2008 UConn Huskies Football
Head coach Randy Edstall earned the Connecticut Huskies nationwide attention last season for the first time in years. The Huskies won 8 of their first 9 games in ‘07, before losing three of their last four including a 10-24 setback to Wake Forest in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. With 19 starters back, the Huskies should be competitive again in 2008. Can they have the same success though? The Info Plays team fills you in with our 2008 UConn Huskies football predictions.
Offense:
You would think there wouldn’t be too many complaints about an offense that returns nine starters. But the Huskies seemed to win games last year despite their offense, not because of it. Senior quarterback Tyler Lorenzen should be better in his second season under the familiarity of the same offense, but this unit still lacks a big-play wide receiver that can stretch a defense. This was a team that ran the ball a heavy dose last year. Their strength was holding onto the ball, as the Huskies’ offense committed just 15 turnovers in 13 games. Running backs Andres Dixon (828 yards) and Donald Brown (821) are as good as any backfield tandem in the Big East.
Lorenzen threw for 2,300 yards and 13 scores. His most impressive stat was a mere six interceptions, the lowest total of any league quarterback with at least 250 pass attempts. But the Huskies were ranked just 97th in the county in passing last year. Lorenzen has the luxury of working behind an offensive line that returns four starters. Left tackle Will Beatty, guard Mike Hicks and center Keith Gray each started all 13 games last year. The absence of a big-play wideout was magnified by the loss of leading receiver Terrence Jeffers. Senior D.J. Hernandez is their best option as for now, catching 30 balls for 404 yards in ‘07.
Defense:
Although the Huskies didn’t lead the conference in any defensive category last year, they were still regarded as one of the best units in the league. This defense held 10 of 13 opponents under 20 points last year. It’s basically the same group this season with eight starters returning. Ends Cody Brown finished with a team-high 16 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. Julius Williams will be the other end, after recording 8.5 sacks and forcing three fumbles.
Scott Lutrus and Lawrence Wilson were immediate impact freshman linebackers last year. They’ll be much better in their sophomore campaigns. Lutrus has 107 tackles and four interceptions last year, and he’ll be moved to the middle linebacker this season. Wilson will try to eclipse the 113 tackles he recorded a year ago on the weak side. Free safety Robert Vaughn and cornerback Darius Butler return as starters in the secondary. Vaught tied for fourth nationally with seven interceptions. Butler emerged as one of the Big East’s best cover corners.
UConn Football Predictions at Info Plays: 5th in the Big East
With so much experience returning, the Huskies are automatically a factor in the Big East after a 5-2 mark in conference play last year. But they won’t have the element of surprise and it will be tough to create the same magic they did last season. UConn will be in most games because of its defense. But there’s a tougher schedule ahead that this will make a repeat nine-win season a big challenge.
Check out another expert opinion from a different website that has UConn finishing #4 in the Big East here.
Big East Wins Expected in ‘08: CINCINNATI, at Syracuse
Potential Scares/Losses: at Louisville, at Rutgers, WEST VIRGINIA, at South Florida, PITTSBURGH
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