University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies To Run With The Bulls On Friday
9/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut football teams will open conference play on Friday night when it travels to Raymond James Stadium to take on the USF Bulls.
The game will kick off at 8 p.m. and be televised nationally by ESPN and heard on the UConn IMG Sports Radio Network. UConn brings a 1-2 record into the game while USF is also 1-2 with a win over Western Carolina and losses to Maryland and North Carolina State.
For a look at the UConn Media Notes, please CLICK HERE.
Monday was Media Day in Storrs. Here are quotes from Bob Diaco plus a video and social media recap of the day.
On Max DeLorenzo: "He's a veteran player. He's got good vision and the understanding of defensive alignments and feel from a vision standpoint, produce some opportunities for him where he'd bounce it or take it or cut it."
On the outside linebackers: "The outside linebackers, a few of them have a higher threshold of players. We've got three real good ones standing in a line together. Not that Luke Carrezola is arrived, he's a true freshman. But he's going to be a heck of a player. He's really going to be an impact player in the future. I've been so impressed with him as a youngster. We want to keep his participation pattern up."
On Cole Ormsby moving from linebacker to defensive line: "He has a real natural knack to the way he operates. He's got some tension and some balance that allows him to push and pull that's kind of beyond his body type. I've been impressed with him at defensive end. I think he's in the right spot, we've got him in the right spot. He looks a little better doing those jobs than he did at outside linebacker. He's excited about it, so that helps too. I think he's more inclined to be in that position and he's got more energy in that position than he did at linebacker. Not that it was negative in any way but I think he's really excited for his jobs."
On improving the offensive line: "The pressure is constantly on the offensive line. They're a group that needs a lot of mentoring and work, it's no secret. It was no secret before I got here, it was no secret for you guys. The first question during our first opportunity was `hey, I know you don't know this yet, but what are you going to do about the offensive line?'. So we're in the midst of it right now and we need to help them be better right now than they would otherwise be. That may be some of our daily functions. Those are the guys, so they're working. They're trying. We need to be more sensitive as a total team to their needs than we've been. We've been working but I think it needs even another layer of care. Maybe really inspect the installation so we're not a jack of all trades and a master of none."
On Andreas Knappe: "Competed. Competed and I liked his hands, I like his athleticism. You saw him kick-slide quickly and ricochet back and do some good things. He got to the second level and took care of some second level players which was nice to see. Unfortunately it's so glaring when a guy gets to that second level and makes a block, what would be a norm. Those were a few things I liked about Andreas. His game will continue to improve, he needs to work on his pad level, needs to work on a consistent focus for the four quarters."
On playing on the road: "Business trip, locked in. I'm excited about it. I think there's something about going on the road that creates this inclusive mindset where the conversations get more intimate. The moments get more intimate and intense. There inherently is a more locked-in sequestered feel. I love it, I'm excited about it and the team seems very excited about it."
On USF: "They have a lot of skill, a lot of speed. A prideful group, they've had great success in recent history. They have very talented players, big mauling offensive linemen. They have fast skill in the secondary and on offense. Maybe a collection of the most talented tight ends that we will play so that creates matchup issues on our linebackers. They pose those kind of problems."
#UConn's Casey Cochran on if he was concussed when growing mullet: "I don't think so, who knows maybe research will come out that."
-- Jim Fuller (@NHRJimFuller) September 15, 2014
#UConn's Casey Cochran speaks about his decision to leave football, says he has not regrets http://t.co/tQvs5YctJX
-- Paul Doyle (@PaulDoyle1) September 15, 2014
Jhavon Williams has grown as a cornerback in last year http://t.co/6l7rQE1gHq
-- Jim Fuller (@NHRJimFuller) September 15, 2014
Diaco: It's important we keep points down and not give up big plays getting turnovers is important but the other two more so #uconnfootball
-- Desmond Conner (@desmondconner) September 15, 2014
UConn coach Bob Diaco on challenges of playing South Florida http://t.co/MzH4PVV4tW
-- Jim Fuller (@NHRJimFuller) September 15, 2014
UConn coach Bob Diaco on challenges of playing South Florida http://t.co/MzH4PVV4tW
-- Jim Fuller (@NHRJimFuller) September 15, 2014
Diaco on offensive line: needs even more care. Might reduce a number of assignments for them. Don't want jack of all trades master of none.
-- Jeff Jacobs (@jacobscourant) September 15, 2014
