UConn Football 2010: Final Preparations Being Made Before the Trip To Michigan

The big day is less than a week a way, and UConn is finalizing the depth chart before they take on Michigan in the renovated Big House in a game that could potentially set the largest attendance record for any college football game ever to take place.

Randy Edsall and staff had a lot of tough decisions to make over the last few weeks, but have released the depth chart which included a couple of surprises.

The biggest shocker of them all was seeing Greg Lloyd as the opening day starter at linebacker.  Lloyd, who tore his ACL against Michigan, was playing with the third-string defense during camp.  Many believed that he would use a medical redshirt this season and sit out.

That's not the case for the senior who should help UConn who was looking thin at linebacker.  His speed and athleticism are going to be needed in order to stop dual-threat quarterback Denard Robinson of Michigan.

Wide receiver Mike Lang, who converted to strong safety, will be backing up Kijuan Dabney who converted from linebacker.  This was a close race, but Dabney has secured the job to start the season. 

Opposite of him, Jerome Junior will not be starting at free safety.  Harris Agbor, who only played in five games last season, will start opposite Dabney.

Both Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Dwayne Gratz will be the starting cornerbacks.  The secondary has been an area of concern for the Huskies.  After last year, where UConn looked more than vulnerable at times, an early indication of the changes made on the defensive side of the ball should be a key to look out for.

On the other side of the ball, Zach Frazer will be starting and behind him will be Michael Box, a redshirt freshman from Georgia.  Box has a lot of size and arm strength, but nobody really knows what to expect from him if Frazer goes down.

He has no experience, and the loss of Cody Endres, an experienced quarterback, could be felt in that particular scenario.

At running back, Jordan Todman will start and most likely receive the majority of the carries.  Todman had a great season last year and that success should only continue.

Behind him, though, are two quality runners in Robbie Frey and USC Transfer DJ Shoemate.  Nobody is really sure how the carries will be divided but it has always been with Edsall in the past that the player who is hot is going to run the football.

At wide receiver Michael Smith, Isiah Moore, and Kashif Moore will be the featured three-wide set.  With Joe Moorehead's offense entering year two the passing game, it should be exciting to watch.

UConn has always been a running team, but Frazer has shown the ability to throw the ball through the air, and he is going to have the chances to show his passing skills.

Much of the talk around this UConn team is surrounded by the season opener at Michigan against Rich Rodriguez.  In the grand scheme of things it is only one game, but it holds a significant meaning.

Michigan is the winningest all-time college football program.  Sure they aren't as strong as they have been in the past, but they are still Michigan.  There is an enormous amount of pressure on them to have a strong year and to contend for a Big Ten title.

Randy Edsall knows his team has a lot of hype surrounding them.  That is something that they can't worry or be concerned about.  At the end of the day, it is all about going out on the field and winning games in the fourth quarter.

Some people are picking UConn to win the Big East.  Others believe they are a dark-horse or sleeper pick to win the conference.

No matter what happens this season, expect them to leave everything they have out on the field.  Win or lose this team has always possessed a never-back-down mentality.