Idea offense should 'save' anything Thursday borderline laughable

[ruskin]

Been hearing this chatter over the past week. Doesn't make much sense. People have short memories and are conveniently forgetting how bad things were last season.

IMO Thursday night is all about setting the tone for the season, to build up tempo, rhythm and confidence - that includes TJ as well as the players. No huddle, spread the field, get the ball into the hands of people TJ and team are telling us are playmakers. Get the plays from the booth on to the field fast. So what if Maryland and Michigan are watching? No one is saying blow the whole wad, but Towson is a team that didn't lie down for LSU and will be a decent test.

Now, if UConn is fortunate enough to get a big lead then it will be time to call off the dogs. No need to run trick plays with a 31-0 lead. But if Thursday is really the start of a new era, it will be time for TJ and the players to make a statement.

By the way I'm surprised no one challenged the statement that "most I-A teams run up the gut on first down". There's plenty of data to the contrary out there. But believe me that is not the play I want to see on the first snap of the season.

 

[businesslawyer]

Been hearing this chatter over the past week. Doesn't make much sense. People have short memories and are conveniently forgetting how bad things were last season.

IMO Thursday night is all about setting the tone for the season, to build up tempo, rhythm and confidence - that includes TJ as well as the players. No huddle, spread the field, get the ball into the hands of people TJ and team are telling us are playmakers. Get the plays from the booth on to the field fast. So what if Maryland and Michigan are watching? No one is saying blow the whole wad, but Towson is a team that didn't lie down for LSU and will be a decent test.

Now, if UConn is fortunate enough to get a big lead then it will be time to call off the dogs. No need to run trick plays with a 31-0 lead. But if Thursday is really the start of a new era, it will be time for TJ and the players to make a statement.

By the way I'm surprised no one challenged the statement that "most I-A teams run up the gut on first down". There's plenty of data to the contrary out there. But believe me that is not the play I want to see on the first snap of the season.

Actually, that is the play I want to see to start the season. If we can't knock Towson off the ball, right from the start, we're not going anywhere no matter how much improved the play calling is. Last year, on opening night, we couldn't knock UMass over and just run it down their throats. And the season went from there.

We will not be good this year unless the OL looks like OLs of years past, and not the group that played last year. I'd just assume find that out by 8:30 on Thursday night.

 

[jackl]

Actually, that is the play I want to see to start the season. If we can't knock Towson off the ball, right from the start, we're not going anywhere no matter how much improved the play calling is. Last year, on opening night, we couldn't knock UMass over and just run it down their throats. And the season went from there.

We will not be good this year unless the OL looks like OLs of years past, and not the group that played last year. I'd just assume find that out by 8:30 on Thursday night.

Hopefully they will change the hurry up from last year which consisted of no huddle and 30 seconds of looking at the sideline for help or something. Get the Big Uglies to start moving their weight in a forward direction. Go Huskies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Actually, that is the play I want to see to start the season. If we can't knock Towson off the ball, right from the start, we're not going anywhere no matter how much improved the play calling is. Last year, on opening night, we couldn't knock UMass over and just run it down their throats. And the season went from there.

We will not be good this year unless the OL looks like OLs of years past, and not the group that played last year. I'd just assume find that out by 8:30 on Thursday night.

Yep. Establish the LOS and then do what you need to do. If we can't establish the LOS against Towson, I don't see us matching last year's win total.

FWIW, I'm a big believer that we will see a much improved OL this year. But I hope to feel a lot better about my optimism Friday morning.

 

[ruskin]

Actually, that is the play I want to see to start the season. If we can't knock Towson off the ball, right from the start, we're not going anywhere no matter how much improved the play calling is. Last year, on opening night, we couldn't knock UMass over and just run it down their throats. And the season went from there.

BL if it looks like what I see at the 3:45 mark here I'll accept it. Just so it looks like a play conceived in the 21st century.

 

[pj]

I don't care what play is run first but I want it to be effective.

O-line is not going to be the strength of this team so I wouldn't want an overly large number of plays to rely on them. Runs up the middle should be relatively scarce.

 

[freescooter]

It all starts and ends with the offensive line in my opinion. If they can't get some push and provide some protection there is no way to evaluate anyone else.

 

[CTMike]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the OL, but it's definitely my biggest concern of 2013. They'll be better, I'm sure. But if last year they were a 3 out of 10 and this year they are a 6 out of 10, is that good enough? Hopefully they are even better than that, but I'm really not sure. And I'm not sure how much we'll learn about them after Towson.

 

[Husky25]

Been hearing this chatter over the past week. Doesn't make much sense. People have short memories and are conveniently forgetting how bad things were last season.

IMO Thursday night is all about setting the tone for the season, to build up tempo, rhythm and confidence - that includes TJ as well as the players. No huddle, spread the field, get the ball into the hands of people TJ and team are telling us are playmakers. Get the plays from the booth on to the field fast. So what if Maryland and Michigan are watching? No one is saying blow the whole wad, but Towson is a team that didn't lie down for LSU and will be a decent test.

Now, if UConn is fortunate enough to get a big lead then it will be time to call off the dogs. No need to run trick plays with a 31-0 lead. But if Thursday is really the start of a new era, it will be time for TJ and the players to make a statement.

By the way I'm surprised no one challenged the statement that "most I-A teams run up the gut on first down". There's plenty of data to the contrary out there. But believe me that is not the play I want to see on the first snap of the season.

I agree that there is no need for trick plays, but to suggest calling off the dogs any earlier than with 7 minutes left (and the ball) in the 4th with anything less than a 28 point lead is what got UConn in trouble over the last couple years. UConn scored in the low double digits in the second half of games last year...and when I say low double digits I mean any less, and we are talking single digits. Keep the accelerator pinned to the floor board until it is a certainty that the matter is in hand.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I agree that there is no need for trick plays, but to suggest calling off the dogs any earlier than with 7 minutes left (and the ball) in the 4th with anything less than a 28 point lead is what got UConn in trouble over the last couple years. UConn scored in the low double digits in the second half of games last year...and when I say low double digits I mean any less, and we are talking single digits. Keep the accelerator pinned to the floor board until it is a certainty that the matter is in hand.

And I'm just reminded of that stupid trick play that GDL ran last year in the second half against UMass. Thanks.

 

[ruskin]

And I'm just reminded of that stupid trick play that GDL ran last year in the second half against UMass. Thanks.

Bingo! that created a false sense of "I'm smarter than everybody else" that lasted the next four months. I can't imagine the self-congratuatlions that went on in the booth after that.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Bingo! that created a false sense of "I'm smarter than everybody else" that lasted the next four months. I can't imagine the self-congratuatlions that went on in the booth after that.

The play actually didn't fool UMass. Griffin just made a great play going up to get the ball. IIRC.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

What, no Statue of Liberty on the first possession? C'mon, live ...

 

[Kgun7]

Actually, that is the play I want to see to start the season. If we can't knock Towson off the ball, right from the start, we're not going anywhere no matter how much improved the play calling is. Last year, on opening night, we couldn't knock UMass over and just run it down their throats. And the season went from there.

We will not be good this year unless the OL looks like OLs of years past, and not the group that played last year. I'd just assume find that out by 8:30 on Thursday night.

I don't think very many teams in major college football can just line up and pound the ball against anybody. UCONN couldn't do it to UMASS last year, Boston College couldn't do it to UCONN in 2002, and Michigan and Oklahoma couldn't do it to UCONN in 2010.

IMO ... O-line "push" comes mostly from game planning and play calling. You don't need, and probably won't get, a pancake block to get yards ... you just need to get a hat on a hat and exploit your numerical advantage at the point of attack. The success of Chip Kelly's offense is probably based more on who they DON'T block then who they do block.

Of course it is all contingent upon having an offensive coordinator who knows what the hell he is doing ...

 

[businesslawyer]

I don't think very many teams in major college football can just line up and pound the ball against anybody. UCONN couldn't do it to UMASS last year, Boston College couldn't do it to UCONN in 2002, and Michigan and Oklahoma couldn't do it to UCONN in 2010.

IMO ... O-line "push" comes mostly from game planning and play calling. You don't need, and probably won't get, a pancake block to get yards ... you just need to get a hat on a hat and exploit your numerical advantage at the point of attack. The success of Chip Kelly's offense is probably based more on who they DON'T block then who they do block.

Of course it is all contingent upon having an offensive coordinator who knows what the hell he is doing ...

We manhandled our I-AA opponents for years simply running it down their throats.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I don't think very many teams in major college football can just line up and pound the ball against anybody. UCONN couldn't do it to UMASS last year, Boston College couldn't do it to UCONN in 2002, and Michigan and Oklahoma couldn't do it to UCONN in 2010.

IMO ... O-line "push" comes mostly from game planning and play calling. You don't need, and probably won't get, a pancake block to get yards ... you just need to get a hat on a hat and exploit your numerical advantage at the point of attack. The success of Chip Kelly's offense is probably based more on who they DON'T block then who they do block.

Of course it is all contingent upon having an offensive coordinator who knows what the hell he is doing ...

Did you happen to watch our International Bowl victory against Buffalo?

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Should be able to move against a level down. Would expect Towson to move against a NEC level team like Central Conn/Bryant.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Did you happen to watch our International Bowl victory against Buffalo?

I think that is the most dominating that I ever saw UConn's line play. I don't know if we threw 3 passes that game. Amazing performance by the line and Brown.

 

[EJHarrington]

Actually, that is the play I want to see to start the season. If we can't knock Towson off the ball, right from the start, we're not going anywhere no matter how much improved the play calling is. Last year, on opening night, we couldn't knock UMass over and just run it down their throats. And the season went from there.

We will not be good this year unless the OL looks like OLs of years past, and not the group that played last year. I'd just assume find that out by 8:30 on Thursday night.

You are spot on and I just made pretty much the same point on a different thread; can't average 3.4 yards a carry like against UMASS last year and expect a big season.

 

[Kgun7]

Did you happen to watch our International Bowl victory against Buffalo?

I guess I just have a different definition for "man handled" than down 20-17 at the half and up 24-20 at the end of three quarters.

 

[Kgun7]

You are spot on and I just made pretty much the same point on a different thread; can't average 3.4 yards a carry like against UMASS last year and expect a big season.

Could we have averaged more than 3.4 ypc vs UMASS if Foley coached the O-Line and Moorhead called the plays?

 

[UCONNFANTX]

Run triple option with the RB option to pass. Come on.

 

[businesslawyer]

I guess I just have a different definition for "man handled" than down 20-17 at the half and up 24-20 at the end of three quarters.

The OL didn't manhandle someone because we kept turning the ball over with special teams? O.k.

 

[huskypantz]

I think that is the most dominating that I ever saw UConn's line play. I don't know if we threw 3 passes that game. Amazing performance by the line and Brown.

Other example would be the home game vs UVA where we were up 28-0 at the half.

 

[Srqhusky]

Run triple option with the RB option to pass. Come on.

You are not off base with this comment. We need what i call college plays. Have the qb run and pitch. Even if you don't have a dual threat you run and pitch an option. At the college level these plays are often very effective.