2004
Preview By DJ Boyer
football.com
Team MVP: This one has to go to
quarterback Dan Orlovsky. Orlovsky is a senior now and he has been
the primary quarterback for Connecticut since the fourth game of his
freshman season. Orlovsky has great mechanics and I currently have
him rated as the top senior quarterback in the country. Orlovsky
three for 3,485 yards last year and had 33 touchdowns and 14
interceptions. Orlovsky has a nice stable of running backs and wide
receivers so he has plenty of support for 2004.
Quarterback: Orlovsky is the man on this
team even though they are deep on all of the skill positions on
offense the play of Orlovsky will be the key. D.J. Hernandez is
waiting in the wings and could be the starter next year. If
something happens to Orlovsky this year sophomore Matt Bonislawski
should be on the field. Durability has not been a problem with
Orlovsky so only expect to see other quarterbacks on the field for
mop up work. Orlovsky has above average arm strength and he sells
the play action fake very well. If the running game is consistent
this play can be used in his arsenal time and time again.
Running Back: Terry Caulley is a small 5-7 scatback that
looked like he was on his way to stardom as a sophomore last year
when he had over 600 yards in the first four games of the season
until ripping his knee early in the first quarter against Virginia
Tech. Caulley is back and should be the starter but his injury may
have been a blessing in disguise because Cornell Brockington and
Chris Bellamy were fantastic in his absence. Brockington finished
the year with 643 yards while Bellamy had 589. All three players are
back meaning the Huskies return three running backs that had at
least 500 yards last year, how many teams in the nation can say
that?
Wide Receiver/Tight End: This team likes to spread the wealth
at wide receiver. Keron Henry is the big home run hitter for the
Huskies but what this unit does better than anyone is block
downfield for the running game. Expect the wide receivers as a group
to put up very good numbers put nobody will hit double digit TD’s
or top 800 yards. The key could be tight end Tim Lassan. At 6-5
Lassan is a big target and while he caught only eight passes in 2003
a total of three of them went for touchdown. Lassan could be the red
zone target of choice for the offense in 2004.
Offensive Line: This line continues to improve but the left
side could be as goods as it gets in the Big East. Ryan Krug is
attracting national attention and could see some time in the NFL.
290-pound senior Brian Markowski is a very skilled guard who has the
mobility to go anywhere. The problem with the Huskies remains depth,
there are three seniors starting along the line but most of the
bench contains very young players. If Connecticut avoids injuries
they could have the top line in the Big East and rival the line but
together by Boston College.
Defensive Line: The best player on the defensive side of the
football has to be defensive end Tyler King but as a whole this unit
has to be considered the weakest part of the defense. King was
partner in crime to the now departed Uyi Osunde and he is the only
player with any big game experience on the defensive line. Deon
McPhee has one one of the tackle positions but the right end and
other tackle position is still up for grabs. The Huskies are
undersized and look to be susceptible against the run.
Linebacker: All of the starting linebackers from 2003 return
and they are much like the defensive line in that they too are an
undersized unit. Darius Leak may move to the outside and unseat
returning starter James Hargrave but the top two tacklers from the
2003 squad are intact with outside linebacker Maurice Lloyd and
middle linebacker Alfred Fincher. This unit must be considered I the
top half of the conference due to experience but they are not
unstoppable.
Secondary: Other than Syracuse, the Huskies probably have the
best secondary in the conference. Three of the four positions will
be manned by returning starters in the basic 4-3 pro style defense.
Justin Perkins looks to have the most pro potential of the bunch and
he will be asked to take on a leadership role with the defense now
that Terrance Smith is gone. This secondary is opportunistic and
seems to make calculated decisions based on when to make gambles
like jumping routes or stripping the ball.
Special Teams: This could be the downfall of the Huskies.
Connecticut had a number of close battles a year ago with five
battles being decided by ten points or less. Sometimes special teams
is the deciding factor in close games and more often than not the
opponent would have the advantage on the Huskies. Placekicker Matt
Nuzie missed ten attempts beyond 30 yards last year while making
only three. The coverage and blocking units were plagued with
penalties last season so improvement is needed there as well.
Final Thoughts: The Huskies are starting to build a great
program and the recruiting class this year was a sign of the
direction this football team is going. With Miami (Fla.) and
Virginia Tech gone in 2004 and Boston College gone in 2005, the
timing to establish themselves as an elite program could not be
better. This team is out to prove the 9-3 mark in 2003 was no fluke
and this year they hope to get a bowl birth.
-- DJ Boyer |
