PRACTICE #1
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Randy Edsall says it was a gut feeling and also the result of a lot of thought. Scott Lutrus said he received a text message on Wednesday, Dahna Deleston and Greg Lloyd Jr also got the word on Wednesday. And today, the news at the first practice of the season for the UConn footbal team concerned the decision to return Lutrus to the "Husky" linebacker position, Deleston to strong safety and insert Lloyd as the starter at the middle linebacker spot.
It might seem like it wastes the spring practice when Lutrus played the middle and Deleston moved to the linebacker post, but it actually makes the players more versatile. There is no question that Lutrus had a terrific freshman season and that Deleston found a home at the strong safety. What it really means is Edsall, right now, feels more confident in Lloyd than in moving Jonathan Jean-Louis or Aaron Bagsby in as a starter in the secondary. Lloyd will be pressed by C.J.Marck for the mike linebacker job but he seems like a natural for the middle linebacker spot.
It's tough to tell anything from the first practice when the players are wearing helmets, jerseys and shorts. Tyler Lorenzen did not throw the ball very well and earned the wrath of the head coach at one point (wrath that at one point included a raised voice that ended with the phrase God Bless America instead of a certain curse). Rookie running back Jordan Todman is fast....very, very fast. The new wide receivers, Brian Parker, Michael Smith and Gerrard Sheppard were enthusiastic but it would be impossible to say if there is a clear cut favorite for playing time. Darius Butler and Cody Brown shaved their heads, nice look on the co-captains. Associate Head Coach Hank Hughes has grown a suave goatee (you don't think he got the idea from a certain part time sports anchor from NBC 30, do you)
The team will hold several practices at night to change the routine. It makes sense since four of the first five games are night games (only Temple will be played in the daytime).
So there it is. One practice in the book and the clock ticking until the season opener just 27 days away aganist Hofstra. |
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