UConn Football: Huskies Hone In On Red Zone Turnaround
It was another indoor practice on the campus of Storrs at the Mark R. Shenkman Training Facility on Tuesday. However, the Huskies didn’t escape the frigid 20-degree temperature that awaited them at the complex entirely. UConn head coach Jim L. Mora made sure to have his club taste some of the late-March northeast elements, as the big doors remained open for the duration of the two-and-a-half-hour practice.
Many school observers continue to comment on the stark difference in excitement and transparency amongst the program this spring, a change from the previous regimes. A scene that has become common throughout practices is a slew of potential Huskies recruits gathered on the sideline, along with numerous high school coaches from Connecticut, as the in-state relationships seemed to have strengthened.
One area that the Huskies football team will need to get stronger in is inside the red zone. UConn finished tied for 116th in the nation in red-zone scoring a year ago, converting just 12 touchdowns on 28 opportunities. Hence, it was appropriate that the entire first half of Tuesday’s practice was spent on red-zone work and install.
“Today was our red zone day,” Mora informed UConn Illustrated following practice. “When you install, whether it be in spring or when we come back in summer, there’s an installation schedule that we follow. Typically for us, our first two days are kind of first and second down stuff, just getting to know each other. Saturday was our install third down and that was a focus point. Today, we installed red zone and that was a focal point.”
The Huskies lost three games by six points or less in 2021, a sample of how vital converting on red zone opportunities can be during the regular season. Coach Mora has placed an emphasis on teaching situational football and it’s the attention to small details that can eventually lead to turning around their woes inside the twenty.
“Now, as we move through the practices we still have to do backed up, short-yardage, goal line, coming out, two-minute, four-minute, all those types of things,” as Mora detailed his blueprint for improvement. “You just gradually start to increase the volume and today was red zone day, so really, almost the entire emphasis was red zone.”
Highlights From Red Zone Reps…
The quarterback competition continues to be neck-and-neck, with redshirt junior Steven Krajewski handling first-team reps and redshirt sophomore Ta’Quan Roberson following suit. On this day, Roberson appeared to be the more accurate passer but both signal-callers continue to state their case to line up under center for the August 27th kickoff at Utah State. Tyler Phommachanh continues to be limited as he rehabs from a left knee injury.
A graduate transfer from Old Dominion, wide receiver Nigel Fitzgerald was your player of the day, utilizing his imposing frame to his advantage while showcasing his vertical game. The North Carolina native beat senior defensive back Tre Wortham on a dart thrown by Roberson on one play. He nearly pulled off an impossible catch in the back of the end zone on the next play, as he was falling down but the ground caused the incompletion—it was an impressive display of the type of athleticism that the tall target possesses. However, he bounced back and ended practice on a high note with a deep fade touchdown pass, again thrown by Roberson, as Fitzgerald beat junior defensive back Stan Cross.
While Fitzgerald was difficult to defend, redshirt freshman Malcom Bell was up to the challenge. One of the bigger cornerbacks on the roster, Bell made a nice pass breakup on Fitzgerald, preventing a touchdown on one play. He won another battle against redshirt sophomore wideout Kevin Dunn, demonstrating his sticky coverage ability. Bell is a candidate to be one of the Huskies' breakout players in 2022.
The play of the day hailed from Keelan Marion who made a dazzling one-handed grab in the corner of the end zone against the aforementioned Bell on a laser from Krajewski. The sophomore playmaker is having a fine spring.
What sophomore wideout Aaron Turner lacks in size, he makes up for in big play ability. The Maryland native has some juice and made several nice nabs, including a spectacular one-handed catch.
One of the more impressive catches came from sophomore running back Nathan Carter, who showed excellent awareness and hands, as redshirt junior linebacker Hunter Webb failed to get his head turned around in time.
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