On one of the most beautiful days of the year, I spent the majority of the morning and an hour of the afternoon inside the Shenkman Center, watching the UConn football team continue Spring Practice. Saturday is a good day to watch since they scrimmage extensively,

Not participating today was Tyler Lorenzen, sidelined by an ankle injury. When describing how the QB got hurt ( in a red zone drill) Randy Edsall described Lorenzen as a "klutz. And I told him that so you can print it". There is no decision on whether Lorenzen will play next Saturday in the Blue-White scrimmage at the Rent.

So without Lorenzen, Zach Frazier and Cody Endres ran the offense for the entire practice. I thought that on this day, Endres was the better quarterback. But the Head Coach says Frazier will go into camp as #2 and that Endres, even though he is improving  has a long way to go in a lot of areas. I talked to Cody after practice and he says he learned a lot during his redshirt season, especially observing the increase of speed from high school to college. And his weight is down to 225. 

It was not a good day for the wide receivers, in fact, it has not been a good camp for the depleted group. Without D.J. Hernandez, Brad Kanuch and Ellis Gaulden, the wideouts have struggled and Edsall said incoming freshman Brian Parker, Gerrard Sheppard and Michael Smith will all have a chance to win a job when they report in August. 

But I do think the rest of the offense is in good shape. There is great depth at running back and tight end Randy said he liked the way the new #1 offensive line of Will Beatty and Mike Hicks at tackle, Moe Petrus and Zach Hurd at guard and Keith Gray at center has improved since being assembled. 

Defensively, Rob Lunn injured an ankle late in practice and has to be helped into the training room. The new look unit with Dahna Deleston at the "Husky" backer and Scott Lutrus in the middle is making progress. Alex Polito continues to draw great reviews from the coaches.  Poilto told the best story to myself and Chip Malafronte of the Register. Polito had perfect attendance during his four years at Governor Mifflin High School in Reading PA and told us that he got $200 dollars at graduation. He said kids at another school in town GOT NEW CARS. Nice school system.

Other news and notes:

Darius Butler will continue to get work at wide receiver and told Edsall he could probably play up to 15 scrimmage plays per game during the season. So, there is your #4 wideout.

No decision will be made on the kicking job between incumbent Tony CIravino and redshirt freshman David Teggart until pre season camp. Teggart was the better kicker on Saturday.

The Huskies will vote on the '08 captains before practice on Thursday, the head coach will study the results and announce the captains on the field prior to the start of the game on Saturday.Here's my guess: Hernandez, Lorenzen, Gray, Lunn, Butler . Again, only a hunch.

Edsall said the depth of the d-line should improve when Marcus Campbell returns after the end of the school year and if Brandon Dillon takes care of his academic work.

As of know, the Blue-White game  will pit the #1 offense and #2 defense against the #1 defense and #2 offense. That, of course, is subject to change. 

We have tentatively scheduled Randy to appear on SportsTalk Wednesday night at 6:10. And don't forget, you can hear Saturday's game on WTIC-AM and WTIC.com at noon.

Get out and enjoy the weekend.