Joe Fagnano appreciation thread

[king conn]

I don't know why everyone is conveniently forgetting that Mora let it slip and said he is paying him to start before the season opener. He quickly backtracked the next day when people rightly questioned the stupidity in that and said he won it in practice

Combine that with what was said by the announcer during the UAB game that Mora does not change QB's during the season

It was never a level playing field

 

[uconnfan68]

True, but are you saying he can't improve his accuracy by coaching?

Not sure. I've always felt you either have or you don't. He's had "it" for the level he's been at for a while, but he's at a new level now. Maybe he just isn't good enough. It happens to almost all of us.

 

[ZooCougar]

Nope, he's just not an accurate passer. You can have everything else (pocket presence, footwork, reading defenses), and still not be good enough if you can't be accurate.

It’s amazing.

Joe is an average QB. He came in multiple times off the bench and made it look easy relative to Evers.

And we still have doubters.

 

[ZooCougar]

True, but are you saying he can't improve his accuracy by coaching?

Absolutely. He’s a fast twitch athlete. Those guys are rarely accurate. His sidearm throwing motion needs to re-engineered too.

 

[CL82]

No.

He is starting because he came from the portal and because of NIL. Mora literally said this in preseason with his ringing endorsement.

If you don’t believe me then look it up.

Add red herring to the list of things you don’t get.

Lol. So, I'll let you actually produce a quote that has Jim Mora stating that he's not actually going to have a quarterback competition because he had pre-ordained Evers as quarterback due to the NiL he received. in fact, he said just the opposite, but go ahead, waste your time looking for it if you want.

I have to laugh that you went to the typical zoocougar move of making up a quote and then asking someone else to do research to find it. Again, you know I'm going to point it out and then just laugh at you.

Here's the thing, and I mean this sincerely, you actually have the ability to make reasonable points. Why you reduce yourself to the red herrings or asking people to go look up stuff that you make up is beyond me. It just makes you look like a fool. But, whatever, you be you. It's pretty funny to watch, in a sad way.

 

[CL82]

Joe is an average QB. He came in multiple times off the bench and made it look easy relative to Evers

See, now on this point, you and I agree.

 

[hardcorehusky]

It’s amazing.

Joe is an average QB. He came in multiple times off the bench and made it look easy relative to Evers.

And we still have doubters.

Counterpoint: Temple game. We struggled against a pitiful defense that was stacking the run. Who was out Q that game?

Personally, I don't care who the QB is, I just hunger for wins.

 

[UConnDan97]

Counterpoint: Temple game. We struggled against a pitiful defense that was stacking the run. Who was out Q that game?

Personally, I don't care who the QB is, I just hunger for wins.

Exactly this.

I don't even want to enter this debate again, but like you mentioned, I'm rooting for both young men to succeed. However, some on this board like to pretend that they were always "Team Joe", and yet I've seen the receipts. Not only from posts during last year and some of this year, but also from the Game Chat threads from this year...

 

[CL82]

Exactly this.

I don't even want to enter this debate again, but like you mentioned, I'm rooting for both young men to succeed. However, some on this board like to pretend that they were always "Team Joe", and yet I've seen the receipts. Not only from posts during last year and some of this year, but also from the Game Chat threads from this year...

This is so true. I admit to being a weathervane on this issue a bit having frequently said I have no strong preference. Right now, there is a breeze flowing in the direction of Fagnano though.

 

[UConnJim]

He is starting because he came from the portal and because of NIL. Mora literally said this in preseason with his ringing endorsement.

If you don’t believe me then look it up.

Add red herring to the list of things you don’t get.

You are misinterpreting what Mora means. UConn went into the portal to find the starting QB and they thought Evers was good enough to be the starting QB and in order to get Evers, they paid him NIL $. I do think Mora and crew believe that Evers has more upside than Fagnano and he will be at UConn 2 more years so they went all in on development of him. But, UConn has played 10 games and Fagnano has outplayed Evers in games (we really don't know about how the two have looked in practice, but I have heard Evers looks good in practice), so I would think Fagnano has earned the starting QB job.

If you think the people who are donating to NIL want to lose games or dictate who plays, you have no idea what you are talking about. Go talk with Jared Thomas, John Malfettone, or Mike Burton to find out more about NIL.

 

[ZooCougar]

You are misinterpreting what Mora means. UConn went into the portal to find the starting QB and they thought Evers was good enough to be the starting QB and in order to get Evers, they paid him NIL $. I do think Mora and crew believe that Evers has more upside than Fagnano and he will be at UConn 2 more years so they went all in on development of him. But, UConn has played 10 games and Fagnano has outplayed Evers in games (we really don't know about how the two have looked in practice, but I have heard Evers looks good in practice), so I would think Fagnano has earned the starting QB job.

If you think the people who are donating to NIL want to lose games or dictate who plays, you have no idea what you are talking about. Go talk with Jared Thomas, John Malfettone, or Mike Burton to find out more about NIL.

I can’t misrepresent what his actual words were. I think you are just reinterpreting it creatively.

I read them and listened.

He twisted himself into a pretzel explaining how he deserved it. Couldn’t really be specific as to how he was better than the others. “The reality is that when you go into the portal and pay a guy that you start him”.

Other things of note.

He was only a 4 Star after committing to Oklahoma. He got the old upgrade when the Oklahoma offer came in.

The guy literally has the same upside that Roberson had. Maybe less. We just happen to be paying him.

 

[JohnFSilver]

No.

He is starting because he came from the portal and because of NIL. Mora literally said this in preseason with his ringing endorsement.

If you don’t believe me then look it up.

Add red herring to the list of things you don’t get.

7-3, not sure fagnano could have gotten us wins over wake or duke. Maybe, though.

Asking UConn to be 9-1 is a lot to ask.

I do think, after thinking they were 50/50, that the receivers are more explosive with fagnano. Whatever Evers gets you in efficiency and with his legs, the arm strength of Fagnano is superior and likely over rides that.

Just win against Syracuse and UMass and figure the rest out for a bowl game. Ever goes into spring as starter anyway.

 

[ZooCougar]

7-3, not sure fagnano could have gotten us wins over wake or duke. Maybe, though.

Asking UConn to be 9-1 is a lot to ask.

I do think, after thinking they were 50/50, that the receivers are more explosive with fagnano. Whatever Evers gets you in efficiency and with his legs, the arm strength of Fagnano is superior and likely over rides that.

Just win against Syracuse and UMass and figure the rest out for a bowl game. Ever goes into spring as starter anyway.

You clearly didn't see the Wake or Duke games if you think that.

 

[gioff2323]

I wish our staff would not be afraid to make changes. NE started well - they scripted short passes for him and we went right down the field. After, you could feel the D challenging him to throw deep. Down 17, you can’t come back dinking and dunking. JF looked good in his time there.

And we Shd have another thread thanking UAB for playing hot potato with ball on q4. They lost that game. Can’t imagine dilfer survives.

 

[Milo65]

Evers started Duke and Wake, Joey came on in relief in the Maryland game, where he moved the ball. Granted it was against 2nd and 3rd string. I want Joey guns to start.

 

[gsmooth]

So, Evers has no capability to be coached up in pocket presence, footwork, reading defenses and even getting over injuries? He has peaked at age 20? That is what you are saying here.

You didn't comprehend my post. Building for the future does not mean UConn needs to sacrifice better results (wins) for this season. Developing Evers would be sacrificing the present, or at least up to this point it looks like it would do that because he is still deficient in those skills. He is holding the offense back.

Let me reverse the question(s) to you. For those attributes you listed, has Nick shown he can do any of those things at an average FBS QB level? That is a resounding, "no". Forget doing them above average, that is a bar too high. I am sure he has improved and got better at those attributes and he is better now than before he set foot at UConn, to answer your question, but how long will it take to develop those skills in Evers to get to an average FBS QB level and at what cost? Cost isn't just limited to NIL money, but also means sacrificing team play, not maximizing the other offensive skill players, and possibly wins.

UConn Football does not have the luxury of being patient through Evers' learning curve. They got good RBs, WRs, and offensive line players, those other players on offense need to be optimized, not held back. Keep Evers on the team for next year if that is what is best for the team, but with $1.5M more of NIL money coming into UConn Football let's get a QB(s) that has advanced much further with those skills you listed such as pocket presence, footwork, reading defenses, and getting over injuries.

Another thing to note: Evers has had 2 concussions, if he gets another one he will miss several games and would have to consider his football future and quality of life after football.

 

[gsmooth]

Exactly this.

I don't even want to enter this debate again, but like you mentioned, I'm rooting for both young men to succeed. However, some on this board like to pretend that they were always "Team Joe", and yet I've seen the receipts. Not only from posts during last year and some of this year, but also from the Game Chat threads from this year...

We all should be rooting for both young men to succeed for sure. Joe Fagnano and Nick Evers should not be our version of Coke vs Pepsi. Rooting for UConn Football to be successful is top priority.

 

[JohnFSilver]

You clearly didn't see the Wake or Duke games if you think that.

You think Fagnano would have made the difference? he nearly cost UConn the temple game if we are going to critique everything bad from Evers.

If you want to think Mora doesn’t know what he is doing, and has political pressure, and they would be 9-1 if they started Fagnano then, OK, say it.

And, I changed my tune. Start Fagnano and see if he can be accurate the entire game.

 

[UCan3]

We all should be rooting for both young men to succeed for sure. Joe Fagnano and Nick Evers should not be our version of Coke vs Pepsi. Rooting for UConn Football to be successful is top priority.

I will support the team, regardless of the QB. I do not share your trust in Mora to make the right decision. He has been very stubborn in his refusal to make a change. If he starts NE over JF for the rotten fruit, he loses some credibility with me. The choice is obvious.

I am not rooting for either QB. I only want the best QB on the field and set NIL aside and the QB has earned the position in Joe.

If Joe doesn’t come in against UAB, that would have been a loss.

I don’t want to anoint Joe the starter no matter what - but only to see him start v Syracuse.

His stats and clutch play make him to clear choice in a couple of weeks. If he stinks it up bring in Evers.

 

[Hamms30]

Issue right now with NE is that his threat of running is what gives him an advantage as a dual threat presence. Since the second concussion, he hasn't really be a threat of running like what he was doing earlier in the year like in the Duke game. He's diving at the first threat of contact now, which is great if he needs to protect himself.. but it doesn't really make him a dual threat anymore. And now, not knowing the knee situation.. it's another disadvantage to the idea of a dual threat quarterback if his knee isn't in shape to go. So if you don't have a dual threat quarterback predicated on running.. why would you not start the quarterback that has a better passing game?

 

[JohnFSilver]

I just want to win the game. I don’t care if players go to nfl, don’t care about awards, NIL, or what other people think of the program.

Win games. Maybe when there is something more to play for like a G6 CFP bid, a superior bowl game bid and what not, then I might worry. But, there is exactly zero reason to worry about style points.

Most effective players play.

 

[JohnFSilver]

You didn't comprehend my post. Building for the future does not mean UConn needs to sacrifice better results (wins) for this season. Developing Evers would be sacrificing the present, or at least up to this point it looks like it would do that because he is still deficient in those skills. He is holding the offense back.

Let me reverse the question(s) to you. For those attributes you listed, has Nick shown he can do any of those things at an average FBS QB level? That is a resounding, "no". Forget doing them above average, that is a bar too high. I am sure he has improved and got better at those attributes and he is better now than before he set foot at UConn, to answer your question, but how long will it take to develop those skills in Evers to get to an average FBS QB level and at what cost? Cost isn't just limited to NIL money, but also means sacrificing team play, not maximizing the other offensive skill players, and possibly wins.

UConn Football does not have the luxury of being patient through Evers' learning curve. They got good RBs, WRs, and offensive line players, those other players on offense need to be optimized, not held back. Keep Evers on the team for next year if that is what is best for the team, but with $1.5M more of NIL money coming into UConn Football let's get a QB(s) that has advanced much further with those skills you listed such as pocket presence, footwork, reading defenses, and getting over injuries.

Another thing to note: Evers has had 2 concussions, if he gets another one he will miss several games and would have to consider his football future and quality of life after football.

I don’t get this post.

Don’t have luxury? What are you talking about? How much better than 7-3 should they be? They got lucky against temple. They had Fagnano steal the game from uab. They lost frustrating games against wake and Duke.

Those are the 4 toss up games this year and they are 2-2. They could easily have been 0-4 in this games and maybe with a little luck, could have been 4-0.

As I said, their record feels about right. And, I am for the qb chance against Syracuse.

We sitting here 5-5, then I am grumpy , but 7-3? Nah.

 

[Jetskies]

if we suck at running the ball vs Syracuse and JF is forced to throw us to a victory, do not crap on him if/when he gets 2 picks by the half. It will have been a function of the pressure he's facing due to lack of a run game.

All that being said, QB doesn't matter if we can't make gains on the run.

 

[UConnDan97]

if we suck at running the ball vs Syracuse and JF is forced to throw us to a victory, do not crap on him if/when he gets 2 picks by the half. It will have been a function of the pressure he's facing due to lack of a run game.

All that being said, QB doesn't matter if we can't make gains on the run.

"...do not crap on him..."

Fixed it for you

 

[Waquoit]

You clearly didn't see the Wake or Duke games if you think that.

Yeah, that Wake game reminded me of Zion against Marshall.