'09 Football Opponent Preview: Connecticut
August 24, 2009 | Football
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- As college football fans across the country gear up for another exciting season of action on the gridiron, UofLSports.com will give Louisville fans breakdown, analysis and things to watch for on each of the Cardinals' 2009 opponents leading up to the start of the season.
The staff of UofLSports.com continues its 2009 football season preview with an in-depth look at the Cards' first BIG EAST road game against Connecticut.
 | Game Buildup |
The Cardinals will hit the road for the first time in BIG EAST play with a trip to E. Hartford to face the Huskies. The Cardinals are 1-1 all-time in their visits to Connecticut and lead the series 3-2 overall. The Huskies have held the advantage of late winning the previous two contests, including a 26-21 win last year.
| Season Outlook |
Head coach Randy Edsall and Connecticut will enter the 2009 season after posting consecutive bowl appearances for the first time in school history. The Huskies have gone 17-9 over the past two seasons which featured the program's first BIG EAST Championship and All-American. UConn was also home to the nation's leading rusher in addition to six players who moved on to the NFL ranks.
The Huskies are now faced with the daunting task of continuing the growth of UConn football and continuing their rise to national prominence.
Connecticut will have to replace four players selected in the first two rounds of the 2009 NFL Draft, including all-everything running back Donald Brown. The BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year and nation's leading rusher, Brown, cruised through defenses on his way to being named a First Team All-American. The Huskies must also replace starters; quarterback Tyler Lorenzen, defensive end Cody Brown and cornerback Darius Butler.
Despite the challenge, Edsall has made a name for himself as one of the country's best evaluator's of talent and should have no problem filling those voids. That is one more reason Connecticut could vie for another conference title.
| Players to Watch |
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Scott Lutrus | LB | No. 32 | R-Junior
Scott Lutrus, a 2008 Second Team All-BIG EAST Conference selection, returns as one of four team captains for the Huskies. Lutrus is extremely versatile and an immense talent, having started all 26 games for Connecticut the past two seasons. He led the team in tackles a year ago with 106, just one shy of his 2007 redshirt freshman mark of 107 which earned him Freshman All-American honors. Lutrus is a preseason Chuck Bednarik Award candidate, which is annually given to the top defensive player in the nation.
Other Key Players
| Scouting Opponent's Offense |
The UConn offense will look to fill the void of two important starters in the skill positions - quarterback and running back.
Redshirt senior Andre Dixon returns at tailback after earning Second Team All-BIG EAST honors in '07. Sophomore Jordan Todman played as a true freshman last year and gained 296 yards in 11 games. Redshirt sophomores Robbie Frey, who saw considerable time last year in kickoff returns, and Meme Wylie will also look to make a push along with junior Joss Tillard.
UConn returns both of its primary fullbacks in junior Anthony Sherman and redshirt junior Anthony Davis.
At quarterback, redshirt sophomore Cody Endres and redshirt junior Zach Frazer each started a pair of games in 2008. Redshirt freshmen John McEntee and Casey Turner will also be looking to make a push at quarterback.
Coming out of spring practice, UConn head coach Randy Edsall listed Frazer as the starting quarterback while Endres was second.
The tight end position lacks experience headed into 2009 with the departure of Steve Brouse and Martin Bedard.
Redshirt sophomore Yianni Apostolakos and sophomore Corey Manning have seen some action while redshirt freshmen John Delahunt and Ryan Griffin will be contenders for playing time along with junior Derek Chard.
The offensive line takes a hit with the departure of All-BIG EAST left tackle William Beatty, a second round draft pick of the New York Giants, and center Keith Gray - who started 31 games at that position.
Redshirt sophomore Moe Petrus - a Freshman All-American pick last year at guard will move to center and be joined by redshirt sophomore Gary Bardzak. Redshirt freshman Ben Chapman will also line up at the center spot.
Redshirt senior Mike Hicks started all 13 games at right tackle for the Huskies in 2008 and will see action there again along with redshirt sophomore Mike Ryan. Redshirt freshman Zac Zielinski will also play at that spot.
Redshirt junior Zach Hurd returns after starting each game last year at right guard and will get competition from redshirt freshmen Erik Kuraczea and Adam Masters.
The left side of the line has redshirt senior Dan Ryan, who has played in 30 career games, and redshirt freshman Jimmy Bennett battling it out for a starting spot in 2009.
The left guard guard spot is up in the air between redshirt junior Mathieu Olivier, redshirt senior Alex LaMagdelaine and redshirt sophomore Scott Schultz. LaMagdelaine was limited to just one game last year after injuring his shoulder in the opener. Redshirt freshman Clark Maturo will also be at left guard.
The Huskies will be looking for increased productivity from its receivers in 2009 and there are plenty of candidates to do it.
Redshirt sophomore Kashif Moore led the team in receptions last year with 27 receptions for one TD and improved as the season progressed. Senior Marcus Easley saw considerable playing time last year while classmate Brad Kanuch struggled through an injury the entire season, but enters fall camp healthy.
Sophomore Michael Smith was just one of two true freshmen to letter for the Huskies last season.
Redshirt freshmen Gerrard Sheppard will be pushing for playing time along with redshirt juniors Alex Molina and Kevin Poles and redshirt sophomore Isiah Moore.
| Scouting Opponent's Defense |
Defensively, UConn loses five starters from a unit that was ranked sixth in the country in total defense in 2008.
Both starting defensive ends, Cody Brown and Julius Williams, have graduated. Brown was a second round NFL Draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals.
UConn has some experience there with senior Lindsey Witten, who was both part of the regular rotation last year. Redshirt junior Mike Cox missed all of last year with an injury but is healthy and back to contend for playing time with Witten at one defensive end spot along with redshirt freshman Ted Jennings.
At the other defensive end spot, the battle is wide open with two mid-year freshmen enrollees - Jesse Joseph and Trevardo Williams - along with redshirt freshman A.J. Portee.
The Huskies have a young, talented crew on the defensive tackle spot. Despite losing four-time letterwinner Rob Lunn, UConn comes back strong with a pair of redshirt sophomores in Twyon Martin and Kendall Reyes. Both of these players were in the starting spots come the end of the '08 season.
Redshirt junior Alex Polito saw considerable playing time last year and will push for more this year. Redshirt senior Brandon Dillon has experience while redshirt freshmen Beau Brunelli and Ryan Wirth will make a run for playing time.
The Huskies are strong in the linebacking corps with all three starters back from 2008 - redshirt junior Scott Lutrus, who led the team with 106 tackles, redshirt sophomore Lawrence Wilson, who was second with 73, and junior Greg Lloyd.
The competition here will be for the backup spots with junior Kijuan Dabney, redshirt junior Greg Robinson and redshirt freshmen Jory Johnson and Sio Moore leading the way.
Redshirt senior Matt Ashmead and redshirt freshman Jerome Williams will also compete for playing time. Sophomore Mark Hinkley and redshirt freshman James Healy will also look to get on the field.
The secondary looses a key pair of starters, in cornerback Darius Butler, who also saw time last year as a wide receiver, and safety Dahna Deleston. That duo started 88 games over their Husky careers between them. Butler was a second round NFL Draft pick of the New England Patriots.
Junior Jasper Howard started all 13 games at the other cornerback spot last year and returns, while senior Robert McClain also saw considerable playing time and started the final three regular season games when Butler suffered an injury. Redshirt sophomore Gary Wilburn will look for playing time as will redshirt freshmen Dwayne Gratz and Blidi Wreh-Wilson.
Senior Robert Vaughn is solid at the other safety as he started all 13 games last year and was third on the team with 67 tackles. Redshirt sophomore Jonathan Jean-Louis begins fall camp listed as the starter at the other safety spot.
Redshirt sophomores Harris Agbor and Aaron Bagsby will look for playing time at the safety spots along with redshirt freshmen Matt Edwards and Jerome Junior. Redshirt sophomores Emmanuel Omokaro and John Yurek are also at the safety position.
| Scouting Opponent's Special Teams |
Punting duties are solid with senior Desi Cullen, a two-year starter, returning and redshirt sophomore Dave Teggart took over kicking duties midway through 2008 and made 13 field goals - including the first 11 consecutive of his career.
The punt returning duty will again be handled by junior Jasper Howard, who led the BIG EAST in returns last year and was 24th in the country last year at 11.8 yards. Senior Robert McClain and redshirt freshman Gary Wilburn will also work there.
Redshirt sophomore Robbie Frey and sophomore Jordan Todman will again handle kickoff return chores.
| Game Implications |
The Cardinals travel to Connecticut for their first BIG EAST road contest where they will try to avenge a 21-17 loss in 2007. A win on the road will help Louisville inch one step closer to a bowl game and will help their chances in the BIG EAST.
The countdown to the start of the season marches on as UofLSports.com provides and in-depth look at the Cards' BIG EAST rival game against Cincinnati in its next installment.
