Bryant Shirreffs

[31GuardTrap]

No, it doesn't. No more than critics of any aspect of the program makes them haters. We all have one collective goal: to see UConn football continue to improve and gain prominence. Our current coaches and players have given us reason to be hopeful. Along the way we will have plenty to debate about. Pointed comments will undoubtedly be made. That's part of the discourse.

While I agree, I would also argue that there are many here who do not share that same goal. Sad.

 

[cohenzone]

He threw the ball 41 times and ran the ball 19 times. Of course a football player making 60 plays is going to make some mistakes. But the starting point that a college QB should throw the ball 41 times and not make any bad throws or decisions is patently absurd.

If anybody watched the Giants/Eagles last night you understand how ridiculous it is to critique a kid who game experience wise is a Frosh, about some bad decisions. Manning who's won a couple of Super Bowls made some very bad throws. Shirreffs is the principal reason we are competitive on O that game and every game. I think his running decisions are almost always smart.

 

[Waquoit]

While I agree, I would also argue that there are many here who do not share that same goal. Sad.

Argue away, name names.

 

[HistoryMajor]

No, but missing your best receiver standing alone in the end zone is fair to point out. He never looked his way and 2 seconds later was flushed from the pocket setting up the first 4th and nope.

Subba - I don't post much. Mostly read and look forward to reading intelligent insight and analysis from certain posters. This used to include you. BUT some where in the last few months you've changed into a glass half empty guy. My request is to bring back the glass half full Subba.

 

[uconnphil2016]

I would love to see what Shirreffs is capable with even an average line protecting him. It's no simple task to make good reads/checks when you've got unblocked linebackers gunning for your head every time you drop back.

 

[SubbaBub]

Subba - I don't post much. Mostly read and look forward to reading intelligent insight and analysis from certain posters. This used to include you. BUT some where in the last few months you've changed into a glass half empty guy. My request is to bring back the glass half full Subba.

I'm trying, but the results are what the results are. If I were pessimistic about the team I wouldn't be hanging around.

I've posted plenty on the progress and various rays of hope. But to simply say we are better than terrible and that's good for now is a disservice to the program.

Expectations need to be at the cutting edge of reasonable. I think every comment I've made both good and bad fits in that range. I'm not interested in a participation trophy level program in any season. I want the best possible outcome from the resources at hand.

We have yet to lose a game this season on talent. Every loss has been either due to the stage of the teams development (BYU, Navy) or plain old bone headed mental mistakes (Missouri, USF).

Don't confuse the two. As angry as I was that we gave away a winnable Navy game because we knew what was coming. That team was going to run us over all day and into next week. That's a squad development issue and is on the coach.

USF was not the best team on Sat. For all Bryant's heroics, and they were glorious and plentiful, they would have all been unnecessary if he lifted his eyes a second earlier on any of 4-5 key plays. Couple that with another round of Bob Dia Co's wheel of confusion and what are we supposed to do? Not get pissy because
We've won 3 games? Are better than the non competitive mess of last season?

Those three wins and the semblance of a football team on the field was the price of admittance this season. There was zero reason to expect anything less.

Was a bowl too optimistic? No, it was at the edge of reasonable. Everything needed to run according to plan plus maybe catch a break. We caught breaks by competing well in the OOC, but didn't convert. OK, opportunity missed, but good to see. We beat 3 really bad teams, good check the box.

Now we get a winnable game at home crucial to the growth of the program and lay an egg. But not a performance egg as we racked up enough yards and played D and ST well enough. We laid a character egg, a ticker egg. In the critical moments where you take hold of the game with both hands and say, "It's mine," we came up small and insignificant. A part of the learning curve you say? To some extent, but those were some pretty big faceplants. Most didn't stand a chance of working out well.

Are we where we are supposed to be in this rebuild job? Meh, probably maybe a hair behind the ideal attention grabbing turnaround we are waiting for, but the W/L doesn't tell the whole story. We (I) are looking for things that good teams do even if they don't always pan out. Some of the good:

Turnovers, or lack thereof. Night and day improvement.

Accurate QB, when he has time he throws it pretty good.

The line, yes the line has improved and their look to be a couple starters with good potential.

WR/TE this group is good and going to get better.

Newsome, kid needs the ball.

The offensive game planning is much better.

Some of bad:
It take 5 lineman and help to run and pass protect. We don't have 5 or the best help.

We can't physically impose our will on short yardage.

Our D is physically up to snuff but is prone to collapse if one or two guys are out of place.

The team speed is sketchy in a few spots.

The coach isn't in tune with the game.

The defense is easily confused. Great one on one and the underneath stuff. Gets burned on play action , outside runs, and plays over the top.

None of this matters though if a few bone headed decisions by coaches and players cost us winnable games. We can live with that stuff and been at least 4-3, maybe 5-2. Nothing says you need to lose to get better.

The main frustration is the continued presence of losing plays. Learning how to win, yes it is a real thing and desperately needed here. It starts with recognizing it and then addressing it. Coach does recognize it, he said as much. So, why continue doing it? It's the continuing that I find so irritating.

A reformed Bob would have called better plays on 4th down and gone for it instead of missing that kick.

BS is a first year starter, with no idea how much time he will have to throw. I will complain about missing wide open receivers but I'll live with it if the coach cleans up his act.

 

[kcc1442]

I would love to see what Shirreffs is capable with even an average line protecting him. It's no simple task to make good reads/checks when you've got unblocked linebackers gunning for your head every time you drop back.

Our Oline definitely needs to get better, we are not elite for sure. But it is light years better than the last three years and it definitely doesn't deserve a below average label. The are at the very least average. It's not like Shirreffs is running for his life back there like Whitmer and the likes have had to. Although we give up to many sacks, many times Shireffs holds the ball to long and begins to run and takes a 1 to 2 yard sack. There are also things called coverage sacks, and sometimes our backs have been at fault for missing assignment.

 

[BlueDogs]

If BS can set his feet and follow through, he has excellent accuracy. His field vision appears limited and he misses second and third reads, but this could be that he has learned to expect very limited duration pass protection, if any, so he is very ready to bail and run. He prefers to run than step up into the pocket, but then again the pocket is rarely exists. He seems pretty strong when he rolls out and throws on the run too.

He is by far the best we have had (save CC) in a very long time. Verducci thinks he is helping by living off the quick throw in the flat and screens, but every D knows that's where we feed and its only a matter of time before there is an ugly pick 6. Those plays are already becoming less effective. He needs to stretch field vertically and use the middle of the field. The only way the OL gets better is reps and being forced to learn to protect. We do them no favors giving them quick throws and taking them off the hook constantly, and then when we are pressed to throw we expect them to engage and hold pass protection.

 

[31GuardTrap]

I would love to see what Shirreffs is capable with even an average line protecting him. It's no simple task to make good reads/checks when you've got unblocked linebackers gunning for your head every time you drop back.

This could be the most frustrating thing right now. He "appears" to be trying to do too much and over thinks and misreads due to the happy feet he has to have.
Give him another second back there and I think......I think he is capable of making some big plays with his arm.