UCONN Drops Conference Opener, On Road to USF
Bob Diaco lost his first conference game tonight in Tampa, as UConn (1-3, 0-1 AAC) fell to USF (2-2, 1-0) 17-14 at Raymond James Stadium.
With all the play calling that will be talked about ad nauseum this week, is the fact the Huskies lost the game in the first couple of minutes, once again. Left tackle Richard Levy let his man go unblocked, who strip sacked Chandler Whitmer from behind. The fumble was recovered by USF at their own 19-yard line.
Four plays later it was 7-0 Bulls in just 3:38. Head coach Bob Diaco reportedly said that play caused him and his staff to determine if the line can’t block, the only thing they will do is run.
This concurs what Diaco said at media day in August, in Newport, RI. “If we turn the ball over, we’ll just run it every play, I’m serious,” he said. “You can’t win the game if you turn it over.”
That philosophy undoubtedly cost the Huskies the game as UConn promptly went three and out and USF went on a 10 play, 80-yard drive that was capped with a 30-yard touchdown pass from QB Mike White to WR Rodney Adams on 4th and 10. Once again, safety Obi Melfonwu was a step behind, but we will have much more on that later this week(we will ask Diaco about his play again this week).
The rest of the game saw both teams pack it in on the play-calling front, but especially UCONN. A field position battle ensued that saw the Huskies begin four consecutive series inside their own 15-yard line. Apparently not wanting to risk another strip sack, the offense threw in the towel on the passing game and decided to feature a different running back, exclusively, on each set of downs.
In an effort to grasp for anything positive, Diaco is correct, the team did not quit after falling behind 14-0. The defense was spectacular, including CB Byron Jones’ 70-yard interception return for a touchdown that cut the USF lead to 14-7 just before halftime and a goal line stand midway through the fourth quarter.
When the staff finally opened it up with 1:57 to go, Whitmer led the Huskies on a 4 play, 75-yard touchdown drive, in which he hit WR Geremy Davis on a 32-yard catch and run for a touchdown.
The score brought the Huskies to within 3, with just over a minute to play. The Huskies attempted an onside kick with K Bobby Puyol, but USF recovered and an offsides was called on the Huskies anyway, so it didn’t really matter.
Diaco has stressed from week to week the importance of pre-snap penalties, which were abundant in the Huskies first road game of the year. In total, UConn committed 9 penalties for 49 yards.
The other key stat from the game is time of possession. With the game plan changing the way it did, UConn controlled the ball for just under 21 minutes, USF for 39. That will tire any defense.
Diaco mentioned prior to the game simplifying everything for the offensive line. Well, it’s no doubt, the Huskies did the same thing with the play calling.
The players can’t win the game, if they can’t do what they are good at. The coaches took their best threat, the speed and quickness of their receivers, particularly Geremy Davis and Deshonn Foxx and refused to attack down field until there were less than two minutes remaining.
For a team that cannot run the ball, it will be tough to win another game, if that is the philosophy.
In all, it was not a good night for UConn football on national television.
Report Card:
Offense – D – The players can only run the plays that are called. Running consistently against 8 and 9 man fronts is not going to succeed, but the offensive line was the main reason for the play calling. I have no idea how Chandler would have looked had he been given a chance. WR’s? Same thing. The O-line gets a 0, while the rest get an incomplete.
Defense – B – Two biggest plays of the game on this side of the ball. A converted 3rd and 16 draw play that led to the game winning field goal and the 30-yard TD pass on 4th and 10. Other than that the defense, once again, did more than enough to come out on top, including Jones’ pick 6.
Coaching – F – I don’t understand the play calling and never will. Down 14-7 in the fourth quarter, backed up in your own end or not, three straight runs, especially on 2nd and 9 and 3rd and 8 are incomprehensible.
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