UConn football: Shirreffs stands out, Crozier in at center
By John F. Silver | Mar 27, 2015 | 3:12PM
Quiet is the important term.
Team's don't want to make news in the spring. News is made in the fall. Spring is about getting all the pieces ready to hit the ground running.
By the accounts from the coaching staff, the Huskies are on target.
UConn coach Bob Diaco and assistant coaches Vincent Brown (co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach) and offensive line coach/co-offensive coordinator Mike Cummings.
The Huskies have only a handful of practices left before the April 11th Blue and White Spring game and the roster and depth chart are coming into focus.
Here are some highlights from Fridays availability.
Quarterback: The quarterback battle is tightly being kept under wraps, but from the sounds of it transfer Bryan Shirreffs looks to ahead at the position. Shirreffs has impressed with his throwing, running and decision-making and Diaco is trying to put all three quarterbacks into game situations.
"Bryant is a weapon in that he can move and throw on the move," Diaco said. "He has another gear there and he knows it. It is natural for him to bang it in there. He's fast."
Diaco still didn't want to peg anyone just yet. There is one day left in the week and that means Diaco has time to still decide.
"At end of the week we will have that more clear, truer hierarchy, Diaco said. "We added some more situations. We are through critical downs and critical percentage downs.
"We are getting some good work towards the end of the week...end of this week we could delineate a hierarchy, not a starter."
One of UConn's major issues was turnovers from the quarterback position and in practice this spring that has been managed. In particular, Diaco said Shirreffs and freshman Tyler Davis have been especially careful protecting the ball. Will in translate in the fall? That's a wait and see, but last year the Huskies were turnover prone in camp and that did carry over to disastrous consequences.
Offensive line: Right now, the Ryan Crozier experiment at center is a success. Crozier is now No. 1 on the line with Dan Oak and Kyle Bockeloh also in the mix. The key for the line according to Cummings is getting the five best players on the field. None just learn their specific position and are expected to know how to play anywhere on the line. Right now, the Huskies have six players for five sports with Richard Levy and Andreas Knappe at left and right tackle, Crozier at center and guards Tyler Samra and Trey Rutherford/Tommy Hopkins.
The Rutherford/Hopkins battle is neck and neck, and if one of the tackles go down, moving Rutherford or Hopkins out to tackle remains a high likely rout.
The Huskies would like to get to eight deep on the line at a minimum.
Linebackers: UConn is returning all its linebackers, but there is plenty of pushing at the position. Marquise Vann and Junior Joseph are inside, but are being pushed by a handful of players including Vontae Diggs and Matt Walsh. On the outside, Graham Stewart remains with Luke Carrezzola also in the mix after recovering from injury.
Brown said that Stewart's biggest problem is he was over-aggressive making plays. Too often he would break off his assignment and try to make a play. the staff has tried to hammer down on Stewart to stay within the defensive scheme. Carrezola is a pass rusher from the outside and something the Huskies sorely need. Cam Stapleton is also a player to consider at the OLB spot.
Defensive line: The line appears set with Julian Campenni and Mykal Myers as the NTs with Folorunso Fatukasi at one defensive end. Diaco had has praise for the 6-5, 307-pound Fatukasi.
"Foley is an incredible talented energetic and loves to play football," Diaco said. "A unique combination of size and speed."
Kenton Adeyemi and Cole Ormsby were at the top of the depth chart for the other defensive end slot and Diaco cited James Atkins (6-5, 257) and Sheriden Lawley (6-4, 263) as players in the mix.
Cornerbacks: The Huskies have experience and talent coming back at corner. Jhavon Williams is most experienced with Jamar Summers the incumbent having started late last season for Byron Jones. Â The Huskies also have Jhavon Hadley, John Green and Brice McAllister to round out a five man cornerback rotation. All have had playing-time and will allow the Huskies to take it slow with recruits Aaron Garland and John Robinson coming in at corner.
Kicking: Bobby Puyol is the place kicker, but Diaco didn't shy away from committing to play Michael Tarbutt, a freshman kicker, this fall. Tarbutt has a strong leg and even if he was used only for kickoffs, and Puyol to place kick, Diaco is prepared to separate those duties if need be.
