John Silver's Tuesday Practice Notes

[huskymedic]

Good info...

John Silver (@JohnFSilver)
8/13/13, 8:43 PM
Practice notes: DeLorenzo's turn
http://snyuconn.com/uconn/football/practice-notes-delorenzos-turn/

 

[Husky68]

Maybe it's just me but LM went down on 1st contact last year, Delorenzo didn't all of a sudden get a good base and break tackles - why the exclusive use of LM last year (when he wasn't hurt/suspended). Better player utilization this year will be a big +. So much upside from last year on offense just on play calling and player selection - UConn has to be much better on offense (think I said the same thing this time last year so eventually I'll probably be right).

 

[sportsart]

There was a not so subtle message sent today to LM. When PP talks about Max not going down on first contact and Lyle needing to improve in terms of first contact (paraphrasing) it's clear what he is saying.

Seeing that PP understands this is a make or break year, IMHO the leash will be short if Lyle "stumbles" and Max doesn't.

 

[THC]

Give Max the damn ball.

 

[weyuo]

Isn't this the kind of reporting we should be seeing from the flagship newspaper in the state?

 

[huskymedic]

Isn't this the kind of reporting we should be seeing from the flagship newspaper in the state?

Desmond Conner (@desmondconner)
8/13/13, 8:55 PM
#UConnFootball notebook
http://touch.courant.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-77016638/

It's posted in a thread under it's original title - "Huskies Have Decisions To Make At Running Back"

 

[sportsart]

To be fair if you go to the Courant sports page and click on UConn football there is at least 1 story per day since August 1st.

 

[whaler11]

You can't compare the Courant to SNY any longer. One has revenue to grow their coverage, the other doesn't. If you want to figure out why the Register has a better reporter that's a good question. If you are crazy enough to read the Waterbury paper you can try to figure out why Ed thinks the Army game should be played at West Point. They must have tremendous wifi available.

 

[Palatine]

Maybe it's just me but LM went down on 1st contact last year, Delorenzo didn't all of a sudden get a good base and break tackles - why the exclusive use of LM last year (when he wasn't hurt/suspended). Better player utilization this year will be a big +. So much upside from last year on offense just on play calling and player selection - UConn has to be much better on offense (think I said the same thing this time last year so eventually I'll probably be right).

I've been saying this for two years and suddenly today the press notices. LM hasn't broken a tackle in his career (maybe a coupe) and he always goes down on first contact.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I've been saying this for two years and suddenly today the press notices. LM hasn't broken a tackle in his career (maybe a coupe) and he always goes down on first contact.

To be fair, I think all of us fans have known that he has not been able to break a tackle during his entire career.

 

[junglehusky]

Maybe I'm misremembering, but it seemed that LM's problems with contact were worse last year than the year before? And he got slightly better later in the year but not enough.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Maybe I'm misremembering, but it seemed that LM's problems with contact were worse last year than the year before? And he got slightly better later in the year but not enough.

I think he was just as bad last year as he was in 2011. Unfortunately last year the contact was coming after a 2 yard gain and in 2011 it was coming after a 4 yard gain.

 

[jackl]

I think he was just as bad last year as he was in 2011. Unfortunately last year the contact was coming after a 2 yard gain and in 2011 it was coming after a 4 yard gain.

He is small enough, quick enough to slip through holes that the line made for him. Unfortunately the only holes last year looked like the Sanchez Butt fumble. Of course the attrocious play selection may have played right into the opposing defenses.

 

[Palatine]

To be fair, I think all of us fans have known that he has not been able to break a tackle during his entire career.

Yes, but nobody in the press every talked about it, nor did they ever broach it with the coach.

 

[Pudge]

Lyle McCombs has a fundamental use in our offense. It's just unbelievable that we GAVE him this total workhouse role though. He's NOT at all like Donald Brown or Jordan Todman or Cornell Brockington or Terry Caulley ... who all had something special through the hole if they encountered a contact. Edsall had scads of backs that were good. We (under PP) used this guy LM for all everything. It's freaking unbelievable.

I want to see DeLorenzeo ... and Williams ... and Marriner ... and Hyppolite. We NEED to be a damn good run team.

 

[Kgun7]

I agree more with jackl than I do with Chin. LM is a "between the tackles" runner. He will not run through anyone and he will not outrun the secondary. But he will slash and slant his way to modest, steady positive yardage. Add in his excellent ball security and improvement in pass blocking and blitz protection. I am hoping improvements in the O-line and overall play calling will lead to improvements in the running game.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I agree more with jackl than I do with Chin. LM is a "between the tackles" runner. He will not run through anyone and he will not outrun the secondary. But he will slash and slant his way to modest, steady positive yardage. Add in his excellent ball security and improvement in pass blocking and blitz protection. I am hoping improvements in the O-line and overall play calling will lead to improvements in the running game.

I'm not sure about what you are disagreeing with me.
I don't consider McCombs a burner. I'm fully onboard with the tween the tackles style. But he doesn't break tackles and he doesn't fall forward to get that final yard.

 

[Kgun7]

I'm not sure about what you are disagreeing with me.
I don't consider McCombs a burner. I'm fully onboard with the tween the tackles style. But he doesn't break tackles and he doesn't fall forward to get that final yard.

I guess in my mind, I don't expect him to break tackles because I don't view him as that type of runner ... I should have chosen different words. I think we both agree that he has an inside runner's mentality that doesn't break tackles. But I think he maximizes what his line gives him.

 

[CL82]

I agree more with jackl than I do with Chin. LM is a "between the tackles" runner. He will not run through anyone and he will not outrun the secondary. But he will slash and slant his way to modest, steady positive yardage. Add in his excellent ball security and improvement in pass blocking and blitz protection. I am hoping improvements in the O-line and overall play calling will lead to improvements in the running game.

Disagree with MCombs as a between the tackles kind of runner. He needs to get up a head of steam to be effective. JMHO.

 

[huskymedic]

Disagree with MCombs as a between the tackles kind of runner. He needs to get up a head of steam to be effective. JMHO.

Needs not to freelance as well it seems... “The thing he has to do is stay within the structure of the play and not do too much,” Pasqualoni said. “He’s playing within the structure of the run and making the right cuts right now and taking what you can get".

 

[Nostical]

I'm a believer LM will excel this year in the TJW offense. He was misused last year. I see him near the top of the AAC in rushing.

 

[uconndogs]

Lyle McCombs has a fundamental use in our offense. It's just unbelievable that we GAVE him this total workhouse role though. He's NOT at all like Donald Brown or Jordan Todman or Cornell Brockington or Terry Caulley ... who all had something special through the hole if they encountered a contact. Edsall had scads of backs that were good. We (under PP) used this guy LM for all everything. It's freaking unbelievable.

I want to see DeLorenzeo ... and Williams ... and Marriner ... and Hyppolite. We NEED to be a damn good run team.

BANG! Hammer hitting the head of 'n nail!

 

[UconnFamily]

I've been saying this for two years and suddenly today the press notices. LM hasn't broken a tackle in his career (maybe a coupe) and he always goes down on first contact.

Same here, almost everyone on this board was talking when I kept saying he drops on first contact.

 

[UconnFamily]

He is small enough, quick enough to slip through holes that the line made for him. Unfortunately the only holes last year looked like the Sanchez Butt fumble. Of course the attrocious play selection may have played right into the opposing defenses.

I agree about the line making a whole for McCombs, but RB's are suppose to make plays and make things happen if nothing is there. Even when McCombs had wholes he would get body slammed by a CB. But its a new season so hopefully he's worked on getting stronger.

 

[joey3$trike$]

To me Lyle should be the change of pace guy/3rd down back. But with this no-huddle up tempo offense, I think Lyle's way of running best suits it. Not to mention he's the best pass blocker of the bunch, the little we saw of the others rb's that is. He'll be fine, but hopefully the coaches stick to their word and give him some breaks during the game. I want to see more screens, I think he thrives on those plays.

 

[jbdphi]

McCombs has been the best at "seeing the hole" when it exists and made some decent cuts / slashes to exploit that hole. He doesn't have breakaway speed or acceleration and cannot break tackles so when that hole doesn't really exist, he's not going to be very good (Exhibit A: last year's performance).

As for Hyppolite, what else does someone need to see from the guy? He's had one good run his entire career on a pitch sweep (or whatever you call it) which, while beautiful, obscures the fact that the guy has averaged 1 yard per carry outside of that. He has not shown any ability to run between the tackles or find holes. Even throwing aside that a lot of his carries were meant for short yardage gains, one yard per carry?

Having never seen Williams and given his legal situation, I have to say my hope is that DeLorenzo will have a blow up game where he manages to break a few really good runs and earns some more playing time. I think with another year in him, he'll do a better job of seeing the hole and making cuts and he definitely has the ability to drag a guy a few yards while having surprisingly light feet. Reminds me of Toby Gerhart in terms of size, speed and feet.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I'll be pretty surprised if LM is the main ball carrier by midway through the season. Too small, slow and can't run through contact. I expect Max to supplant him as the number 1 back, but really think carries will be spread out much more this year, unless somebody really explodes. Josh could be that guy next year, with a little more weight.