I’ve asked in threads, where was Mel?

[Hoophound]

I have been asking in the chat and in threads with no response, I genuinely want to know why Mel Brown wasn’t used in the 4th Quarter. Is he hurt? It made no sense that he disaapeared when he’s our best or second best (Bell) offensive player. It was really odd. I have no doubt he would have gained some first downs and some serious yards if he’d played.

 

[Palatine]

He had five carries the entire game. Very strange.

 

[Jaydumo20]

Especially after having the biggest play of the day

 

[Scoe]

Especially after having one of the biggest plays of the day

On turf no less, WAKE UP SAMMIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BlueWolf25]

He needed more touches. I love Cam and he had some great runs, but the carries should have been near evenly split. Mel was explosive

 

[UCMB88]

Agree 100%. We're supposed to have a 3-headed monster at RB with Edwards, Brown and Rosa. Brown should have been utilized more. I don't know if Rosa is in Mora's doghouse, but he's seemingly only used on certain 3rd down packages and on special teams.

 

[ZooCougar]

I assumed he got hurt.

If not then oh my god.

 

[Milo65]

How about Rosa in there during the final series, only to run the ball into a 8 man front who was selling out to stop the run. Shrewd Gordo, make them think your gonna throw the ball...Shrewd.

 

[AllHusky]

I’m a big fan of Sammis
Offense was pretty good at 17-6. Then Sammis took a step back in his second year as OC. Looked like an OL coach stepping in for an unavailable OC.

He’s a smart guy who wants to be a head coach. He’ll figure it out.

Brock was spectacular until he wasn’t. Hard to know if Mora put the shackles on his aggressiveness or that was his call.

Our two second year coordinators almost had a great day. A W and everyone is crowing. Tough one, go Huskies.

 

[Hoophound]

I have no doubt this staff can get the job done but they have got to keep the intensity up. We completely turtled and they know better. We all know better.

This is a very talented team. It appeared we had the better roster. In hindsight, Cuse winning was an upset and we let them do it. We had the better running backs, better DB’s (a huge thing for us, it’s been a while) and we continually got pressure and near sacks. The only reason we lost is that we didn’t try to grind them to dust.

 

[Windham4th]

I believe he was in Syracuse, NY.

Or is that not what you were looking for.

 

[UConnJim]

I’m a big fan of Sammis
Offense was pretty good at 17-6. Then Sammis took a step back in his second year as OC. Looked like an OL coach stepping in for an unavailable OC.

He’s a smart guy who wants to be a head coach. He’ll figure it out.

Brock was spectacular until he wasn’t. Hard to know if Mora put the shackles on his aggressiveness or that was his call.

Our two second year coordinators almost had a great day. A W and everyone is crowing. Tough one, go Huskies.

The problem was not the defense yesterday, but the offense after the first drive in the 2nd half. Here was the stretch:

3 and out 1:53
6 plays 3:19
3 and out 1:01
3 and out 1:04
5 plays 2:55

 

[Milo65]

I’m a big fan of Sammis
Offense was pretty good at 17-6. Then Sammis took a step back in his second year as OC. Looked like an OL coach stepping in for an unavailable OC.

He’s a smart guy who wants to be a head coach. He’ll figure it out.

Brock was spectacular until he wasn’t. Hard to know if Mora put the shackles on his aggressiveness or that was his call.

Our two second year coordinators almost had a great day. A W and everyone is crowing. Tough one, go Huskies.

Except this isn't the first time we have gone turtle mode in the second half. Last year, two examples:

Georgia State: Huge lead, total control in the first three quarters, we take the foot off the gas and GS scores multiple touchdowns to make it close.

UNC JV Team: Dominate the first half, come out and play paddycake in the second.

Both wins, so nobody was complaining, but there is a tendency to let up. Not sure if its Mora, Sammis or both.

 

[UCMB88]

The problem was not the defense yesterday, but the offense after the first drive in the 2nd half. Here was the stretch:

3 and out 1:53
6 plays 3:19
3 and out 1:01
3 and out 1:04
5 plays 2:55

In the second quarter my son came downstairs to watch the game with me. He asked how UConn is doing. I said the defense is playing lights out, just don't know if they are going to run out of gas. Well, what happened? In the second half, the offense can't sustain a drive longer then 1:30 leading to the defense eventually running out of gas.

 

[ScottVib]

The lack of sustained drives was a function of two things:

1. Key penalties negating plays and/or putting the team way behind the sticks in each of the first two drives... both of those drives had 10 yard penalties); the end result in the first drive was an 18 yard completion wasn't enough to earn the first down; the second drive holding call pushed UConn back to midfield and led to a pair of passes which gained a total of 5 yards.

2. UConn's inability to pass in the second half... there was a combination of factors at play here. Syracuse adjusted and did a much better job of getting pressure on Fagnano in the second half, this kept him on the move and his accuracy suffered. Add to that a couple of plays that could've been made and were not and suddenly Fagnano was in the midst of an 0-5 start passing going into the final "turtle" drive.

In fact, the only UConn yardage gained in the 4th quarter until the final drive was on the ground (they gained 57 yards rushing in the 4th quarter before the "turtle" three & out... Fagnano did not complete a pass in the 4th quarter until Skyler Bell's one-handed grab in traffic on 4th down.


UConn's inability to keep drives alive was why I told my wife, "this doesn't feel comfortable" up 17-6. They teased me by getting it to 4th down before the blown coverage on Ross-Simmons led to the first score and a massive momentum shift. Even then UConn began the "turtle" drive with 2 carries for 31 yards, plus a Syracuse offsides for two first downs... Then -4 (ok); -3 (really wanted to see a screen pass); no gain (this was fine (IMO), 3rd & 17 at this point you're committed to burning the clock, trying to pin them back (unfortunately the punt got to the end zone) and you tried it with a trick play to your best playmaker) and well we saw the result.


The defensive concerns:

The biggest factor to me was three 20+ yard pass plays on the final two regulation drives for Syracuse. That's not prevent defense, prevent defense is designed to prevent "chunk" plays and deep completions; that's three outright busted coverages. UConn spent the whole game with bend but don't break defense; they broke three times in the final two drives and it bit them.

 

[Chin Diesel]

There were elements of Jimmy's and Joe's failing and Coaching X's and O's.

I am a fan of Sammis overall. He runs schemes which gets players open. First drive, Fagnano rolls out left, has a wide open receiver and underthrows by 5 yards. Porter letting a ball bounce of his helmet. Honig dropping a wide open pass. Busted coverage by the DB's on 4th down.

But, I also didn't like Sammis' playcalling in the second half. I told Mrs. Diesel UConn had already left 90 seconds on the clock when there was 8 minutes remaining by throwing on 3rd down instead of running and using up 30 seconds between 3rd and 4th down on 3 straight possessions.
Running the ball to the right side when the game is on the line. Sorry, not sorry, but the left side is the dominant side with Murawski. Establish an identity. Run it to the right.

 

[AllHusky]

The problem was not the defense yesterday, but the offense after the first drive in the 2nd half. Here was the stretch:

3 and out 1:53
6 plays 3:19
3 and out 1:01
3 and out 1:04
5 plays 2:55

Agreed. Some have postulated the D ran our of gas a bit. Maybe, they were sure playing great.