Jim Mora’s new staff coming together… | Page 29 | The Boneyard

Jim Mora’s new staff coming together…

I guarantee you that when Jim Mora & David Benedict sat around for 3 days in Idaho ... two of the topics of conversation were: (1) Defensive Coordinator - and specifically Lou Spanos; and (2) Quarterbacks to come to Storrs and how to get them - and specifically Hugh Millen and his 2 kids that Mora knows well. So both those topics are complex and fraught with lots of nuance and layers. Both things that came into this afternoon were ... Jim Mora tried to shake a little and look at the Transfer Portal and MAYBE talked to a handful of prospective DCs. And he also was around for 3 games, so he knows the Spanos effect on the kids that are still on the roster and hurting from a tough 2021.

It came together today within hours. We don't know if there were bumps in the morning. But I think Mora had 2 conversations with the QB and DC; and Dave Benedict was well apprised of what was in his head.
 
ktuck911 said:
Gotta believe things will work out for the better... IF you don't, keep complaining... Keep the half empty mindset.. Where's that gotten us... Folks come to the board to see us complaining all the time about how we're not this or that... Let's get behind it.... Watch and see what happens...

I really liked Edsall, but he lost this team... Heck, he lost me... and I was on board til the end... It wasn't working with his conservative blue collar old school approach...

I'm drinking JM's Kool Aid right now.. Let's Roll!!!! No looking back...
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I can feel that sentiment.
 
IMP the most glaring failure on defense this year was the complete inability for our secondary to make tackles once someone got past the 2nd line of defense. The best way to cure that is through better position coaching - which this board almost unanimously seems to feel we have. Re-watch the first quarter of the Clemson game and then ask yourself if we had even a semi-competent offense that game how good that defense would have looked against one of the best teams in the country? Now through in a better O and better position coaching next year, JM's influence and I think Spanos can really improve our D from a year ago.
 
Well the D went from 330+ yds rush/game and 8 yds/carry to under 200 yds rush/game and 4.5 yds/carry. Played all those underdeveloped freshmen and got steam rolled. The lack of putting pressure on the Qb continued to be a problem though. If they can make a similar improvement as the rushing stats it would also help the secondary.
 
We’ve had good enough defensive coaches we haven’t had good enough defensive players.
 
Is it our DC or lack of talent? Two years ago Spanos tried corner blitzes but we kept getting burned because our safeties couldn't cover wide receivers. The lack of any pass rush, speed at the linebacker position and size in the secondary are major issues with our defense. People here want our DC to be more creative, but with our lack of talent and experience there isn't much more that Spanos could do. Our defense improved this year and should get better the next few year with better talent coming in and the improvement of our younger players.
 
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I’m indifferent about the hire. Players love him and that seems like a special thing when you couple it with the losing. Few coaches remain lovable or respectable even by the players when having seasons like ours.

It’s going to be a short fuse next fall however. The defense needs further improvement and they have to figure out how to get better without Travis Jones on the field who did help lessen the burden on others in games.
 
so, it looks like we still need two coach spots filled..... DL and Special Teams

not sure how to read why ST hasn't been filled. It's not like we are filled the OC spot...
 
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UCONNRPh said:
so, it looks like we still need two coach spots filled..... DL and Special Teams

not sure how to read why ST hasn't been filled. It's not like we are filled the OC spot..
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There is a rumor on the ST coach as Mora has followed the one from ball state ( who play a bowl game ) after follow the individual who is now the OL coach.
 
I know it’s a long shot but Urban Meyer for OC! Hear me out guys….


1024.jpg
 
Pudge said:
PLEASE ... take a pill. coachcap - can you help your fellow pharmacist out?
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Relax Mr. Pudge--if we wanted him, why didn't we announce anything even prior to signing day to show any potential recruits we have continuity as well as to fans. It's not like we had to wait because he was coaching a bowl game.
 
Like someone said, it isn't rocket science. But it IS non-linear. All you need is for the Offense to improve 10% and that by itself should improve the Defense by 15%. And then you get the feedback loop. Defense improving by 15% produces an Offensive additional improvement of .... In other words, a tipping point.

I eagerly await the blue-white game for the next clues. But first, the ski season.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, all!!!
 
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huskymedic said:
Right conference, wrong team. ;)
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The Pat Collins’s account ( executive director UConn football) is following the STC of Marshall and is also being followed by the assistant athletic director for football operations at Mississippi State
 
Hoophound said:
While Spanos may not have been the top choice, I don’t view that as a failure. The rest of the staff filled in almost immediately. It is certainly possible that the initial DC choice or two got better offers and reneged, but there has been a lot of turnover this year and jobs are available all over college football. Spanos is a Mora guy and the coincidence of Mora coming after the UConn job with Spanos being interim HC is hard to ignore. Maybe Spanos was promised a different, lesser job on the staff but ended up DC when other option(s) fell through. It is just hard to believe Spanos hooked his buddy up and planned to completely walk away.
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The other defensive positions, other than the line, were filled right away so it's doubtful Spanos was offered a lesser position, unless it was Special Teams, and I don't think JM would insult him with that type offer based on their history together.
 
RSTuthill said:
Like someone said, it isn't rocket science. But it IS non-linear. All you need is for the Offense to improve 10% and that by itself should improve the Defense by 15%. And then you get the feedback loop. Defense improving by 15% produces an Offensive additional improvement of .... In other words, a tipping point.

I eagerly await the blue-white game for the next clues. But first, the ski season.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, all!!!
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Not signing on to the arithmetic but I agree with the statement that seemingly small improvements in certain areas can provide a big return on the scoreboard.

I can think of a bunch of 3rd down conversions by opponents that wouldn't have happened if we had a better pass rush and I'm certain we would have played better in thr second half is we weren't defending 10 play drives regularly.
 
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SubbaBub said:
Not signing on to the arithmetic but I agree with the statement that seemingly small improvements in certain areas can provide a big return on the scoreboard.

I can think of a bunch of 3rd down conversions by opponents that wouldn't have happened if we had a better pass rush and I'm certain we would have played better in thr second half is we weren't defending 10 play drives regularly.
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Yeah, the influence factors were fictional, chosen (grabbed out of the air) to make a point.
 
Ajs120102 said:
not seeming like a future uconn assistant by the way he handled signing day yesterday on twitter.
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According to this Michigan linked article, it says that Ryan is still expected to be hired at UConn:

trib.al

Michigan analyst, Josh Gattis’ ‘right-hand man,’ hired by Don Brown at UMass

Steve Casula has spent the past three seasons on Jim Harbaugh's staff as an offensive analyst.
trib.al trib.al

Although take it with a grain of salt, as the article says he will be coming to UConn as a LB coach, which we know isn’t true with Diabate announced as LB coach.

Article Link
 
UConnSportsGuy said:
According to this Michigan linked article, it says that Ryan is still expected to be hired at UConn:

trib.al

Michigan analyst, Josh Gattis’ ‘right-hand man,’ hired by Don Brown at UMass

Steve Casula has spent the past three seasons on Jim Harbaugh's staff as an offensive analyst.
trib.al trib.al

Although take it with a grain of salt, as the article says he will be coming to UConn as a LB coach, which we know isn’t true with Diabate announced as LB coach.

Article Link
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Good stuff. Thanks. Sounds like Osborn is still our guy on D. Not surprised the writer mis-wrote.
 
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