If you are looking for the reason they lost

[FfldCntyFan]

Rodgers is having a tough year also because his guys can't get open. Unless you want to blame McCarthy for not having an imaginative offense.

Point well taken, It's all McCarthy's fault!

 

[businesslawyer]

Here is why the offense is terrible (in this order):

1. Our OL is terrible
2. Our WR's have a hard time getting open
3. Our QB is not a great passer
4. Our staff doesn't put them in the best position to succeed

Big gap from 3 to 4.

Big gap from 2 to 3. Shirreffs did not have a good passing game today. Frankly he threw the ball better before the USF game -- when he found out how many yards he could gain running - than he did after that

 

[jdb50]

Do we have any reason to believe our O-line will be better next year? With all the missed assignments, the inability to hold blocks and drive defenders, the lack of mobility is the big one for me. We are slow afoot. That is hard to correct.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Do we have any reason to believe our O-line will be better next year? With all the missed assignments, the inability to hold blocks and drive defenders, the lack of mobility is the big one for me. We are slow afoot. That is hard to correct.

It is weird. I wonder sometimes if they could move a blocking sled. Do they even hit sleds regularly? They should be big enough and strong enough that if they hit somebody off the snap, they should at least be able to create a change in momentum. There are times, briefly when they look good, but most of the time when it comes to controlling the line of scrimmage, it looks like they're trying to get in the way, rather than move anybody.

When it's 3rd and short, that's when you know if you can control the line of scrimmage or not on offense. We cannot control the line long enough to get a QB/Back exchange and gain a yard up the gut regularly. We need to do it fast enough with a QB dive to have a chance.

When you can't do that on offense, you got to do other things to have a chance to win games. Like manage the game to minimize possessions. Absolutely NOT lose the turnover battle. Hit field goals. Etc. Etc. We managed to get to 6-7 this year on the heels of 2-10, 3-9, consecutive 5-7's.

IT's improvement, but goddammit they need to be able to line up across the LOS on offense and knock somebody back more than not - if we're going to get better next season.

 

[Husky25]

UConn's o-line is a microcosm of the the team as a whole.

Diaco talked last year about 100 level performances and getting to 200 level and finally the 300 and 400 levels. Last year the o-line was 100 level at best. They were inexperienced, weak, and fat. This year, the line is a bit more experienced and certainly big enough, but they need a little more push. I expect the redshirts to put on more muscle, their technique to be more instinctual, and push for an actual spot on the 2-deep, as opposed to in name only. It's where experience + ability collide. 300/400 level performance for sure.

Remeber, 95% of this board would have been ecstatic with a 5-7 record. UConn was bowling a year early.

 

[LRock34]

The offensive line wasn't THAT bad. They lost today because they were completely out coached. The scheme and play calling were terrible. I'm still not convinced that Shirreffs is a Division 1A QB but that might be more on the scheme than him.

The line did a decent job of protecting. With no threat of the pass of course they couldn't run block

 

[gtcam]

LOL. Attacks me and doesn't see the irony.

Then calls people childish, more names and brags about ignore - only the most childish thing one can do on a message board - and somehow
misses that irony.

Stick to posting pictures of girls and being a corny superfan - attempting to analyze what you are seeing is not within your grasp.

Bottom line - you are a DB - and I don't mean defensive back

You may think you know football and thats fine BUT nothing you write rates HoF IQ

Don't become childish - it's unbecoming - even for you this time Whale

 

[whaler11]

Bottom line - you are a DB - and I don't mean defensive back

You may think you know football and thats fine BUT nothing you write rates HoF IQ

Don't become childish - it's unbecoming - even for you this time Whale

A guy who babbles on and on about 'Puke' and 'Kensucky' is now judging who is childish.

Anytime you want to get together and let me show you how wrong you are - just let me know.

 

[Carl Spackler]

The offensive line wasn't THAT bad. They lost today because they were completely out coached. The scheme and play calling were terrible. I'm still not convinced that Shirreffs is a Division 1A QB but that might be more on the scheme than him.

The line did a decent job of protecting. With no threat of the pass of course they couldn't run block

Bullsh-t.

I've been watching this program for a long time. I've seen what this team in 2015 can do without a competent QB. It's unwatchable. And I'm not talking about from a football fan perspective.

We did stuff today in this game to create all kinds of misdirection, confusion in assignments on defense and it was working. We've seen all kinds of stuff on offense this year - that you're not going to believe this - took what Deleone used to try to do, and made it actually work. We had open receivers. We had running lanes. The only thing I'll get on this offensive coaching staff about - is two fold - the fact that our offensive line looks like they don't hit sleds regularly - and that includes TE's and WR's - and that we are inefficient in communication and play clock.

part of that play clock thing is the fact that it seems clear now - through 25 games, that Diaco is using a philosophy of minimizing possessions for both teams.

Guess what? It's working.

All these calls for offense and complaints about sh-tty offense. Imagine what our season would look like, with a wide open offense and 16 possessions per game (for both teams) rather than 8.

Verducci has impressed me, more than Diaco did as a first timer coach. Diaco is a ggoing to be a great head coach, but he's getting his education at UCONN, and my bullsh-t earlier in the week about florida and beachs and focus was right on. This team was unprepared for football today, because they weren't focused on fundamentals.

Verducci can build something, if he gets the players that can execute. Shireffs has potential, but he's got to have a running game that convert a 3rd and short. He's got more than enough what it takes to be a QB at the level.

 

[whaler11]

In some ways Tommy Myers was their best offensive lineman... note how they played after he broke his leg.

Don't let that evidence change your mind though. Just call different plays!

 

[Carl Spackler]

In some ways Tommy Myers was their best offensive lineman... note how they played after he broke his leg.

Don't let that evidence change your mind though. Just call different plays!

This is why, I wrote before elsewhere that our OL seems to be at the level of play of trying to get in the way - rather than move the defense. When Myers went out, our entire blocking at the LOS went to sh+t in the run game.

We need to be lining up and able to leverage a defense, and there are times - like when it's 3rd and short - where you got to line up and match up and move the D.

Hopefully - with some consistency in coaching and roster positioning in the next calendar year - we'll start to do that.

There was a time, and it's still the case, that when it was 3rd and short - early in a game - and we had the ball, that you could tell how a game would flow, on how we played that the 3rd down.

If it was run power, and get the first down - things would go well. If not - things wouldn't. Today - early on - Newsome got stuffed for 2 yard loss - by 1-1 on matchup G-DT.

Can't have that - if we're going to be a top 25 team.

The defense is not the worry - nor the special teams. Never is at UCONN - in any sport. Need that OL to develop.

 

[whaler11]

This is why, I wrote before elsewhere that our OL seems to be at the level of play of trying to get in the way - rather than move the defense. When Myers went out, our entire blocking at the LOS went to sh+t in the run game.

We need to be lining up and able to leverage a defense, and there are times - like when it's 3rd and short - where you got to line up and match up and move the D.

Hopefully - with some consistency in coaching and roster positioning in the next calendar year - we'll start to do that.

There was a time, and it's still the case, that when it was 3rd and short - early in a game - and we had the ball, that you could tell how a game would flow, on how we played that the 3rd down.

If it was run power, and get the first down - things would go well. If not - things wouldn't. Today - early on - Newsome got stuffed for 2 yard loss - by 1-1 on matchup G-DT.

Can't have that - if we're going to be a top 25 team.

The defense is not the worry - nor the special teams. Never is at UCONN - in any sport. Need that OL to develop.

Marshall was 11-17 on third down. That's what an effective offensive line gives you.

 

[noeynox]

They simply out physicalled us on BOTH lines. The dline had hands on hips, sucking wind by the 2nd drive of the 2nd half. Not used to seeing our D be unable to get stops on 3rd consistently except for the navy game. Ironically for most of the game we were better on 3rd and short than 3rd and long but eventually the DL wore down.

Shirrefs has been a HUGE upgrade but there were times he had time to pass and was looking to run after the 1st read, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he has some PTSD effects going on. His situational awareness on the last drive were BAD. Can't take a sack and can't throw a two yard dunp off to a WR with no chance to go out of bounds.

The OLS major problem continues to be the interior. That those 3 guys started every game worries me. Someone should have pushed one,of those guys to the bench. The tackles have improved over the course of the year.

 

[Carl Spackler]

They simply out physicalled us on BOTH lines. The dline had hands on hips, sucking wind by the 2nd drive of the 2nd half. Not used to seeing our D be unable to get stops on 3rd consistently except for the navy game. Ironically for most of the game we were better on 3rd and short than 3rd and long but eventually the DL wore down.

Shirrefs has been a HUGE upgrade but there were times he had time to pass and was looking to run after the 1st read, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he has some PTSD effects going on. His situational awareness on the last drive were BAD. Can't take a sack and can't throw a two yard dunp off to a WR with no chance to go out of bounds.

The OLS major problem continues to be the interior. That those 3 guys started every game worries me. Someone should have pushed one,of those guys to the bench. The tackles have improved over the course of the year.

Florida beaches and bikinis.

 

[uconnfan68]

The offensive line is somehow worse than it was against Villanova.

Until it's fixed there this is the ceiling.

There is an element of the game that calls for discipline. We don't seem to have it. When you have oline trying to referee games, you just don't get it. When you have defensive players celebrating a no-gain in the 4th quarter when you're losing, you just don't have it. That ALL comes back to coaching.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Bob is going to be a very good coach one day. He just won't be here when he reaches that mark. The O-line is godawful, but the play calling on both sides of the ball reeks of cowardice.

It may not be a fair task rating a coaching staff with that O-line, but coaching the O-line is part of their job.

I said 5 wins would make this a good season, with next year being the real test. Though today sucked, they surpassed my expectations and even made a bowl game. Considering the previous 4 seasons, i can't be anything but excited for the future.

Go Huskies!!!!

 

[Sprague03]

I just want an offense where it doesn't feel like the game is over once the other team scores 2 touchdowns

I want an offense that doesn't go 3 and out and loses complete confidence on every 3rd down. very frustrating

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Not going to win at this level of college football with an offense that can't score TD's. Can you imagine a Big 12 fan unable to see or hear his/her team play in a bowl game finding out that their team gave up only a TD & 3 FG's? They would surely be ecstatic believing their team had won. UConn will go nowhere until they realize that modern college football is dictated by what you can do on the offensive side of the LOS.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Defense played hard, but nowhere near the level they would need to in order to be able to carry this inept offense. That would require way fewer missed tackles - #'s 11, and 6 should maybe have been given a seat on the bench for gosh awful, grab at air, tackling. It would require giving up far fewer back breaking 3 down plays. AND, it would require the UConn DB's not giving opponent's WR's a 10-12 yard cushion at LOS and playing so soft on passing attempts.

 

[Husky25]

The defense played hard (so did the offense, by the way), they didn't play particularly well. Someone said that Marshall was 11/17 on 3rd down and I recall numerous missed tackles.

 

[noeynox]

There is an element of the game that calls for discipline. We don't seem to have it. When you have oline trying to referee games, you just don't get it. When you have defensive players celebrating a no-gain in the 4th quarter when you're losing, you just don't have it. That ALL comes back to coaching.

This is a good point. Bob likes to have his players show emotion and I enjoy that, but moments like the Andrew Adams kick the ball in the stands, the Foley Fatukasi going Mike Tyson on the Villanova Oline guy. We had some others as well. Those need to get cleaned up. That is all 100% on the coach. Its one thing to not have enough talented guys on the Oline, I get that but there are some clear coaching things that need cleaning up ASAP.

 

[Srqhusky]

Here is why the offense is terrible (in this order):

1. Our OL is terrible
2. Our WR's have a hard time getting open
3. Our QB is not a great passer
4. Our staff doesn't put them in the best position to succeed

Big gap from 3 to 4.

Say what you want but we have enough talent to score greater than ten points

 

[whaler11]

Say what you want but we have enough talent to score greater than ten points

If you ignore the offensive line sure.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Say what you want but we have enough talent to score greater than ten points

So says you. Did you stay out of the tailgate long enough to watch more than a quarter and a half?

 

[Tdaley]

I'm just back from the game. Here are my observations. While the game was hard fought and Bryant Shirreffs was a warrior, I'm afraid this loss was squarely on our unimaginative offensive game plan. Although it's after Christmas, we played like it was still NO-vember. No screen, no quick slant, no flip reverse, no halfback pass, no flea flicker. Don't tell me the O-Line isn't good enough. If it's not (and it's not) you have to improvise. My wife's not a great cook. We eat out a lot.
As good as our D played, and they did (despite playing a soft zone which had visions of the Cincy game in my head, and missing some tackles that would have helped) they needed a better game from their offensive brothers.

But even with all of that we still had a chance, and thus it qualifies as a Nostical win. So we had a 9~4 season with lots of hope for next season. Bottom line, we have great kids, talented players, but an offensive scheme that simply can't adapt. I can't believe after watching all that tape on Marshall we came out with that pedestrian game plan.

The good news is that every player loved the Bowl experience (especially the swag) and wants to come back to one next year--in a big way. They are completely motivated for next year. Let's hope the coaches are as well.

Not true. We throw a screen pass to Newsome and one of Marshal's linebackers sliced between 3 of our offensive linemen and tackled Newsome for no gain. Poor execution by our O-line.

 

[sdhusky]

No offensive line can get a running game going against eight sometimes nine in the box.

Donald Brown says hello.

 

[Nostical]

In some ways Tommy Myers was their best offensive lineman... note how they played after he broke his leg. Don't let that evidence change your mind though. Just call different plays!

It's both. Tommy's absence was the most obvious reason we lost this game. Hashemi dropped a touchdown probable pass that Tommy would likely have caught. Later with lots of YAC to be had Hashemi was so intent on merely catching the ball he went to the ground. Unlikely Tommy would have. So yes, personnel counts, but don't tell me we were imaginative. Our first three offensive plays were runs. I say come out throwing. The team can sense when the OC is afraid and tight. And not targeting Noel Thomas is tantamount to coaching malpractice. Playmakers make plays. They also get favorable calls. We blew it.

 

[Chief00]

They simply out physicalled us on BOTH lines. The dline had hands on hips, sucking wind by the 2nd drive of the 2nd half. Not used to seeing our D be unable to get stops on 3rd consistently except for the navy game. Ironically for most of the game we were better on 3rd and short than 3rd and long but eventually the DL wore down.

Shirrefs has been a HUGE upgrade but there were times he had time to pass and was looking to run after the 1st read, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he has some PTSD effects going on. His situational awareness on the last drive were BAD. Can't take a sack and can't throw a two yard dunp off to a WR with no chance to go out of bounds.

The OLS major problem continues to be the interior. That those 3 guys started every game worries me. Someone should have pushed one,of those guys to the bench. The tackles have improved over the course of the year.

Quick frankly, I just don't see the upside in Shirrefs that others see. Reading Diaco's quotes after the game - there seems to be a huge disconnect between the rhetoric and his game plan. The game plan displayed zero confidence in the QB or any of the other offensive players.

 

[Nostical]

Thought you'd like to read some post game comments I received from some very knowledgable (wink wink) football folks. Like me--and Palatine--they know where the blame lies.

"That was one of the most pathetic coaching performances I have ever witnessed. What was Diaco's strategy, curl up in a ball? Zero passes to Noel Thomas, come on! 13th game of the season and they still barely get a play sent in from the sidelines before the play clock expires."

"Is there a reason Shirreffs only threw once to Thomas? Was he that well covered for the entire game. I thought it was a disappointing offensive effort, considering all the time they had to prepare. Your thoughts?"

 

[huskymedic]

Thought you'd like to read some post game comments I received from some very knowledgable (wink wink) football folks. Like me--and Palatine--they know where the blame lies.

"That was one of the most pathetic coaching performances I have ever witnessed. What was Diaco's strategy, curl up in a ball? Zero passes to Noel Thomas, come on! 13th game of the season and they still barely get a play sent in from the sidelines before the play clock expires."

"Is there a reason Shirreffs only threw once to Thomas? Was he that well covered for the entire game. I thought it was a disappointing offensive effort, considering all the time they had to prepare. Your thoughts?"

C'mon Nos, I can make up unattributable quotes as well to make a point.

NT was targeted at least twice and BS admitted post game that he should have thrown it to him at least two more times so is playing calling the issue or QB decision-making/confidence the issue (?both?). Very few if any on this board know what the actual play call was/is and what the progression tree was/is. Tough to judge where the "blame" lies without knowing those pieces.

Disappointing game no doubt though...