HCRE2.0 has made it very clear, he is in charge and any failures of coaching/recruiting/player execution is on him. I take him at his word. All three areas have been much less than the program needs to be successful.
What is the maximum upside of keeping HCRE2.0 in 2019:
1. Fires DC and some of defensive staff. He picked these guys, HCRE2.0 was not a 1st time head coach when he made his selection but a 60 year old guy with 15 or so years of head coaching experience. How likely is it that the replacement defensive staff is average or above average; let's shoot for average. So 2019 is new defensive coaching staff whether keep HCRE2.0 or not, with keeping him also get his choice of DC and staff.
2. Offensive staff. Don't see them being replaced by HCRE2.0 so that's what get in 2019 unless fire HCRE2.0. Pretty ok players to be only 108th in scoring offense (especially with type of shoot out games playing and scoring over 50 against FCS team) so I'm not real thrilled with this coaching staff's performance either.
3. Recruiting. Probably last in AAC per ratings and 80 to 110 overall. New coach probably similar. Some different faces but similar ranking keep HCRE2.0 or not.
4. Juco/grad transfers. Not sure how this will work out but need serious upper class assistance on DL and LB for sure. How much is UConn administration an issue not sure. I would expect new coach would put more pressure on administration to give him leeway to go this route for a couple of years.
5. Transfers out. HCRE2.0 has noted not all potential red shirt seniors will be taken back. Other than poor body language of some defenders not sure what attitude of players are concerning HCRE2.0. Tough on them being beat up every week, especially on defense. Would not expect the next guy to be a "clean house" type of guy so don't think transfers out change much either way.
6. Player development. OL playing better (from low base level), Mensah running hard, WR's not used enough nor TE's. No meaningful reps for potential replacement QB's. Take out the FCS game and still way too few points to be competitive in AAC. And this is with a defense that gives up scores like water so get a lot of offensive possessions with the need to score on every possession. Defense am unable to make a logical comment as the play is so bad that the guys seem either uncoached or trying to get their staff fired. Expect new staff and question is whether think HCRE2.0 would do better job picking and directing than another HC. I see no reason to suggest HCRE2.0 would be better at selecting replacements. Strength, conditioning and speed training. Would expect improvements by players whoever runs this program. More on player quality/potential than any magic workout regime.
7. Head coaching. HCRE2.0 has gotten UConn to 3-9 and soon to be 1-11. Offers no excuse for how team has performed related to anything he could/should have done differently and players are just not good enough at this stage to compete (be it talent, youth, training, etc.). No quick fix. Take that to mean looking at 2021 as "the year" for solid play. Get new coach get whatever that guy brings/does.
So keep HCRE2.0 has a few continuity benefits and few potential drawbacks for 2019.
There is no big upside for keeping HCRE2.0 for 2019. See no reason based on HCREDreamJob1.0 or HCRE2.0 performance to suggest would rather roll the dice on him in 2019. Expect to be in similar or worse place this time in 2019 with same type of decision to be made. Hard to think it could be the same or worse but I was one of the guys who considered a 1 win season not in the realm of possibilities this year. Just think of this, have averaged less than 25 points a game for two straight years with QB's with some college level experience, next year have no one like that at QB. You think can't average less than 25 points a game, ask the Rutgirls what it's like to have a team that averages less than 2 touchdowns a game!
It's never to early to stop going in the wrong direction.
