Jeff Jacobs column UConn-USF

[Redding Husky]

Today he nailed it. So much has improved under Diaco. This year, we have a pulse on offense. We're moving the chains. We just can't score. 500+ yards and 20 points? How many points did we leave on the table yesterday? 13? 20?

We're not making mistakes all game long like last year. The problem this year is generally limited to breakdowns in crucial situations, usually in the red zone. Bad clock management, poor play calling, mental mistakes, etc. We can't finish. As Dez pointed out, we ran *50* plays on the USF side of the field and they ran *14* on our side of the field (not counting their final drive to run out the clock). It was a crime not to win this game.

I think this is a common problem among improving football teams. First you have to stop the bleeding and just play better between the 20's. Mission accomplished. Now we just need to learn how to finish. If/when we do that, we'll go bowling. We're halfway there.

I can't link the article on an I-pad; maybe someone else can.

 

[BugsyCT]

http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn...l-usf-jacobs-column-1018-20151017-column.html

 

[huskymedic]

>>"We have to do a better job as a staff having a higher level of play awareness and play selection," Diaco said. "I don't have a 40,000-feet-looking-down comment for you right now. I'm not trying to give you coachspeak. I know we're going to have to look down at the third-and-1, the fourth-and-1 and say, 'Why was this play not successful? Should it even have been called? What's a better play selection here?'

"Really be honest. Start with myself and move on down through the staff to give us a better opportunity to keep the drive alive and produce points. We need to do a better job as a staff to find ways to be successful in critical situations."<<

 

[Dooley]

Season 2: Learning how to win games. This is a common problem for young teams so used to losing. It'll get fixed, but maybe not as quickly as some (and myself) would like.

 

[HuskyNan]

Here are the quotes from the post game presser.

http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/101715aam.html

To copy and paste on an iPad, put your finger on the link until a menu pops up, choose Copy then put your finger on the screen where you want the link to go until the menu pops up, then choose Paste.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Season 2: Learning how to win games. This is a common problem for young teams so used to losing. It'll get fixed, but maybe not as quickly as some (and myself) would like.

But I want my team to go from PP and 2-10 and immediately start playing mistake-free football NOW. I want it NOW. NOW!!!

 

[CTMike]

I appreciate the self awareness... Now fix it. Time to get coaching to 200 level and beyond.

 

[fgbrault]

>>"We have to do a better job as a staff having a higher level of play awareness and play selection," Diaco said. "I don't have a 40,000-feet-looking-down comment for you right now. I'm not trying to give you coachspeak. I know we're going to have to look down at the third-and-1, the fourth-and-1 and say, 'Why was this play not successful? Should it even have been called? What's a better play selection here?'

"Really be honest. Start with myself and move on down through the staff to give us a better opportunity to keep the drive alive and produce points. We need to do a better job as a staff to find ways to be successful in critical situations."<<

It is so refreshing to see a UConn head coach taking responsibility. It appears that UConn really is on the road to having a good football program. I would have loved UConn to have won yesterday, but I am very pleased with the progress the team and program are making.

 

[CL82]

>>"We have to do a better job as a staff having a higher level of play awareness and play selection," Diaco said. "I don't have a 40,000-feet-looking-down comment for you right now. I'm not trying to give you coachspeak. I know we're going to have to look down at the third-and-1, the fourth-and-1 and say, 'Why was this play not successful? Should it even have been called? What's a better play selection here?'

"Really be honest. Start with myself and move on down through the staff to give us a better opportunity to keep the drive alive and produce points. We need to do a better job as a staff to find ways to be successful in critical situations."<<

"Pitch the stat sheet, because it's not relevant," Diaco said. "It's a bizarre read. I take full responsibility, full accountability. It's a sad, hard loss. I saw that student section packed; they all came out. I just feel terrible I let them down."

Damn it Diaco, don't start being accountable. It makes it much harder to criticize you.

 

[UCFBfan]

Season 2: Learning how to win games. This is a common problem for young teams so used to losing. It'll get fixed, but maybe not as quickly as some (and myself) would like.

Forget learning how to win, just learn how to stick it in stick in stick it in! However, I agree with you. I think it's hard for many, myself included, accept that fixing this will take longer because you see so many teams that were bad and then turn it around quickly. The difference is that many of those programs are in talent rich states (TX, FL, PA) where as we have an even harder task recruiting up in New England.

 

[UC990411]

But I want my team to go from PP and 2-10 and immediately start playing mistake-free football NOW. I want it NOW. NOW!!!

Blaming Pasqualoni at this point is almost as bad as saying we're 3-4 because Edsall left the cupboard bare.

 

[Nostical]

This game was merely the most egregious in pointing out the coaching missteps as to play selection, time management and decision analysis. But these were clearly evident in Mizzou and after.
It's fine to accept responsibility--and great to see--but now it's time to fix the wagon. We're headed for Cincy. We need a win.

 

[CTMike]

This is a serious question - what resources are there for college coaches to improve their coaching and situational awareness? Are there clinics / training opportunities? Because there is no shame in wanting to learn more about the game.

 

[cttxus]

This is a serious question - what resources are there for college coaches to improve their coaching and situational awareness? Are there clinics / training opportunities? Because there is no shame in wanting to learn more about the game.

Good question. I personally believe in mentors and I think HCBD has at least one on his staff in coach Patterson. HCBD could easily defer to him without looking like he wasn't in control simply by communicating through their headsets with coach V. And if they're already doing that, maybe HCBD just needs to let coach Patterson call more of the shots until he gets more comfortable with that part of the game. Just one idea.

 

[jbdphi]

This is a serious question - what resources are there for college coaches to improve their coaching and situational awareness? Are there clinics / training opportunities? Because there is no shame in wanting to learn more about the game.

It sounds very simple but I think part of Diaco's issue is that he is sometimes too emotionally invested and needs to be more clinical. Whenever we have a good play where we make significant yardage, we almost always seem to need to call a TO because we didn't immediately move on to what the next play needs to be to ram things home. I'm all for some celebration and emotion but as the Head Coach, I think he needs to consciously take a step back from that and (at least among the coaches and the backup QB's), get people on board with moving on to the next play.

 

[The Viking]

This is a serious question - what resources are there for college coaches to improve their coaching and situational awareness? Are there clinics / training opportunities? Because there is no shame in wanting to learn more about the game.

It only costs 50 bucks. It's called Madden football. Diaco needs to be locked into a room for 48 hours straight and just play it.

 

[SubbaBub]

>>"We have to do a better job as a staff having a higher level of play awareness and play selection," Diaco said. "I don't have a 40,000-feet-looking-down comment for you right now. I'm not trying to give you coachspeak. I know we're going to have to look down at the third-and-1, the fourth-and-1 and say, 'Why was this play not successful? Should it even have been called? What's a better play selection here?'

"Really be honest. Start with myself and move on down through the staff to give us a better opportunity to keep the drive alive and produce points. We need to do a better job as a staff to find ways to be successful in critical situations."<<

I will say I like this version of Coach a darn sight better than last year's version. Validates the hope I have that it will get better even if it takes longer than I'd like.

 

[SubbaBub]

This is a serious question - what resources are there for college coaches to improve their coaching and situational awareness? Are there clinics / training opportunities? Because there is no shame in wanting to learn more about the game.

I think it's just preparation. If you want to say that with all the time spent fixing the basics there is none left for the staff to war room these situations, I'll buy it. But, it's clear that this moves to the top of the list of things that need to be addressed because it's costing wins more than anything else now that we can kick PATs like we should.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Blaming Pasqualoni at this point is almost as bad as saying we're 3-4 because Edsall left the cupboard bare.

I you don't think a multi-year rebuild was/is necessary following that trainwreck of a regime, you haven't been watching very closely, son.

Not that my post was supposed to be taken seriously in the future lmao

 

[mdkhusky]

This is a serious question - what resources are there for college coaches to improve their coaching and situational awareness? Are there clinics / training opportunities? Because there is no shame in wanting to learn more about the game.

experience

 

[sportsart]

I think we've learned Diaco is a master of the detail, but unless he has time to put a plan in place, he's not great at thinking on his feet.

Usually people are born with the ability to improvise. Here's hoping he can sharpen that skill.

That being said, the OC is responsible for calling the plays, so outside of choosing to go for it on 4th down or kick a FG, Verducci should get the heat for the delays and questionable play calling.

As for the second half melt down of our defense, we just looked slow when they went wide. The passing defense break down is a head scratcher. I get the feeling Diaco took the heat due to the coaches not having prepared the players better.

 

[CL82]

Blaming Pasqualoni at this point is almost as bad as saying we're 3-4 because Edsall left the cupboard bare.

Disagree. It's one thing to complain that the cupboard is bare coming off of a BCS game. It's quite another to note how the program was devastated, I'll say it again, devastated by PPGDL.

I was tired of hearing HCBD complain about it last season, but that doesn't make it less true.

 

[mikedog10]

UConn 100 Level football - Tear it down and start from scratch.
UConn 200 Level football - Learn how to not lose. Beat bad teams, and hang tough with a few good ones.
UConn 300 Level football - Learn how to win. Steal one or two games from better teams. Punish bad teams.
UConn 400 Level football - Punch everyone in the mouth. 13-0.

 

[epark88]

This is a serious question - what resources are there for college coaches to improve their coaching and situational awareness? Are there clinics / training opportunities? Because there is no shame in wanting to learn more about the game.

For Diaco, couple of phone calls to Haden Fry might do the trick...

 

[CTMike]

I mean... There really should be an advanced degree in this stuff.

Having mentors and networking - all good - just have a good network that will tell it to you straight, not what you want to hear.

Can't believe I'm going to quote my dad here (not sure who said it originally) but : "Experience is a dear school, but a fool learns in no other."