For UConn football, this is the week to forge what type of team they want to be (Arruda)

[huskymedic]

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-> Just over two weeks from the Aug. 31 season-opener at Maryland, the Huskies practiced under the sun on Tuesday. There were a number of players off to the side with minor injuries – defensive lineman Pryce Yates, offensive lineman Jayden Bass and receiver T.J. Sheffield among them – and others, like quarterback Nick Evers, who were dinged up but played through.

Evers participated in seven-on-seven drills and was still getting throws in, but has rested his legs a bit over the last couple of days and should be ready to fully participate again by the end of the week. <-

-> “We get pushed a lot harder. We get held to a higher standard than we did last year,” said linebacker Amir Renwick. “There’s a lot of stuff that Coach is not letting slide this year.”<-

-> “It’s unfortunate that guys have been dinged up a little bit, that’s training camp, it’s nothing major. We’re just right now trying to get guys’ legs back under them to make sure they’re good to go for the stretch of the season,” Sammis said. “We’ve had some guys step up, go with the ones – like Brady Wayburn and Kyle Jeurgens – who have done a really nice job for us.

“It hasn’t looked like a debacle, we can still run our offense with those guys in the game. So it’s been a really great experience for them, which is going to give us a ton of depth and give them a shot to play for us.” <-

-> The offense as a whole, still waiting to hear who the starting quarterback will be, has made progress in areas like turnovers and pre-snap penalties. Joe Fagnano, who won the starting job last season, played with the ones on Tuesday while Evers was looking on, but, when healthy, Evers has taken most of the first-team snaps. <-

 

[DoctorWho85]

I'm rooting for Sammis to get the offense going. John Dunn had like no expectations, but was a great OC until he got hired by the Jets. I want to see that kind of success and more from Sammis who I think has the knowledge to make it happen.

 

[giddyup]

I'm rooting for Sammis to get the offense going. John Dunn had like no expectations, but was a great OC until he got hired by the Jets. I want to see that kind of success and more from Sammis who I think has the knowledge to make it happen.

It would be a most welcome pleasant (and desperately need) surprise. I’m not too optimistic, though. We have a peculiar ability to pick the wrong guys, defying the law of averages.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

“There’s a lot of stuff that Coach is not letting slide this year.” Being more impactful.

 

[UConnJim]

I'm rooting for Sammis to get the offense going. John Dunn had like no expectations, but was a great OC until he got hired by the Jets. I want to see that kind of success and more from Sammis who I think has the knowledge to make it happen.

I don't think Dunn was a great OC. UConn ranked #50 in total offense in 2017 under Lashlee and ranked #89 under Dunn in 2018 and UConn went 1-11. Heck, UConn lost 22-17 to UMass at the Rent. Think about that. UConn scored 17 points against UMass. If it wasn't for Pindell running the ball and gaining 1100 yards on the ground, UConn's offense would have been horrific.

 

[Windham4th]

Sammis will be in the NFL soon. Just hopefully not the same way Charlton ended up there.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

We have a peculiar ability to pick the wrong guys, defying the law of averages.

I hate that I had to like/agree with your post, but when you're right, you're right.

 

[UConnJim]

Sammis will be in the NFL soon. Just hopefully not the same way Charlton ended up there.

If he succeeds as OC, he would seem to be inline to be the next head coach at UConn.

 

[AllHusky]

If he succeeds as OC, he would seem to be inline to be the next head coach at UConn.

I’m going with this take. I really like Sammis though this quote: “It hasn’t looked like a debacle…” was not inspiring!

 

[CL82]

I’m going with this take. I really like Sammis though this quote: “It hasn’t looked like a debacle…” was not inspiring!

Given all the turnover, I would expect there to be plenty of rough patches right now.

 

[HuskiesFan1014]

I’m going with this take. I really like Sammis though this quote: “It hasn’t looked like a debacle…” was not inspiring!

Having witnessed the "debacle" first hand (most of last year) he was just being honest. That being said, not looking like a debacle sounds pretty damn positive to me.

 

[AllHusky]

So not as bad as it could be. What do you(CL82 and Huskies fan1014) have as positive takeaways from the offense so far?

 

[Husky68]

So not as bad as it could be. What do you(CL82 and Huskies fan1014) have as positive takeaways from the offense so far?

Not to butt in, but at least the offensive players seem to have a positive mindset, delusional or not. Prefer "we go this" attitude to "hope Maryland doesn't hurt us". My boy Rosa is the next Christian McCaffrey, check out those guns.

 

[AllHusky]

Not to butt in, but at least the offensive players seem to have a positive mindset, delusional or not. Prefer "we go this" attitude to "hope Maryland doesn't hurt us". My boy Rosa is the next Christian McCaffrey, check out those guns.

Right now positive and excited is what we want(and pretty much all we can hope for until the lights go on). I think the OL is going to be better than last year, which means Rosa and Edwards should have some room to run, which means that QB1 should have some room to throw. Throw and catch, piece of cake, right?

The defensive report was positive coming off the scrimmage, so sounds ok to good so far!

 

[Jetskies]

Sammis will be in the NFL soon. Just hopefully not the same way Charlton ended up there.

what happened w/ charlton? i know he's on the browns, but what "way" are you referring to?

 

[CJasmer]

Not to butt in, but at least the offensive players seem to have a positive mindset, delusional or not. Prefer "we go this" attitude to "hope Maryland doesn't hurt us". My boy Rosa is the next Christian McCaffrey, check out those guns.

Yeah if he only had his speed….

 

[Patman]

It would be a most welcome pleasant (and desperately need) surprise. I’m not too optimistic, though. We have a peculiar ability to pick the wrong guys, defying the law of averages.

WRs get open and this is an entirely different team. They don't it will be a long season

 

[Patman]

what happened w/ charlton? i know he's on the browns, but what "way" are you referring to?

Finding a polite exit is the Charlton way.

 

[jdb50]

Last season when I watched our sideline, when we were on offense Sammis would be down the sideline watching our plays. He was not near Charlton. Interesting to me. I am looking forward to his chance to help us be better on that side of the ball. He was watching his O lineman but also evaluating what was going on. He has potential.

 

[AllHusky]

Last season when I watched our sideline, when we were on offense Sammis would be down the sideline watching our plays. He was not near Charlton. Interesting to me. I am looking forward to his chance to help us be better on that side of the ball. He was watching his O lineman but also evaluating what was going on. He has potential.

Sammis is going to be a Head Coach, and he has more on the line this season than just about anyone in the program, Mora included. Expect him to coach with a sense of urgency. Hope it will be infectious.

 

[HuskiesFan1014]

So not as bad as it could be. What do you(CL82 and Huskies fan1014) have as positive takeaways from the offense so far?

Duh. Not looking like a debacle. This is a question best asked a few games in, Bro.

 

[ZooCougar]

Sammis is going to be a Head Coach, and he has more on the line this season than just about anyone in the program, Mora included. Expect him to coach with a sense of urgency. Hope it will be infectious.

Sammis is very highly regarded. I'm amazed he wasn't hired away after 2022.

 

[CL82]

So not as bad as it could be. What do you(CL82 and Huskies fan1014) have as positive takeaways from the offense so far?

We have a new coordinator? We have enough people to field the team? We seem to have depth at the skill positions (particularly QB, RB and TE)?

There has been so much roster turnover, and particularly with a new offensive coordinator, I'm not sure how anyone can have good idea of what we're going to look like in a couple of weeks. Obviously, last year was disappointing (though closer to what would've been perceived a good season than many people think), so change is good or at least has the opportunity to be good. I'm looking forward to the Maryland game, but I it may be hard to get a good handle on where we are if we end up being significantly overmatched. Merrimack may be a much better opportunity to understand what our identity is.

TL;DR: I have no idea. We need to get a couple of games under our belt to understand who we are and what our potential is.

 

[gioff2323]

I have no idea. We need to get a couple of games under our belt to understand who we are and what our potential is.

Unless it comes to qb and then we’ve got everyone calling for the backup after 1 controlled practice

 

[Husky68]

Ok, week is up. What type of team did we forge into?