ANOTHER LOSS

Offensive line struggles as Huskies, now 1-3, fall to Syracuse 51-21.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In the minutes following a 51-21 loss to Syracuse that dropped UConn to 1-3 on the season, the Huskies mostly wanted to talk about positives.

Quarterback David Pindell noted the offense’s ability to move the ball. Safety Tyler Coyle praised the play of freshman cornerback Shamel Lazarus. And linebacker Eddie Hahn found encouragement in the defense’s second-half performance.

“It took us a while to get adjusted, but I feel like we played well in the second half,” Hahn said. “I think the defense has gotten a lot better, and we’re showing it.”

For a team that has been outscored 169-45 so far this season by the three FBS teams on its schedule, Saturday seemed to be about small victories.

During one stretch in the second and third quarters, UConn held Syracuse scoreless on four straight drives, a genuine achievement for a defense that entered the day ranked last in FBS in both yards and points allowed per game. That period included linebacker Ian Swenson’s strip of Jarveon Howard just before the Orange running back crossed into the end zone, which coach Randy Edsall cited as an example of the Huskies’ perpetually strong effort.

“We practice at that level all the time,” Swenson said. “[Edsall] has been harping on that a lot: effort, effort, effort no matter what the situation is.”

Strong effort, however, didn’t change the fact Syracuse was the better team Saturday. The Orange scored on their first three drives and led 31-14 at halftime. They added another seven points early in the third quarter when Sean Riley returned a punt 69 yards for a score, then tacked on a field goal, a touchdown and another field goal to seal the win. Overall, Syracuse out-gained UConn 636395.

Saturday marked the fourth straight game that UConn allowed 500 or more yards of total offense. Starting eight freshmen and three sophomores on D, UConn missed numerous tackles, as Syracuse racked up 341 yards rushing.

Though UConn experienced plenty of problems against the Orange, the most glaring issue might have come on the offensive

MICHAEL J. OKONIEWSKI | SPECIAL TO THE COURANT UCONN’S KEVIN MENSAH tries to carry the ball up the field in the first half Saturday against the Orange in Syracuse, N.Y. UConn turned over the ball three times Saturday, twice on fumbles and once on a late-game interception.

MICHAEL J. OKONIEWSKIS | SPECIAL TO THE COURANT UCONN quarterback David Pindell is sacked in the second half Saturday. Overall, the Huskies gave up six sacks, and Pindell often was forced to throw the ball away under pressure.