Next Generation-Huskies Talented But Inexperienced

[bullwark]

The relatively smooth voyage of the UConn football team has become a bit of a mystery tour.

The program is up and running because of the groundbreaking and record-setting accomplishments of the last three seasons. But uncertainty and unknowns abound with the Huskies set to open preseason practice Friday.

Over the next four weeks, UConn must figure out who will be the starting quarterback, how to manage the playing time of two explosive running backs and develop a cohesive offensive line.

The Huskies must also evaluate a large, skilled freshman class, piece together an effective secondary, replace two rough and ready linebackers and establish solid leadership.

It's not as formidable a challenge as coach Randy Edsall had when he began building a Division I-A program nearly seven years ago, but it's close.

"We're not the finished product," Edsall said. "We have to continue getting better and keep doing the things we're capable of doing in order to win games."

The Huskies, who were 8-4 last season, including a 39-10 victory over Toledo in the Motor City Bowl, will play six of their 11 games at home. The schedule includes seven Big East games, including new members Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida.

The quarterback situation is sure to be the hot button issue up to the Sept. 1 season opener with Buffalo. After three seasons of stability with Dan Orlovsky, the Huskies do not have a quarterback who has started a college game or even played in a meaningful situation.

Junior Matt Bonislawski, with a grand total of seven pass attempts (and four completions), represents the sum total of experience at quarterback. Based on maturity and longevity in the program, Bonislawski begins camp slightly ahead of redshirt freshman D.J. Hernandez.

"I'm excited to see the Matt Bonislawskis, the D.J. Hernandezes ... kids that have been behind some guys for a couple of years and now their opportunity is going to present itself," Edsall said. "How are they going to go about their business?"

Freshman quarterbacks Dennis Brown and Billy Cundiff will come in ready to pounce if Bonislawski and Hernandez fail to establish a strong enough presence.

More likely, the Huskies will give Bonislawski or Hernandez time to settle in by keeping the ball on the ground and in the hands of running backs Cornell Brockington and Terry Caulley.

Brockington and Caulley have demonstrated they are capable of being productive lead backs. Brockington led the Big East in rushing last season with 1,218 yards, and Caulley gained 1,247 yards in 2002 as a freshman.

Caulley has not played since sustaining a major knee injury partway through the 2003 season, but looked close to full strength in the spring.

Even with running back Matt Lawrence's transfer to UMass, the strength of the team is in the backfield, where dynamic Larry Taylor and brutish fullback Lou Allen are also expected to make contributions.

The Huskies have a solid tight end in Dan Murray and are fairly deep at wide receiver, led by senior Jason Williams and junior Brandon Young.

Some of the scheme will also depend on the ability of the offensive line, which was a mad jumble in the spring due to the loss of three senior starters - center Billy Irwin, guard Brian Markowski and left tackle Ryan Krug.

The Huskies, who won a school record 23 games over the last three season, have almost as many areas of concern on defense. The loss of linebackers Alfred Fincher and Maurice Lloyd, both major playmakers, will be keenly felt. The secondary also is also in a state of flux.

The loss of 24 seniors off last year's team that earned the school's first bowl bid has created a leadership void. There are eight seniors on the team.

A freshman class of 24, including Brown and Cundiff, will eventually provide the foundation for the future.

The shock of losing so many seniors may be the first step to taking the mystery out of the season.

"We had about 58 guys [working out] for the summer," said defensive tackle and co-captain Deon McPhee. "We had a full turnout. We stressed that we wanted to leave the 2004 season alone and get started with the 2005 season."

http://www.courant.com/sports/college/football/hc-ucfoot0731.artjul31,0,2144586.story?coll=hc-headlines-sports

[bulls96go]

that is a tough road

i am suprised they are not picked last