Spring Break
O-Line improvement
Chris Licata
Issue date: 2/3/05 Section: Sports
HARTFORD - Following the Huskies triumphant slaughter of Toledo in the Motor City Bowl, reality slowly began to set in for most of the UConn faithful. That was the last time that fans would ever see Dan Orlovsky calling the signals in UConn blue and white, and it would be the last time they would see big Ryan Krug throwing pancake blocks with his veteran offensive line. The fans were nervous. What would become of the Huskies' offense?
But all hope was not lost. coach Randy Edsall had a solution for his wounded team - he could rebuild them. They have the technology. Bigger, faster, stronger. Wednesday afternoon at the Goodwin Hotel Edsall introduced the next generation of the UConn offense.
One of the biggest goals and obstacles that Edsall and the Huskies faced during the offseason was rebuilding the offensive line.
"The overall size and athletic ability and speed of this group of people we were able to sign has made us a better football team in that regard," Edsall said.
The Huskies were able to sign an incredible six offensive linemen to letters of intent Wednesday. A massive group, the six linemen weigh in at an average 296 pounds and range in height from 6-foot-1 to 6-foot-8. Led by Connecticut native Dan Ryan, who has been attending UConn camps in recent years, the new crop of offensive linemen are quick on their feet and extremely athletic.
"I am very impressed with Dan as a leader. He's the type of guy that can do a lot of things for you," Edsall said.
Joining Ryan on the offensive line will be fellow in-state product Mike Hicks out of Seymour. Weighing in at an impressive 6-foot-6, 300 pounds, Hicks will compete with Ryan over the course of the season to fill the void left by this year's senior class.
"Mike is a young man that can do a lot. At his size he is just going to get stronger," Edsall said.
However, Edsall wasn't just satisfied rebuilding his offensive line. He was determined to help solidify his future team's leaders by inking two quarterbacks: Billy Cundiff and Dennis Brown II. Both QBs seem to have the potential to challenge for the starting job next year.
But all hope was not lost. coach Randy Edsall had a solution for his wounded team - he could rebuild them. They have the technology. Bigger, faster, stronger. Wednesday afternoon at the Goodwin Hotel Edsall introduced the next generation of the UConn offense.
One of the biggest goals and obstacles that Edsall and the Huskies faced during the offseason was rebuilding the offensive line.
"The overall size and athletic ability and speed of this group of people we were able to sign has made us a better football team in that regard," Edsall said.
The Huskies were able to sign an incredible six offensive linemen to letters of intent Wednesday. A massive group, the six linemen weigh in at an average 296 pounds and range in height from 6-foot-1 to 6-foot-8. Led by Connecticut native Dan Ryan, who has been attending UConn camps in recent years, the new crop of offensive linemen are quick on their feet and extremely athletic.
"I am very impressed with Dan as a leader. He's the type of guy that can do a lot of things for you," Edsall said.
Joining Ryan on the offensive line will be fellow in-state product Mike Hicks out of Seymour. Weighing in at an impressive 6-foot-6, 300 pounds, Hicks will compete with Ryan over the course of the season to fill the void left by this year's senior class.
"Mike is a young man that can do a lot. At his size he is just going to get stronger," Edsall said.
However, Edsall wasn't just satisfied rebuilding his offensive line. He was determined to help solidify his future team's leaders by inking two quarterbacks: Billy Cundiff and Dennis Brown II. Both QBs seem to have the potential to challenge for the starting job next year.