Getting a read on Diaco

[CL82]

My sense, is that he's a guy who is still an inexperienced head coach. There isn't a doubt in my mind that that thinks about (over thinks?) every decision in detail. Once he's come to a conclusion, he sticks with it. That's good, indecisive people make bad head coaches, but I think that HCBD gets locked into the decisions he's makes and the reasoning he's used making him slow to adjust.

I like him and I think he's got some great traits, but the jury is still out as to whether he's ready to be head coach.

 

[UConnNick]

If he's not "ready to be a head coach" three years into it, when is he ever going to be? And we don't have the luxury of waiting around for that to happen, if it ever does. We need to win football games now, not five years from now when we're still playing in a pathetic G5 conference.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Bobby-Boy D is not the answer. You'd think a young guy like him would understand that college football is all about offense and putting up points on the scoreboard. Explosive offenses are a staple in today's game, yet he is taking a page out of the 60s and trying to do it with the rush.

 

[hardcorehusky]

the good news is no one will come after him to be their coach for a few years. When we had no timeouts at the end of the first half and then we shied away from doing anything, I thought he hadn't progressed. Calling the timeout with 16 seconds left was assinine as there would be no time left if the snap was botched. At that point I knew he hadn't progressed!!

 

[kemba]

He took a mess of a program to a bowl game in his 2nd year. The jury is not still out on whether he's ready to be a head coach.

Sure, it remains to be seen just how good of a coach he can be and how far he can take us, but that's true of almost any new hire after 2 years and a game.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

I just pray before we all pass away, we get to see an UCONN team that can air it out and score in bunches. The Maine offense we saw last night was more exciting. There are teams in the Northeast that can run those high power offenses, so we know it is possible.

If Diaco does bail, I hope we look for an coach that can at least put together a decent offense.

 

[UConnNick]

Bobby-Boy D is not the answer. You'd think a young guy like him would understand that college football is all about offense and putting up points on the scoreboard. Explosive offenses are a staple in today's game, yet he is taking a page out of the 60s and trying to do it with the rush.

He's gutless when it comes to play calling on offense. Defense is his background and that's where he's comfortable. His offensive coaching philosophy is analogous to a one year old child who gets thrown in the deep end of a swimming pool without a life preserver.

 

[warbler1055]

BD used the CEO model that other HC used successfully, i.e. Nick Saban, Urban Meyer and others. BD is a likable person, speaks and represents UConn very well. He even recruits and raise funds for his program. So he makes lots of noise for UConn FB. But an empty drum makes a lot noise also. In this case, BD delegates the offense to his OC, Frank Verducci. Or should I say abdicates. Noticed during the game BD was more like a cheerleader than a coach. He stayed away from the huddle, did not call plays. BD's problem was he did not hold his staff or players accountable. The offense has been struggling for years with no improvement. BD has no offense to back him up!!! Frankly, BD desperately needs capable assistants not old buddies who are killing him and the program, i.e. PP's example.

 

[CTMike]

I'm a fan of facts, honest analysis, and problem solving. Right now the facts are that the offense stinks with little to no sign of improvement under Diaco. So throw off any hubris and just say "how do we solve this problem". If he keeps answering with "the same thing that we are doing" then God help us all.

 

[06029]

BD used the CEO model that other HC used successfully, i.e. Nick Saban, Urban Meyer and others. BD is a likable person, speaks and represents UConn very well. He even recruits and raise funds for his program. So he makes lots of noise for UConn FB. But an empty drum makes a lot noise also. In this case, BD delegates the offense to his OC, Frank Verducci. Or should I say abdicates. Noticed during the game BD was more like a cheerleader than a coach. He stayed away from the huddle, did not call plays. BD's problem was he did not hold his staff or players accountable. The offense has been struggling for years with no improvement. BD has no offense to back him up!!! Frankly, BD desperately needs capable assistants not old buddies who are killing him and the program, i.e. PP's example.

The offense is being designed to fit BD's philosophy of no turnovers, ball control, play solid D and be in any game late in the fourth quarter. Verducci is following BD's orders. Whether or not the offensive position coaching is any better or the talent along the O-line is any better is certainly debateable. But the overall philosophy is straight from Diaco. BD, like a lot of head coaches will not call the plays but he knows what he wants. No turnovers. Ball control. Time of possession.

Spectacularly consistent. That's the phrase. That's what you have seen the last two years. Same offense. Same consistency. Spectacular...ly poor and uninspiring.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

While I was disappointed with what I saw from our offensive line play, I was a bit more cautious than most on what we should expect from them this season, especially early on. I doubt that we will really open up the offense until the staff has tremendous confidence in what the O-Line & QB will do. TDH will hate that but that is where our offense is today.

I am very alarmed and concerned with our defense. Too often it looked like we were playing a prevent defense and the completion on third and thirteen late in the game should frighten the entire program.

There is a ton of work to do, by the staff and by the players. If we don't improve by leaps and bounds each of the next few weeks it will be a very long season.

 

[uconnphil2016]

I'm a fan of facts, honest analysis, and problem solving. Right now the facts are that the offense stinks with little to no sign of improvement under Diaco. So throw off any hubris and just say "how do we solve this problem". If he keeps answering with "the same thing that we are doing" then God help us all.

Agreed. And hopefully the answer to that is a good offensive coordinator with a lot of control over scheme and play calling. Diaco has turned our D around. With an average offense wed be a good team

 

[freescooter]

I'm less worried about the defense but we'll see. I thought they played the base defense with very little variation or attempt to trick anybody. In a sense it was a prevent. And really they shut down the run especially in the second half and came up with stops they needed. And credit where it's due the Maine kid made a great catch on that play. And at the end of the day they gave up 14 points. With a compote the offense that should have been fine for a comfortable win. And that is where you should be worried.

 

[Carl Spackler]

There are 11 games left and we're 1-0.

Last night, was opening night. For me, someone that follows the program, snd has for a long time, it was a major let down to get there, get in the seats, and have the offense come on the field....and line up .....AND SNAP!!!! - and same old .

The D playing soft. Conservative coaching. Just so damn slow. Its all kept thinking last night. Slow. Slow to get the calls in. (Which by the way whats with the red shirt guy and his signals? May as well have been break dancing, his gyrations had more energy than anybody). Slow in and out of the huddles. Slow to get lined up, both sides of the ball. Slow to the ball. Slow.

Its a win, and all wins count but for this one fan, my expectations were much higher.

There are 11 games left. Navy next. Still football to be played. But we better have a few more gears ready to hit, because it sure felt like we're spinning the wheels stuck in 2nd gear after week 1.

I'm not going to fault any coach or player for being happy or excited given how much time and effort they put it in, and how difficult it is to win games, but satisfied is different

If any coaches or players are satisfied with that performance, we got issues.

 

[UConnNick]

The offense is being designed to fit BD's philosophy of no turnovers, ball control, play solid D and be in any game late in the fourth quarter. Verducci is following BD's orders. Whether or not the offensive position coaching is any better or the talent along the O-line is any better is certainly debateable. But the overall philosophy is straight from Diaco. BD, like a lot of head coaches will not call the plays but he knows what he wants. No turnovers. Ball control. Time of possession.

Spectacularly consistent. That's the phrase. That's what you have seen the last two years. Same offense. Same consistency. Spectacular...ly poor and uninspiring.

Spectacular consistency has resulted in a spectacularly unsuccessful 9-17 showing.

 

[Milo65]

Exciting offenses are nice to have, especially if you have the players to run it. I think Bob tries to limit the amount of points the other team can score. Run the ball, run the clock, bend but don't break defense, don't give up the big plays, capitalize on mistakes, don't make mistakes. Against high powered offenses or teams that are better than you, this type of strategy will keep you in the game (Missouri 2015). Against Maine, a team you should beat, it's called being too conservative, or playing to lose.

 

[CJS87]

Bobby-Boy D is not the answer. You'd think a young guy like him would understand that college football is all about offense and putting up points on the scoreboard. Explosive offenses are a staple in today's game, yet he is taking a page out of the 60s and trying to do it with the rush.

Do you understand an "explosive" offense that wants to score in high numbers reuires a large stable of skilled players? That is not the answer right now at UConn. Those type of players in large numbers are not going to come to UConn at this point. You need to be realistic.

 

[huskymedic]

I'm not going to fault any coach or player for being happy or excited given how much time and effort they put it in, and how difficult it is to win games, but satisfied is different If any coaches or players are satisfied with that performance, we got issues.

^^^ This ^^^

 

[uchusky32]

Wh

Do you understand an "explosive" offense that wants to score in high numbers reuires a large stable of skilled players? That is not the answer right now at UConn. Those type of players in large numbers are not going to come to UConn at this point. You need to be realistic.

Yeah we don't have the skill players needed but how can you recruit those skill players when you don't run that offense? "if you come and these others commit we'll change the offense"

 

[bobbyinaz]

I have not bee a Diaco supporter from the beginning because my belief was we needed to hire someone with head coaching experience.

I don't want to hear that coordinators get hired all the time or, how does someone become a head coach if they don't get promoted. That's all great for any other school not named UConn. We have been, since before he was hired, at the most critical time in our athletic history. The future of UConn athletics is essentially going to be determined in the next handful of years. We all know, without an escape hatch, UConn athletics will eventually wither away in anything other than a P5 conference. (I'm sure I'll get the obligatory "We are bred to win championships" quote from the usual suspects)

The fact that UConn chose to hire someone with no experience in the head chair is an insult to all of us. At a time when we absolutely had to show our football program belonged on a big stage we hired a coach who needs training wheels. Things like clock management are basic head coach skills that Diaco doesn't have because he hasn't had the ability to develop this skill ELSEWHERE.

This is not a FIRE DIACO thread yet but, IMO, he is rapidly approaching the end of his rope. Regardless of the "perceived" shape of the program when he took over, this is year 3 and it's put up or time.

While many here wouldn't have the stomach for him, hiring a guy like Petrino would send a clear message to the B12 and anyone else that UConn is serious about football

To all the Diaco supporters, fire away

 

[BlueDogs]

Do you understand an "explosive" offense that wants to score in high numbers reuires a large stable of skilled players? That is not the answer right now at UConn. Those type of players in large numbers are not going to come to UConn at this point. You need to be realistic.

You have to be kidding. It was Maine not Oklahoma. If Maine can pass successfully into a FBS defense, there is no reason UConn cant be competent at passing into a 3-8 FCS defense. Your logic just doesn't hold. We have faster, taller and better athletes at skill positions. We have a massively bigger front line playing against a generally smaller and slower defensive line. Your logic just doesn't pass the smell test.

 

[sub legacy]

Bobby-Boy D is not the answer. You'd think a young guy like him would understand that college football is all about offense and putting up points on the scoreboard. Explosive offenses are a staple in today's game, yet he is taking a page out of the 60s and trying to do it with the rush.

Not only that, but I'm starting to wear thin on the "bend but don't break" philosophy on defense. This defense should be out there playing like bullies with the talent they have on that side of the ball.

 

[zls44]

the good news is no one will come after him to be their coach for a few years.

So pumped for the Maine coach's name to be tossed out here as a possible replacement based on one game. It ***will*** happen.

 

[CL82]

So pumped for the Maine coach's name to be tossed out here as a possible replacement based on one game. It ***will*** happen.

I'm pretty sure I've already seen it.

I have not bee a Diaco supporter from the beginning because my belief was we needed to hire someone with head coaching experience.
...

I disgree that Bobby D. was a defacto bad hire just because he hasn't been a head coach. He looked great on paper and I'm sure is one hell of an interview. We'll see. I'm rooting for the guy for a lot of reasons but last night's game isn't one of them.

 

[Adios]

Diaco was a pretty boy hire after we had to look at PP and GDL for a while. He was supposed to be refreshing. Should have hired an offensive coach.