There is a problem somewhere in the offense when it comes to communication, pace, and subsittutions. That became even more apparent when the Sheriff went out, and the Deputy came in. Based on the cumulative picture and product we've had now through 23 games, I can only conclude that a long term planning decision is the reason. I don't expect it to change much this season at this point, and the only thing that we can do, that I jokingly but seriously suggested in teh last game - was that Diaco really needs to assign somebody somewhere that will be heard - to watch the frigging play clock constantly and start acting like a maniac everytime it gets under 20 and get everybody's attention on the sideline and field and booth when it happens, and everybody is still standing around wondering what to do. That alone - that alarm on every down and every offensive series - will help things get better. maybe with an extra 15 practices or so (guesstimate) in December - we'll begin to address that. Until then, we're going to run into these issues with play clock running down, and substitution issues - I think.
Given everything that's been said by the diehards around here that were in attendance, the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty I think is a product of noise and environment rather than stupidity. Not acceptable to have that penalty - but understandable if that is correct, and something to easily learn from. Better to keep the QB reapped on his feet in that situation and either drive him out the back of the endzone or pick him up and carry him out as a gang of tacklers - if you don't hear a whistle rather than rip him to the ground. Same thing with a RB stopped in a standing scrum like that again or something anywhere on the field Bi - no whistle? Keep pushing them back on their feet until they go out the back of the endzone. No need to throw them to the ground when you've got it stopped like that. GEt low, legs under, pick em up and drive em back.
As for Bloom's hands. Stick um. Syrup, whatever it takes. LOL. He's just got to get more practice, and look the ball into his hands and make the catch before anything else.
We won the turnovers decisively on defense, and stuffed their run game in such fashion that it looked like we've been used to stopping the fullback dive on the triple option for a few seasons. THe offense has it's problems, but managed to move the ball enough to put the ball in the endzone, and put the kicking game in position to points on the board that we needed to win.
Great game. It's over though. We made far fewer errors in this game, than we've made in the past in all 3 phases - and we needed to do that, to win. They need to have a great week of practice again, and get ready for Temple.
We've got a real opportunity to make a statement type of game on Saturday. For now, I give thanks for Turkey day, for Bob Diaco, showing interest in coming to UCONN to be the head coach, and for Warde Manuel to look past certain things and take a risk on the hire, and for Diaco to demonstrate the learning from the education as a head coach he's had for 23 games - through 23 months on the job, thanks to the players for doing all they do in the program, to get to where they are - n the plus side of .500 at Thanksgiving for the first time in 5 years.
Am I satisfied? Not even close.
