Honey Moon is Over

[huskyinfl]

We need to reestablish the Florida Pipeline. I went to a Venice High School game on Friday. There is so much size and talent. I was looking up the players on rivals and stunned to see mid level and low level G5 commits. From Bradenton south to North Port they could clean up the guys that need to sit a year and time to develop/ be coached. The big P5 coaches want to cherry pick all stars since they are under so much pressure to win now.

 

[shizzle787]

If you are questioning whether or not bringing back RE was a bad idea after 8 games, I have nothing to say to you. It’s ridiculous. This staff is game planning with players they didn’t recruit and don’t fit perfectly into their current system. They might fit after a year of being in it but for the most part, it’s not their players. Anyone who knows college football knows that you can’t judge a new coach on their first year or two. Until they get their players in and their systems up and running it’s stupid to call hiring that coach a mistake.

This isn’t a world where you can just turn it around with the snap of your fingers. This program has known only how to lose ever since RE left. They’ve done it in almost every possible way over the past 6 years. That alone takes work to erase. On top of that, the talent left behind, minus a handful of players, leaves it hard to make an instant turn around.

College football is becoming like most things in life. People want instant results and if it doesn’t happen they want everyone gone and to reset. It doesn’t work that way yet we see it time and again in sports. Anyone who follows soccer can tell you that this is becoming an epidemic in top leagues. You don’t win your first few games and your team is in danger of relegation, you get the boot. It’s stupid and to see posters here saying that hiring RE was a mistake because our team looked awful last night is also stupid.

We aren’t in the BE anymore and we will have to fight for recruits. However, I have more faith in RE being successful then I do in any of the other options out there. He has built this program from nothing and even when we had the ability to use the BCS lure, he still brought in under recruited players and made them studs. I have total faith he’ll get it done here again as well. However, it’ll take another season. Bottom line. If you can’t handle it, time to find a new team to bandwagon on.

LOL at anyone bandwagoning on UConn football in the first place.

 

[ktuck911]

When #22 for Mizzou trucked Brayden Brown like a grown man besting down a boy tells all we need to know. We're so young and inexperienced on the back end of pur D it's not even funny.
We gotta bring in a few JUCOs sprinkled in with a few GSs to help out next season.

 

[UCFBfan]

LOL at anyone bandwagoning on UConn football in the first place.

Wasn’t referring to folks bandwagoning on us. Meant it as them jumping on to a team that’s good. Honestly, whatever......that’s where I’m at right now

 

[hardcorehusky]

We can recruit and play at a higher level than those schools when we were playing in a Power 5 league with Power 5 TV money and resources. We currently can't offer that. Most of our recruiting pitches we successfully were able to make are gone. Which explains why we are witnessing what we are seeing in men's hoop and football and why most of the posts on those boards the last 2 years are aghast at the lack of talent on both rosters.

Here is what we can offer: a great education while only having to win your league and you have a better than 50% shot of making it to a New Year's Day bowl. You have a better shot than BC, Cuse, Rutgers, Missouri, and any 2nd tier school in a P5 conference of making it to that bowl. You will play for a coach who has sent over 20 guys to the NFL. You will learn to be a man, to be accountable and be part of a family that will last a lifetime. Plus we have the best ice cream on campus hands down!! The recruiting pitch is not that different from RE V 1.0

 

[whaler11]

Here is what we can offer: a great education while only having to win your league and you have a better than 50% shot of making it to a New Year's Day bowl. You have a better shot than BC, Cuse, Rutgers, Missouri, and any 2nd tier school in a P5 conference of making it to that bowl. You will play for a coach who has sent over 20 guys to the NFL. You will learn to be a man, to be accountable and be part of a family that will last a lifetime. Plus we have the best ice cream on campus hands down!! The recruiting pitch is not that different from RE V 1.0

Yeah, nothing is more attractive to high level athletes than access to ice cream that is 5-10% better than other ice cream.

BTW recruit - ignore that schools like Rutgers and Syracuse are playing Clemson and Michigan every week - IF we win the league and IF there isn't a better team in another G5 league you get to play in the Cotton Bowl against the 11th best team in the country.

 

[uconnbill]

It was a lousy game where everyone was off on UConn. Bryant was off, the receivers had at least 7 or 8 drops. The offensive line was decent until Missouri knew it would be a pass all the time and then just teed off. The defense was a mess the entire night. The defensive backs need to get stronger and remember to look back for the ball. No pressure from the defensive line was a shock and another reason why Missouri won so big. Again the defense stunk and they need to work harder on fundamentals like tackling.

Again we need talent, and speed to compete.

 

[UConnJim]

I think UConn football recruiting is similar to when RE was at UConn the first time. We never got 4 star recruits and almost never won recruiting battles against BCS schools, but we did beat non-BCS schools regularly. Have a winning football program and you will win more battles. As for QB recruiting, you can get solid QBs if you have a good offense as QBs want to start not sit on the bench at a P5.

It has been said repeatedly on this board, but it seems many forget. Kids in the northeast, with some exceptions, are not fully developed football players in high school and if you recruit them, you need to project where they will be in the future after a few years of development. RE 1.0 recruited athletes, red shirted them, and developed them. Unfortunately, we are seeing too many underdeveloped kids playing this year due to roster and talent holes and, guess what, they aren't ready. Heck, we have a 265 lb true freshman starting at OT! That never happened with RE 1.0.

As for the defense, anybody who is watching the games can see we don't have the right players to play a 3-3-5. Our front 3 are decent players, but not for a scheme that requires them to pressure the passer. Remember, Diaco's system was never about getting sacks. Joseph, in my opinion, has been tough and has played well, but the OLBs haven't done it this year. Sure, the DBs are giving too much cushion to the WRs, but they are very young and really shouldn't be seeing the field. I am confident they will get better with time as they improve speed and strength, and gain experience.

One final point. Who didn't expect this year to be difficult? I did, but I see so many things to be encouraged about. Shirreffs looked lost with Diaco's offenses and now he is pretty serviceable and having a good year under Lashlee. Our QB recruiting has been the best in years as we have multiple options to develop and I have confidence in Lashlee. The OL looks better than expected, although young. The freshmen RBs look good. Mensah looks like the fastest RB we have had since Joe Williams. And, recruiting seems to be more focused on recruiting athletes and speed over prototypes.

 

[Exit 4]

The freshmen RBs look good. Mensah looks like the fastest RB we have had since Joe Williams. And, recruiting seems to be more focused on recruiting athletes and speed over prototypes.

On the subject of RB recruiting, TOS has an interesting story dropping 7 new names we are looking at for RB. Six of the seven are 3 Star kids - and the one unrated kid is currently committed to a B10 school. I've only been able to watched the tapes of the two more prominent new names and both look pretty darn good. While I agree prototypes are out, one of the nice things about the leading candidates is they are 200 lb guys with compact frames. One recruit in particular is adept at both running between the tackles and catching the ball out of the backfield. Both can get a few yards after contact as well, although one shows a little more propensity than the other on that front. One is claiming 4.5 speed, the other 4.6. The tape does show one being able to run away from the field when getting to the third level. Its southern football, so the competition has size, so better measuring stick than our northern product.

For years we have struggled to find a true all purpose 200lb back so I find this encouraging.

Indications are Lashlee and Richardson are taking the lead on these southern RBs. Hopefully a couple of them get up here soon.

 

[UConnDan97]

Yeah, nothing is more attractive to high level athletes than access to ice cream that is 5-10% better than other ice cream.

BTW recruit - ignore that schools like Rutgers and Syracuse are playing Clemson and Michigan every week - IF we win the league and IF there isn't a better team in another G5 league you get to play in the Cotton Bowl against the 11th best team in the country.

You're not tailoring your message to the right audience.

We aren't going for the guy who's going to be a four year starter at OSU. We are going for the 3-star athletes who will be four year starters for us rather than a one year starter at OSU. And we're telling them that by getting those four years on the field, we're increasing your exposure on tv (which we get almost every week) and your chances of making it to the NFL, just like so many of our former players in the past. You can't make it big while riding the pine.

Oh, and if you make it big here, the entire state will love you and you'll still have opportunities to play in New Year's Six bowls, etc...

 

[Exit 4]

You're not tailoring your message to the right audience.

We aren't going for the guy who's going to be a four year starter at OSU. We are going for the 3-star athletes who will be four year starters for us rather than a one year starter at OSU. And we're telling them that by getting those four years on the field, we're increasing your exposure on tv (which we get almost every week) and your chances of making it to the NFL, just like so many of our former players in the past. You can't make it big while riding the pine.

Oh, and if you make it big here, the entire state will love you and you'll still have opportunities to play in New Year's Six bowls, etc...

Hmmm, how about you both are right. Edsall's pitch is playing time, football family, tv exposure is solid, I'll make you a better player and hey I've done this. Bonus pitch items; academics, nice campus and other sports are big here too - so campus life is interesting.

 

[CL82]

We don't stand an icicles chance in hell of beating BS College. By now half to 2/3 of the UConn fans that bought tickets have probably already sold them online, and it will be a home game for them, with 75 percent or better crowd support. We sold them a home game for a million bucks, and they're gonna slaughter us.

They'd have slaughtered us anyway. At least we are walking away with $1M.

For those who say REv2 isn't the answer, who knows you may be right but it is way to soon to know. At least he appears to be in control and making intelligent decisions. Regardless, we all ought to be rooting for him to be successful. I don't know if the program can survive another failed coaching regime.

For those who say we are hampered by the lack of P5 status, ya think? @ASweet3781, first, I hate your freaking avatar every time I see it. Second, the notion that UConn's recruiting pitch in all sports was solely, hey, come to our school and play against teams you've seen on TV is right out of Calhoun's playbook in his first few years here. That's not our narrative today. We can sell the university (don't underestimate the value of a degree from a top 20 public) and we can sell "our brand." We are a known entity with good TV coverage and a tradition of success in multiple sports. So, while recruiting would certainly be easier in the P5, it's not impossible here in the 'P6 purgatory.'

Now, I agree that it is very tough to recruit for football both because we have recruit out of region and because of the lack of recent success. We are banking on REv1's proven ability to find diamonds in the rough and polish them into pro players. That takes time. So we need to tough it out, hang on and hope for the best. It isn't going to be fun in the near term but there isn't any easier path forward.

 

[Pudge]

We can recruit and play at a higher level than those schools when we were playing in a Power 5 league with Power 5 TV money and resources. We currently can't offer that. Most of our recruiting pitches we successfully were able to make are gone. Which explains why we are witnessing what we are seeing in men's hoop and football and why most of the posts on those boards the last 2 years are aghast at the lack of talent on both rosters.

Silly

College Hoop just is not that. And for the most part, the Boneyard guy's start there. We can compete for National Championships. We have the mix and the culture. The Fanbase, however, is filled with New England curmudgeon types like you that whine far too much.

Football? We have the right guy in place. I wish we were getting the big $ like Rutgers. But I know - as a fan - they'll be getting 50-10 asskicks for a full decade. And they won't improve.

Honeymoon is one word.

 

[Excalibur]

Temple beat themselves and Tulsa is objectively awful. Nothing about those two games should have given us a reason to think that we had suddenly turned a corner. Yet people will still get sucked in . . .

 

[Pudge]

Temple beat themselves and Tulsa is objectively awful. Nothing about those two games should have given us a reason to think that we had suddenly turned a corner. Yet people will still get sucked in . . .

Why beat ourselves up on Wins?

We may get one more this year. But ... I think Edsall was just the right medicine for what we have; his staff was thoughtfully put together; and he is progressing in managing a mismatched roster. He's here for awhile. And he knows the territory and knows the way forward.

We ain't getting 4 stars stolen from a P5. We can get speed and less recruited high end talent. The fact that we have a 6-7 265 FR playing is the Beacon to what this about. Coach Em up.

 

[beasteast]

Unlike Houston or UCF - where a quick structural turn and one & 1/2 recruiting seasons can change a Program - UConn will need consistent focused day-to-day influx of good talented players and development over a handful of years.

The mix is not changed from 10 years ago. But I think HCRE and his Director of Program Operations have markedly done a finer job recruiting Feb to present than any other period. CT/NE + PA + NJ + MD + GA + FL + OH/TX. And Canadian. Don't look at ratings - they're meaningless. Get excited when we get a kid who had a slew of offers. But also expect the unknowns off the radar to produce. Particularly Line guys. It's gonna take time.

This year's product? You can't whine after a whipping ... particularly when you lose a piece like Newsome.

The best you can hope for?

We are gonna steam past Temple. And maybe a few others in this conference. However I expect steady consistent winning over time. The Florida and Texas Public programs CAN outgun us. But they're gonna have wide variations because they hire young upcoming coaches. Who will leave.

I am concerned about the Fanbase, Support and Connecticut. But this was a solid decisive choice on path by Benedict. I don't have any easier answer.

I am concerned about the Fanbase, Support and Connecticut.---- this is a big concern... nobody shows up to an SEC opponent . stadium after 2 wins, and the best looking gal on the schedule comes to town, and its a ghost town

 

[UConnNick]

They'd have slaughtered us anyway. At least we are walking away with $1M.

For those who say REv2 isn't the answer, who knows you may be right but it is way to soon to know. At least he appears to be in control and making intelligent decisions. Regardless, we all ought to rooting for him to be successful. I don't know if the program can survive another failed coaching regime.

For those who say we are hampered by the lack of P5 status, ya think? @ASweet3781, first, I hate your freaking avatar every time I see it. Second, the notion that UConn's recruiting pitch in all sports was solely, hey, come to our school and play against teams you've seen on TV is right out of Calhoun's playbook in his first few years here. We can sell the university, don't underestimate the value a degree from a top 20 public, and we can sell "our brand." We are a know entity with good TV coverage and a tradition of success in multiple sports. So, while recruiting would certainly be easier in the P5, it's not impossible here in the 'P6 purgatory.

Now, I agree that it is very tough to recruit for football both because we have recruit out of region and by the lack of recent success. We are banking on REv1's ability to find diamonds in the rough and polish them in pro players. That takes time. So we need to tough it out, hang on and hope for the best. It isn't going to be fun in the near term but there isn't any easier path forward.

I wasn't suggesting the venue was going to be the reason they win the game. My post was in response to one suggesting we still have a reasonable chance to win it. You're right, the game could be played on Mars and we are still going to lose it. The home crowd advantage might turn it into a 40+ point blowout instead of a 20+ one if it had been played in E. Hartford, but it's a payday game so that really doesn't matter. It's what we've become relegated to have to do.

 

[CL82]

It's what we've become relegated to have to do.

Meh. It's year one of a massive rebuild effort. We all could of wished for instant success, but really none of us should have expected it. Remembering this year is going to make the winning seasons all the sweeter.

 

[Pudge]

You can't whine how about how aberrant and awful Diaco was ... and then expect instant fix. That defies logic and most any reasonable perspective of how screwed up the Program was. It's a Fix ... and it's going to take time.

As for Missouri. They aren't in their first year of their SEC level Fix.

 

[Excalibur]

Why beat ourselves up on Wins?

We may get one more this year. But ... I think Edsall was just the right medicine for what we have; his staff was thoughtfully put together; and he is progressing in managing a mismatched roster. He's here for awhile. And he knows the territory and knows the way forward.

We ain't getting 4 stars stolen from a P5. We can get speed and less recruited high end talent. The fact that we have a 6-7 265 FR playing is the Beacon to what this about. Coach Em up.

My point is that the previous two games shouldn't have adjusted short term expectations, or given us any delusions about the task ahead.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

You can't whine how about how aberrant and awful Diaco was ... and then expect instant fix. That defies logic and most any reasonable perspective of how screwed up the Program was. It's a Fix ... and it's going to take time.

As for Missouri. They aren't in their first year of their SEC level Fix.

I hated Diaco earlier and more aggressively than almost anyone on the board, and I still think we will challenge for a bowl game next season. The competition isn't great, and simple competence goes a long way.

 

[HuskyDogArt]

My gosh...typical Connecticut fans..we like winners and that is why Hartford lost the Whalers. We are fair weather fans. Amazing, if you don't like what Randy's doing let's demand UConn to fire him. Really, if that happens, I doubt a high school coach in Vermont would accept to coach us...

 

[BlueDogs]

I don't see anybody even remotely Randy should be fired. He's the best last chance we have to get this program back on track. If anyone thinks differently, they need to check into the nearest mental health clinic.

What I do see is the same old arguments being pulled out to justify major failure on one side of the ball. Our O has been hopelessly pathetic for 6 years and occasioned by the exact same arguments being made for the D. In one year a coach comes in and radically improves an offense most said would take years to even become competitive. With success, the line is suddenly "well, we have a lot of talent on offense" (which magically appeared) and "offense is easier to fix" (which is patently false). This was part of the mantra about BS not being an IA level QB and probably a mediocre fullback. He now sits in the top 25 of college QBs by most reasonable measures. We have watched the D implode with a core of seniors. Roughly the same group that gave up a lot less last year and kept us in some games. Yet, the old justifications are rolled back out and just modified to defend the indefensible on the other side of the ball. Coaching matters immensely. We have seen it firsthand in many different ways. This team can be fairly competitive and successful with any semblance of a credible D. Crocker is failing miserably and that needs to be fixed ASAP after this season. If that is done and we get a well connected and respected DC in house, we will be solid and in a lot of games.

 

[Waquoit]

Last game showed it's a talent problem. The coaches put the players in positions to succeed, the game plan was working. The players laid the collective egg.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Last game showed it's a talent problem. The coaches put the players in positions to succeed, the game plan was working. The players laid the collective egg.

It is not just a talent problem. These players have gotten 3 years of terrible coaching, and that is not going to be corrected overnight.

 

[Alum86]

When #22 for Mizzou trucked Brayden Brown like a grown man besting down a boy tells all we need to know. We're so young and inexperienced on the back end of pur D it's not even funny.
We gotta bring in a few JUCOs sprinkled in with a few GSs to help out next season.

Yep. We need gangsta Toraino Walker equivalents.