Enough with the Talent complaints

[Nostical]

Like most issues, there isn’t an all or nothing solution, but those of you who keep claiming it’s a talent issue are deceiving yourselves. This is much more a coaching problem. Not spying on two successive QB’’s, bubble screens without the blocking, fair catching every punt, predictable play sequencing. Bottom line our coaches have made the players hesitant and unable to react instinctively. There’s a lack of confidence when we take the field. That’s coaching and more specifically an OC who’s over his head.

 

[Bongo Fury]

This is the same talent that best this team on the road by 20 points last year

With a year more experience

Other teams can improve. It is never a guarantee that a team will improve even with majority returning players.

 

[gtcam]

Can Mora be satisfied with his OC?
I know I wouldn't be and its up to Mora to adjust immediately.
I'm a soccer coach but I know I could call a better game than the current OC.
I didn't like him last season and this year so far is pitiful.
OC makes too much $ to be this bad.

 

[Palatine]

Guys. It is a talent issue. UConn was just beat by a team that has more offensive talent.

We can blame Charlton and or/Mora all we want. We can say something about college kids, and must be nicer.

Or, you can go recruit better players. That takes time. Get a QB, get WRs who can make plays.

I like the backs. Decent OL, but everything else is so unexplosive.

UConn was beat by a quarterback who had all day in the pocket because the defense was terrified he might run with the ball and they had PTSD from the previous two games.

In the second half, they turned up the pressure on the QB and he immediately came back to Earth. I would much rather they pressure the QB even if it means some QB runs, then laying back and giving the QB all day to throw,

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Simple. UConn's talent level is FCS. And they mostly likely lose to South Dakota State, North Dakota State, Montana State, University of Montana and several others of the top programs.

FCS talent until they prove otherwise.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

It’s one position we lack.

Which? QB who can't throw or run or WR's that consistently can't create separation?

 

[Bongo Fury]

Simple. UConn's talent level is FCS. And they mostly likely lose to South Dakota State, North Dakota State, Montana State, University of Montana and several others of the top programs.

FCS talent until they prove otherwise.

Most definitely. There are good players in fcs and those teams can beat other FBS teams other than UConn as well.

 

[Jimdish255]

Lashlee

2023 Football Cumulative Statistics - SMU Athletics

The official 2023 Football cumulative statistics for the Southern Methodist University Mustangs

smumustangs.com

 

[king conn]

Other teams can improve. It is never a guarantee that a team will improve even with majority returning players.

So, your take is all the other teams improved, but we are the team that isn't guaranteed to improve, despite our team having all those returning players.

Do you have a reason why that would be true?

 

[noeynox]

Like most issues, there isn’t an all or nothing solution, but those of you who keep claiming it’s a talent issue are deceiving yourselves. This is much more a coaching problem. Not spying on two successive QB’’s, bubble screens without the blocking, fair catching every punt, predictable play sequencing. Bottom line our coaches have made the players hesitant and unable to react instinctively. There’s a lack of confidence when we take the field. That’s coaching and more specifically an OC who’s over his head.

Do you think they coach throwing bubble screens with no blocking? I mean think about that.

 

[Bongo Fury]

So, your take is all the other teams improved, but we are the team that isn't guaranteed to improve, despite our team having all those returning players.

Do you have a reason why that would be true?

Reason, chemistry? More like many thinking UConn would be better than teams on their schedule based on last year’s records, conference or perception. As Mike Leach would say “ that was last year”

 

[king conn]

Reason, chemistry? More like many thinking UConn would be better than teams on their schedule based on last year’s records, conference or perception. As Mike Leach would say “ that was last year”

I'm thinking with that many players back from last year, chemistry you can probably eliminate. They would have good chemistry last year, but bad chemistry this year? I don't think so.

 

[Rdkid]

I'm thinking with that many players back from last year, chemistry you can probably eliminate. They would have good chemistry last year, but bad chemistry this year? I don't think so.

Well something’s up because they have looked flat and hesitant for 10 of 12 quarters. On both sides of the ball. I don’t claim to know why - confidence, chemistry, confusion - but they look rudderless for a group that had some good wins last year. Now at 5 straight losses. Without player leadership, chemistry killing.

 

[uconnfan68]

Which? QB who can't throw or run or WR's that consistently can't create separation?

Start with QB.

 

[jdb50]

Bob Joyce on the postgame show said Brewton had entered the transfer portal. 3 games into the season! Something is going on with the offense.

 

[king conn]

Well something’s up because they have looked flat and hesitant for 10 of 12 quarters. On both sides of the ball. I don’t claim to know why - confidence, chemistry, confusion - but they look rudderless for a group that had some good wins last year. Now at 5 straight losses. Without player leadership, chemistry killing.

They operate without coaches?

 

[Woof 101]

This is the problem.. when we dont bring in OC's with a good track record we get the results we are seeing. We should have gotten a guy who has coached against the bigger and better opponents, instead we get Charlton who had no experience being an OC at the FBS level.

You do realize these jobs are posted and applied for at a state school yes / no? Jim Mora reached out for the head coach opening and intrigued DB to spend a couple of days in Utah to find the sincerity of interest. The OC job was also posted and Jim had to pick from those who applied or his personal choice. Not only offered Charlton but offered him Assistant Head Coach position.

He was impressed with his body of work at the time. Maybe not so much now.
No attack @Guru13 but guru's are supposed to be informing the rest of us.

 

[Purple Stein]

Simple. UConn's talent level is FCS. And they mostly likely lose to South Dakota State, North Dakota State, Montana State, University of Montana and several others of the top programs.

FCS talent until they prove otherwise.

SDSU and NDSU are borderline top 25 FBS teams and certainly top 50. They are every bit as good as NC State and UConn is not in their class.

According to some combined polls, we are currently comparable to Towson, 8th in the CAA behind William and Mary, Delaware, New Hampshire, Villanova, Rhode Island, Campbell, Elon, and Richmond.

Good news is we’d be first in the NEC and last place Sacred Heart is basically the FCS version of us…

 

[Guru13]

You do realize these jobs are posted and applied for at a state school yes / no? Jim Mora reached out for the head coach opening and intrigued DB to spend a couple of days in Utah to find the sincerity of interest. The OC job was also posted and Jim had to pick from those who applied or his personal choice. Not only offered Charlton but offered him Assistant Head Coach position.

He was impressed with his body of work at the time. Maybe not so much now.
No attack @Guru13 but guru's are supposed to be informing the rest of us.

yea I get it, but its just speaking from disappointment of seeing how the offense is

 

[Jetskies]

Dear OP,
please tell me who TRULY replaced keelan marion, tre wortham, robert burns/nate carter, and jake guidone. 4 KEYYYY positions (wr/db/rb/C) all of which were absolutely garbage on saturday. Houston's got some speed and the heart, but at 5'7/170, he's not the guy.

The fact we used Jelani Stafford as a goalline RB was upsetting. The fact we used him AS MANY times as we did, was downright sad.

 

[Slick]

Dear OP,
please tell me who TRULY replaced keelan marion, tre wortham, robert burns/nate carter, and jake guidone. 4 KEYYYY positions (wr/db/rb/C) all of which were absolutely garbage on saturday. Houston's got some speed and the heart, but at 5'7/170, he's not the guy.

The fact we used Jelani Stafford as a goalline RB was upsetting. The fact we used him AS MANY times as we did, was downright sad.

Except that he really produced which still means something.

 

[Palatine]

Wait. You're upset we made an imaginative adjustment on offense that worked?

By the way, Mike Ditka of the Bears was hailed as a genius where he made the same move.

 

[UConnJim]

Dear OP,
please tell me who TRULY replaced keelan marion, tre wortham, robert burns/nate carter, and jake guidone. 4 KEYYYY positions (wr/db/rb/C) all of which were absolutely garbage on saturday. Houston's got some speed and the heart, but at 5'7/170, he's not the guy.

I think we have to compare production from last year to this year, not potential. Marion was injured last year and had 5 catches, so not much contribution for him last year. Aaron Turner was a loss, but his stats from last year are comparable to Cam Ross' stats from this year. Nate Carter played in 4 games and UConn was 1-3 with a win against CCSU. Yes, I would love to have him, but UConn went 5-4 without him. I agree that we haven't replaced Robert Burns, and I think we miss his leadership most. According to PFF grades, Walker is similar to Guidone, rated lower on run blocking, but higher on pass blocking.

 

[CL82]

The fact we used Jelani Stafford as a goalline RB was upsetting. The fact we used him AS MANY times as we did, was downright sad.

Thanks for letting me know that, because during the game, it felt downright awesome.

 

[Tdaley]

I think we have mostly FBS level players on the roster but its not overwhelming talent. Buckman and Joly have done a decent job as possession receivers but Porter who our "stretch the field guy" has been mostly missing in action. We absolutely miss the 3 linebackers ( 2 were starters ) who didn't return to Uconn this year. We also miss Jake Guidone and Robert Burns which I think partly explains our downturn in the running game. I also think our opponents are better prepared for our modified pro spread offense that Charlton likes to run. I think we caught a few teams by surprise by how good run game was last year. I am not yet in the group to fire Charlton. It was his offense and play calling that was partly responsible for 6 wins with a true freshman quarterback and a very depleted wide receiver group last year. People wanted him fired because he ( or Mora ) chose Joe Faganono as his starting quarterback. After watching Roberson this week maybe that decision doesn't look so bad. I don't, however, understand many of his calls especially the 2nd and long calls. After being stop on first down for no gain on a run play, he often calls RPO, a quarterback run with a pitch option, a quarterback draw or this week it was a bubble screen. None of the plays have been very effective and often look like the players haven't practice them enough. Also, those calls don't seem to utilize our quarterback strengths. Finally, it seems like the plays are being call based on an assumption that we gain 6 yards on the first down. Charlton seems to have trouble adjusting his game plan based on what is going on during the game. I suspect Mora is going to sit down with Charlton and get rid of some of the plays that never seem to work. Roberson has a very good arm although not enough touch on many of his passes. Roberson does not look like the dual threat quarterback that we were hoping for. Maybe he hasn't fully recovered from his torn ACL from last year. In any case, I think our best option is to play Roberson ( I don't think at this time there is a better quarterback that is healthy and on on our roster at this time) and throw the ball more. We may have to live or die with Roberson arm going forward, but I don't see another way to improve our offensive production.

 

[Storrsbred]

Roberson doesn’t seem to process quickly. Often times he appeared to scamper out of a perfectly good pocket too quickly and into trouble, getting into a position where he is running to avoid the defense and is unable to throw an accurate pass.

 

[Devland]

Dear OP,
please tell me who TRULY replaced keelan marion, tre wortham, robert burns/nate carter, and jake guidone. 4 KEYYYY positions (wr/db/rb/C) all of which were absolutely garbage on saturday. Houston's got some speed and the heart, but at 5'7/170, he's not the guy.

The fact we used Jelani Stafford as a goalline RB was upsetting. The fact we used him AS MANY times as we did, was downright sad.

I loved that we used Stafford on short yardage. One of my many concerns we don't really have a short yardage back. What would we do if we e er got into a 3rd and 1 or fourth and one. One problem solved. Now we just have to find a way to get into short yardage situations on 3rd down.

 

[Slick]

I think we have mostly FBS level players on the roster but its not overwhelming talent. Buckman and Joly have done a decent job as possession receivers but Porter who our "stretch the field guy" has been mostly missing in action. We absolutely miss the 3 linebackers ( 2 were starters ) who didn't return to Uconn this year. We also miss Jake Guidone and Robert Burns which I think partly explains our downturn in the running game. I also think our opponents are better prepared for our modified pro spread offense that Charlton likes to run. I think we caught a few teams by surprise by how good run game was last year. I am not yet in the group to fire Charlton. It was his offense and play calling that was partly responsible for 6 wins with a true freshman quarterback and a very depleted wide receiver group last year. People wanted him fired because he ( or Mora ) chose Joe Faganono as his starting quarterback. After watching Roberson this week maybe that decision doesn't look so bad. I don't, however, understand many of his calls especially the 2nd and long calls. After being stop on first down for no gain on a run play, he often calls RPO, a quarterback run with a pitch option, a quarterback draw or this week it was a bubble screen. None of the plays have been very effective and often look like the players haven't practice them enough. Also, those calls don't seem to utilize our quarterback strengths. Finally, it seems like the plays are being call based on an assumption that we gain 6 yards on the first down. Charlton seems to have trouble adjusting his game plan based on what is going on during the game. I suspect Mora is going to sit down with Charlton and get rid of some of the plays that never seem to work. Roberson has a very good arm although not enough touch on many of his passes. Roberson does not look like the dual threat quarterback that we were hoping for. Maybe he hasn't fully recovered from his torn ACL from last year. In any case, I think our best option is to play Roberson ( I don't think at this time there is a better quarterback that is healthy and on on our roster at this time) and throw the ball more. We may have to live or die with Roberson arm going forward, but I don't see another way to improve our offensive production.

I think your analysis is very good but Roberson looks like he is running on eggshells. He also looks like a player who hasn’t played any football in the last 4 years which is unfortunately true. We won 6 games with Zion last year. I think they have to give him a chance.

 

[Forte]

Dear OP,
please tell me who TRULY replaced keelan marion, tre wortham, robert burns/nate carter, and jake guidone. 4 KEYYYY positions (wr/db/rb/C) all of which were absolutely garbage on saturday. Houston's got some speed and the heart, but at 5'7/170, he's not the guy.

The fact we used Jelani Stafford as a goalline RB was upsetting. The fact we used him AS MANY times as we did, was downright sad.

You are asking the wrong questions.

The question you should be asking is WHY eligible Marion, Carter, Turner left... speaking of which Brewton in the portal with season left and Rosa injured... why... these are the questions we should be asking. BTW it's noted Carter could have played in games last year with season left but he decided to hold out the rest of the year to stay healthy and transfer ... again why are these impact players deciding to leave Charlton's system? Simple coincidence?

Watch Saturday and you will have your answer.

 

[Dizzy21]

You are asking the wrong questions.

The question you should be asking is WHY eligible Marion, Carter, Turner left... speaking of which Brewton in the portal with season left and Rosa injured... why... these are the questions we should be asking. BTW it's noted Carter could have played in games last year with season left but he decided to hold out the rest of the year to stay healthy and transfer ... again why are these impact players deciding to leave Charlton's system?

Marion, Carter, and Brewton had no impact last year. Turner did, but went to Cincy and has 15 yards through 3 games. Marion has three catches through 3 games this year. Carter beat up on some crappy teams to start the year, this year and last, and then when he played real competition, here and at Michigan State, his production drops off a cliff. We have our top two running backs from last year and 2 out of our top 3 receivers. Our impact players are basically all still here aside from those that graduated.