UConn’s passing not enough of a stretch

By Darrell Laurant  |   Thursday, April 03, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

College Football
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!

Meet the new Tyler Lorenzen, calm and collected.

"Last year," the University of Connecticut quarterback told the Hartford Courant recently, "I felt like a chicken with my head cut off. Now I feel like I understand everything."

Headless chicken or not, Lorenzen still managed to throw for 2,529 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, his first as a Huskie, and compiled a quarterback rating of 122.98. Moreover, the 6-5, 22-pound transfer from Palomar Junior College fed only six interceptions to the opposition.

Still, head coach Randy Edsall remains somewhat underwhelmed by his passing game. Behind active young backs Andre Dixon and Donald Brown, both of whom return in 2008, the Huskies were among the few teams in the Big East with more yardage on the ground (2,529) than through the air. Moreover, top wideouts A.J. Hernandez and Brad Kanuch were basically possession receivers, and Lorenzen averaged only 6.7 yards per completion. Top 2007 pass catcher T.J. Jeffers transferred after last year.

The fear, then, is that opposing safeties will begin to creep up into the box to help stop Dixon and Brown, unconcerned about getting burned deep.

Thus, Lorenzen and his primary targets were supposed to spend a good part of spring practice learning to stretch the field. Unfortunately, Hernandez (quadriceps), Kanuch (left ankle) and No. 3 receiver Ellis Gaulden (left foot) are all hurt, and Lorenzen has reportedly been struggling.

"Give me a QB that can throw the ball!" UConn head coach Randy Edsall was said to have barked during one spring practice, annointing backup Zack Frazer the starter for the rest of the day.

It's gotten so bad that three-year starting cornerback Darius Butler has slipped on a blue offensive jersey and run a few pass routes.

"I've been talking about that since I've been here," said Butler, a quarterback at Coral Gables (FLA) Charter School.

"I'll take him," said offensive coordinator Rob Ambrose, half in jest.

Actually, there's not much chance that the Huskies would pull Butler out of what promises to be a strong secondary, but he might wind up being used the way Michigan employed Charles Woodson during Woodson's Heisman Trophy season -- as a DB first, a kick returner second, and an occasional receiver when speed seems to be called for.

"For now, it's a couple of plays and we'll see what he's really good at," Ambrose said.

Otherwise, for now, backups Rob Theoudele, Marcus Easley, Kevin Poles and Isiah Moore will be chasing Lorenzen's passes.

"It's not a good thing when your top three wide receivers are hurt," Lorenzen said.

That, he definitely understands.



Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

About Darrell Laurant

...Sorry, Darrell Laurant's bio is currently not available. Please check back soon!
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report