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Preview: Q&A with UConn Beat Writer Dom Amore
10/21/2021 12:15:00 PM | Football
GBR.com Chats with Hartford Courant scribe to get the inside scoop on the Huskies
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Rick Stockstill has never been in this situation. Brent Dearmon hasn't either, and hopes he'll never be in that position throughout his whole career. But they have a lot of respect for UConn after what the players and coaching staff have endured this season.
After dropping the team's first two games, head coach Randy Edsall originally announced he was retiring at the end of the season, before coming to an agreement with director of athletics David Benedict to step down from the role immediately. Benedict named defensive coordinator Lou Spanos the team's interim head coach, and the Huskies have played their last five games under his leadership.
"It's hard on the coaches, because they've got an obligation to the players to give them their best effort every day," Stockstill said of the challenges such a situation presents to a program. "And I know those coaches at UConn are doing that. And at the same time, they're concerned about where they're going to be next year. They've got families, it impacts more than just one person. From a player standpoint, you signed under that coaching staff, and now that's taken away from you."
Dearmon has friends on the staff at Georgia Southern and LSU, two other programs going through similar situations this season within their programs.
"It's tough, but what it does is true character starts to come out," Dearmon said. "Guys reach down deep and they know that we called into this business to affect kids' lives. So I commend guys in that situation, because it's easy to just quit, it's easy to just tank. By looking at the way these guys play, they haven't done that."
It is quite clear UConn is improving each game this season, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, where the Huskies have allowed just 24.0 points a game across their last three contests. They finally earned their first win of the season last weekend against Yale, holding on after going up 21-0 to eventually win 21-15.
The offense has struggled a bit more, but has shown to be effective at times under offensive coordinator Frank Giufre's tempo system. Steven Krajewski is the likely starter for the Huskies, who's taken over the reins after Tyler Phommachanh sustained an undisclosed injury earlier this season. The redshirt sophomore Krajewski has completed 56 percent of his passes for 701 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions across seven games.
The Blue Raiders are coming off an open weekend that has helped heal up some nagging injuries for Friday night's contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. local time (5 p.m. central) on CBS Sports Network.
"The bye week helped a lot," safety Reed Blankenship said. "We've just got to put our minds (right) quick. It's an early game, we're not fearful of that, we're ready to go."
GoBlueRaiders.com chatted with Hartford Courant beat writer Dom Amore this week to get the inside scoop on Huskies' season thus far.
1) I think most college football fans outside of New England are familiar with UConn this year because of Randy Edsall's departure from the team just two games into the season. But, after some improved performances over the past few weeks, what's your assessment of how the players and staff have responded to the adversity under interim coach Lou Spanos?
The players have responded extremely well. They seemed to recommit themselves after week 3, as if to collectively say "we're going to make the most of this season, whatever it is," and have played hard, and much better. You'll see more enthusiasm than you'd expect from a 1-7 team.
2) While the record doesn't necessarily show it, the Huskies have clearly improved throughout the season, with close losses to both Wyoming and Vanderbilt in recent weeks and a win this past weekend against Yale. What have you seen change on the field with this team that's led to better performances?
Several young offensive playmakers have emerged, perhaps a response to more imaginative play-calling. Wide receivers Keelan Marian, Aaron Turner and Kevens Clercius have, in particular, become exciting players, all three are freshmen getting to play because of injuries to veterans Matt Drayton and Cam Ross.
3) Both Tyler Phommachanh and Steven Krajewski have seen time at quarterback in the Huskies' up tempo scheme this season, in part due to Phommachanh's leg injury against Vanderbilt. How much does the offense change between the two signal callers, if at all, and who are some of the skill guys Blue Raider fans should keep an eye on when UConn has the ball?
The offense doesn't change much. Both are running and throwing threats. Krejewski just isn't as fast or elusive as Phommachanh, but he has proven capable of throwing downfield, and tucking and running for big gains. It's become more of a big play offense when Phommachanh went in vs. Army, and has continued to trend in that direction after Krajewski came back in vs. Vanderbilt.
4) Both Rick Stockstill and Chase Cunningham praised the young Husky defense for their execution, and the results (24.0 points allowed per game over the past four weeks) certainly stand out as proof the unit is solid. Who are some of the key cogs that have made the defense a tough one to crack at times for opposing offenses?
Typical of a UConn team, they have more potential pros than you'd expect with their record. The defense still gives up too many yards, too many big plays and commits too many penalties. But I think Jackson Mitchell, at LB, could play for almost any team in the country, so could lineman Travis Jones. Several young defensive backs have become more aggressive, more willing to trust their instincts and jump a pattern, and it has paid off with some interceptions, four last week. UConn is getting better pressure, 23 hurries last week, but not getting there for sacks.
5) UConn faces a tough stretch to close the season, with trips to Clemson and Orlando to face the Tigers and Golden Knights, before a final home game against Houston. In their penultimate home game of the season, what do you think will be key for the Huskies to get their second win of the year as the underdog on Friday night?
They'll have to get more pressure on the quarterbacks than they've gotten to date and they're going to have to run the ball, either with explosive freshman Nate Carter or steady senior Kevin Mensah, a lot better than they did against Yale. With the Blue Raiders passing game, UConn is going to need a big edge in time of possession, always important but more so than usual here.
After dropping the team's first two games, head coach Randy Edsall originally announced he was retiring at the end of the season, before coming to an agreement with director of athletics David Benedict to step down from the role immediately. Benedict named defensive coordinator Lou Spanos the team's interim head coach, and the Huskies have played their last five games under his leadership.
"It's hard on the coaches, because they've got an obligation to the players to give them their best effort every day," Stockstill said of the challenges such a situation presents to a program. "And I know those coaches at UConn are doing that. And at the same time, they're concerned about where they're going to be next year. They've got families, it impacts more than just one person. From a player standpoint, you signed under that coaching staff, and now that's taken away from you."
Dearmon has friends on the staff at Georgia Southern and LSU, two other programs going through similar situations this season within their programs.
"It's tough, but what it does is true character starts to come out," Dearmon said. "Guys reach down deep and they know that we called into this business to affect kids' lives. So I commend guys in that situation, because it's easy to just quit, it's easy to just tank. By looking at the way these guys play, they haven't done that."
It is quite clear UConn is improving each game this season, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, where the Huskies have allowed just 24.0 points a game across their last three contests. They finally earned their first win of the season last weekend against Yale, holding on after going up 21-0 to eventually win 21-15.
The offense has struggled a bit more, but has shown to be effective at times under offensive coordinator Frank Giufre's tempo system. Steven Krajewski is the likely starter for the Huskies, who's taken over the reins after Tyler Phommachanh sustained an undisclosed injury earlier this season. The redshirt sophomore Krajewski has completed 56 percent of his passes for 701 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions across seven games.
The Blue Raiders are coming off an open weekend that has helped heal up some nagging injuries for Friday night's contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. local time (5 p.m. central) on CBS Sports Network.
"The bye week helped a lot," safety Reed Blankenship said. "We've just got to put our minds (right) quick. It's an early game, we're not fearful of that, we're ready to go."
GoBlueRaiders.com chatted with Hartford Courant beat writer Dom Amore this week to get the inside scoop on Huskies' season thus far.
1) I think most college football fans outside of New England are familiar with UConn this year because of Randy Edsall's departure from the team just two games into the season. But, after some improved performances over the past few weeks, what's your assessment of how the players and staff have responded to the adversity under interim coach Lou Spanos?
The players have responded extremely well. They seemed to recommit themselves after week 3, as if to collectively say "we're going to make the most of this season, whatever it is," and have played hard, and much better. You'll see more enthusiasm than you'd expect from a 1-7 team.
2) While the record doesn't necessarily show it, the Huskies have clearly improved throughout the season, with close losses to both Wyoming and Vanderbilt in recent weeks and a win this past weekend against Yale. What have you seen change on the field with this team that's led to better performances?
Several young offensive playmakers have emerged, perhaps a response to more imaginative play-calling. Wide receivers Keelan Marian, Aaron Turner and Kevens Clercius have, in particular, become exciting players, all three are freshmen getting to play because of injuries to veterans Matt Drayton and Cam Ross.
3) Both Tyler Phommachanh and Steven Krajewski have seen time at quarterback in the Huskies' up tempo scheme this season, in part due to Phommachanh's leg injury against Vanderbilt. How much does the offense change between the two signal callers, if at all, and who are some of the skill guys Blue Raider fans should keep an eye on when UConn has the ball?
The offense doesn't change much. Both are running and throwing threats. Krejewski just isn't as fast or elusive as Phommachanh, but he has proven capable of throwing downfield, and tucking and running for big gains. It's become more of a big play offense when Phommachanh went in vs. Army, and has continued to trend in that direction after Krajewski came back in vs. Vanderbilt.
4) Both Rick Stockstill and Chase Cunningham praised the young Husky defense for their execution, and the results (24.0 points allowed per game over the past four weeks) certainly stand out as proof the unit is solid. Who are some of the key cogs that have made the defense a tough one to crack at times for opposing offenses?
Typical of a UConn team, they have more potential pros than you'd expect with their record. The defense still gives up too many yards, too many big plays and commits too many penalties. But I think Jackson Mitchell, at LB, could play for almost any team in the country, so could lineman Travis Jones. Several young defensive backs have become more aggressive, more willing to trust their instincts and jump a pattern, and it has paid off with some interceptions, four last week. UConn is getting better pressure, 23 hurries last week, but not getting there for sacks.
5) UConn faces a tough stretch to close the season, with trips to Clemson and Orlando to face the Tigers and Golden Knights, before a final home game against Houston. In their penultimate home game of the season, what do you think will be key for the Huskies to get their second win of the year as the underdog on Friday night?
They'll have to get more pressure on the quarterbacks than they've gotten to date and they're going to have to run the ball, either with explosive freshman Nate Carter or steady senior Kevin Mensah, a lot better than they did against Yale. With the Blue Raiders passing game, UConn is going to need a big edge in time of possession, always important but more so than usual here.
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