Indefensible

[uconnyankee]

I think MD and Duke were house money games. Neither were expected wins and it was an opportunity to get some experience against better defenses.

The fact Fagnano did what was expected and blew out a very weak and undermanned FCS opponent isn’t factoring into the coaches decision on who starts. Mora even said this. It’s not a valid data point.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Merrimack isn't exactly South Dakota State. That we were able to generate the offense that we did against them is no indication that we could do something remotely similar against anyone.

 

[hardcorehusky]

The potential is there with Evers. He aimed a few balls but was a threat with his legs. If he doesn't step on the sideline, the game takes a different turn. Fagnano either doesn't get that play to run or doesn't get around the corner. Evers had played the equivalent of 1 full game in 3 years. Think how much better he will be as he gets more games under his belt.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

UConn scored 1 offensive TD tonight. Pitiful. You are so right Fignano is the guy to lead UConn. Evers is a below average passer. Tired of him throwing behind receivers. He will lose a lot of football games for the Huskies.

I count 2

 

[JMick]

Two missed field goals didn’t help

No it didn't. The kicking needs to be a lot better

 

[hardcorehusky]

Here is the basketball analogy I told my friend last night. Evers is Jordan Hawkins as a freshman. Wildly inconsistent. With time, he developed into a great player. With time this season, Evers will improve and if he stays healthy, we get a P4 win and at least 7 wins

 

[cohenzone]

Hilarious stuff. Nobody wanted Fagnano anywhere near the field two weeks ago. Then he tears up a really overmatched Merrimack - I was there - and suddenly he is Tom Brady. Evers has not played a full game since high school and it is now indefensible that he played. He obviously had rough spots, but so did our D which played well but still gave up big plays early and then late. Do i think Fagnano earned another start? Maybe but using last week as a measure is useless.

Evers biggest issue as a passer seems to be locking on to a receiver especially on long passes thar were often into tight double coverage. If that is lack of experience or just bad decision making who knows. His running ability might mean teams have to game plan around that as opposed to of Fagnano. I would give him a few games to find out.

As far as play calling goes, yeah a few questionable plays but you can nitpick almost every team in the country every game. The damn game was competitive and obviously winnable, but after Maryland where we looked crappy - even when Fagnano took over in case some have forgotten - yesterday was entertaining and hopefully a good sign. Duke may not be great. but they are not bad.

 

[REB1094]

Evers showed some potential in the second half of that game and we went into the 4th quarter with the lead. There is a LOT for him to improve, but there were some flashes. The fact that Mora started Evers in the second half after 0 offensive points in the first half makes it very clear what his vision is. He's riding with Evers, which means he will take trade the short term bumps for the long term potential. Seems like the decision is to risk losing games that Fagnano might win, so that year 2 and year 3 Evers is ready to succeed. And if the defense holds up, after seeing us within 1 TD of Duke, I don't see why Evers won't be able to win games this year too

But also, are we having this conversation if Duke doesn't drop the easy pick 6 on Fagnano from the trick play?

 

[Wildgopher]

You are right about that easy pick six pass. Those trick plays and the kicking game are killing us. I think Evers will continue to get better game by game. Time will tell.

 

[cohenzone]

You are right about that easy pick six pass. Those trick plays and the kicking game are killing us. I think Evers will continue to get better game by game. Time will tell.

The punting was generally better yesterday. The FG are a different story although 3 of his 4 misses were pretty long and seemed to have enough leg. It did matter yesterday if he makes both.

 

[noeynox]

You guys are nuts. Evers proved he is the guy after tonight and I think he is going to get better.

135 yards passing, and 73 yards passing. That is what we have seen in two games.

 

[ddent68]

Hungry for wins doesn't have to mean trashing players, coaches, and the team in general. It was a fun game to watch.

Im disappointed in the loss but proud of the teams performance.

100%. And that is not settling for a “moral victory“. It felt like we actually have a football team for the first time in a long time.

 

[ddent68]

There are a lot of valid points being made about why we lost etc. Maryland was such a deflating loss I’m just glad we seem to be at least not that complete level of suck. It feels like maybe we have bottomed out and turned the corner. I have thought that before and been wrong so here’s hoping. It’s been a tough decade or so of UConn football.

 

[BlueandOG]

I trust the coaches. They see the players much more than me.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

I count 2

You are correct. It was two. But . . . it changes nothing. Evers will lose Mora a lot of games and UConn will continue to struggle to get in endzone.

 

[Stinger92860]

Maybe Ever’s ceiling is his performance in Q3. I would take it as the norm. Need consistency.

I would have started Fagnano. Let’s see what happens next week.

 

[temery]

There are a lot of valid points being made about why we lost etc. Maryland was such a deflating loss I’m just glad we seem to be at least not that complete level of suck. It feels like maybe we have bottomed out and turned the corner. I have thought that before and been wrong so here’s hoping. It’s been a tough decade or so of UConn football.

I don't get how anyone in their right mind schedules a guaranteed loss as the first game for a team that already has too many questions to be answered.

 

[cohenzone]

135 yards passing, and 73 yards passing. That is what we have seen in two games.

You have also seen Merrimack and Duke. No difference I guess

 

[cohenzone]

Maybe Ever’s ceiling is his performance in Q3. I would take it as the norm. Need consistency.

I would have started Fagnano. Let’s see what happens next week.

Honestly, Evers hadn’t played a live game in 3 years until MD. How can anyone judge a damn thing off of Merrimack and Duke.

 

[JMick]

I don't get how anyone in their right mind schedules a guaranteed loss as the first game for a team that already has too many questions to be answered.

We kind of have to take what we get. Scheduling will only continue to get harder

 

[storrsroars]

I think what was indefensible was the play calling by Gordon Sammis. That was absolutely unexplainable for about 75% of the game. There was a specific moment at the very end of the 1st half when we ran the ball (I think for the 2nd time in a row) on 3rd and 15. What is he doing? Nick was just getting his legs under him at that very moment. I absolutely cannot stand this OC, he’s a total joke. If Mora has a sack he needs to let him go after this season. This loss was totally avoidable by a competent OC,

Sammis had some very good plays, like the long Edwards completion. But too many conservative plays at the wrong time, and definitely too many trick plays. And a couple of key drops didn't help, even a huge drop from Bell for a 1st down in 4th. Too early to write Sammis off at this point, but this was a winnable game and he does deserve a large slice of blame.

 

[RSTuthill]

I'd be inclined to let Nick have one more game to develop his poise. Maybe two. Wish he could have had that Merrimack game to help slow things down for him. But if the trajectory is not clearly up in either game, get Joe back in there sooner rather than later. UConn needs W's.

 

[UCTitleTown]

Joe must be thinking what what he had to do to get the ball tonight. He did what was needed and then some last week. He should have started our had some scripted plays. Evers kept it close tonight, but his dismal first half screwed us.

The other guy got the big NIL money. It's not about on-field performance. That's college football in 2024.

 

[RSTuthill]

I don't get how anyone in their right mind schedules a guaranteed loss as the first game for a team that already has too many questions to be answered.

As an independent that needs paydays, UConn takes what it can get, when it can get it.

 

[LIUCHusky]

The other guy got the big NIL money. It's not about on-field performance. That's college football in 2024.

Do you really believe that a college football coach who desperately wants to win football games makes personnel decisions based on who is getting the most NIL money? If you do I just might have an opportunity for you to buy a bridge.