future with good hands, wiggle and burst.

 

[Life Is Good]

Not for nothing but Randy was at Maryland when Tim Boyle was recruited and departed. Contrary to popular myth on the Boneyard HCRE always get the QB position in the hands of the best player and has never had a QB transfer who has gone on to do anything special. Boyle and Nebrich (and even Shirreffs who Randy re-recruited after Dibacle shunned him) were other coaches mistakes. I'm sure your boy will get his shot as history shows with RE it always comes down to performance, as it should.

The Boneyard is always and forever obsessed with the back-up QB as many on the board have an attitude that they are somehow smarter than the coach. Even Calhoun was frequently criticized by the know it all's.

Someone posted awhile back that once a player is in Randy’s doghouse it’s hard to get out of. With that being said, I think Randy had his mind made up on QB1 before the season even started.

 

[metsfan2323]

Someone posted awhile back that once a player is in Randy’s doghouse it’s hard to get out of. With that being said, I think Randy had his mind made up on QB1 before the season even started.

If true I am sure it was because of QB1's performance (whoever QB1 is). There is no secret agenda. When HCRE talks about leadership he is talking about rallying the troops into the endzone.

 

[Exit 4]

I just hope all these guys realize that after a year off it’s going to take 1/2 the season to really firm up the depth chart. Where you start in Fresno may not be where you are in October more than any other given season. Be ready for the opportunity which is probably coming.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Any feedback on Houston #25? I know there were some high expectations for him and Brian Brewton. I think we’ve saw or heard about the other rbs besides him.

Fastest through the step drills. Probably one of the fastest on the team. With Burns and Mensah departing perhaps look for Modeste to be in the bigger back role with Carter and Houston to be the speed guys. They can afford to allow Houston to RS and get bigger or if needed utilize his speed in other areas?

 

[AllThings34]

He looked outstanding in drills. It might be too early for him with Mensah Burns, Brewton and Modeste ahead of him due to time in program. He is one for the future with good hands, wiggle and burst.

I wouldn’t mind seeing him get reps in the slot…totally unexpected but with his size and speed, I’m sure he could be productive there.

 

[Hornet22]

This is sad, annoying and condescending ...

Randy for the life of him has a hard time of growing the fan base when a honest quick response is required. Time and again he has the ability to speak and ask for the 12th man back. Just before practice he asked for all present to bring friends and family to support the team.
His reply to the question was a insult to everyone present. Pretty much only hard core fans attend a practice and are observant of who is participating and who is not. We all knew he did not practice, the question was why. Post practice dropped ball by the HC ...

Perhaps there are reasons why he couldn’t say anything and had to be vague. Not sure why some can’t understand everything going on within a program isn’t for public consumption. Just because we’re fans doesn’t mean we’re entitled to everything that goes on in a locker room. He didn’t practice and we all saw that which sucks. Obviously there’s a valid reason why but do we REALLY need to know that as well?

 

[ktuck911]

Fastest through the step drills. Probably one of the fastest on the team. With Burns and Mensah departing perhaps look for Modeste to be in the bigger back role with Carter and Houston to be the speed guys. They can afford to allow Houston to RS and get bigger or if needed utilize his speed in other areas?

Or, maybe we're keeping things "vanilla" in front of fans now, and then we'll really see who's playing.. and who's not...

Houston provides us with that game speed we've been missing for quite some time (since Edsall left the 1st time)...Wouldn't be surprised one bit if he's in some packages/plays come Week 1...

I'm cool with Coach being coach... Keep things close to the vest...

 

[Hornet22]

Or, maybe we're keeping things "vanilla" in front of fans now, and then we'll really see who's playing.. and who's not...

Houston provides us with that game speed we've been missing for quite some time (since Edsall left the 1st time)...Wouldn't be surprised one bit if he's in some packages/plays come Week 1...

I'm cool with Coach being coach... Keep things close to the vest...

Well said Ktuck

 

[Hskies4Ever]

It keeps nagging at me that SK is always the holder. Why aren't they using a punter to do that? Otherwise it seems like SK would have to be 2nd string.

Because if you want to run a trick pass out of FG formation and have to sub in a QB to hold, you tip off the other team. If you always have a QB hold you keep your options open. Very common practice.