Jeff Jacobs: With Rose Planted At UConn, Diaco Excited About Program's Growth

[huskymedic]

http://www.courant.com/sports/high-schools/hc-jacobs-column-signing-day-0204-20160204-story.html

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>>Later at Rentschler Field, coach Bob Diaco would explain the various facets of the position he projects for one of the state's most dynamic players in recent years. At UConn, it is called the "F." No, doesn't stand for flagship, although that was the term Diaco used to describe Rose. "This isn't to say anything about anybody else, but when you think about Jay it's like a flagship guy," Diaco said. "You've got a brand of cars and the brand has a flagship.<<

>>"He's a huge piece to that bleed blue mentality in the locker room that is growing but will multiply exponentially as Jay joins the locker room and then for the future Huskies. It compounds and grows in a state where a guy like this is a jump-off to say, 'I could have gone here. I could have gone there. I'm going to UConn.'"<<

T>>hat's flagship character. Now what about ? "If you watched the Colts back when they had Dallas Clark, the guy does jobs that are at times detached and they are wide receiver jobs," Diaco said. "The player attaches and moves around the backfield and blocks and also can carry the ball."

At UConn the player is denoted as , the inside eligible receiver. UConn calls its second tight end the H. "He'll be in a lot of different positions," Diaco said. "He's really not going to be an on-the-line-of-scrimmage, in-line blocker like Alec Bloom and Tommy Myers. That's not Jay's role."<<

>>"I wanted to play quarterback in college. UConn gave me the opportunity to play quarterback, but they let me know if I wanted to see the field earlier I had a better chance at a hybrid tight end, more of a receiving tight end. I put two and two together. I'd rather help the program any way possible and get on the field as quickly as possible."<<

>>"He can be a real point producer," Diaco said. "It's hard to recruit offense. A guy who can score goals in soccer, a guy who can score goals in hockey, a shooter in basketball, recruiting, finding and evaluating and collecting offensive point producers is a challenge. I think we have found one, no doubt. He was excited about the role, to have the ball in his hand and do something with it."<<

 

[Husky83]

Awesome read. Jay Rose and his father seem like great people that anyone would want in their community. Kudos to them and kudos to Coach Diaco for recruiting Jay.

 

[Palatine]

There are plenty of college TEs that play at Jay's size. I thought it was curious that Diaco said he wouldn't line up on the end of the line. That would almost assure him of getting a LB in coverage. Anyway, looking forward to watching Jay for years to come.

 

[Kgun7]

I see Rose as a versatile weapon. Owen Daniels caught 2 passes agsinst the Pats, both TD's. The first one he was lined up at the end of the line and split the 2 deep safeties. The second one he was out wide matched up against a LB who was horribly over matched in coverage. Rose has that potential.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

There are plenty of college TEs that play at Jay's size. I thought it was curious that Diaco said he wouldn't line up on the end of the line. That would almost assure him of getting a LB in coverage. Anyway, looking forward to watching Jay for years to come.

I think that's the benefit of a player like him. He's going to be too big for most college CBs and Safeties and too fast for most college LBs. Assuming he develops like we hope, teams are going to have to get creative to defend against a guy like that because there's really no answer that doesn't put a 1-on-1 defender in a mismatch.

 

[CL82]

"What Diaco is building, I think it's important to the state. Any time you have a program such as UConn, it represents a big piece of who we are."

Be prepared to love this kid.

 

[Huskygamble19]

Could we have a mini Gronk on our hands?

 

[Nostical]

Could we have a mini Gronk on our hands?

Sounds like it--only better.

 

[UCFBfan]

I can't wait to see this kid on the field. He really seems to have his head on right and seems like a born leader.

I think he's gonna be a great receiver and I love that offense is thinking of using him as a hybrid TE/WR. Not a guy who lines up to block. The Dallas Clark reference was great and I hope it comes true.