(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The 2009 UConn Huskies football season reaches the halfway point with Saturday's Big East home opener against Louisville at high noon.

After last week's debacle at Pitt, the second time this season in which UConn frittered away a double-digit fourth quarter lead, the local media in Connecticut spent much of the last week chronicling the Huskies' ineptitude in holding fourth quarter leads this year.

Starting this week, UConn and their coaches need to forget every minute played thus far and throw out the tapes.

While they're at it, throw out every preconceived notion on how they have and will attack opponents' defenses, because so far the UConn offense isn't doing their defense any favors.

The defense has taken most of the heat for UConn's two losses on the year, and there is always the classic "need to execute better" line that is expected to be the salve for UConn fans' broken hearts.

The formula for offensive production and prosperity was to have changed this season, away from the three yards and a cloud of dust style that was so common for the last few years. 

New offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead's no-huddle scheme was to bring with it a dedication to split the play calling between the run and pass to a 50-50 ratio.

There have been baby steps away from that scheme, but for now the Huskies still are what they are: a team built around running the football.

Against any foe, the emphasis is on utilizing a punishing ground game. Only when that has been established do chances through the air take place.

The fact that UConn was able to lead both UNC and Pitt after three quarters, with only limited success on the ground, shouldn't be frowned upon.

What should be is the reliance on executing plays that their opponents had long since taken away.

As UNC and Pitt started to take the momentum away from UConn, the offensive play calling became easier to figure out than any major newspaper's Monday crossword puzzle.

Against Louisville's underperforming run defense, it will be hard for Randy Edsall not to stick with what is still a very punishing ground game.

With games at West Virginia, versus Rutgers, at Cincy, and at Notre Dame after this week's game, the Huskies need to break out of their one-dimensional tendencies and keep defenses on their heels and guessing more.

Quarterback Cody Endres, for the most part, has provided stability in the passing game and begun to develop some rapport with his receivers. Endres has yet to be picked off and has displayed enough accuracy for his coaches to open things up for him the rest of the way.

There is still hope for UConn's Big East aspirations this year, but the coaches and Edsall have to control their destiny and stop letting opponents decide it for them.

Yes, the defense needs to limit their breakdowns in pass protection in the final minutes of games, but how can they succeed if they are on the field for 95 percent of the fourth quarter?

Let the offense attack at all angles, from the opening minutes to the closing seconds.

Starting this week, make an example of Louisville, showing no mercy.

Stop dipping your toes in the water and jump already!

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?