Diaco did not inherit a complete disaster. Quite the opposite.

[whaler11]

I think its a little of both, but I get your point. There isn't overwhelming physical talent on this team. If there was, where are the 70yd TD plays?

I keep going back to the horrendous clock management, Diaco is learning on the job in some aspects. This bothers some people, I say if it is not corrected by next year its a huge problem.

Sure you can argue it's half player, half coaches - whatever you like.

The only conclusion to take from Pal's OP is that it's 100% coaching.

If that is someone's view they are entitled to the opinion. Seems like a tough opinion to hold and have any hope going forward - but it's not like cognitive dissonance is rare around here.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

So this is what Bizarro RutgersAl would look like.

 

[NYUConn]

Um, Diaco also lost an incredibly promising young, returning QB in his first game as head coach.

Remember Casey Cochran? Having to go back to Chandler Whitmer immediately wasn't exactly how he drew it up/

 

[whaler11]

There is another way to look at it. Diaco chose to do a complete tear down and rebuild. This is a path he chose.

The squad was not a complete disaster. It had actually taken some steps forward. It just was not to Diaco's liking. Weist had no such prejudice. He got different results because his priorities were different.

Um how would that opinion not be coaching mistakes?

 

[CTMike]

You seem to have issue with the fact that he chose the more difficult, lasting path by going full rebuild. Which by its nature takes time. TJW (who was not undefeated btw, and had different key personnel) managing a last gasp against bad competition is evidence of precisely squat. But that's not shocking from the guy whose favorite player is always the backup, the guy who aways knows better than the coach, or the president.

 

[noeynox]

He's been in coaching for how many years now? A head coach for over 1.5 years now. He's making a 7 figure salary. The clock management issues are a huge problem right now.

They are but he isn't getting fired over it, so we have to grin and bare it. My biggest fear, he figures out the clock thing, and moves on to the next part of "learning on the job" again limiting the team's potential. I screamed about the clock issues after the UCF win and was shouted down by the "after a blowout win is not the time to be complaining about the clock" crowd. The board is weird like that sometimes, if its an issue, its an issue wether we won or lost the game. I'm not saying it needs to cost him his job that would be silly, but to ignore it as an issue after a win is just as silly.

 

[John]

Can not make it up. Thanks for the provactive hot take.

he went deep sea fishing for likes. Result: a spare tire and an old boot.

 

[Kolumbo]

I don't really care what you want to call the situation Diaco inherited. Football programs are like large ships with many moving parts and it takes a lot of time and effort to change course. This ship was limping 180 degrees in the wrong direction during the most crucial time of conference realignment. Its winning percentage is only 0.321 over the past 4 1/2 years. It was a very bad situation all around no matter how you want to sugar coat it.

 

[businesslawyer]

They are but he isn't getting fired over it, so we have to grin and bare it. My biggest fear, he figures out the clock thing, and moves on to the next part of "learning on the job" again limiting the team's potential. I screamed about the clock issues after the UCF win and was shouted down by the "after a blowout win is not the time to be complaining about the clock" crowd. The board is weird like that sometimes, if its an issue, its an issue wether we won or lost the game. I'm not saying it needs to cost him his job that would be silly, but to ignore it as an issue after a win is just as silly.

Nah, there wasn't shouting down. In 241 I said we did stuff wrong that would cost us other games if it didn't get corrected. A few disagreed. There was no shouting down.

 

[noeynox]

Nah, there wasn't shouting down. In 241 I said we did stuff wrong that would cost us other games if it didn't get corrected. A few disagreed. There was no shouting down.

Not talking abot 241. I started a thread about it. People complained that after a blowout win is not the time to complain be happy yada, yada, yada.

 

[whaler11]

Two full seasons of AAC play UConn had one player first team All AAC (Smallwood) and one player second team All AAC (Stephan).

That looks like it might not change.

To give you an idea the player gap they need to close... Kiel was only honorable mention last year. How far behind Kiel is UConn at the most important position and he was third best in the league?

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Pal,

I know you and like you as a person but at times your posts appear to be little more than a grasp for attention. I believe you have too much time on your hands.

One thing that you did leave out is how Diaco's teams have performed against a team that TJ's squad gave up 62 points to.

 

[noeynox]

Two full seasons of AAC play UConn had one player first team All AAC (Smallwood) and one player second team All AAC (Stephan).

That looks like it might not change.

To give you an idea the player gap they need to close... Kiel was only honorable mention last year. How far behind Kiel is UConn at the most important position and he was third best in the league?

And that is the best guy we've had at the position since Orlovsky, save for a few Casey Cochran games. I've said for years I don't understand how these Mac schools get kids that light up scoreboards and were happy when our guy hits a guy in stride. Mind boggling.

 

[Husky68]

Reading all these posts and having viewed the past 1.5 seasons under HCBD still can't get my head around the why the team is playing losing ball. Good talent, bad talent, in between talent - seems priority # 1 is always win the game at hand. If that isn't what everyone agrees to then I'm not on your wave length and what I say will not make any dent in your thinking. Last year only 12 games, seniors will never play for UConn again, learning and practicing is not like data through a serial port but can have many parallel efforts going on. Planning, scheming, practicing to win has to take the heaviest volume of time and effort. You don't have to abandon winning, or make it "less" important as you rebuild/vamp/energize; just find the right balance. If you were a playing would you like to think winning isn't the most important by far thing on your coaches mind every single minute in practice or during games?
The team last year underperformed its talent, this year the same - reason for improvement is players with more talent/experience (a lot the same players). A coach that plays RJ almost exclusively at running back for some games, then not at all, then sometimes after he has shown he just can't get to the line fast enough nor cut to openings consistently and just can't block is just not a good coach. Game 19 in his head coaching career is the scheme he came up with on defense against Cincinnati, not his 1st or 10th or in his 1st season; but after a year and a half of seeing most of these guys on defense and seeing 6 weeks film on Cincinnati offense (and last year for the QB who was hurt some this year) THAT WAS WHAT HE CAME UP WITH!

 

[UConnJim]

Notice you post is fact free. What did I say that isn't true?

Here are some facts. With graduations, dismissals (Hemingway and McCombs), transfers (Phillips), NFL (Smallwood) and injuries, in Diaco's first year, he had 4 starters returning on offense and 5 on defense from the 2013 2-deep against Rutgers played Nov. 30, 2013. Plus he lost Jones and Ashiru during the season. Both the starting K and P graduated. In 2013, UConn was a relatively veteran team, except at QB, and they only won 3 games.

Specifically, from the Rutgers 2 deep, UConn lost 3 OL starters (and the player that backed up both OT positions), starting TE, starting QB (in the first game), starting TB, one starting WR, 3 starting DL, 2 starting LBs and he lost the 3rd during the season, one starting CB and he lost the other during the season, the starting P, and the starting K.

It was a total rebuild.

 

[nycscooby]

No, once again a complete misunderstanding (or perhaps intention misunderstanding) of my post.

Diaco inherited a team that showed a lot of character. That dug itself out of a hole. That showed promise and effectiveness on offense. And was headed in the right direction after the Pasqualoni debacle.

And the people who describe the situation that Diaco inherited as a complete disaster are just flat wrong.

That's your opinion...pal

 

[Husky25]

Here are some facts. With graduations, dismissals (Hemingway and McCombs), transfers (Phillips), NFL (Smallwood) and injuries, in Diaco's first year, he had 4 starters returning on offense and 5 on defense from the 2013 2-deep against Rutgers played Nov. 30, 2013. Plus he lost Jones and Ashiru during the season. Both the starting K and P graduated. In 2013, UConn was a relatively veteran team, except at QB, and they only won 3 games.

Specifically, from the Rutgers 2 deep, UConn lost 3 OL starters (and the player that backed up both OT positions), starting TE, starting QB (in the first game), starting TB, one starting WR, 3 starting DL, 2 starting LBs and he lost the 3rd during the season, one starting CB and he lost the other during the season, the starting P, and the starting K.

It was a total rebuild.

In Pal's defense (wait...WHAT!?!?!), he looks at the name on the front of the jersey, not the ones on the back. It's difficult for him to understand that many players on the field in 2013 were not in 2014.

Diaco inherited a program, not a team.

 

[BlueDogs]

You seem to have issue with the fact that he chose the more difficult, lasting path by going full rebuild. Which by its nature takes time. TJW (who was not undefeated btw, and had different key personnel) managing a last gasp against bad competition is evidence of precisely squat. But that's not shocking from the guy whose favorite player is always the backup, the guy who aways knows better than the coach, or the president.

Winning 3 1-A games in a row coming out of an unmitigated disaster is hardly squat. Nobody else has even come close. Plus, the team got better week over week in a partial season. This is no question that TJ would have led the team to more wins last year, and I am pretty certain we would be in a lot better shape than we are now. Would it be sustainable? I don't know. But then again, I cant say I have any idea where this program is going with Diaco at this point either. Time will tell, but he is on the clock. We all need to pray like hell Diaco's efforts start showing material improvements. The next 4 games will tell quite a bit. Need to beat Tulane and we need a real strong game against ECU and vie for a win. An ECU and Tulane win takes the heat off and he's made his case for improvement. If he can get a WTF win against Temple (Houston will smoke the *t out of us), he will be in great shape.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Here are some facts. With graduations, dismissals (Hemingway and McCombs), transfers (Phillips), NFL (Smallwood) and injuries, in Diaco's first year, he had 4 starters returning on offense and 5 on defense from the 2013 2-deep against Rutgers played Nov. 30, 2013. Plus he lost Jones and Ashiru during the season. Both the starting K and P graduated. In 2013, UConn was a relatively veteran team, except at QB, and they only won 3 games.

Specifically, from the Rutgers 2 deep, UConn lost 3 OL starters (and the player that backed up both OT positions), starting TE, starting QB (in the first game), starting TB, one starting WR, 3 starting DL, 2 starting LBs and he lost the 3rd during the season, one starting CB and he lost the other during the season, the starting P, and the starting K.

It was a total rebuild.

You failed to even mention Ty-Meer Brown.

After this post, Palatine should just lay low and admit defeat. He won't, but he should.

 

[Milo65]

Reading all these posts and having viewed the past 1.5 seasons under HCBD still can't get my head around the why the team is playing losing ball. Good talent, bad talent, in between talent - seems priority # 1 is always win the game at hand. If that isn't what everyone agrees to then I'm not on your wave length and what I say will not make any dent in your thinking. Last year only 12 games, seniors will never play for UConn again, learning and practicing is not like data through a serial port but can have many parallel efforts going on. Planning, scheming, practicing to win has to take the heaviest volume of time and effort. You don't have to abandon winning, or make it "less" important as you rebuild/vamp/energize; just find the right balance. If you were a playing would you like to think winning isn't the most important by far thing on your coaches mind every single minute in practice or during games?
The team last year underperformed its talent, this year the same - reason for improvement is players with more talent/experience (a lot the same players). A coach that plays RJ almost exclusively at running back for some games, then not at all, then sometimes after he has shown he just can't get to the line fast enough nor cut to openings consistently and just can't block is just not a good coach. Game 19 in his head coaching career is the scheme he came up with on defense against Cincinnati, not his 1st or 10th or in his 1st season; but after a year and a half of seeing most of these guys on defense and seeing 6 weeks film on Cincinnati offense (and last year for the QB who was hurt some this year) THAT WAS WHAT HE CAME UP WITH!

He also came up with the scheme to keep Missouri to 9, limited Army to 143 total yards, held BYU to 10 points going into the 4th quarter. When you have a young team that isn't particularly deep, then you will win some and lose some. This is Diaco's defense, this is how he plays it. Like it or not, this is what UConn signed up for when they hired him. "It's bend but don't break", he ran it ND, and everywhere else he has been. He doesn't have the players to run it well yet. He doesn't have the pass rushers for it or the depth, or any semblance of an offense to keep the D off of the field. The same could be said for Don Brown, you can Blitz your ass off all day, but eventually you will live/die by it. In 2011 Western Michigan ripped Brown's defense for 38 points, West Virginia 43, Pitt 35, L'ville 34, Cinn 35, Vandy 24, Iowa State 24. But Don Brown is a defensive guru! I DIDN'T REALIZE THE BONEYARD HAD SO MANY DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS?

 

[Carl Spackler]

They had a crap game against Cincy. It was the first real crap game of the season, and hopefully the only one.

They're a young team and an inexperienced coaching staff, that still has a lot of liabilities and weakness, and they just got to keep working and improving. Coaches and players.

How you respond to a crap game, is a big deal though. Yes, the season without a bye so far, has got them fatigued and beat up, but they're not the only team that is fatigued and beat up. No excuses.

There is no excuse for coming out at home on Friday night and not giving the very best effort they've got and put on the field in nearly month.

THat is on the coach(s) to set the tone and direction, to make sure that they respond to poor performance properly, and for the players to respond and follow through.

3-5, does not mean a lost season. This is a home game, and we don't have many left.

 

[Durks07]

Actually, he inherited a team on the rise. A team that had won it's last three games under T.J. Weist. He inherited an offense that averaged 33+ points a game in those last three contests and had just set an offensive record in its season closer.

I'm not saying this was a team that could compete for a championship in year one. But it was a solid squad with a star receiver and a decent defense.

Diaco decided his time was better spent repainting the Burton and changing diets rather than worrying about wins. He spent his time on culture. He refused to look at tape of his players saying he wanted to form his own opinion. His priorities were playing a lot guys and using the season to evaluate his team.

This was his choice. It resulted in a 2-10 season. That was the disaster. Now, as he tries to pull the team out of hole mostly of his own making, people point to 2013 and say the cupboard was bare. Diaco inherited all his problems.

I'm of an opposite mind. I think the 2013 team showed amazing character. They were in disarray in the middle of the season. They had lost a coach. They were on a bad losing streak. Yet somehow they stuck together. Got it changed. And ended the season on a high note. That is the team that Diaco inherited.

And that is the story many on the Boneyard have either forgotten or chose to ignore.

 

[HomeKing93]

This conversation is certainly more entertaining than reading 3 pages about Urban Meyer, you have to admit.

 

[freescooter]

I don't buy pal's argument in it entirety but I have to say part of it is true. And I also think that it was possible to put together a more competitive team in 2013. But Diaco made a decision to tear the thing down and start from scratch. I think he could have brought in a juco quarterback and maybe a running back and competed. As far as Cochran is concerned he was never totally sold as his use/substitution in Game 1 showed. And his designation of Whitmer as a key backup or such. Finally Diaco is being paid as a big time head coach. Forgive me if I don't buy the "still learning" argument. He made a decision to go in a certain direction. The pressure is on to show it was right.

 

[freescooter]

Let's not over state the Missouri game there. Pretty much anyone with a pulse it seems can hold Missouri from scoring. Their last 4 games they scored 10, 3, 6, 3 so they are t exactly an offensive juggernaught.

 

[Marty Jackson]

Actually, he inherited a team on the rise. A team that had won it's last three games under T.J. Weist. He inherited an offense that averaged 33+ points a game in those last three contests and had just set an offensive record in its season closer.

I'm not saying this was a team that could compete for a championship in year one. But it was a solid squad with a star receiver and a decent defense.

Diaco decided his time was better spent repainting the Burton and changing diets rather than worrying about wins. He spent his time on culture. He refused to look at tape of his players saying he wanted to form his own opinion. His priorities were playing a lot guys and using the season to evaluate his team.

This was his choice. It resulted in a 2-10 season. That was the disaster. Now, as he tries to pull the team out of hole mostly of his own making, people point to 2013 and say the cupboard was bare. Diaco inherited all his problems.

I'm of an opposite mind. I think the 2013 team showed amazing character. They were in disarray in the middle of the season. They had lost a coach. They were on a bad losing streak. Yet somehow they stuck together. Got it changed. And ended the season on a high note. That is the team that Diaco inherited.

And that is the story many on the Boneyard have either forgotten or chose to ignore.

The three teams uconn beat were Memphis, Temple and Rutgers. Memphis and Temple had 5 wins total between them. Rutgers went bowling with 6 wins, 3 of which came from Norfolk State, NJTI, and Sisters of Mercy...
You are taking a scheduling bonanza and making it out like this team was primed for a breakout year, had it not been for Diaco.

But then, when Diaco does win his first two games this season, you still don't see improvement because they only beat villanova and army. 2 similar teams your vaunted 2013 team lost to.

 

[hexlub]

The three teams uconn beat were Memphis, Temple and Rutgers. Memphis and Temple had 5 wins total between them. Rutgers went bowling with 6 wins, 3 of which came from Norfolk State, NJTI, and Sisters of Mercy...

Thank you.

Scores of those games:
Temple - 28-21
Rutgers - 28-17
Memphis - 45-10

They get to 33 points a game by scoring 45 points against a really, really, really bad Memphis team.

This has been entertaining.

 

[Dogged]

Guys seriously, at this point I have no reason to believe that Pal isn't trolling us. The OP doesn't even deserve a serious response.

I totally agree. Haven't we beaten this dead horse enough already?

 

[31GuardTrap]

I hate myself for reading this entire thread.

 

[Palatine]

Sure you can argue it's half player, half coaches - whatever you like.

The only conclusion to take from Pal's OP is that it's 100% coaching.

If that is someone's view they are entitled to the opinion. Seems like a tough opinion to hold and have any hope going forward - but it's not like cognitive dissonance is rare around here.

No, that is not the only conclusion. My point is Diaco made plenty of his own mess. Frankly I just get tired of posters and the media throwing the players under the bus.

The Diaco plan can still work. This may be a great way to build a progam. We'll see. I hope it works.

But he did not inherit a complete mess. He made his own mess on purpose. The team he inherited was on the uptick. And 28 points a game is pretty darn good as well.