Looking ahead to Saturday (Merrimack Warriors)

[Husky92]

Let’s all agree that last Saturday was a great disappointment. There is no question about that. Many of you thought it could be ugly and it was. It was also arguably the best team we will play against this season AND our first game with a new DC, OC, QB, and half the starters. The potential was there for a really bad game, and it happened.

But the season is long.

So what do you need to see on Saturday against Merrimack to make you feel better about the state of the program?

For me, I need:

• A win. There is no excuse this week. At the very least we need to win this game. If we can look good while doing it, all the better. But that is not my priority.
• Competent QB play. Assuming Evers is ready to play, he needs to hit open receivers when available. He needs to look in control of the offense and not like he is fighting for his life. (This is also on the receivers to get open, o-line for protection, and OC for play calling, but I’ll focus on QB for now.)
• Run the ball. We should be able to run against Merrimack. Period.
• Tackle. It’s one thing if they are bigger, faster, and stronger than our guys, but Merrimack isn’t. Just tackle the ball carrier.
• No wide-open Warriors. I don’t care what defensive scheme we run, as long as we learn it and run it well. We’ve had way too many broken coverages over the years regardless of scheme. That needs to change.
• Good beer. This is the only one I can control, and even that is at the mercy of the Rent. Fortunately, the Rent has a wide variety of beer options!

What do you need to see on Saturday?

 

[giddyup]

W is a W. That being the case, if beating Merrimack is some form of redemption, we’ve really turned into a joke of a program. This year’s engineered schedule to manufacture 6 wins is already a pathetic exercise in self delusion.

 

[buddy]

Does anyone know if the game can be streamed? UConn + has audio only. Can WFSB be streamed?

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Does anyone know if the game can be streamed? UConn + has audio only. Can WFSB be streamed?

Never have accessed UConn games via WFSB’s own stream nor WFSB via Roku, but could be user error. Hopefully, someone with a clue shares helpful insights for those not close to CT.

 

[Palatine]

How about playing well.

That means the QB hitting open receivers. Receivers catching, not dropping the ball. Running backs running hard and making moves.

The defensive line getting pressure. The whole defense making (not missing) tackles. The DBs in the area when the ball goes up.

The punter kicking the ball to college standards. The FG kicker hitting from 40 yards. The punt return team not running into the punt returner.

Just normal football players making plays when they have the opportunity to make plays. Nothing special. Just playing well.

 

[goalline]

My 2 cents from the "old Guy". In reading all the post it seems like many think the coaching staff is not proficient. The athletes are not fast enough. It was not a great idea opening against a team like Maryland. Many starters were out because of injuries or targeting. In addition, a host of other thoughts on why UConn cannot field a competitive team. The majority seem to feel if this coming game is not a blow-out win, the season is toast. My ending thought and it is not an earthquake type one: If you have a ticket or planned on going to the game, I suggest you do so....If they lose or play poorly, then I think the message will be sent that UConn should either change the coaching staff or drop the sport... I love the school, and enjoy reading your comments. I am housebound and look forward to reading what you all have to say after next game...Thanks all...

 

[Tdaley]

How about a great day for tailgating? Weather report not the best as of now.

 

[Patman]

What I'm looking for.... 50-7 is hard to judge against but I expect all runners to get yards.

They went to the pass a lot... 2 picks... so I guess it's almost as bad as it could have been.

I expect turnovers in the air to make this closer than it should be. I expect more experimentation in the passing game to make things interesting. I expect an overreliance on the pass as sammis seeks to get those parts of the game established and an underreliance on proven running backs. However I expect everything to be far more often and I expect more than a couple of qb runs for first downs.

Defense will continue to frustrate. MC will find some holes. I think players should know their playing time will be based on tackling execution.

31-17 Connecticut.

Turnovers will make it closer. Lack of them makes it wider. I expect 2 picks

 

[LBird33]

Score more point than the other team.

 

[psilotic]

1. Discipline. No pre-snap, dead-ball or unsportsmanlike/targeting penalties.
2. Jet sweeps/bubble screens.
3. Dominate at LOS the way Maryland dominated Saturday.

 

[NCHuskie919]

Just from an optics perspective, I need UConn to score 31+ points and Merrimack to score less than 17.

 

[SwingDog]

It was not a great idea opening against a team like Maryland.

Agreed.

 

[jdb50]

UConn needs to bench players that do not tackle. It is a long running issue.

 

[REB1094]

In theory I’d like to say:

1. Put up points. 28-31+ points led by strong QB play
2. No missed tackles or blown defensive assignments. If you genuinely get beat then whatever, but just be in the play
3. Don’t know if it’ll be Evers or Fagnano but I want to see QB1 come out confident and lead successful early drives. Get some swagger back

But I’ll just say to win by 2 scores please!

 

[DoctorWho85]

Cam Edwards needs to be the focus of the offense. He's making plays from nothing

 

[ZOOCONN]

Cam Edwards needs to be the focus of the offense. He's making plays from nothing

Him and bell, I said on another thread, they need to run the offense through those two, they are dynamic playmakers. That will take the pressure off of Evers as well

 

[giddyup]

My 2 cents from the "old Guy". In reading all the post it seems like many think the coaching staff is not proficient. The athletes are not fast enough. It was not a great idea opening against a team like Maryland. Many starters were out because of injuries or targeting. In addition, a host of other thoughts on why UConn cannot field a competitive team. The majority seem to feel if this coming game is not a blow-out win, the season is toast. My ending thought and it is not an earthquake type one: If you have a ticket or planned on going to the game, I suggest you do so....If they lose or play poorly, then I think the message will be sent that UConn should either change the coaching staff or drop the sport... I love the school, and enjoy reading your comments. I am housebound and look forward to reading what you all have to say after next game...Thanks all...

We should arrange to get you to a game, if you’re interested.

 

[Greedo]

UConn needs to bench players that do not tackle. It is a long running issue.

Linebackers just diving with a shoulder going into the ball carrier needs to stop. It’s embarrassing. Wrap up on the tackle or next man up.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Does anyone know if the game can be streamed? UConn + has audio only. Can WFSB be streamed?

are they really just doing audio on UConn +?

 

[ZOOCONN]

Linebackers just diving with a shoulder going into the ball carrier needs to stop. It’s embarrassing. Wrap up on the tackle or next man up.

Line backing corp actually didn’t do that very often, the DBs on the other hand…

 

[DoctorWho85]

Him and bell, I said on another thread, they need to run the offense through those two, they are dynamic playmakers. That will take the pressure off of Evers as well

For sure. They are going to be a run heavy offense because of Sammis's background with the oline and it showed that they can make plays in the run game even when the box was stacked. Like you said, I think that would make play action much more effective for Evers. They don't have to be tossing bombs every play. They have talent at receiver. Get them the ball in space and let them make plays too.

 

[businesslawyer]

Cam Edwards needs to be the focus of the offense. He's making plays from nothing

The most frustrating part of the blow out loss is I’m not sure Maryland could have stopped Edwards, Rosa and Robinson from running the ball consistently until Maryland overplayed the run. But since we never were willing to just try to shove the ball down their throats, we’ll never know.

 

[goalline]

We should arrange to get you to a game, if you’re interested.

Thank You....I would love that but driving tough for me at 85. I was a season ticket holder back a few years ago. I think Mora should play the Jim Valvano speech he gave to the ESPY award dinner. It is on youtube and I watch it often.. He is dying with cancer when he gave it and his message was "Never give up"! UConn football needs to hear that message.

 

[GoConn]

just WIN BABY

 

[RSTuthill]

The bar for the offense should be 600 yards in my opinion. No clue where it should be for the D. Something less.