As must-win as it gets
Huskies look to put first win on the board against FIU at home
Mobile quarterbacks have been a thorn in the side of Uconn’s defense through the first two weeks of the season. That’s putting it mildly.
Through two games, opposing QBS have combined for 238 yards rushing against the 0-2 Huskies. In Week 1 Brennan Armstrong had 96 and two touchdowns in NC State’s win. A week later Georgia State’s Darren Grainger had 142 on only 12 carries (11.8 yards per), with a touchdown.
Consider this: if it weren’t for the quarterback runs, Uconn’s rushing defense would go from one of the worst in the nation (229.5 yards allowed, ranked 123rd of 130 teams) to the middle of the pack with 110.5 rushing yards allowed, which would put the Huskies in a tie for 61st.
Head coach Jim Mora took fault for adjustments that weren’t made in the two losses. He won’t have to wait long to see if this week’s practice changes anything. Another potential challenge looms in Florida International freshman Keyone Jenkins, who has taken on the starting role for the Panthers the last two games.
Jenkins, 2-0 in his young college career, is 35-for-62 passing with 583 yards. Although he hasn’t shown the tendency to run much yet (17 carries for 40 yards), the scouting reports he’s seeing on Uconn may beg him to on Saturday.
In high school at Miami Central, Jenkins won each of his last 26 starts, and three state titles, using his mobility and his elusiveness as a strength. His high school film is reminiscent to what NC State’s Armstrong did to the Huskies, using pressure and a collapsed pocket to make defenders miss and get into open space.
“This guy’s a capable player or he wouldn’t be starting for them,” Mora said. “It’s got to be about us. If we play hard and we play exacting and we play together in terms of being on the same page, then it shouldn’t matter if the quarterback’s a freshman or a senior.
“But there’s things that you try to do schematically to cloud his ability to see a coverage right off the bat.”
Jenkins threw for 292 yards in his debut, a 14-12 win over Maine, and for 291 in a 46-39 win over North Texas last week. He has three passing touchdowns and three interceptions.
“He’s getting his third start and his confidence will grow because of it,” Mora said. “They
put some points up last week. Defensively, they fly around. Coach Mac (Mike Macintyre) is a defensive coach, they give you some different looks up front. They play aggressive, they play physical and they’re a good football team.
“I think the most important thing for us to do is learn who they are through the week, prepare for them, and then we just gotta go out and we’ve got to really focus on playing our best, our best football regardless of who we’re playing and what they’re doing.”
Uconn went to Miami and beat Florida International last season, 33-12, with the Huskies nearly hitting 300 rushing yards – a mark they have yet to hit through two games combined this season. In last year’s matchup, Devontae Houston broke out for 135 yards on 12 carries and Victor Rosa had his first career multiple touchdown game with two scores and 89 yards on 16 carries. A similar breakout rushing game will be critical on Saturday for Uconn to be successful offensively.
Here are two key questions Uconn faces as it looks to bounce back from an ugly loss at Georgia Tech last week:
1. How does the offense respond?
Ta’quan Roberson gets the start for the Huskies at quarterback after Maine transfer Joe Fagnano suffered a separated shoulder that required surgery against Georgia State. Roberson began building a rapport with receiver Brett Buckman as the duo connected eight times in the second half for 87 yards and a highlight-reel 32-yard touchdown. Coming off his ACL tear in last year’s season-opener, Roberson has a chance to finally show what he came to Uconn to do after two years without much of an opportunity at Penn State.
Mora implied that the coaches had gotten a bit too creative with all of the extra time they had to prepare for both NC State and Georgia State, resulting in failures in the run game. He said players were asked to do things on the offensive line and in the backfield that they hadn’t done enough of in practice. With normal prep time for FIU, the Huskies hope to have answers for what they need to call in order to put their players in the best position to be successful.
2. How will the pass defense hold up?
Should Uconn be able to keep Jenkins from running with the ball, and keep running back Shomari Lawrence (who has 254 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries) contained, the Huskies’ secondary will be tasked with defending the pass. Opponents’ passing game hasn’t been an issue so far, mainly because it hasn’t had to be with the way teams are running the ball, but Mora seems to be confident in his rotation of defensive backs that have allowed 199 yards and a touchdown through the air in two games.
FIU’S top three receivers each average more than 10 yards per reception. Kris Mitchell, Jenkins’ top target, has 297 yards on 17 catches and Dean Patterson has 159 yards on eight receptions. Jalen Bracey has also been able to produce some chunk plays as he is up to 64 yards on six catches.
Uconn could have reinforcements with a potential return of safety Malik Dixon-williams, who practiced this week after suffering a slight MCL sprain in the opener.
AT A GLANCE
Site: Rentschler Field, East Hartford
Line: Uconn by 7
Time: 3:30 p.m.
TV: CBS Sports Network – Dave Ryan, Christian Fauria, Keiana Martin
Radio: Uconn Sports Network from Learfield, ESPN 97.9
Online: The Varsity Network App – Mike Crispino, Wayne Norman, Adam Giardino
Record: Uconn: 0-2, Florida International: 2-1
Series: Uconn leads, 1-0
Last meeting: Oct. 8, 2022 – Uconn 33, FIU 12 at FIU Stadium in Miami