Desmond Conner : Pasqualoni walked into a train wreck

[noeynox]

Art I think everyone in thread is in agreement. It was a stupid thing to write and he loses credibility when he writes something like that. I do think people underestimate what could have been accomplished as a team last year given the lack of talent that was inherrited by P at the offensive skill positions last year. Somoen else said it, but was spot on. P absolutley flucked himself by assigning so much resposibility to Deleone. Made a hrrible judgement on Deleone and it will ikely cost him his job.

 

[Jarhead_1775]

He's clearly brain dead. Or he thinks that P is like Obama so his feelings are entangled. What a waste.

Can you make one post without political rambling? Save it for the cesspool, please.

 

[Jimdish255]

Sorry typing into a phone. This year's QB means present day Whitmer. For the purpose of distinguishing what was inherited with what our coaches have control over now. Does anyone think Frazier would have made a positive difference this year? Its the deterioration of the offense as a blocking functioning unit on the same page.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

The short answer is wins.

I am viewed by some as an Edsall shill (for no other reason than I remain convinced that he vastly overperformed the reasonable expectations for what he should have been expected to accomplish here) so I'm trying not to be the one who hangs his successor. I don't think that is unreasonable.

I'm just giving you a hard time. But at this point in time, I don't think there's anyone who would castigate you for taking that stance now. Shill or no shill.

 

[Excalibur]

It is not where we are headed. The train has wrecked.

I'd say the train is right about here

 

[businesslawyer]

I'm just giving you a hard time. But at this point in time, I don't think there's anyone who would castigate you for taking that stance now. Shill or no shill.

If that's what you think, Jimmy, you're not reading the board carefully enough.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I agree with Dez that Pasqualoni inherited a program with significant challenges, and completely barren at RB and QB, which should never happen for a BCS conference program. The receiving corps was pretty weak too, and there was no depth at CB which cost us a bowl game last year. I am willing to stipulate all those things are true.

The front 7 on defense was probably the best in the conference last year and is very good again this year. We have more depth at DB this year, and until Syracuse the defense had played well. There is no excuse at all for what has happened to the offense. Veteran players on the o-line are playing worse today than they did two years ago. I am willing to give Pasqualoni a mulligan on the problems at the skill positions, but they are not bad enough that this team should not be competing at a much higher level than where it is today. And he had two offseasons to address any problems he had when he showed up. Whitmer is a tolerable caretaker QB, but he is woefully mis-utilized, and RB should be an easy position to fill.

Ultimately, this isn't a question of talent, it is a question of coaching. While there isn't a lot of NFL talent on this roster, it is not terrible either. 3-9 will be a completely unacceptable outcome given what this team has.

 

[ZooCougar]

Can you make one post without political rambling? Save it for the cesspool, please.

Oh please, grow up and read, It's not political. Half his tweets are on Obama, I think that somewhere in Desmond's brain he sees P's plight and Obama's as one in the same.

 

[whaler11]

I think this is fair. My take, being a former Apologista, is that some here who supported Edsall downplay the lack of returning talent on offense. We did not have a QB on the roster that was capable of leading that team to even contend for a BE title. That's on Randy.

As an apologista I feel the need to point out it's on Randy but also Endres who chose drugs over the team.

 

[Waquoit]

(for no other reason than I remain convinced that he vastly overperformed the reasonable expectations for what he should have been expected to accomplish here) .

No, you were considered an Edsall shill because for a time there you instaposted support for HCRE at every possible slight real or perceived. Even on the hoop board.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Results are what matter. Players come and go. Coaches come and go. It's the results that you need to keep the eye on.

the overall results just aren't there.

The defense is a critical point right now, after the syracuse game. I hope they recover, because they are a good unit, and how they perform now, is the kind of things that talent scouts - will look at.

THe offense is in an accelerating nose dive, that startedslowly in 2008, and Deleone has only accelerated to the point we are pointing straight down on offense.

As of right now in 2012, we are averaging just under 24 yards of offense per possession of the ball. That means we need an average starting field position of midfield, to have a realistic chance at being in a high percentage situation of scoring points on any given possession on offense. THis was not the case in teh past, when we were actually capable of runnign the ball for 3.5+ yards per carry. We could get the ball on our side of the field, and have a realistic shot at putting up points.

It's these kinds of results that people need to be judged on, not personality traits. Our offensive coordinator is not getting the job done.

 

[SubbaBub]

I think it's fair to say that the 2011 did not have a lot of left over talent on the offensive side of the ball. We had to replace our QB, RB, FB, WR and our 2 best OLinemen. That is a lot to overcome. At the same time.....a trainwreck?

Calling shenanigans of the whole idea of the 2011 team not having talent. Yes, we were short at QB and didn't have an All-American at RB. Boo freaking hoo.

Most here didn't like the 2010 QB either. And have you forgotten the games against Vandy, WMU, and Iowa State the the coaches pissed away. An 8-4 team does not have a dearth of talent. 2011 was an 8-4 team that PP brought in 5-7.

In 2012, we have a better D and a better QB and WR than 2011. Oline isn't good and RB has been exposed a little, but I'm not convinced that's not the coaches fault too. Friend, Masters, and Bennett have been around and Mateas was in the mix to start at Penn St. They are not untalented. We have at least 7-5 talent this year against a normal schedule. We play no one good this year. A good Uconn team wins this league or at least wins 9-10 games. The schedule is that bad.

To recap: 2011 8 wins becomes 5 wins
2012 7 wins becomes 4 wins

How anyone watching can defend the job the staff has done boggles my mind.


Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

 

[whaler11]

But aren't we talking about paid professionals? How do you trust what Des writes when he keeps slamming RE, who did not treat the media well, but now loves PP due to the access he gets. The train wreck comment says it all.

Also a big Syracuse fan which he doesn't hide.

 

[ZooCougar]

Dez's opinion matters because his bias inevitably shapes his coverage. Sort of like FOX and MSNBC (that's just for you Jarhead).

 

[uconNYC]

Train wreck if this was Texas or Michigan. What ever Edsall left behind was certainly good enough to defeat MAC level opposition.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Calling shenanigans of the whole idea of the 2011 team not having talent. Yes, we were short at QB and didn't have an All-American at RB. Boo freaking hoo.

Most here didn't like the 2010 QB either. And have you forgotten the games against Vandy, WMU, and Iowa State the the coaches pissed away. An 8-4 team does not have a dearth of talent. 2011 was an 8-4 team that PP brought in 5-7.

In 2012, we have a better D and a better QB and WR than 2011. Oline isn't good and RB has been exposed a little, but I'm not convinced that's not the coaches fault too. Friend, Masters, and Bennett have been around and Mateas was in the mix to start at Penn St. They are not untalented. We have at least 7-5 talent this year against a normal schedule. We play no one good this year. A good Uconn team wins this league or at least wins 9-10 games. The schedule is that bad.

To recap: 2011 8 wins becomes 5 wins
2012 7 wins becomes 4 wins

How anyone watching can defend the job the staff has done boggles my mind.


Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

Um, the only person defending the job that P has done is the strawman you just created.

 

[noeynox]

He looked good for one drive and then got concussed. I don't think you can judge him from the Louisville game. And, given Edsall's success here (lack of a passing game or not), forgive me for taking the program's word for who rates where on the depth chart instead of snippets we here from people who observe a practice.

Again, I'm not saying Box would have been even average -- just that Edall & Co. thought he would be better able to manage a game than JM.

Depth Chart? Easly was kept glued to the bench four games into his senior year. The Giants were all set to cut Victor Cruz until another WR got hurt late in training camp last year. Coaches make mistakes on talent/personel all the time. That is why some of us scream to give other players a shot because you never know what you really have until you see players in game action. I just looked up Box's stats for this year at Division 2, not FCS, DII 49.5% completion percentage. I do not believe he would have been a significant upgrad over Mac last year. I have already conceded in the thread that I believe Edsall would have managed to get one more win out of WMU, ISU, etc.

 

[Carl Spackler]

It is not where we are headed. The train has wrecked.

I'm going to wait and see how the defense responds, in our next road trip, before I agree with that BL.

 

[J187Money]

IN 2007 - averages.

Points scored: 26.5
Points allowed: 19.0

2008
Points scored: 24.9
Points allowed: 19.8

2009
Points scored: 31.9
Points allowed: 23.6

2010
Points scored: 26.4
Points allowed: 22.0

2011
Points scored: 24.3
Points allowed: 24.3

2012:
Points scored: 17.9
Points allowed: 19.8


maybe one of you computer savvy guys, can take that simple data and put in a line graph. Points on the Y axis and 2007-2012 on the X-axis.

Two lines - one for offense one for defense.

I think you'd get a clear idea where the arrows are pointing up and pointing down.

Our offense is in a 4 year nose dive, that's only accelerating down.

A good graph, need to adjust for defensive / turnover / special teams scores. I'll try to do this.

 

[businesslawyer]

I'm going to wait and see how the defense responds, in our next road trip, before I agree with that BL.

Actually, I think that's fair Carl. Let's see if Friday night was where we now are or just a "never mind."

 

[Carl Spackler]

A good graph, need to adjust for defensive / turnover / special teams scores. I'll try to do this.

Would be interesting to see. My observation is that our defense is once again trending up, from where it was a few years ago, and that our offense is pointing due south.

Check this website for stats - it's where I pulled the scoring data from.

http://www.cfbstats.com/

 

[husky210]

The thing that bothers me about dez is that he gets combative with people who comment on his blog and ask him questions on his chat.

 

[SubbaBub]

As an apologista I feel the need to point out it's on Randy but also Endres who chose drugs over the team.

I'm also done with the Endres as what might have been. At best, was slighty better than ZF except Zach won more games, led the team to the BCS and didn't get himself thrown off the team.

Having him or not having him in 2011, made little difference IMO. Not compared to P losing 3 games on his own.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

 

[freescooter]

Last year I understood that there were a number of critical pieces, especially on offense that Pasqualoni needed to replace. That is fine and contributed to 5-7. He managed to replace at least some of them this year, but I really don't get how anyone can say we don't have as much talent as Temple or Western Michigan or Syracuse. Maybe we don't but if not, Edsall was a friggin' genius because he had the same kind of talent and could be counted on to beat MAC level teams and Syracuse, too. But Pasqualoni has managed to ruin our offensive line. I would have thought that nearly impossible, we've had good lines, proud lines, for so many years I can't even remember when we didn't have one that was at least decent. The insistence on totally changing the blocking scheme just doesn't work with the guys we have. maybe with different players it does, but by insisting on going this route, UConn apparently decided it was ok to throw away the entire season.

 

[Husky68]

Does anyone think PP should get another year if we finish out:

0-4? 1-3?
4-8 is a firable offense with Buffalo, WM, Umass, Maryland, Fruit, sPitt, Temple, NCST as 8 games favored where are already 3-3 and LV, Rut, Cin, USF as fight to win games and are 0-1. So 3 of last 4 games are against expected toughest opponents and don't see us winning any of these the way we are currently playing.

 

[junglehusky]

I agree with Dez that Pasqualoni inherited a program with significant challenges, and completely barren at RB and QB, which should never happen for a BCS conference program. The receiving corps was pretty weak too, and there was no depth at CB which cost us a bowl game last year. I am willing to stipulate all those things are true.

The front 7 on defense was probably the best in the conference last year and is very good again this year. We have more depth at DB this year, and until Syracuse the defense had played well. There is no excuse at all for what has happened to the offense. Veteran players on the o-line are playing worse today than they did two years ago. I am willing to give Pasqualoni a mulligan on the problems at the skill positions, but they are not bad enough that this team should not be competing at a much higher level than where it is today. And he had two offseasons to address any problems he had when he showed up. Whitmer is a tolerable caretaker QB, but he is woefully mis-utilized, and RB should be an easy position to fill.

Ultimately, this isn't a question of talent, it is a question of coaching. While there isn't a lot of NFL talent on this roster, it is not terrible either. 3-9 will be a completely unacceptable outcome given what this team has.

+1. An entirely reasonable post, and IMHO quite accurate too.

 

[freescooter]

Like I said, it was understandable that there was a slight drop off given the coaching change, the attrition, and talent left on hand. I'll give you Frey, but Box hasn't really lit up at Division 2 to my knowledge. Randy's biggest failure at UConn was recruiting QB's post Orlovsky. For a former QB, he had trouble identifying talent at the position.

Calling it a trainwreck is stupid. I don't think anyone has defended that comment and P's coaching THIS year has been terrible. From idiotic offensive strategy, to not using timeouts, to trying to sit on a 14 point lead in the first quarter, the coaching has been a trainwreck. To be fair, P has gone out and in his first class landed a QB better than any Edsall brought in post DO. Now that and 2.00 bucks will get me a cup of coffee, but I'm not so sure we go bowling last year regardless of coach, though I think Edsall would have squeezed one more win out of WMU, ISU last year. No excuses for this year. None, and fair or unfair P may not deserve a third year to get "his guys" on the field.

I actually think he would have squeezed out at least one more...Vandy was there for the taking as well. But By all accounts Pasqualoni's recruiting both last year and so far this year have been solid. And there is no question that he came in with the mandate to upgrade our recruiting. That, supposedly, was his biggest selling point. But I'm not sure he had to throw away a whole season to get there.

 

[ZooCougar]

I actually think he would have squeezed out at least one more...Vandy was there for the taking as well. But By all accounts Pasqualoni's recruiting both last year and so far this year have been solid. And there is no question that he came in with the mandate to upgrade our recruiting. That, supposedly, was his biggest selling point. But I'm not sure he had to throw away a whole season to get there.

Let's give him 3 more years to teach his recruits to block and tackle poorly.

 

[UC990411]

"YES I SUPPORT COACH P. He walked into a train-wreck, tried to fix it and is trying 24 games isn't enough to fix all that needs to be addressed here."

Desmond Conner, from today's chat.

Dez hated Edsall, he is so biased that its not even worth following him anymore. Ed D is a much better follow

 

[freescooter]

Cochran outperformed Nebrich during the Spring game. The kid looked like a real talent to me. If you don't like that opinion good for you.

I don't think he ever sees the field. And I'm not sure he out performed Nebrich either. He looked like a scared kid out there. Every once and a while there is a situation where a coach recruits a kid for reasons other than what the kid brings to the table. This was one of those times.