Surprise! UConn's Greg Lloyd to start at middle linebacker against Michigan
by Andrew Porter on Aug 30, 2010 1:29 PM EDT
in UConn Huskies Football
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PrintUConn just published its depth chart for Saturday's game at Michigan, and, in a big surprise, Greg Lloyd is listed as the starting linebacker, with Scott Lutrus moving over to play Husky linebacker. Lloyd, who was supposed to switch from linebacker to defensive end this year, was expected to redshirt because of a knee injury he sustained last season.
Lloyd, a senior, had 91 tackles and five sacks last year as a middle linebacker.
Head coach Randy Edsall apparently won't be available for media comment until tomorrow, so I'm sure we'll hear a lot more about the move then, especially since Edsall spent the entire month of August acting like Lloyd was definitely going to redshirt.
This isn't the first time Edsall has played tricks by hiding players either. Back in 2008, Edsall spent an entire week telling the media he was debating between Zach Frazer and Cody Endres to fill in for an injured Tyler Lorenzen against Syracuse. Then, right at game time, Edsall changed his starter to.... Lorenzen.
UPDATE: Other things of note: As expected, Twyon Martin did regain his starting spot at defensive tackle. Jerome Junior has also been demoted to second string safety behind Harris Agbor and D.J. Shoemate and Robbie Frey are now listed together behind Jordan Todman.
The full depth chart is after the jump.
OFFENSE WR: 80 Michael Smith (Jr., 6-0, 202) 88 Gerrard Sheppard (RSo., 6-2, 209)
WR: 82 Kashif Moore (RJr., 5-9, 180) 14 Leon Kinnard (Fr., 5-9, 182)
WR: 83 Isiah Moore (RJr., 6-1, 190) 1 Dwayne Difton (So., 5-11, 173)
LT: 63 Adam Masters (RSo., 6-4, 283) 72 Jimmy Bennett (RSo., 6-8, 290)
LG: 66 Mathieu Olivier (RSr., 6-6, 294) 50 Tyler Bullock (RFr., 6-4, 301)
C: 57 Moe Petrus (RJr., 6-2, 292) 70 Gary Bardzak (RJr., 6-3, 292)
RG: 78 Zach Hurd (RSr., 6-7, 325) 69 Steve Greene (RFr., 6-4, 309)
RT: 71 Mike Ryan (RJr., 6-5, 333) 77 Kevin Friend (RFr., 6-5, 289)
TE: 94 Ryan Griffin (RSo., 6-6, 243) 89 John Delahunt (RSo., 6-3, 244)
QB: 10 Zach Frazer (RSr., 6-4, 231) 4 Michael Box (RFr., 6-3, 209)
TB: 23 Jordan Todman (Jr., 5-9, 193) 44 Robbie Frey (RJr., 6-0, 203) OR 24 D.J. Shoemate (Jr., 5-11, 218)
FB: 49 Anthony Sherman (Sr., 5-11, 240) 39 Brett Manning (Sr., 5-11, 260)
DEFENSE
DE: 48 Trevardo Williams (So., 6-1, 225) 96 A.J. Portee (RSo., 6-4, 237)
DT: 99 Kendall Reyes (RJr., 6-4, 298) 59 Shamar Stephen (RFr., 6-5, 300)
DT: 4 Twyon Martin (RJr., 6-2, 292) 53 Ryan Wirth (RSo., 6-2, 272)
DE: 91 Jesse Joseph (So., 6-3, 255) 98 Ted Jennings (RSo., 6-5, 247)
SLB:* 32 Scott Lutrus (RSr., 6-3, 245) 28 Jory Johnson (RSo., 6-1, 227)
MLB: 95 Greg Lloyd (Sr., 6-2, 259) 55 Jerome Williams (RSo., 5-11, 233)
WLB: 8 Lawrence Wilson (RSr., 6-1, 226) 46 Sio Moore (RSo., 6-1, 230)
CB: 5 Blidi Wreh-Wilson (RSo., 6-0, 191) 29 Taylor Mack (Fr., 5-9, 170)
S: 25 Harris Agbor (RJr., 5-11, 183) 15 Jerome Junior (RSo., 6-1, 215)
S: 19 Kijuan Dabney (Jr., 6-1, 192) 7 Mike Lang (So., 5-11, 181)
CB: 24 Dwayne Gratz (RSo., 6-0, 187) 2 Gilbert Stlouis (Fr., 5-11, 182)
* Commonly referred to as the "Husky" linebacker
SPECIALISTS
P: 86 Cole Wagner (RFr., 6-2, 198) OR 13 Chad Christen (RFr., 6-1, 203)
K: 38 Dave Teggart (RJr., 6-0, 207) 13 Chad Christen (RFr., 6-1, 203)
LS: 93 Derek Chard (Sr., 6-3, 237) 67 Adam Mueller (Fr., 6-1, 208)
H: 13 Chad Christen (RFr., 6-1, 203) 4 Michael Box (RFr., 6-3, 209)
KR: 23 Jordan Todman (Jr., 5-9, 193) 44 Robbie Frey (RJr., 6-0, 203)
PR: 21 Gary Wilburn (RJr., 5-11, 195) 31 Nick Williams (So., 5-10, 183)
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Further things of note:
Freshman QB Leon Kinnard made the two-deep as a WR.
Redshirt freshman Mike Box got the nod to backup Frazer.
Punter is still up in the air.
Nice to see Dwayne Difton’s name appear on the depth chart. I was so excited for him last year — here’s hoping he sees the field and does some damage as a sophomore.
ecstatic about the lloyd thing...
hoping its not a typo
"...Don't talk black to me. How do you even talk black? End words with izzle..." Modern Family
by kemba walker is my hero... on Aug 30, 2010 5:18 PM EDT reply actions
Well Johnson is now listed
as the second-team Husky backer, so I think you can safely assume this wasn’t an error. Lloyd is back.
by Andrew Porter on Aug 30, 2010 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I want to believe ...
That this wasn’t necessarily all a tactical maneuver on Edsall’s part. Understandably, there will be some backlash because of the whole Lorenzen thing. But how much of an advantage is it to spring a middle linebacker — one that was going to move to DE — on someone? Especially against a team spread running team like Michigan — I’m guessing we’ll see a lot of 4-2-5 and other sets different than the base 4-3, which is what UConn has done against the likes of West Virginia, etc.
My conspiracy theory: Lloyd wanted to sit out the year presuming he wouldn’t play in a large chunk of games, and being that it’s his final year of eligibility he wanted to make the most of the season for NFL scouts and whatnot. But after practicing all summer, he and the team made a late decision to go the whole season. … Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if Edsall sat on the info. for longer than he probably should have.
Either way, not a good start for a coach who was a staunch supporter of the whole disclosure part of the league’s new irrelevant injury report.
by UConnBlog Justin on Aug 30, 2010 7:43 PM EDT reply actions
hmmm
I was also thinking the Campbell injury may have accelerated his return – hopefully he’s in good shape, he did get reps this fall. Solid linebackers. You never know, maybe, just maybe….
And I’m sure the slime-ball from the Courant will be calling HCRE a liar again… LOL.
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