before you kill diaco

[firstnline]

Went to the Big E today and there were tons of UConn T-shirts walking about. DVR'd the game, come home and watch it and was extremely disappointed. First the defense played their heart and tales off only to have another part of the game fall apart. Yes ST needed a break they just could not get. You wonder what they are doing in practice all week. I'm wondering if the talent level of the ST really falls off the charts which I do believe and will continue if no adjustments are made. However Diaco's play call was just an embarrassment to the program.

I will say this and its true most of the time. The good teams find a way to win, the bad teams find a way to lose. Mizzou won with one hand tied behind their back. UConn let them off the hook today.

 

[Milo65]

Went to the Big E today and there were tons of UConn T-shirts walking about. DVR'd the game, come home and watch it and was extremely disappointed. First the defense played their heart and tales off only to have another part of the game fall apart. Yes ST needed a break they just could not get. You wonder what they are doing in practice all week. I'm wondering if the talent level of the ST really falls off the charts which I do believe and will continue if no adjustments are made. However Diaco's play call was just an embarrassment to the program.

I will say this and its true most of the time. The good teams find a way to win, the bad teams find a way to lose. Mizzou won with one hand tied behind their back. UConn let them off the hook today.

I could not disagree with you more. UConn were 21 point underdogs, the SEC recruits 4 and 5 star recruits, Our program is coming off of the Pasqualoni death penalty, what kind of dude picks the Big E over this game, the special teams will get better, as well as our offense, it takes time

 

[huskymedic]

Went to the Big E today..

...just an embarrassment.

Sorry. That's all I took away...

 

[Huskydog45]

Going the Big E over the game and then the most idiotic quote of the year saying Mizzou won with one hand tied behind their back. You obviously got plastered at the Big E and on the way home to make that comment buddy.

 

[kjk9183]

My wife son and mother in law went to Big E today........

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

Diaco's still learning. He's going to make some boneheaded calls. But he also has these kids believing they can win these football games. I look at this team of sophomores and think about how good we can be. I look at Diaco and how much he's already learned and think how good he could be.

Doesn't make it okay that he screwed up, but he's been doing this for less than two years. The future's so bright you gotta wear sunglasses.

 

[kjk9183]

My son is 2 so don't had it against him

 

[kjk9183]

My son is 2 so don't hold it against him

 

[BNich]

Gotta kick that

At least give your team a chance to tie. You already pulled two kick fakes earlier in the game. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, fool me three times, yeah not going to happen 3 times in one game. Have to kick it there for sure.

 

[BNich]

When we lined up for the FG, my first thought was "holy crap we're faking it". It seemed too obvious given our extra point woes.

If Boyle had put a little mustard on his first attempt it would've been a completion. The 2nd throw was just lobbed up there and the defense was ready for it, not much he could've done but putting that much air under it certainly didn't help.

Very happy with the game overall, we're a better team than last year (based on these first 3 games).

I absolutely agree. And if anyone wants to argue this team has not gotten better, there is something seriously wrong with them.

 

[Jimdish255]

This is correct, the two are not mutually exclusive. The play call was wrong, BD did an outstanding job today on everything else.

Let's also not forget MU should've had a 4th down on their TD drive when that receiver very obviously did not control the ball on the 1st down catch. Should've been a 40+ yd FG attempt.

Glad you mentioned that. Was that the catch where they hurried to run another play because they knew it might be reversed? Did we have a TO available to challenge? That was a huge play. I think he has to control the ball to the ground. He clearly did not. (Sorry I'm a little unclear on all the situations because I had an unforeseen medical event.)

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I absolutely agree. And if anyone wants to argue this team has not gotten better, there is something seriously wrong with them.

Well fortunately for your sanity, nobody is making that argument.

 

[businesslawyer]

Glad you mentioned that. Was that the catch where they hurried to run another play because they knew it might be reversed? Did we have a TO available to challenge? That was a huge play. I think he has to control the ball to the ground. He clearly did not. (Sorry I'm a little unclear on all the situations because I had an unforeseen medical event.)

Yes, that was the play. Yes we had a TO. But this is not the NFL were you only look at a play when challenged. The booth should have -- and can -- stop play immediately when they have reason to think a reversible error occurred.

By the way -- I'm not at all sure we win even if the call was made. MIzzou was the better team today --not by tons but better -- and if they are still behind after that possession they may kick later FGs that they passed on. So I won't say that call cost us the game. But it was the wrong call, and it was a huge moment in the game.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Going the Big E over the game and then the most idiotic quote of the year saying Mizzou won with one hand tied behind their back. You obviously got plastered at the Big E and on the way home to make that comment buddy.

It could have been worse, he could have gone apple picking.

 

[RMS25CT]

The 2nd throw was just lobbed up there and the defense was ready for it, not much he could've done but putting that much air under it certainly didn't help.

Maybe he called "bank shot" and therefore had to bounce it off the MetLife blimp.

 

[Bootsthemonkey]

I don't have a problem with the call. He abandoned the kicking game because there is a problem with it (not the kicking but the blocking - what did they say, 3 blocked PAT's this year along with the blocked punt earlier in the game?). I think if people are upset it should be at why there is enough of a problem with the kicking game that the coach would abandon it when he has a kicker that can be reasonably assured to make the attempt successfully.

 

[Palatine]

Remember that out field goal unit can't even snap a ball. Can't block for a field goal. Also the announcers clearly said in pregame we couldn't hit a field goal outside 40 yards. I'm Damn proud of this team. Yes Diaco has to manage game better. But we are lightyears ahead of any of us could have ever imagined. Yes I'm disappointed because we should have won. But I would put it at 90%chance that our freshman kicker in front of 70,000 fans with a snapper/holder who are terrible makes that field goal. True sports fans that KNOW the game would agree with not kicking the field goal. They may not agree with the playcall. But a kid who just attempted his 1st ever field goal and blundered it will not make that to tie. Rant over. Proud of this team and how hard they are working. Future looks EXTREMELY BRIGHT.

I believe what the announcer said is that Tarbutt was hooking the ball in practice. But its not relevant except that Tarbutts leg has been much weaker than anticipated. He rarely kicks into the end zone. And his FG attempt looked like it would just barely make it (or not) if it was straight.

Diaco deserves to be killed about his special teams. He can't figure out the extra point? Every other coach in the nation has been better. Three blocked in three games. That's completely on the coach. I don't mind going for the win but since Diaco already had run two fake kicks, it wasn't exactly a surprise to Missouri.

Let's talk punts. We had one blocked for a safety. Then there were two running into the receiver penalties when we were able to get off a punt. And there was another failure to catch a punt that landed at the 20 and ended up putting us at our own one yard line.

These are all on Diaco. The STs were a mess. That's not on the players, it's on the coach.

 

[Adios]

Attempt to build up Boyle. Boyle has not lived up to his rating, sadly.

Didn't get to watch the damn game but nice to see we're playing good football once again. I'm on the Diaco bandwagon. And please, have the band playing more than the stupid speakers at the Rent.

 

[Glastonhusky]

Everyone is talking about the last play, but the real issue was the missed extra point. We make that and there's no debate, we have a 42 yard FG with a chance to win the game.

 

[Hoophound]

There were other issues. Two in particular were the Mizzou first down catch that the receiver didn't have control of and the Ron Johnson fumble 3 seconds after the whistle should have been blown.

Unfortunately, AAC refs or not, we didn't catch a break. The review on the McCallister play took about 3-4 minutes even though it was clear as day. Meanwhile, the Johnson fumble review took 30 seconds tops and that one required great scrutiny before making a fair decision.

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

I really don't understand why we so terrified about the idea of going to overtime. We needed to attempt the kick imo. The odds of making the kick may have been low but they were higher than any other alternatives there. The offense produced ZERO points in the last three quarters. This was our best/only chance at putting something on the board. ....that being said...if the heavens had lined up and that play actually worked we'd likely have a few sellouts over the next couple of games.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Everyone is talking about the last play, but the real issue was the missed extra point. We make that and there's no debate, we have a 42 yard FG with a chance to win the game.

I posted this elsewhere but does anyone believe Mizzou wouldn't have kicked what would have basically been an extra point if they were up 9-7 midway through the fourth quarter instead of going for it on fourth and goal from the two? If we made that extra point the situation would have been 12 - 7 and the only real difference would have been there would not have been a fake as we would have had no reason to send the field goal unit out.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

It was a really dumb call, I would have rather have died with just running a play or a poor FG attempt, but I'm so happy that our team is not a joke anymore. We've clearly stepped up our level of play compared to the past few years. Yeah the offense didn't too much, but it also didn't shoot us in the foot like past years. Would have loved for them to have a chance on that 4th.

Also can Tim Boyle just not throw another pass for us. Sorry.

Or "died" (or prospered) with a pass. That final drive with an empty backfield seemed to work pretty good.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

There was a lot of good coaching today. Diaco's defense was fantastic and the scheme totally shut down Missouri. The fake punt was a great call. I loved that the offense went to the empty set on the last series. It was like Rocky changing up and switching back to Southpaw in the last round, Missouri had no answers for it and couldn't adjust. If we don't get a holding call on the final drive, we are looking at 2nd and short instead of 2nd and 10 during that series. But the last call was hideous, it totally outshines Bob's work. Listen, we are recruiting well, we are playing good ball, our guys are bigger/stronger, our uniforms look great, and we have what looks to be a bright future. I'm not going to beat Diaco up. If you told me last week that we would be in this one and that we would have a chance down the stretch to win in, then I would have been out of my mind (happy). This team is so young, a lot of our play makers are sophomores. What I learned today was that our defense is damn good. They will keep us in most games this year, which makes us dangerous.

Unfortunately, the offense continues NOT TO BE ABLE TO SCORE. Too bad, defense was the best defense on that field yesterday.

 

[SubbaBub]

I posted this elsewhere but does anyone believe Mizzou wouldn't have kicked what would have basically been an extra point if they were up 9-7 midway through the fourth quarter instead of going for it on fourth and goal from the two? If we made that extra point the situation would have been 12 - 7 and the only real difference would have been there would not have been a fake as we would have had no reason to send the field goal unit out.

Yet another way that ST screwed us over. If affected not only the scoreboard and field position, but it flummoxed the coach on the last drive.

Sidebar to the we are better than last year crowd: How could we not be and still put a team on the field. It was a good effort yesterday, but the progress-o-meter as of now is still hovering on, "Not embarrassing." Beat Navy at home and the turnaround sign can be fired up.

 

[Stray_Dog]

I absolutely agree. And if anyone wants to argue this team has not gotten better, there is something seriously wrong with them.

...then there is something wrong with me! Yes the entire team improved. However, there are facets to this team that I have seen no movement on. Sure we have a better QB? But if that doesn't translate into offensive points....Who cares??? I am glad that we played with an outcome that shows we didn't defecate on ourselves but until I see scoring drives and a significant points total showing progression throughout the game than I don't see the blistering turn-around that some of you see. Call me an energy vampire if you want to, but not accepting mediocrity or better yet smashing the "Thanks for Participating Trophy" when it handed out is the only way to improve! I don't accept excuses, I do expect results. This game was a better outcome on several levels than I would have expected but on the score board where the offensive points are displayed...I saw NOTHING! Whether the score was 40-6 or 9-6, the consistent fact is we were 6. Think of our close scores in the "Big" Games...then tell me how this different?

 

[Tdaley]

Our offensive with our new quarterback is much better than last year. Remember, we turn the ball over 28 times last year. You have to look at both sides of the score to evaluate our offensive. We are not going to score 40 points against a defense like the one Missouri put on the field Saturday. We are going to play good defense and make very few mistakes offensively and maybe win some low scoring games with this team. To expect more at this time is unrealistic.

 

[mets1090]

Sometimes player performances are better indicators of future results than the final number on the scoreboard. More total yards and more play making ability will eventually lead to more points.

Regardless of Missouri not deserving to be ranked, they are still better than most (all?) of the teams remaining on our schedule. I don't think anyone is really predicting some scorching turnaround where UConn finishes 10-2, but hanging with a decent SEC team is an indicator that they can go 6-6 which seemed pretty far fetched after last year.

 

[SonsOfNutmeg]

Think about it... All we needed was the 1st down, and going down the middle (Boyle to Bloom) made some sense on the fake. Especially when our kicking game was just simply atrioious Saturday. We need to seriously figure out if its going to be Talbot or Puyol taking kicks for us and stick to one of them, or we're going to keep losing these close games. We need kicking bad if we're going to have a defense first team and keep scores low.

 

[Stray_Dog]

Sometimes player performances are better indicators of future results than the final number on the scoreboard. More total yards and more play making ability will eventually lead to more points.

Regardless of Missouri not deserving to be ranked, they are still better than most (all?) of the teams remaining on our schedule. I don't think anyone is really predicting some scorching turnaround where UConn finishes 10-2, but hanging with a decent SEC team is an indicator that they can go 6-6 which seemed pretty far fetched after last year.

I do agree with what you are saying, however, I am pointing out that even though we may be better at executing or better at not embarrassing ourselves, I don't feel that we have gotten better at scoring points! I say this because, we scored how many points when playing Villanova, playing Army??? We played a Missouri Team that had no Offense, and that is why the game was so low scoring, what happens when a Missouri D is coupled with a true offense??? Think we still score 6 points? Think we will look nearly as good. So we have much work to do. For four years I have been watching Defense, defense, defense. Going to the games to watch our defense play and hold the opposition. To see where we are winning to see when this team takes the field knowing that the score will not change until the third and fourth QTR only because they have been the team dominating the field presence. ...and when people were predicting we would win this game, I would love to hear the defense of scoring 6 points as being enough to capture the "W". I admit, I thought we would get blown out, I was expecting a lot more turn-over on downs. I hope that last play is not indicative of a foretelling of what is to come. But my frustration with the offense is the same. Yes better than last year, but how about from two years ago,...not so much. For four years, this team feels a loss under the "Big" Lights and then it takes several games to muster one more win. So, my expectations are low, I am happy that at least for this week, the Huskies are not the joke of football. But you can not seriously expect me to believe this team to be capable of scoreing. Certainly not against Navy and not against BYU. UCF has fallen so much but they may just be glad to have a trophy to play for in a few short weeks.