Edsall-Crocker

[Carl Spackler]

That has alot to do with it. He is being asked to do something else and getting eaten up by Olinemen.

well, if he is listed 215 and a converted DB, this shouldnt be a surprise.

anyway,

i heard they changed rules again this year DI. something about cut blocks that is going to mess up the service academies - have you heard this?

 

[Excalibur]

Eddie Hahn was recruited as an athlete by P and Diaco was able to keep him in the fold. He chose to come to UConn over NC State. Diaco promised him he would give him a look at QB but he would
Most likely end up at Safety. NC State recruiter him strictly as a Safety. He was moved to LB by Crocker and RE after being told he would play the hybrid S/LB Husky position in Crocker’s 3-3-5

The hybrid is an Edsall creation.

 

[gioff23]

I’m increasingly confused by the we had no D1 recruits to play D so we need to play a full squad of freshmen. How’d this not happen on O? Somehow we recruited serviceable talent on O but not on D? I feel like I’m missing something. This is not a post in support of red pants recruiting, just a realization that we’ve fielded a serviceable unit in O while looking like keystone cops in D. What am I missing?

 

[Duncan Idaho]

well, if he is listed 215 and a converted DB, this shouldnt be a surprise.

anyway,

i heard they changed rules again this year DI. something about cut blocks that is going to mess up the service academies - have you heard this?

Eddie wears #6. I think the staff is trying to shore up deficiencies in areas but then these moves leave gaps elsewhere. Yeah the Army coach wasn't pleased with the new rule. Has to happen within 5 yards of LOS. Only by OL within the tackle box if block is coming at the side of defensive player vs the front. Claimed rules committee wants a big man's game, no blocking below the waist and most schools are afraid to play against this type of offense.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Eddie wears #6. I think the staff is trying to shore up deficiencies in areas but then these moves leave gaps elsewhere. Yeah the Army coach wasn't pleased with the new rule. Has to happen within 5 yards of LOS. Only by OL within the tackle box if block is coming at the side of defensive player vs the front. Claimed rules committee wants a big man's game, no blocking below the waist and most schools are afraid to play against this type of offense.

Huh. #6. Didnt know that. Interesting. But Ill watch for him. The only player stood out on D to me so far is #57.

The info from the firefighter makes it seem like as young, he is probably one of the oldest, more experienced - and as long as the uconn football world hasn't gone to complete $#!+, it probably means he is some sort of team leader wearing 6, or at least supposed to be.

Would make sense coaches would want to keep him on the field.

 

[FDNY99]

The hybrid is an Edsall creation.

Villanova used it 2 yrs ago when Crocker was the DC there...so unless he somehow was using Edsall as a sounding board he brought it with him.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Eddie wears #6. I think the staff is trying to shore up deficiencies in areas but then these moves leave gaps elsewhere. Yeah the Army coach wasn't pleased with the new rule. Has to happen within 5 yards of LOS. Only by OL within the tackle box if block is coming at the side of defensive player vs the front. Claimed rules committee wants a big man's game, no blocking below the waist and most schools are afraid to play against this type of offense.

Oh and yeah, heard the werent happy at West Point. Ill have to read about it. Sounds like an extension variation of crackback rules.

 

[Stainmaster]

I’m increasingly confused by the we had no D1 recruits to play D so we need to play a full squad of freshmen. How’d this not happen on O? Somehow we recruited serviceable talent on O but not on D? I feel like I’m missing something. This is not a post in support of red pants recruiting, just a realization that we’ve fielded a serviceable unit in O while looking like keystone cops in D. What am I missing?

I'd say part blind luck, part Diaco's staff maybe having a better eye for offensive talent, and part WRs and OL having better positional coaching the past couple of years than most of our defenders.

 

[whaler11]

Let’s not go crazy. The offense did nada against a good defense.

Yeah they can light up Rhode Island.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I think Buddy Ryan could do better at demanding effort across the board from snap to whistle. First Rhody TD pass the kid stopped playing I think because he thought the WR stepped out of bounds before catching the ball but for god's sakes play to the whistle. Same thing in the fourth quarter when there was half hearted effort as the Rhody kid ran down the sideline to score. The TD was called back because the kid stepped out of bounds about 10-15 yards earlier, but the whistle hadn't blown and replay had to over turn it.

It almost seems as though these kids have heard that they are young/inexperienced and maybe not very good so much so they play like they have a hall pass to be young/inexperienced and not very good. That's a bad mind-set even if the description is true. Overcome the youth/inexperience with effort and attention to detail.

i don't know if they've been around long enough to have heard that enough to affect them. seems to me they could benefit from somebody in their ears questioning as to who's feeding them dinner and why though.

 

[Excalibur]

Villanova used it 2 yrs ago when Crocker was the DC there...so unless he somehow was using Edsall as a sounding board he brought it with him.

He ran a stack. There was no hybrid. 3 LBs lined up directly behind the linemen.

 

[CL82]

Let’s not go crazy. The offense did nada against a good defense.

Yeah they can light up Rhode Island.

Meh, you have to start somewhere. Next step is see if they can defend someone.

 

[gioff23]

Let’s not go crazy. The offense did nada against a good defense.

Yeah they can light up Rhode Island.

Not going crazy but the O moved the ball vs UCF. This is not a we have great talent on O or we have a top 20 O, but with HCRE 2.0 the O at least looks serviceable. The D ...... horrible.

 

[whaler11]

Not going crazy but the O moved the ball vs UCF. This is not a we have great talent on O or we have a top 20 O, but with HCRE 2.0 the O at least looks serviceable. The D . horrible.

Against UCF was all Pindell.

 

[FDNY99]

He ran a stack. There was no hybrid. 3 LBs lined up directly behind the linemen.

Yeah and the 5th DB plays up near the LOS and is the size of a LB to handle the run and can also drops back into pass coverage ..hence the "Hybrid" tag.
I'm waiting for a response from Brian Ewart who writes for VUHoops and covers Nova Football and basketball on twitter....in the mean time post a link to prove me wrong.

 

[Excalibur]

I’ve posted still shots of crocker’s Formations at nova on multiple occasions.

You do realize that Edsall used hybrids extensively in his first tenure here. The “Husky” was a term for the hybrid S/LB in his defense from the moment he first arrived.

So what we have is a criticism of Crocker using and seeking out “tweeners” based on one player who was a Diaco recruit (whether P recruited him as a HS freshman isn’t really relevant) playing a position created by Randy.

 

[FDNY99]

I’ve posted still shots of crocker’s Formations at nova on multiple occasions.

You do realize that Edsall used hybrids extensively in his first tenure here. The “Husky” was a term for the hybrid S/LB in his defense from the moment he first arrived.

So what we have is a criticism of Crocker using and seeking out “tweeners” based on one player who was a Diaco recruit (whether P recruited him as a HS freshman isn’t really relevant) playing a position created by Randy.

Here is Ewart’s answer...guy has been covering Villanova football for some time..go take it up with him if you think he didn’t use a hybrid at Nova.
My question:
Brian having a discussion and need some help...when Billy Crocker was DC at Villanova did he employ a hybrid S/LB as the 5th defensive back in his 3-3-5 system?
His answer:
Yup. They classified the position as a safety, but it was a hybrid/flex depending on situations. It was one of the things that made that D so good against the run.
I’m including a screen shot of it as well

 

[FDNY99]

I’ve posted still shots of crocker’s Formations at nova on multiple occasions.

You do realize that Edsall used hybrids extensively in his first tenure here. The “Husky” was a term for the hybrid S/LB in his defense from the moment he first arrived.

So what we have is a criticism of Crocker using and seeking out “tweeners” based on one player who was a Diaco recruit (whether P recruited him as a HS freshman isn’t really relevant) playing a position created by Randy.

For the record I’m not someone criticizing Eddie Hahn! I happen to like the kid a lot. Inalso know that he used hybrids here as well the first time around.

 

[Excalibur]

I’m not surprised at the use of a larger safety in his scheme. I just don’t think Hahn is indicative of some desire to employ guys with no position throughout the defense.

I like Hahn as well. I do think he’s too slow to play safety effectively.

 

[ktuck911]

And right now, our guys aren't ready. But I think they will be in a couple of seasons.

(In my Apollo Creed fom Rocky III voice) "We ain't got a couple of seasons"...

 

[uconndogs]

I have serious questions about Crocker and surprised Edsall is putting up with a defense like this, regardless of experience or talent level. I guess we'll see what the future brings.

Just wrap your head around this....it wasn't all that long ago that this team started Scott Lutrus, Lawrence Wilson and Sio Moore at LB. Yawin Smallwood was red shirting. All those guys were exceptional college LBs and saw varying degrees of time in the NFL. None of them were highly touted recruits. We haven't sniffed a LB group like that in a long time. Edsall has got to get back to recruiting and developing players like this. What we've had a DB over the years makes me even more depressed...........to think we started Tyvon Branch and Darius Butler for a few years........ugggggghhhhhh

 

[Hornet22]

I have serious questions about Crocker and surprised Edsall is putting up with a defense like this, regardless of experience or talent level. I guess we'll see what the future brings.

Just wrap your head around this....it wasn't all that long ago that this team started Scott Lutrus, Lawrence Wilson and Sio Moore at LB. Yawin Smallwood was red shirting. All those guys were exceptional college LBs and saw varying degrees of time in the NFL. None of them were highly touted recruits. We haven't sniffed a LB group like that in a long time. Edsall has got to get back to recruiting and developing players like this. What we've had a DB over the years makes me even more depressed......to think we started Tyvon Branch and Darius Butler for a few years...ugggggghhhhhh

Darius Butler red shirted and Branch didn’t play much at corner until later in the season.

Judge this freshman class in a couple of years. If they can’t measure up then so be it. Just very hard to judge them straight up as wet behind the ears freshmen. Heck, you got Edsall practically screaming it into the screen daily. Even Babers mentioned it during his presser yesterday. In a few years a lot of them will see significant gains. I’m not saying all of them though.

 

[Hornet22]

I have serious questions about Crocker and surprised Edsall is putting up with a defense like this, regardless of experience or talent level. I guess we'll see what the future brings.

Just wrap your head around this....it wasn't all that long ago that this team started Scott Lutrus, Lawrence Wilson and Sio Moore at LB. Yawin Smallwood was red shirting. All those guys were exceptional college LBs and saw varying degrees of time in the NFL. None of them were highly touted recruits. We haven't sniffed a LB group like that in a long time. Edsall has got to get back to recruiting and developing players like this. What we've had a DB over the years makes me even more depressed......to think we started Tyvon Branch and Darius Butler for a few years...ugggggghhhhhh

Lutrus redshirted as well.

 

[uconndogs]

You're absolutely right. I think most of those guys I mentioned red shirted. That helps tremendously.

 

[Hornet22]

You're absolutely right. I think most of those guys I mentioned red shirted. That helps tremendously.

It truly does.
I see signs. The key is mentally you hope they don’t get broken/discouraged by the losing and they take this all into the offseason and work their tails off.
Kevon Jones will shed some fat and add more muscle, the lineman will gain more muscle, the DB’s will put on more weight and add strength.
Very crucial off season coming up for these kids.