Ball State Post Game Thread | Page 4 | The Boneyard

Ball State Post Game Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jetskies said:
re: bell - did anyone else feel like we ran nothing but screens?
Screens work when they're not expected. Sammis makes them feel like they're a dive up the middle lol
14 for 103 yards is laughable. I said in the game chat that doing that over and over is going to get him hurt against real defenses.
Expand ...
Bell deserves to be on a better team with better coaching. I really hope he makes the NFL.
 
Buffett10 said:
Unqualified to play at this level? You mean the same uconn team that went to Syracuse and held them to 6pts going into the 4th. Then you mean that same Syracuse team going to Clemson today and hanging 31 points on them. Are we great? No.. Can we beat Clemson? No probably not. Are we terrible? ABSOLUTELY not. This team could easily be 4-0 right now. Really should be 4-0.. but typical uconn fans no different then the basketball side. You guys literally have to win every game or the team is terrible. Smh. Support the team.
Expand ...
Did you just compare UConn football to UConn basketball in terms of winning and expectations from fans?
 
Viet Vet said:
We MAY go 8-5 given our weak schedule, but this is a boring, uninspiring, mundane team to watch, let alone root for. I have lived 66 of my 77 years here in Connecticut, yet if I were not a UConn grad (1974) I might question my ongoing support.

I will always bleed National Flag Blue, but the quest for mediocrity is a frustrating journey.
Expand ...
We have one of the top performing offenses in the country, a running back who can break a long one at any time and a really talented receiver. Every game except Central has come down to the last minute. Two went to overtime. It isn’t like we are playing 6-3 games. What the heck do you need to not be boring?
 
I think it's pretty evident now that we whiffed in the portal this past off-season, at least defensively.

Mora keeps comparing it to NFL free agency but with free agency you are looking at players who have played at the same level you are and so there is more certainly in what you are getting. With the portal, you are often projecting how their limited stats and video will translate to your level unless you are going for top level talent, which we obviously aren't.

I feel we need to emphasize HS recruiting more and treat the portal as a place to plug the gaps. We've been averaging 13 HS recruits and 20+ transfers the last few years. Something more 50/50 or 60/40 should be the goal imo
 
.-.
MilliniumPrince said:
What more are they supposed to do?
Expand ...
Make critical stops on 4th down, not give up penalties that result in 1st down, and most seriously NOT give up a touchdown after we score a touchdown! We can score more this season compared to past seasons, but if we can't make defensive stops when needed, we're going to get outscored like the last 2 weeks. Today's game should not have been close.
 
Buffett10 said:
Unqualified to play at this level? You mean the same uconn team that went to Syracuse and held them to 6pts going into the 4th. Then you mean that same Syracuse team going to Clemson today and hanging 31 points on them. Are we great? No.. Can we beat Clemson? No probably not. Are we terrible? ABSOLUTELY not. This team could easily be 4-0 right now. Really should be 4-0.. but typical uconn fans no different than the basketball side. You guys literally have to win every game or the team is terrible. Smh. Support the team.
Expand ...
As I said, first time seeing with my own eyes. I was hopeful that the Yard was exaggerating because we had such high hopes for the season and what went on at Syracuse actually may have raised expectations. No, no exaggeration. Can’t tackle, look confused, disorganized. Twice with Game on line we were doing a Chinese fire drill when ball was snapped. I’ve watched UConn FB for 40 years, and it looks like this is bottom 5 D. Not much Chutzpah across the board.
 
ZooCougar said:
You can't be serious.

This defense can't get off the field on third down to save its life.
Expand ...
They weren't great, but at the end of he day they aren't giving up points early (accept against Deleware). The same thing is happening to Miami against Florida right now. If you hold a team and inferior team to 2 TDs or less for most of the game, and it is still close...they other team will score eventually because your defense gets tired and frustrated. It isn't hard to see.
 
My theory on defensive schemes is any scheme will work if you have the proper players to run that scheme. You determine who your most disruptive players are and you choose a scheme that features those players. I am not sure we have any disruptive players on our defense. We should at least try different schemes to see if possible some players start to flourish in a different scheme.
 
I think the team is still shell shocked from the two OT losses. I am not sure if this win will help them mentally either. I also think AD Dave needs to start thinking about some staff changes, privately. I don't under stand why Coach Mora does see the deficiencies in defense overall and play calling.
 
.-.
Jetskies said:
I'm heartbroken for this offense, truly. Can you imagine the ceiling on this season, if we had a competent defense? not even an elite one.

we'd have beat syracuse by 14, Delaware by 28, and ball state by like 40 easy. heartbreaking

with our luck, we may not have an offense this good again.
Expand ...
If we were actually good, we wouldn’t choose plays having receivers look directly into the sun for the ball. Counted at least 2 instances just in this game, and more in the others too. Just unacceptable.
 
Glad to take this W but some of the playcalling still baffling. Like Coach S has learned nothing. Thank somebody we have Cam and Sky. But we don't get enough out of other players. Looking for some week to week improvement on both sides but not seeing a lot yet. D seems a little undermanned. But hey there's enough games left to make a dent. Worried how dangerous Duke's offense looks though. One week at a time I guess. We're still fighting and that gives us a shot. Gonna enjoy the win and move on with a mostly healthy squad.
 
I share everyone's concerns about the D, but for now I'll look at it this way. Ball State is probably not a bottom 10 team. Their 2 blowout losses came against P2 teams. Syracuse just beat Clemson on the road, and Delaware thumped our future opponent FIU by 22, also on the road. So overall. I think our competition to date has been better than their ratings would suggest. Plus, as was pointed out, we are still down a couple of key players on D. I believe Brock is a good DC and that we will see improvement going foward. That is how I'll look at our situation.....for now.
 
gopher2 said:
I share everyone's concerns about the D, but for now I'll look at it this way. Ball State is probably not a bottom 10 team. Their 2 blowout losses came against P2 teams. Syracuse just beat Clemson on the road, and Delaware thumped our future opponent FIU by 22, also on the road. So overall. I think our competition to date has been better than their ratings would suggest. Plus, as was pointed out, we are still down a couple of key players on D. I believe Brock is a good DC and that we will see improvement going foward. That is how I'll look at our situation.....for now.
Expand ...
Voice of reason, like your line of thought. Was like a glass of warm milk as I shut down for the evening. Go Huskies!
 
.-.
The good... A win!; Skyler Bell is a beast; Edwards remains a HR threat out of the backfield (which makes the struggles on short-yardage downs even more befuddling)

The bad... The O-Line seems incapable of generating a push on short-yardage conversions, when the defense is geared up for the run. Fagnano throws well from the pocket; anytime he's on the move, it's time to hold your breath as frequently throws are behind the receivers (or bounced low).

The ugly... The defense.. particularly against the run. If the defense isn't able to adjust, the Rice game (among others) could get ugly as they've shifted to a shotgun option attack, with three legit threats to run.
 
UConnTrumbull said:
Buffalo is now a must win if we’re going to go bowling
Expand ...
Agreed. I feel like this is the make or break game for how the rest of the season goes. A win on the road gets us to 3-2 with a home game against FIU, then a bye before BC. Maybe some positive momentum. A loss and I struggle to see how we get to 6 wins.

Buffalo has Roberson at QB (although he got hurt today) and they’ve struggled mightily on offense. If our defense can’t play a decent game here, I don’t think they’re stopping anyone else
 
uconnfan68 said:
If we were actually good, we wouldn’t choose plays having receivers look directly into the sun for the ball. Counted at least 2 instances just in this game, and more in the others too. Just unacceptable.
Expand ...
I don't think our offense is good, in the objective sense.

It's just the best offense WE'VE had in a while, and idk when we'll have a skyler + cam + Joe (who isn't great but is serviceable enough to help the other 2 score) combination again in Storrs.
 
giddyup said:
Sammis is baffling with some of his play calling. At times it’s sheer stupidity. Why he refuses to exploit the middle of the field is beyond be. Why he rolls out Fagnano cutting the field in half and making him throw on the run (a weakness) is ridiculous. Why he keeps running the useless wideout screen especially into the short side of the field is another dummy maneuver. He stalls a lot of drives with stupid calls.
Expand ...
Is it really that hard to figure out? With Mel Brown out, they don’t have a second TB they trust to carry the ball more than a few times. So the constant screens to Bell was just a way to let Bell be the second ball carrier and make plays.
 
.-.
giddyup said:
Sammis is baffling with some of his play calling. At times it’s sheer stupidity. Why he refuses to exploit the middle of the field is beyond be. Why he rolls out Fagnano cutting the field in half and making him throw on the run (a weakness) is ridiculous. Why he keeps running the useless wideout screen especially into the short side of the field is another dummy maneuver. He stalls a lot of drives with stupid calls.
Expand ...
Worst part about this is I think the defense is shown they could really play. Syracuse game was not a fluke. What happened since then I have no idea. But if I’m being paid six figures to manage that defense, after the last few games, I would expect my job to be in question
 
It was clear after the CCSU game our lines would be challenged this season.
OL surely better than expected though, giving Joe enough time and opening seams for the patient Edwards.
Love the growth of Fagnano and dependability of our 2 TNT guys, Bell and Edwards.
3-3-5 does look like maybe not the best choice with this group but think of it this way, if Brock/Mora knew we'd be weak up front, it'd be smart to at least cover deep to prevent the deep pass/quick score.
Not a terrible gamble to hope the LBs could at least keep the run game down but it has sure led to a lot of yards given.
DBs have not been the problem and Molette is studly.
 
Jetskies said:
I don't think our offense is good, in the objective sense.

It's just the best offense WE'VE had in a while, and idk when we'll have a skyler + cam + Joe (who isn't great but is serviceable enough to help the other 2 score) combination again in Storrs.
Expand ...

The opposite actually. Objectively by most metrics, the offense is good. It’s not only the best offense UConn has had in years, it is in top top quartile of most offensive categories in the NCAA.

Subjectively, and peeling back a couple of layers and the offense’s warts start to show. Extending drives in the 4th quarter with the lead? Not good. Red zone efficiency, especially inside the 5 yard line?? Not good.

The athleticism which allows the OLine to run a strong zone run game becomes a hindrance when you need to put helmet on helmet in short yardage. Other than Big Ben at LT, the rest of the line is small.

But there are things to work with. Edwards is showing he is a beast. Bell, even if it takes 14 catches to get a hundred yards, gets the yards. Credit Ball St for their open field tackling yesterday. It was good.

Defense is a different story. I’d hate to know how many times they’ve let up a TD on a drive after UConn scores.

The DLine is easy to block and push downfield. The LB’s have gotten pressure at times but if they don’t get a sack the DB’s have shown zero ability to contain broken plays.

The Syracuse and Delaware losses don’t look as bad after this weekend, but this win didn’t build any confidence for the fans.
 
microfich said:
It was clear after the CCSU game our lines would be challenged this season.
OL surely better than expected though, giving Joe enough time and opening seams for the patient Edwards.
Love the growth of Fagnano and dependability of our 2 TNT guys, Bell and Edwards.
3-3-5 does look like maybe not the best choice with this group but think of it this way, if Brock/Mora knew we'd be weak up front, it'd be smart to at least cover deep to prevent the deep pass/quick score.
Not a terrible gamble to hope the LBs could at least keep the run game down but it has sure led to a lot of yards given.
DBs have not been the problem and Molette is studly.
Expand ...

Not a bad take up until that last sentence.

DB’s have been atrocious, especially on broken plays.
 
.-.
Status
Not open for further replies.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,521
Messages
4,580,351
Members
10,490
Latest member
7774Forever


Top Bottom