The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Huskies’ struggling ‘D’ looks to find footing
STORRS — This was not exactly the sort of history the senior-laden UConn defensive unit was looking to make.
On the opening drive in last week’s humbling loss at Virginia, the failure to come up with two key third down stops and another on fourth down resulted in the Huskies giving up the most time-consuming drive since making the jump to the Football Bowl Subdivision level 15 years ago.
Back in a 2009 game against Louisville, the Cardinals used 9 minutes, 21 seconds to drive 80 yards in 19 plays. That mark was challenged in a 2010 game against Michigan and a 2014 contest against Army. By the time Virginia’s Daniel Hamm put the capper on the 18-play, 88-yard scoring drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, the beleaguered UConn defense spent 9:46 on the field.
“It definitely disappoints you during the drive, but you just have to play the next play,” UConn senior linebacker Junior Joseph said. “When it is the third or fourth third down on the drive and they get it and you are trying to get off the field, it is disappointing. It was a tough first drive, it was long.”
The drive was part of a disturbing trend as UConn gave up three scoring drives of at least 85 yards. The only other time that happened during UConn’s time at the FBS level came in a 2002 loss at Miami. With all due respect to a vastlyimproved Virginia squad, it’s highly doubtful that the Cavaliers will have 10 players taken in the first round of the next two NFL drafts
like that Hurricanes squad did.
With a winless East Carolina team coming to Rentschler Field for a rare Sunday home game (noon, ESPNU), the defense is eager to atone for two lessthan-stellar efforts. The Huskies are the only FBS team allowing more than 400 passing yards per game and ranked in the bottom 10 in total defense and tackles for loss per game prior to this weekend’s slate.
“You get off the field on third down, that game last week would be a little bit different. That is the emphasis, getting off the field on third down,” Joseph said. “That is what we really have to work on in practice, once we get that communication down, we are going to be really good.”
The defense features three seniors starting on the defensive line, two seniors and a fourth-year junior set to start at linebacker but three projected starters in the secondary who hadn’t taken a snap at UConn before this season — Vanderbilt transfer Tre Bell, redshirt freshman Tyler Coyle and true freshman Ian Swenson. Marshe Terry is a sophomore preparing for his second career start.
“We have a little more experience in the front six (in a 3-3-5 scheme) so to speak, but those are guys that are playing in a different system,” UConn coach Randy Edsall said. “It is basically getting them to understand that you have to call out things, you have to recognize things, don’t worry just about yourself, you have to worry about the total package. We’ll do less as long as we can play faster and that is what you have to do, that is all part of it. I’ve had a couple of guys come to the coaches and say we are little more aware of the situation this year than we have ever been. Well, we still have a long way to go.”
For veterans like Joseph, there is a balancing act. He was very unhappy with his own play in the Virginia loss, but he also needs to be there to encourage his younger teammates to play with more confidence.
“I have to get going for my teammates,” Joseph said. “The first two games, I feel like I let them down. The first game, with my shoulder getting hurt but the second game I definitely could have made more plays for my teammates.”
So what advice is he giving
to a secondary that could have six freshmen and two sophomores on the first and second units if a concussion sidelines veteran safety Anthony Watkins?
“I talked to them and said you guys have to believe that you are the best freshmen safeties in the country,” Joseph said. “You have to play like that, walk like that and have that swagger so just talking every day and getting their confidence up. Once you get their confidence up, they could be ballplayers. It is all about confidence and communication for the young guys.”