Bryant Shirreffs

[Chief00]

BS may be tough and hard nose but he doesn't possess the physical traits or QB IQ needed for the position.
This doesn't mean I am advocating D Williams since these characteristics were not visibly on display with him either - but less of a conclusive sampling.

 

[metsfan2323]

BS may be tough and hard nose but he doesn't possess the physical traits or QB IQ needed for the position.
This doesn't mean I am advocating D Williams since these characteristics were not visibly on display with him either - but less of a conclusive sampling.

We all hope he comes back, competes, and proves you wrong. He showed some ability in a lousy system, I want to see what he can do in a good system.

 

[Chief00]

We all hope he comes back, competes, and proves you wrong. He showed some ability in a lousy system, I want to see what he can do in a good system.

I agree the system was lousy - but quite frankly I did not see the ability potential - either physical or mental (i.e quarterback progressions). I wish I did - but Chief gives it to you straight.

 

[Stinger92860]

I agree the system was lousy - but quite frankly I did not see the ability potential - either physical or mental (i.e quarterback progressions). I wish I did - but Chief gives it to you straight.

Forget your own views, what are your sources saying?

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

I'm pretty old and it's still like 12-15% of my life since we could go into a football season and think it might actually be enjoyable.

What Edsall and crew are doing on the recruiting trail is surreal. It's like after 20+ years I'm a fan of a normal football program that just goes out and recruits good players, plays a modern style and isn't trying to either squeeze blood from a stone, play 20 years in the past or reinvent the sport.

I'm not even sure how to react.

It started with the coaches he hired. Not a bunch of older coaches that he owed favors to, but a great mix of experience and new talent. What you see is a head coach confident enough to hire the right people without the concern that they will upstage him. I am not sure RE 1.0 hires Crocker and Lashlee.

It feels like RE 2.0 is more confident than arrogant...and I think that will make him an even better coach.

 

[31GuardTrap]

I'm pretty old and it's still like 12-15% of my life since we could go into a football season and think it might actually be enjoyable.

What Edsall and crew are doing on the recruiting trail is surreal. It's like after 20+ years I'm a fan of a normal football program that just goes out and recruits good players, plays a modern style and isn't trying to either squeeze blood from a stone, play 20 years in the past or reinvent the sport.

I'm not even sure how to react.

I think this reaction is pretty much the best way.

 

[WrenchFan69]

Do you have a good source?

Yes I do

 

[hardcorehusky]

I have felt that a healthy Shirreffs had the IT factor. I trust him to make plays in crunch time. Not the most accurate in terms of hitting guys in stride which limits YAC. But he will move the chains provided he gets 2.5 seconds + to get the ball out. His running style is of a fullback. He will get first downs but will get hit hard. In a Lashlee offense- he will be effective but is not the desired burner that can take a play to the house.

Donovan Williams was not ready last year. No reason to judge him on those 3 games in terms of can he do it at this level. The 40 yard run against Temple was impressive and I could see him also doing well in this offense. He will learn how to read a defense with proper coaching. the physical skills are there.

I am trying to put my projection /coaching glasses on much like Randy and his coaches will with the in school players. Young players grow in front of you. (Case in point Obi M). I can see position changes and lots of coaching up. The good news is the players want to win and are willing to put the work in to make it happen.

I am going to watch this unfold with excitement, unlike the last year or so where I was beaten down by a loon who was way over his head.

 

[huskymedic]

Shireffs is staying at UConn and intends to play next season

Do you have a good source?

Yes I do

You know Chief???

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Others have said it, but having BS back completely changes the outlook of the 2017 campaign.

If we could just protect the kid at an average clip, he can be a really good player for us. Hoping that he feels up to one last season and Edsall is selling him on going out with a bowl game.

 

[CL82]

I agree the system was lousy - but quite frankly I did not see the ability potential - either physical or mental (i.e quarterback progressions). I wish I did - but Chief gives it to you straight.

He did tend to lock into an option and not see alternatives but more often than not he didn't have much time to cycle through them. Behind a more effective OL he'll look much better.

 

[SubbaBub]

If BS is the starter then they will need to work on his internal clock, his progressions, and (obv) his protection.

Barring some miracle unknown QB, he is our best chance to win any games next season unless we go to the triple option.

 

[pnow15]

Donovan Williams has 2nd string TE written all over him. But, since this is UConn he will be allowed to go 3-9 for two seasons.

 

[2Infinity]

Yes I do

That would be fantastic news. You can't replace experience and for us right now, that's most important at the start of next season. I'm hoping that his accuracy issues were due mostly to him rushing his reads/throws because he felt the walls collapsing around him. Given a little more time, he could be that much better. In the meantime, DW can develop with good coaching and be potentially field-ready sometime during next season. The fire he was thrown into this past season by BD was a horrible way for a kid to get his first action. Especially when you consider that the team had already quit on Diaco...and he had obviously not been coached up either. Now he'll have that chance with Lashlee.

 

[HuskyHawk]

If BS is the starter then they will need to work on his internal clock, his progressions, and (obv) his protection.

Barring some miracle unknown QB, he is our best chance to win any games next season unless we go to the triple option.

I agree with the bolded piece. While I appreciate that he was hurt, and love his toughness, some of his worst play came pre-injury. The mental aspect of the position is where he most needs to improve. Better OL will obviously help.

As for him coming back, the more options we have the better. I don't think anyone can say he's the best option, how can any of us know that? It's just speculation. Donovan Williams may look like Donovan McNabb by August. Maybe we get a transfer or JUCO. Maybe McAfee is so good as a true freshman he beats them all out. I actually hope someone beats him out for the job, that means we have a capable veteran backup.

 

[uconnell]

This was the worst stain of the Diaco era

The worst stain of the PP era was his treatment of Whitmer. If Whitmer was my son I would have gone on the field and slapped the crap out of Pasqualoni, as I posted at the time?

In Edsall I trust.

 

[ktuck911]

Donovan Williams has 2nd string TE written all over him. But, since this is UConn he will be allowed to go 3-9 for two seasons.

worst case scenario he'll end up at either WR or DB... IF a position change occurs... That size warrants one of those skill positions..

 

[BlueDogs]

Everyone is seriously overlooking DW in this offensive style. He does not need to sling it 30 times a game now. He would be very effective in this type of spread. We saw him get out and run a bit last year. Don't dismiss him based on the 3 game disaster of last year when the coaching staff had zero clue what they were calling for plays and he was constantly under duress.
I'm not saying he is the next coming of Cam Newton but he is alot better than what we saw.

The dude runs in cement his first five steps and has the shiftiness of a sign pole. I don't know what you were watching but it was the antithesis of a dual threat QB. Factoring in passing accuracy and reading ability, he qualifies currently as a zero threat QB. I can't get there saying it was all scheme.

 

[freescooter]

You know Chief???

No. He knows Drummond!

 

[BlueDogs]

The worst stain of the PP era was his treatment of Whitmer. If Whitmer was my son I would have gone on the field and slapped the crap out of Pasqualoni, as I posted at the time?

In Edsall I trust.

Yup- was criminal what they did to that kid, and they did it to be vindicitive and prove a point.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

If we get the Shirreffs that played the second half of the Navy game we win 8 games.

 

[31GuardTrap]

The dude runs in cement his first five steps and has the shiftiness of a sign pole. I don't know what you were watching but it was the antithesis of a dual threat QB. Factoring in passing accuracy and reading ability, he qualifies currently as a zero threat QB. I can't get there saying it was all scheme.

He ran this offense in HS. I have seen him in practice and have been told first hand as well that he looked completely different in practice vs in games (that I was also told alot had to do with the friggin coaching).
The kid has the talent. Between he and Shirreffs ( if he does actually come back and play), the offense should see substantial improvement this coming year.
Keep in mind that they did not run a true spread offense. The coaches really had no idea what they were running or calling. A full spring and summer camp of practice is going to do wonders for the two.

 

[weyuo]

He did tend to lock into an option and not see alternatives but more often than not he didn't have much time to cycle through them. Behind a more effective OL he'll look much better.

Not to mention a much better QB coach.

 

[Jimdish255]

If we get the Shirreffs that played the second half of the Navy game we win 8 games.

He had us ready to beat Navy in a crappy system until Coach Debacle stepped in. Poor blocking and injuries did the rest. I'd love to see him healthy under a competent OC, because so far no one else has shown themselves ready to compete at the same level.

 

[ZOOCONN]

"eating" (slang for doing something really well) for the family.

haha thank you, the nfl analysts get that wrong alllllllllll the time, esp. when zeke elliot used to do it they would be like " and he is saying feed me! keep feeding me!".... smh thats not what it means lol

 

[jdb50]

For BS, short throws in the flat and downfield while on the move as well as deep throws were his weaknesses. If he can get better at these we could win quite a few games. His mid range game was pretty good and he had decent running skills. Add in a true offense coordinator who can teach and things may improve dramatically.

 

[FDNY99]

For BS, short throws in the flat and downfield while on the move as well as deep throws were his weaknesses. If he can get better at these we could win quite a few games. His mid range game was pretty good and he had decent running skills. Add in a true offense coordinator who can teach and things may improve dramatically.

That;s the problem for him playing in Lashlee's O if he runs it like he did at Auburn. The spread option part he won't have a problem with..BUT when he needs to make the big throws down the field that are called for in that offense he can't make them because his arm isn't that strong.

 

[rich1122]

The worst stain of the PP era was his treatment of Whitmer. If Whitmer was my son I would have gone on the field and slapped the crap out of Pasqualoni, as I posted at the time?

In Edsall I trust.

Casey Whitmer?

 

[Chief00]

That;s the problem for him playing in Lashlee's O if he runs it like he did at Auburn. The spread option part he won't have a problem with..BUT when he needs to make the big throws down the field that are called for in that offense he can't make them because his arm isn't that strong.

Agreed.

 

[Coach J]

Hopefully he ends up as the backup because Williams beat him out in camp. Never bad to have another warm body, but we're going nowhere with him(or anyone else) at QB if he doesn't get significantly better.

Williams performances were so bad those last three games if I was on the new staff I'd be having him running pass routes starting in the Spring. If UConn is going to be the type of team we all hope that it will, DW never takes another snap as a QB for them again. Turn him into an all-purpose WR you can do reverses with and throw an occasional pass a la Deshon Foxx.