Getting a read on Diaco

[jbdphi]

Not sure if anyone saw this from the SI article on Houston but it sure sounds a lot like something Bob Diaco would say...

"We're going to win the game. We're not going to win it because we outrecruited them. We're not going to win it because we have better facilities. We're going to win it because we love each other better. We're going to win the game. So relax."

—Tom Herman, Friday, Sept. 2

 

[huskypantz]

Who should get the credit for having offensive line that isn't good enough to man handle Maine? The second level of Maine's defense was visibly moving to the line as the ball was being snapped by UConn; there was literally no where to run for Arkeel/Johnson in the 1st half and early 2nd. A one back set without running QB with the running back 5-7 yards back of line of scrimmage who is to read and react at the hole gives an 8 in the box defense ample time to clog up any play; Arkeel was tackled one play as he was getting hand off. Complete lack of deception with UConn's one back set just can not work. Even the kid from Stanford had trouble running in the second half when his offense abandoned the pass and went conservative as K-State loaded the box, have to give O line some help by making defense play honest.

Seems to me that more play action and some downfield throws could have taken advantage of their aggressive nature in the box. That and pulling linemen into the hole (other than using the FB/H-back).

 

[Adios]

Broncos' win last night will probably validate more Diaco-ball in Diaco's mind.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Not sure if anyone saw this from the SI article on Houston but it sure sounds a lot like something Bob Diaco would say...

"We're going to win the game. We're not going to win it because we outrecruited them. We're not going to win it because we have better facilities. We're going to win it because we love each other better. We're going to win the game. So relax."

—Tom Herman, Friday, Sept. 2

Man, football's changed a lot since I was a kid....

 

[ktuck911]

In many ways Diaco was what this program needed after the disaster created by the stupid twins. He brings energy, youth and understands how to hype the program. Make no doubt about it, he's been told that marketing is important and that he plays a key role in that.

As for being a HC at the FBS level, he's learning on the job. My sense is that he's organized and has the respect of his players and staff. (I don't think P had either.) He knows the defensive side of the ball and he's struggling with the offense. Verducci was a head scratcher of a hire for me and remains so. These multiple TE sets with a HB/F position don't make a lot of sense to me, but what do I know. I think Diaco can recruit relative to our status as a G5 program.

My hope is that Diaco continues to settle in and rebuild this program. The last thing we need is more coaching change in the next 2-3 years. Last season was progress and I tend not to over-react to any single game. After Cuse we'll have a decent read on this team and any progress that has been made.

My fear about the coaching change part is HCBD gets this program winning the next 2-3yrs and a Big Boy school comes calling.. and he does resist..

 

[freescooter]

I am among the few who think Diaco is under at least some pressure to show progress this year. The schedule is good for him. Temple and Navy aren't as good. They have a road trip to Boston rather than Utah and Missouri. The non-conference has 3 winnable P5 games, 2 at home. We have experience on both sides of the ball and an the oc is in his second year with the same quarterback. Lastly we have an AD Who didn't hire him. I think next year he really needs to take a big step and at least contend for a league title but he can't take a step back this year. Certainly not a big one.

 

[Marty Jackson]

shhhhhhhh....

Don't tell anybody but Diaco is 4-2 in the last 6 games including a win over a top 20 program.

 

[Husky25]

I am among the few who think Diaco is under at least some pressure to show progress this year.

C'mon, Scoot. Really? The few? There is a 4 page thread full of fans expectations somewhere between 7-5 and 10-2. There are multiple threads where football attendance is laid directly at the feet of the Coach, where attendance is a key driver in realignment.

The top day-to-day administrators of the program and institutional as a whole took a 1,500 mile flight to genuflect and kiss the collective rings of p-5 conference decision makers who have increasingly demonstrated that a past 730 day track record in a single sport is more important than 20-aught years of continued and projected future success of an entire program and it's facilities.

Yet you are among "the few" who think Diaco is under at least some pressure?
Let's dispense with the over-inflated value of self-importance. Shall we?

 

[Palatine]

shhhhhhhh....

Don't tell anybody but Diaco is 4-2 in the last 6 games including a win over a top 20 program.

9-17 overall, including Maine.

 

[freescooter]

Lol. I get that some fans think he will win. Fans always think this is the year. I'm talking more institutional pressure. Throw amy thing less than 6-6 type year and he might be joining Ruffin McNeil on the list of didn't see that coming coaching replacements come December. Maybe even 6-6. Something worse and he is absolutely gone.

 

[Husky25]

Skipped over the entire second graph, apparently.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Lol. I get that some fans think he will win. Fans always think this is the year. I'm talking more institutional pressure. Throw amy thing less than 6-6 type year and he might be joining Ruffin McNeil on the list of didn't see that coming coaching replacements come December. Maybe even 6-6. Something worse and he is absolutely gone.

I doubt it really. I do think that next year, when he'd be playing with essentially all his recruits and his systems is well in place, is do or die. I don't think he can flop this year, but 5 wins and he'll be back. I say this because I believe his pitch to the University was based on building for long term success and de-emphasized the quick fix approach. I think he was hired because of it.

 

[Marty Jackson]

9-17 overall, including Maine.

in it's entire existence, Uconn has a losing record. Your point is what?

 

[Uconnalliance]

I've got a read too........ he's still green give him a break,not a fan all the time either but.. he is what he is

 

[UConn66]

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

Petrino has all the loyalty of a rattlesnake. Conscience, too. Keep people like him at arm's length!

 

[freescooter]

I doubt it really. I do think that next year, when he'd be playing with essentially all his recruits and his systems is well in place, is do or die. I don't think he can flop this year, but 5 wins and he'll be back. I say this because I believe his pitch to the University was based on building for long term success and de-emphasized the quick fix approach. I think he was hired because of it.

That may be but the world changes when the guy who hired you is replaced. Look the new AD is doing all sorts of things to pump up the gate. A team that loses AND is boring doing it hurts the overall effort.

I hope we go 15-0 this year. And you can't even get into East Hartford there is so much demand for tickets. And while I think he is one strange dude I like Diaco. I'm just saying that I think he is on a much warmer seat than people realize this season.

 

[UConn66]

Connecticut Passing
C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT QBR
Bryant Shirreffs 16/23 162 7.0 0 0 75.3

Connecticut Rushing
CAR YDS AVG TD LONG
Bryant Shirreffs 20 95 4.8 0 35

ThisIsUConnCountry‏@MattSchonvisky
On #UConn play calling last night. Final stats show 50 run/23 pass. Sacks=2. Shirreffs said out of his 20 runs, only 5 had run options

An issue (maybe not thee issue) might be less play calling and more of execution.

If this tweet is to be believed, Verducci called a much more balanced game of at least 38 pass plays and 35 runs. Shirreffs needs to get further through his progressions, before he tucks it away.

Secondly, as is mentioned in the View from 241, the last 23 minutes of the game was like night and day from the first part. So at the very least, UConn can make and implement in-game adjustments that they did not do in years past.

Quarterback needs protection to be effective. Against Maine, he often had to run!

 

[NorwalkHusky]

TJ was the best offensive coach I have seen here.

I'll say this..

That late 2013 Memphis game was one of the most entertaining UConn football games I've ever been too. They aired it out all game, and Davis made some Megatron like catches in the endzone.

 

[Husky25]

Quarterback needs protection to be effective. Against Maine, he often had to run!

A) That is not the point I was making. There were posts early on immediately following the game that Verducci called a far too conservative game. The numbers and post game comments don't bear that out.

B) I didn't re-watch the game, but I disagree. Maine's only shot last week was to blitz and that's fine. However, in the first half, it looked like Shirreffs would make his first read and if it wasn't there he tucked and ran. The line play was better last week than at almost any point last year and as the game went on, I remember Shirreffs getting better at rolling out and making a throw. I know the team has broken down the film and I'm hopeful that if Navy blitzes like Maine did, Shirreffs will move in the pocket and make an additional read or two before he tucks it in.

Another factor that is glossed over is the Strip/fumble return 4 a TD. First, I don't think whatever that play was (version of a Statue of Liberty?) will not be called for quite a few games. Second it represented, in all likelihood, at least a 10 point swing. If that TO doesn't happen, the final score is 24/28/31 - 14.

 

[HuskyHawk]

B) I didn't re-watch the game, but I disagree. Maine's only shot last week was to blitz and that's fine. However, in the first half, it looked like Shirreffs would make his first read and if it wasn't there he tucked and ran.....

He did, and both he and Diaco have admitted as much. Those chunks left on the field? Most of those were BS picking up 5-6 yards running while a couple of guys were open 20+ yards downfield. When he finally did see the open man...Thomas on that roll out to the left...with 30 yards of open green and no defender near, he missed him.

I'm not knocking Shirreffs, he was a warrior and saved us a few times, but he has to look downfield for more than a one count. He took off when there was no pressure, but it looked like there might be. His 95 yards rushing should have been 25, with another 150 through the air.

 

[freescooter]

I plead guilty to blaming Verducci during the game but after watching I think there were issues with the line and the quarterback has a tendency to run first. I do thoughbthinvthe OC has to take some responsibility for some of those issues.