Ease up on McEntee

[FfldCntyFan]

This was MacEntee's first experience with his feet to the fire and he wasn't ready. I doubt that he'll ever turn into Troy Aikmen but I remember Aikmen looking every bit as inept his rookie year with the Cowboys. He rushed too many throws (both passes that McCombs dropped were horrible passes, the first was drilled, on a line a bit too low and a bit too far in front of him, the second, high and behind him) and began worrying about pressure that wasn't yet there. This was however his first real game action against an FBS opponent. If the staff is ready to toss him to the scrap heap already we will never have a competent QB.

I don't know if Mac will ever be anything more than a QB who will look great when everything is going well (oline blocks all defenders, no third anmd longs, no dropped passes) but earlier this week, half of this board was convinced he was clearly the best QB on our roster last season, now many of the same posters want him benched. It doesn't work that way.

 

[Palatine]

This just makes no sense on so many levels my head is spinning. I don't purport to have any answers, I'm just a fan, but this is mind boggling.

The only continuity Mac had was poor decisions and no accuracy. It makes no sense.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

McEntee is walk on so I don't blame him. I do wonder, how the hell we've been so bad at recruiting QBs, that a walk on is starting for us.

Casey Turner, Mike Box, etc. The qbing tonight was terrible.

Here's a clue . . . . Randy Edsall. What did he know about recruiting,coaching or game planning for a passing attack?

 

[uconnfootball12]

First real game in a new system that is pretty complicated. He isn't Dan Fouts, but there was a lot that went wrong tonight that wasn't his fault. There were 8 dropped passes where the ball hit both of a receiver's hands. McCombs seemed to be dropping passes on purpose.

I don't think that Nebrich is going to be an improvement. I am as pissed about this game as anyone, but I think we should take it easy on McEntee.

HE REALLY LOOKED NERVOUS, THREW OFF HIS BACK FOOT ALL NIGHT, AFRAID OF THE CONACT!
NO DSRESPECT TO MAC' HE JUST LOOKED NERVOUS ALL NIGHT. NO DISRESPECT

 

[2UCONN04]

McE was pretty bad today. He led his receivers into big hits with most of his passes, his receivers tried to make the play but they were put in bad positions with McE's passes with the defenders coming their way for the big hit. He had no touch on this short passes and was late on his passes. Also, like others have mentioned, he locked into his primary read and if they were covered he was still throwing it to them. He lacked pocket presence. But he was a walk on, so what can we actually expect from him in his first extended start on the road.

 

[fortebleedsblue]

Spot on! Pitchers have off nights....and they get taken out....but they come back for their next start. It's easy to explain 1 off night...but you can't have a kids confidence get shot by letting him continue to screw the pooch.

+10000 ... what was hcpp thinking? We aren't making the big $$$ nor have been coaching football as long but my little sister would have known to run then punt, especially when McEntee had been shakey all game with turnovers. How could you not give that D a chance to close the game out? I wonder if that call was from hcpp or deleone...

 

[RMS25CT]

Why don't you put some blame on the O Line too. They didn't do a very good job picking up blitzes. Neither did the backs on more than a few occasions. The kid was getting pressure quite a bit. No wonder all his throws were off his back foot.

 

[HuskyBandDad]

JM is a college kid and he had a very bad game. I can excuse that. I cannot excuse a highly paid head coach who lacks the situational awareness to know that and make a change, or at least not put the kid in a position to fail. Staff disorganization, bad decisions and poor prep cost the kids the game. If we see more of this PP has to hit the road and soon. A younger coach with fire in his belly is what we needed, not a journeyman hack coach.

Just wondering if you are at every practice and team meeting and reviewing the game plan with these guys ?? It is amazing how some fans know more than the coaches. What is your coaching and recuiting experience ? So I guess you can say the same thing about most of all the other coaches /teams who lost their games - ND - Iowa - Penn ST - Cincy - Louiville - should I go on ? Most teams with young coaches.

 

[BigEastCT]

Just wondering if you are at every practice and team meeting and reviewing the game plan with these guys ?? It is amazing how some fans know more than the coaches. What is your coaching and recuiting experience ? So I guess you can say the same thing about most of all the other coaches /teams who lost their games - ND - Iowa - Penn ST - Cincy - Louiville - should I go on ? Most teams with young coaches.

I understand your point but delay of game then a time out and still not ready...give me a break....this is D1 football

 

[zls44]

 

[huskypantz]

I understand your point but delay of game then a time out and still not ready...give me a break....this is D1 football

The coaches did a poor job of preparing this team. The defense was not in position on many occasions. Smallwood looked confused pre-snap several times. Delay of game followed by a time out - 'nuff said. I still think HCPP was the right hire. But man, they better get their act in gear - they just got collectively outcoached by a staff that just coached against their first FBS opponent.

 

[HuskyBandDad]

I understand your point but delay of game then a time out and still not ready...give me a break....this is D1 football

I agree it was ugly

 

[Jarhead_1775]

If he did that in Dallas, Jerry jones would have shot him on the sideline.

 

[HuskyBandDad]

WOW - you are cruel

 

[huskypantz]

Mac seems like a great kid. But he threw the ball into QUADRUPLE coverage at one point. He stared down his primary target every time. He does not have pocket presence. His mobility is a liability. And quite honestly, he was not accurate. He can improve, but I think he needs to do so while working with the second string.

 

[Chief00]

McEntee is not the answer. As I surmised last week the reason why he is credited with "touch" on the ball is that he has no zip in his arm. Once the game speeds up you are going to see tons of interceptions. Then add his immobility and it gets even worse. Coach P needs to go with the Freshmen and stop investing valuable PT with a guy who may be a nice guy but he simply doesn't have the tools. Quite frankly, even the Fordham game demonstrated that.

 

[mauconnfan]

First real game in a new system that is pretty complicated. He isn't Dan Fouts, but there was a lot that went wrong tonight that wasn't his fault. There were 8 dropped passes where the ball hit both of a receiver's hands. McCombs seemed to be dropping passes on purpose.

I don't think that Nebrich is going to be an improvement. I am as pissed about this game as anyone, but I think we should take it easy on McEntee.

Sorry but the only passes that touched recievers hands were thrown behind them and even one's which looked okay were setting receivers up for the kill. I don't claim to know as much as many of you guys I respect who post on this board for sure. What I do know is after years of watching football this kid should never step foot on the field again for UConn if indeed they are still attempting to be primetime D1 football. The defense settled in and was all over the place and did everthing humanly possible to bring home a W and deserved one too. For any coach to keep on throwing this kid on the field is downright ignorant. He was scared, thre off one foot all the time as if here was going to get hit and couldn't get out of his own way. Live with Nebrich for the year and you'll be better for it next year, if not McCummings. I feel bad for JMac as he seems like a great kid but hey go to UNH of CCSU or something, not to the BE.....sorry reality! Huge difference between skeleton practice D and scout D then the real deal. What are those coaches thinking, honestly?

 

[HuskyBandDad]

Sorry but the only passes that touched recievers hands were thrown behind them and even one's which looked okay were setting receivers up for the kill. I don't claim to know as much as many of you guys I respect who post on this board for sure. What I do know is after years of watching football this kid should never step foot on the field again for UConn if indeed they are still attempting to be primetime D1 football. The defense settled in and was all over the place and did everthing humanly possible to bring home a W and deserved one too. For any coach to keep on throwing this kid on the field is downright ignorant. He was scared, thre off one foot all the time as if here was going to get hit and couldn't get out of his own way. Live with Nebrich for the year and you'll be better for it next year, if not McCummings. I feel bad for JMac as he seems like a great kid but hey go to UNH of CCSU or something, not to the BE.....sorry reality! Huge difference between skeleton practice D and scout D then the real deal. What are those coaches thinking, honestly?

Maybe they know we do not have a QB that can do what they want ?

 

[Adios]

It's a freaking game. When people make sports a way of life, that's when all hell breaks loose. The funny thing about Russian hooligans though is they drink together after beating each other up. (I hate alcohol.)

 

[LRock34]

First real game in a new system that is pretty complicated. He isn't Dan Fouts, but there was a lot that went wrong tonight that wasn't his fault. There were 8 dropped passes where the ball hit both of a receiver's hands. McCombs seemed to be dropping passes on purpose.

I don't think that Nebrich is going to be an improvement. I am as pissed about this game as anyone, but I think we should take it easy on McEntee.

10 for 27 (37%) for 99 yards, 3 int's and 1 returned for a TD when UConn was ahead 21-14. He passed for less yards than McCombs rushed for on the same amount of attempts. It was the single worst performance I have ever seen from a QB and that is saying a lot considering what we've had to witness the last 5 years.

 

[gars44]

This was MacEntee's first experience with his feet to the fire and he wasn't ready. I doubt that he'll ever turn into Troy Aikmen but I remember Aikmen looking every bit as inept his rookie year with the Cowboys. He rushed too many throws (both passes that McCombs dropped were horrible passes, the first was drilled, on a line a bit too low and a bit too far in front of him, the second, high and behind him) and began worrying about pressure that wasn't yet there. This was however his first real game action against an FBS opponent. If the staff is ready to toss him to the scrap heap already we will never have a competent QB.

I don't know if Mac will ever be anything more than a QB who will look great when everything is going well (oline blocks all defenders, no third anmd longs, no dropped passes) but earlier this week, half of this board was convinced he was clearly the best QB on our roster last season, now many of the same posters want him benched. It doesn't work that way.

Excellent post. Agree with everything. Wish it were mine.

 

[gars44]

Maybe they know we do not have a QB that can do what they want ?

I think that sums it up nicely. They'll improve.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

10 for 27 (37%) for 99 yards, 3 int's and 1 returned for a TD when UConn was ahead 21-14. He passed for less yards than McCombs rushed for on the same amount of attempts. It was the single worst performance I have ever seen from a QB and that is saying a lot considering what we've had to witness the last 5 years.

That is simply not true. Step back from the post-game moment. Almost every one of Frazer's performances were as bad or worse than this. Lorenzen didn't start this bad, but he got there by the end.

Furthermore, McEntee did a lot of the rest of the game right. He made good handoffs, he sold fakes well. I don't recall any pitches by McEntee (the fumbled pitch was McCummings).

It was an ugly game in a kid's first time starting. It is unlikely that anyone else is going to be better. This isn't like last year where Edsall was forced to bench Endres because of off-field issues, which made watching Frazer even more frustrating.

 

[rich1122]

Granted, the camera views weren't great, but he seemed to stay with his first option on every throw and threw it regardless if the receiver was covered or not. No excuses for McCombs though, he must have dropped at least 3 easy ones.

Agreed. He never looked off anyone, Even my wife noticed. The best throw was in the second half when he hit Kashif. He looked middle then zipped it sideline. Kashif did great to hold on. But a nice play.

He did poorly leading McCombs although the balls were catchable. Even the screen passes were not great.

 

[huskymedic]

How much of this dysfunction lands on Morehead (QB Coach)? Bucks stops w/ Coach P but...

 

[tduconn]

This was J Mac's first game against BCS competition. No matter who the QB was, he would face extreme pressure from Vandy's defense....as did J Mac. The commentators said this enough......Vandy's game plan was to pressure a young and or inexperienced QB and make them hurry their throws.......and it happened quite successfully.......which the commentators also pointed out. (Hint: most coaches, except RE use this philosophy.....look how Chas Dodd of Rutgers picked us apart last year.......no real pressure)

The offensive line after the middle of the first quater was horrible. Vandy stopped the run more often than not quarters 2-4. The o-line failed often at giving J Mac time to throw.....in fact on one sequence the commentators pointed out that the ratio after one sack was three defensive personnel vs 5 offensive linemen and a tight end.......and they still got to the QB.

Dan Orlovsky had plenty of horrible games his first year and a half. His record at the end of 2002 was 6-6, and most of that was against MAC/C-USA type competition. Not picking on Dan O.....just pointing out that with no experience a QB will have horrible games unless the rest of the offense steps up.

Our recent experienced QB's (not mentioning any names) had horrible games against North Carolina and Rutgers, just to name two games.......when they were sophomores and juniors. Threw just as many or more interceptions.

Is J Mac our future.......I don't know.......and I'd be arguing the same point if Nerich or McCommings played most of the game and had similar difficulties. NO EXPERIENCE!!!! Did J Mac have a horrible game ....yep. But most QB's learn from their mistakes.........Dan O. did.....and there is no reason to expect J Mac, or McCommings, or Nebrich won't either. Fans just have to buckle their seat belts and hang on....this road will be bumpy.......we got 3 inexperienced QB's.

The coaching has to share a lot of fans' fire as opposed to picking on the inexperienced. When the running game was basically shut down in quarters 2-4, as was often pointed out......why keep on running the same running plays that continuously failed? No reverses? No half back options. Was there ever a handoff to a fullback? Did a fullback play?When receivers can't separate themselves from defenders, or drop balls, is that any of the QB's fault.

The coaches have to know most opposing coaches will pressure young and inexperienced QB's.......no matter who it is.

 

[kemba]

hat is simply not true. Step back from the post-game moment. Almost every one of Frazer's performances were as bad or worse than this. Lorenzen didn't start this bad, but he got there by the end.

That is insane. Except for 2008 when he came off the bench and threw 3 picks against Pitt, Frazer never had a game with this combination of turnovers, inefficiency, and lack of production. I didn't like Frazer at all, but at least with him you could usually find something positive he did in the passing game. Even if it was just being so innacurate that he didn't throw picks. McEntee turned it over 4 times, he completed 37%, he threw for less than 100 yards. He was all around terrible. Give me a break with "he did good on handoffs"

 

[tduconn]

Review Frazers game against N Carolina at N Carolina a couple of years ago. Plenty of interceptions and one was thrown almost from a position of being on his back inside the UConn 20. It was returned for an east TD and RE went insane on the sidelines. Not picking on Frazer but there was a common theme with that game and J Macs game........inexperience leads to bad judgement when you are rattled.

 

[kemba]

Review Frazers game against N Carolina at N Carolina a couple of years ago. Plenty of interceptions and one was thrown almost from a position of being on his back inside the UConn 20. It was returned for an east TD and RE went insane on the sidelines. Not picking on Frazer but there was a common theme with that game and J Macs game........inexperience leads to bad judgement when you are rattled.

Agreed, I thought about mentioning that game too, he was terrible. I didn't because we at least did move the ball threw the air a little that game, unlike yesterday. But yea, it is up there on the list of bad games.

Either way, the quote I was responding too said that almost every game Frazer played was as bad or worse as Macs game yesterday, and that is still ridiculous.

 

[BlueDogs]

Just wondering if you are at every practice and team meeting and reviewing the game plan with these guys ?? It is amazing how some fans know more than the coaches. What is your coaching and recuiting experience ? So I guess you can say the same thing about most of all the other coaches /teams who lost their games - ND - Iowa - Penn ST - Cincy - Louiville - should I go on ? Most teams with young coaches.

As a point of reference I am a former college LB and know a few things. Game as changed in 25 years but the average FB fan can plainly see Coach PP and staff were a disaster. The game was lost on coaching which, I grant, is a rare thing. Id much prefer a younger coach whose is on his game and motivated, not a journeyman coach with a an average career. Take away PP's first 2 years after inheriting a great team from McPhearson and you have average results at best at a time when the Orange and BC were the only big programs in the NE.