Think I will still ride with UConn +, but lack the confidence in the ML.
Positives on the Huskies on O - I like that Shirreffs is back at #1 after coming off the bench to lead the comeback vs Holy Cross. It was just vs Holy Cross, but I watched the 2nd half of that game and the energy the O had with him and his leadership he displayed was visible compared to JC trans Pindell. They return last year's #1 RB Newsome, but rFr Hopkins emerged with a big game week 1. Losing a go-to receiver from last year and the production coming back was worrisome. It does appear that Hergy Mayala is ready for a bigger role and the new offense will give more athletes opportunities to make plays rather than last year's ball-control possession oriented O offered - there may be decent talent and depth here, we've just never had a chance to see much of it.
Negatives, other than some inconsistent Shirreffs play he has shown in the past, the OL is where I worry most on offense. It was poor last season in both rushing and sacks allowed, often injured, lose some of their most experienced players and now must be conditioned enough to play with tempo in the new offense. The OL has a couple talented players, but it hasn't translated into a good 5-man group...week 1 vs Holy Cross didn't offer of any optimism.
Positives on the D...3-man DL features 3 seniors who all have had alot of PT and production, though it is lite on size on the edges. DT Fatukasi however may be an NFL talent. LB Vontae Diggs is ready for season debut, he would've been ready for game 2 had they played it. Junior Joseph left week 1 with injury, he too is also going to be starting this week. Unfortunately Levenberry still may miss the year. But LB corp is in better shape here than it was to open the year. The new 3-3-5 D has opened up some more opportunities in the secondary, which is good and bad. Marshe' Terry may be emerging as a potential playmaker after having little impact his frosh season. Terry pushed upperclassmen for PT at safety and now has a starting spot. Vandy trans Sr Tre Bell had little impact for the Dores, but with a depth chart full of youth he brings more experience to the table than otherwise would've been on hand, his practices have looked good, but didn't look as good in game action week 1. He plays opposite CB Summers who was All Conference 2015, but regressed last year. Hopefully he can regain his former self and his next level potential. The bad part is they aren't a great unit and the secondary will be tested by Benkert and Virginia's O that will want to throw often and push the ball deep with some relative frequency.
Negatives on D is learning a new scheme and lacking some real play making ability. Fatuksai was ejected and Joseph injured early vs Holy Cross and Diggs DNP, that is probably their 3 best or 3 of the 4 best players on D who weren't on the field majority of the game. Still, Holy Cross O looked better than what the UConn D could match and that secondary may again be a severe liability.
UVA played good enough to win last year, but lost 10-13 missing a potential game tying FG in a clock expiring fire drill. UVA outgained UConn 381-277, but had some critical penalties greatly aiding UConn in the process. Now UConn's D appears to be a little more shaky than last year and the O while has potential to move the ball and score more that it did a year ago, it also is just in game 2 of the new system and game 1 vs P5 competition. I do feel better it is Sherriffs at QB than Pindell and don't trust UVA overall, especially to cover DD, but unless UConn takes a big step up in improvement from game 1 to game 2, it is hard to confidently forecast a UConn win. End of a 3 game homestand for Cavs, off a loss, vs an opponent they should've / could've beat last year, presumably further along in their coaching change over than where UConn is are just too many factors to pull a ML trigger for me.
