Diaco livid post-game

[Redding Husky]

It was a winnable game, but we got outgained 500 yards to 200. I think we were lucky to be tied in the 4th quarter. BYU made more mistakes than we did. They were just more athletic and could overcome more self-inflicted mistakes.

No one is more tired of mistakes than I am. But let's get real. We did not dominate the game and piss it away.

 

[chuck shick]

Glad to hear Diaco ticked off, although that demeanor is pretty shocking coming from him.

So no more "peace and love?"

Maybe bench some ineffective Offensive lineman this week.

 

[huskymedic]

Maybe bench some ineffective Offensive lineman this week.

...who would be your two deep if you had your way?

 

[TheDoggPound]

The main problem with this team that isn't going to get any better this year is the offensive line. As long as they're ineffective our offense will continue to sputter at times. This won't be rectified until next season when Diaco's guys (Crozier, Oak and Rutherford) are starting at LG, C & RG respectively.

 

[superjohn]

He really wrote a book about Star Trek? That's just too awesome to be true.

Is this true? Palatine is an author and wrote a book about Star Trek? This is too freaking funny, one of the funniest things I've ever read on the boneyard.

 

[hardcorehusky]

The main problem with this team that isn't going to get any better this year is the offensive line. As long as they're ineffective our offense will continue to sputter at times. This won't be rectified until next season when Diaco's guys (Crozier, Oak and Rutherford) are starting at LG, C & RG respectively.

If Oak and Rutherford are the future, why aren't they starting now? Hopkins is a sophomore. Samra needs to be replaced and right now, Rutherford is a tackle, not a guard. SO, who replaces him? I think Crozier goes to his spot.

 

[sportsart]

As has been stated, our OL seems to be the biggest problem. In my humble opinion, if we had a good OL we probably would be 4-0. That to me tells me there has been considerable progress as a team. The OL is probably the toughest unit to get to gel, especially when there was a couple of years of minimal strength and conditioning.

My fear is the OL that we currently have does not have the final pieces yet and that means another year or two of "growth".

 

[BlueDogs]

If I'm Diaco, I:
bench Levy (just terrible OL pass blocker),
demote ADams from Captain (can't be a leader and make behaviors mistakes that cause the team to lose)
bench Stewart - perpetually out of position
Find new punter returner and disallow another fair catch all season
Sit - Max - missed pass block pickups, Johnson for sleep walking

And tell rest of the Oline if the miss another assignment they will be pulled and riding the pine. Every o-lineman needs to protect BS like his life depended on it. I'd rather see holding than the QB get hit.

 

[Stainmaster]

If I'm Diaco, I:
bench Levy (just terrible OL pass blocker),
demote ADams from Captain (can't be a leader and make behaviors mistakes that cause the team to lose)
bench Stewart - perpetually out of position
Find new punter returner and disallow another fair catch all season
Sit - Max - missed pass block pickups, Johnson for sleep walking

And tell rest of the Oline if the miss another assignment they will be pulled and riding the pine. Every o-lineman needs to protect BS like his life depended on it. I'd rather see holding than the QB get hit.

How many game-ready offensive linemen do you think we have on the bench? Just wondering.

 

[UCweCONN]

This team is great at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

 

[BlueDogs]

How many game-ready offensive linemen do you think we have on the bench? Just wondering.

We have some younger guys that need to get inserted. There has to be consequences for missing assignments.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

It does feel like there needs to be some lineup changes....even if it is just for the sake of change. Levy seems like the obvious move, but changing Tackles mid season is tough.

 

[huskymedic]

We have some younger guys that need to get inserted. There has to be consequences for missing assignments.

Which of the younger guys?

 

[businesslawyer]

If Oak and Rutherford are the future, why aren't they starting now? Hopkins is a sophomore. Samra needs to be replaced and right now, Rutherford is a tackle, not a guard. SO, who replaces him? I think Crozier goes to his spot.

As has been stated, our OL seems to be the biggest problem. In my humble opinion, if we had a good OL we probably would be 4-0. That to me tells me there has been considerable progress as a team. The OL is probably the toughest unit to get to gel, especially when there was a couple of years of minimal strength and conditioning.

My fear is the OL that we currently have does not have the final pieces yet and that means another year or two of "growth".

Agreed, there is going to be patience required. It is unlikely that next year, as fifth year seniors, both Knappe and Levy become dominant tackles

 

[TheDoggPound]

If Oak and Rutherford are the future, why aren't they starting now? Hopkins is a sophomore. Samra needs to be replaced and right now, Rutherford is a tackle, not a guard. SO, who replaces him? I think Crozier goes to his spot.

Oak still needs to put on a little more weight and I would guess Rutherford isn't starting at G because if he were to get injured our tackle depth would be instantly depleted.

 

[Nostical]

If I'm Diaco I find a new punt returner

He already did. If you didn't notice, #27 Nick Vitale was our punt returner last night.

 

[blue93]

If I'm Diaco, I:
bench Levy (just terrible OL pass blocker),
demote ADams from Captain (can't be a leader and make behaviors mistakes that cause the team to lose)
bench Stewart - perpetually out of position
Find new punter returner and disallow another fair catch all season
Sit - Max - missed pass block pickups, Johnson for sleep walking

And tell rest of the Oline if the miss another assignment they will be pulled and riding the pine. Every o-lineman needs to protect BS like his life depended on it. I'd rather see holding than the QB get hit.

Thank god you're not Diaco.

 

[Stainmaster]

He already did. If you didn't notice, #27 Nick Vitale was our punt returner last night.

He didn't think any of our scholarship players were worthy? Interesting.

 

[Nostical]

He didn't think any of our scholarship players were worthy? Interesting.

Vitale is considered a fearless returner. His Dad told me at the Mizzou game that he was being wasted. We'll now have a chance to see. I never saw him in high school but was told he was "player of the year." Is that right?

 

[huskymedic]

Vitale is considered a fearless returner. His Dad told me at the Mizzou game that he was being wasted. We'll now have a chance to see. I never saw him in high school but was told he was "player of the year." Is that right?

He played w/ Walsh @ Hand (think he was a a year ahead). I know he made All State team -- was regional shoreline paper Offensive Player of the Year. Quick...

 

[FDNY99]

If Oak and Rutherford are the future, why aren't they starting now? Hopkins is a sophomore. Samra needs to be replaced and right now, Rutherford is a tackle, not a guard. SO, who replaces him? I think Crozier goes to his spot.

I think you see Crozier back to center and Vechery/Hopkins at guard next yr

 

[NEforceUConn]

If I'm Diaco, I:
bench Levy (a troubled OL pass blocker),
demote ADams from Captain (can't be a leader and make behaviors mistakes that cause the team to lose)
maybe sub for Stewart against passing teams on passing downs
Yes Max missed several pass block pickups, but we need a short yard package with Max going N/S to pick up 1 or 2 yards for a first down.
Get some more burn from Stapelton

t.

fixed it for you

 

[BlueDogs]

Which of the younger guys?

Been covered- definitely Oak, maybe Rurherford. I don't know what "ready" means when we have guys like Levy getting absolutely smoked and missing assignments. He's not the only one. I don't understand the tolerance for Max. You just can't let rushers get to the QB unabated. It's like job 1 ...get a body on someone. Inexcusable.

 

[BlueDogs]

Thank god you're not Diaco.

Yes, we should make no adjustments. That works so well. Behavioral changes requires consequences. Calhoun was a master of instant negative feedback when mistakes were made.

 

[UconnFamily]

I think diaco has shown something. you just refuse to look at it.
if you can't see the difference between PP and BD, then maybe your last name is either Pasqualoni or Hathaway. at one point, you want to suggest it all comes down to wins. but then you suggest that diaco "barely beat Army and Nova". But he did beat them. so which is it? Again, I think you have your perspective, and no matter what happens, you'll continue to say "show me something"...

I liked the PP hire on paper. CT guy, NFL experience, and had college success. hindsight, wrong hire, wrong time, and simply the wrong coach for this program.
NEVER under PP's watch did this team move forward on any level. for three years, this team got worse in almost every category. I could be wrong, but I don't think PP ever won two games in a row (in almost 3 seasons)... Weist came in and won 3 to wrap up the season. Sure, P almost beat Michigan, and that may have saved him, but he didn't win.
In less than two years, Diaco has this team competing and believing. you can see the improvement on the field. you just need to look.

PP's downfall was GDL... period. If we had a really good O-Line and a better OC than GDL ( Weist?) than he probably could of still been here. We had one of the best D. Coordinator in the country in Don Brown. I don't see how we couldn't have turn things around with a great O-Line and a better OC than GDL. PP also brought in really good recruiting class. Sticking with GDL for too long screwed him big time.

 

[chuck shick]

...who would be your two deep if you had your way?

Rutherford played as a true freshman and we kept hearing how good Oak was last year. I just think some of these guys have been starting for a while now and haven't shown much so maybe give another guy a chance.

 

[huskymedic]

We have some younger guys that need to get inserted. There has to be consequences for missing assignments.

Which of the younger guys?

Been covered- definitely Oak, maybe Rurherford. I don't know what "ready" means when we have guys like Levy getting absolutely smoked and missing assignments. .

Rutherford played as a true freshman and we kept hearing how good Oak was last year. I just think some of these guys have been starting for a while now and haven't shown much so maybe give another guy a chance.

Here's current two deep -- Not all are able to be mixed and matched at positions (and injury depth must be considered - i.e. Oak).

LT 71 Richard Levy (RJr., 6-6, 312)
65 Matt Peart (Fr., 6-7, 263)

LG: 62 Tommy Hopkins (RSo., 6-6, 309)
73 Steve Hashemi (So., 6-6, 286)

C: 72 Brendan Vechery (RSo., 6-6, 302)
75 Dan Oak (RFr., 6-3, 292)

RG: 60 Tyler Samra (Sr., 6-2, 301) 70
Kyle Bockeloh (RJr., 6-3, 295)

RT: 53 Andreas Knappe (RJr., 6-8, 311)
77 Trey Rutherford (So., 6-5, 300)

"Others Available" - Gifford (RS Sr), Schafenacker (RS So), Nwokeji (RS Sr), Tabor (Fr), Cespedes (Fr), Rugg (RS Jr). Crozer (So) out injured.

Not that easy...

 

[UconnFamily]

Here's current two deep -- Not all are able to be mixed and matched match at positions (and injury depth must be considered - i.e. Oak).

LT 71 Richard Levy (RJr., 6-6, 312)
65 Matt Peart (Fr., 6-7, 263)

LG: 62 Tommy Hopkins (RSo., 6-6, 309)
73 Steve Hashemi (So., 6-6, 286)

C: 72 Brendan Vechery (RSo., 6-6, 302)
75 Dan Oak (RFr., 6-3, 292)

RG: 60 Tyler Samra (Sr., 6-2, 301) 70
Kyle Bockeloh (RJr., 6-3, 295)

RT: 53 Andreas Knappe (RJr., 6-8, 311)
77 Trey Rutherford (So., 6-5, 300)

"Others Available" - Gifford (RS Sr), Schafenacker (RS So), Nwokeji (RS Sr), Tabor (Fr), Cespedes (Fr), Rugg (RS Jr) and Crozer (So) Injured

Not that easy...

A lot of these O-Linemen were projects coming out of high school. Then we wonder why we've been struggling at that position for years. We NEED impact, high profile O-Line out of high school or transfers. I know it's easier said than done, but we're in desperate need of impact, high profile O-Linemen.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Rutherford played as a true freshman and we kept hearing how good Oak was last year. I just think some of these guys have been starting for a while now and haven't shown much so maybe give another guy a chance.

Yes we did hear how good Oak was last year. Eleven months ago Diaco went so far as to imply that the only reason he wasn't our starting center then was that we had a fifth year senior, three year starter ahead of him. I personally believe that this was merely coach speak, similar to what we have been hearing about Peart recently (and before anyone starts blasting Diaco for this, look back at what Jim Calhoun said about Justin Brown). These kids can (and hopefully will) become very good offensive linemen but I think it will be a stretch for Rutherford, Crozier, Oak or Peart to become very good before late 2016 - early 2017 at the earliest.

 

[hardcorehusky]

I used to think GDL was the problem and how the zone blocking scheme was the wrong fit. But Foley was around and couldn't get them much better when GDL left. Now Diaco has someone else there and I am not sure they are any better. After a while, it is not the coaching but the recruiting. After injuries, players leaving, etc, we have not replenished the OLINE talent. Also, certain guys seem to have regressed - Gifford went from starter to 3rd string and Schafenacker, who was supposedly a big recruit, has been bypassed.