Spot on analysis -
He can talk the talk - no doubt about it. He could represent us well in speaking engagements moving forward. There was buzz before the season, even with the very casual friend, that buzz is gone.
I am going to hold off judgement on if he is half the coach he is compared to a speaker unitl next year.
Yes - he is a Broyles award winner - means nothing. Many are Great coordinators/coaches but cant be the Head guy - he gets next year to prove his worth to our fine organization called UConn, but next year it is time. There is talent here, there are players on this squad and many coaching decisions have led one to scratch their head. I dont need to be a football coach to know you cant be switching personnel with 13 seconds left on the play clock as example. There seems to be some disorganization on the sidelines when it comes to personnel packages to enter the game - almost like 'WOW i didnt think we would get a first down, now I want others out on the field.'
In UConn I trust - Bob, I am not sure yet.
It's clear that the coaching staff is actually trying to win - to me at least. Unbelievable that that was even an issue a few months ago in looking at the game plans, and all that. I really just think, so far in 2014, we're seeing a defensive minded coach, who's never been a head coach, apply defensive concepts to developing players and a unit to the offensive side of the ball in this first season, which undoubtedly has been a developmental season.
my hope, is that for 2015, we really do have some kind of specific, consistent offensive structure that we will be using. To date, there are clues as to what they may or may not be - if it exists, but in 2014, we have no offensive identity, no consistency, and no control of the flow of the game through the play clock and whistle to whistle - as was on complete display at the end of the Army game. Our offense, instead of the ice-cold composure that you need, has the personality of Bob Diaco at the end of the game, running around with all kinds of energy but with the appearance of chicken with it's head cut off.
Because through 2014, we've been all over the frigging place when it comes to offensive concepts, and nothing consistent, and we play with incredible heart, and energy, but very little focus and control and rhythym on offense. Remarkably, the individual players - the young ones have improved, and so have the veteran players - although I fear that Whitmer's acchilles heel and fatal flaw? Not going to change in the next 3 games. But in every other way, even Whitmer, as a senior, has had incredible individual improvement. (which tells you where we were at as a program developmentally).
Sooner than later, though, we need to come to developing a consistently successful offense on the field, and hopefully, there is a plan in place to already do so for next season.....
If not, Mr. Diaco will need to have an intervention, and the people on the offensive side of the ball, will need to spoon feed him the information and knowledge, that when you intend to develop a consistently successful offense, and want that offense to be able to flow, and dictate the game, and be in control of the game - especially late in games and actually WIN games - because offense on the field is how you close out and win games.......we will need to do things different than this season.
IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN YOU ROTATE OFFENSIVE PLAYERS, including the QB, WITHIN GAMES LIKE A DEFENSIVE FRONT!!!!!