Mel Kiper and Todd McShay: "How did UConn give up any points?"

[uconndogs]

There's no reason the team last year could not have run the ball better than it did. If the coaches had committed to do that the offense would have been much better off. It was never going to be a high powered offense, but it could have been a middle of the country type of offense with multiple RBs banging away. Had we done that, with the defense that was in place and the schedule it was an 8-9 win season.

It's only one example, but the wildcat was a complete and utter disaster. Meanwhile, Hypolite and Delorenzo ride the bench while we hand the ball off 20-25 times a game to a 150 LB RB. Defenses then know they have no running game to respect and send the house. Total disaster and 100% coaching.

 

[sdhusky]

In 2005, GDL held the postions of OL Coach and Run Game Coordinator at Ole Miss. That year they finished 118 out of 119 teams rushing for a paltry 806 yards at a 2.4 ypc clip.

These guys made their living riding Dick MacPherson's coattails.

1981 Syracuse 4–6–1

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1982 Syracuse 2–9

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1983 Syracuse 6–5

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1984 Syracuse 6–5

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1985 Syracuse 7–5 L Cherry

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1986 Syracuse 5–6

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1987 Syracuse 11–0–1 T Sugar

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1988 Syracuse 10–2 W Hall of Fame

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1989 Syracuse 8–4 W Peach

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1990 Syracuse 7–4–2 W Aloha

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Syracuse Orange (Big East) (1991–2004)
1991 Syracuse 10–2 5–0 ‡ W Hall of Fame

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1992 Syracuse 10–2 6–1 ‡ W Fiesta†

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1993 Syracuse 6–4–1 3–4 5th

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1994 Syracuse 7–4 4–3 T–3rd

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1995 Syracuse 9–3 5–2 3rd W Gator

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1996 Syracuse 9–3 6–1 T–1st W Liberty

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1997 Syracuse 9–4 6–1 1st L Fiesta†

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1998 Syracuse 8–4 6–1 1st L Orange†

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1999 Syracuse 7–5 3–4 T–3rd W Music City

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2000 Syracuse 6–5 4–3 T–3rd

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2001 Syracuse 10–3 6–1 2nd W Insight.com

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2002 Syracuse 4–8 2–5 T–6th

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2003 Syracuse 6–6 2–5 T–6th

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2004 Syracuse 6–6 4–2 T–1st L Champs Sports

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[sportsart]

It is simply amazing the defense of GDL in this thread. If he was such a genius at implementing a pro blocking scheme he'd be an OC in the NFL.

His biggest mistake was trying to implement a system that few college teams use with huge success, especially right out of the gate.

A good coach evaluates the talent and then implements a system focusing on their strengths.

He did not have the talent to implement a very complicated system. He decided not to bring it in slowly and p*ssed off most of the OL who just lost their position coach they would take a bullet for.

If Foley was the OL coach I find it hard to believe the UConn power blocking style does not work. We run better and then we pass better.

If he ever had people skills he apparently lost them. Most coaches can be dicks but they also know everybody is motivated differently.

 

[uconndogs]

dead on imo

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

It is simply amazing the defense of GDL in this thread. If he was such a genius at implementing a pro blocking scheme he'd be an OC in the NFL.

His biggest mistake was trying to implement a system that few college teams use with huge success, especially right out of the gate.

A good coach evaluates the talent and then implements a system focusing on their strengths.

He did not have the talent to implement a very complicated system. He decided not to bring it in slowly and p*ssed off most of the OL who just lost their position coach they would take a bullet for.

If Foley was the OL coach I find it hard to believe the UConn power blocking style does not work. We run better and then we pass better.

If he ever had people skills he apparently lost them. Most coaches can be dicks but they also know everybody is motivated differently.

You make an interesting point but I don't think you've proven it.

1. "If GDL is such a genius at such and such, he'd be successful in the NFL." Like Nick Saban was? College != Pros. One could be a successful coach in the NCAA's without having the ability to transfer it to the NFL.

2. "Few college teams use zone blocking scheme, as it's too complicated." From what I can tell, zone blocking is definitely used by some major universities. Not sure if Syracuse used it when GDL was successful (this actually happened, btw). Minnesota, Michigan, and Iowa use it. Also, have you heard of this school, Alabama? According to this article on Grantland, the scholars down in Tuscaloosa have figured it out, but maybe it's a little too advanced for UConn players.

3. "UConn does better with power blocking." Maybe, but you haven't shown it. You could've just as easily shown that an OL with Zach Hurd, Will Beatty, and Adam Masters is better than one without them. Which I suspect is probably true.

Again, I'm not saying GDL is the greatest OC ever. I'm just challenging the conventional Boneyard Knowledge that our offensive problems are strictly scheme and we have all kinds of offensive talent that's gone to waste.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

You make an interesting point but I don't think you've proven it.

1. "If GDL is such a genius at such and such, he'd be successful in the NFL." Like Nick Saban was? College != Pros. One could be a successful coach in the NCAA's without having the ability to transfer it to the NFL.

2. "Few college teams use zone blocking scheme, as it's too complicated." From what I can tell, zone blocking is definitely used by some major universities. Not sure if Syracuse used it when GDL was successful (this actually happened, btw). Minnesota, Michigan, and Iowa use it. Also, have you heard of this school, Alabama? According to this article on Grantland, the scholars down in Tuscaloosa have figured it out, but maybe it's a little too advanced for UConn players.

3. "UConn does better with power blocking." Maybe, but you haven't shown it. You could've just as easily shown that an OL with Zach Hurd, Will Beatty, and Adam Masters is better than one without them. Which I suspect is probably true.

Again, I'm not saying GDL is the greatest OC ever. I'm just challenging the conventional Boneyard Knowledge that our offensive problems are strictly scheme and we have all kinds of offensive talent that's gone to waste.

Part of the problem is that you're asking for proof of something that can't necessarily be proven one way or the other.

Do I think we had talent issues on offense (OL in particular) that date back to the previous regime? Yes I do.

Do I think GDL is an unmitigated disaster of OC/OL coach based on his most recent track record? Yes I do.

But how do either of us "prove" our points? This is not a crime scene on CSI for . Sometimes, all it takes is for you to watch something with your own 2 eyes.

 

[IMind]

Part of the problem is that you're asking for proof of something that can't necessarily be proven one way or the other.

Do I think we had talent issues on offense (OL in particular) that date back to the previous regime? Yes I do.

Do I think GDL is an unmitigated disaster of OC/OL coach based on his most recent track record? Yes I do.

But how do either of us "prove" our points? This is not a crime scene on CSI for . Sometimes, all it takes is for you to watch something with your own 2 eyes.

I disagree with the OL talent issue... but you're right about the lack of evidence. I think we have lost some depth on the offensive line and injuries plagued us... but Foley has had excellent OLs since he came here in 2006 and before that excellent OLs at Colgate. I mean we went from 22nd in the country in sacks allowed to 113th last year and 98th this year. It's hard to believe that the talent we brought in suddenly became that much worse. I honestly think about the only two positions the prior regime didn't excel at developing were at WR and QB. We've had OLs all over NFL camp rosters over the last few years and Donald Thomas and Will Beatty didn't just come from blind luck.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

Part of the problem is that you're asking for proof of something that can't necessarily be proven one way or the other.

Do I think we had talent issues on offense (OL in particular) that date back to the previous regime? Yes I do.

Do I think GDL is an unmitigated disaster of OC/OL coach based on his most recent track record? Yes I do.

But how do either of us "prove" our points? This is not a crime scene on CSI for . Sometimes, all it takes is for you to watch something with your own 2 eyes.

Fair enough. That's kind of my point. You can't prove it. Which is fine. But the problem is that the Boneyard Mob basically says that anybody who disagrees is an idiot. I have said countless times that I don't think GDL is a great OC, but people act like I'm some kind of idiot because I also think we have some glaring offensive talent issues, and that Desmond Conner and John Silver are moronic hacks because they don't repeat the same "It's all GDL" nonsense.

I'm just saying that it's okay to take a nuanced view of things. I don't think everything is as black and white as everybody pretends it is.

 

[DOZE860]

...we had no running game

 

[jbdphi]

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=8990504

They are very high on Sio Moore and Trevardo Williams.
Then mentioned Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Dwayne Gratz, and even said "...and Kendall Reyes had a really good rookie year for the Chargers last year."

No need to go looking for it. They just mentioned Trevardo's speed, Sio's athleticism, the 2 backs and Reyes, and ended it with, "How did UConn give up any points?" McShay, "I don't know, great question."

A couple of points going back to the original premise. I know most people understand this, but there is this thing called hyperbole. Announcers use it a lot to make or stress a point. It doesn't mean something on a straight literal sense. Instead of asking how we gave up any points, it would have been a lot better if someone had said "You know, UConn had a legit Top 20 defense in all of college football last year and these four guys we're seeing here today are some of the biggest reasons."

Secondly, with respect to the time of possession arguments earlier in this thread, I know I'm making a mistake by trying to make a point with facts, but UConn was actually in the top half of the league in terms of TOP with almost 31 minutes. The top team in the country was Rice with almost 34 minutes. There may have been certain games where our defense was on the field more than usual but on average, that was definitely not the case. Our defense was very good but they weren't perfect - anyone who expects perfection (that isn't an Alabama fan) will always end up being disappointed.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Fair enough. That's kind of my point. You can't prove it. Which is fine. But the problem is that the Boneyard Mob basically says that anybody who disagrees is an idiot. I have said countless times that I don't think GDL is a great OC, but people act like I'm some kind of idiot because I also think we have some glaring offensive talent issues, and that Desmond Conner and John Silver are moronic hacks because they don't repeat the same "It's all GDL" nonsense.

I'm just saying that it's okay to take a nuanced view of things. I don't think everything is as black and white as everybody pretends it is.

Guy, it's an Internet message board. People are going to express opinions. Some you may agree with, others you may not.

My opinion is that GDL sucks hard and we had a drop off in talent. I've expressed this in the past, and I think you and I agree.

 

[sportsart]

You make an interesting point but I don't think you've proven it.

1. "If GDL is such a genius at such and such, he'd be successful in the NFL." Like Nick Saban was? College != Pros. One could be a successful coach in the NCAA's without having the ability to transfer it to the NFL.

2. "Few college teams use zone blocking scheme, as it's too complicated." From what I can tell, zone blocking is definitely used by some major universities. Not sure if Syracuse used it when GDL was successful (this actually happened, btw). Minnesota, Michigan, and Iowa use it. Also, have you heard of this school, Alabama? According to this article on Grantland, the scholars down in Tuscaloosa have figured it out, but maybe it's a little too advanced for UConn players.

3. "UConn does better with power blocking." Maybe, but you haven't shown it. You could've just as easily shown that an OL with Zach Hurd, Will Beatty, and Adam Masters is better than one without them. Which I suspect is probably true.

Again, I'm not saying GDL is the greatest OC ever. I'm just challenging the conventional Boneyard Knowledge that our offensive problems are strictly scheme and we have all kinds of offensive talent that's gone to waste.

Why I even respond to this I'll never know.

Michigan ran a spread with Denard Robinson for 3-4 years and are now going back to pro style for 2013.

Minnesota? Really?

You talk about Alabama and their run zone blocking. But then you say maybe it's too advanced for our players. (which is what I said)

I'm not qualified to know but I believe our pass protection had a zone blocking element to it as well. Not good. He complicated something Foley knew how to make shine with the talent he had. Not perfect but certainly better.

Maybe you are unaware of our success running the ball very well during the Edsall era. While there may have been a bad year running the ball it doesn't stand out in my mind.

When you lack talent the way to make up for it is through strength and conditioning (our combine results over the years has been terrific). Our OL, through the years before GDL, would wear down opponents and by the 4th quarter the other team was gassed.

When GDL came that stopped. Figure it out. Wrong scheme for the wrong caliber of player.

That makes him a bad coach. He's stubborn, slow to change and to quote people who know better than me, he's a pr*ck.

I still hold out hope he is in the NFL by August.

 

[ZooCougar]

What's good Irish Loop? Surely not your defense of Deleone and the offensive scheme. Getting sensitive again doesn't work very well here or in the papers.

It's time for a hanging.

 

[concerned143]

These are Randy's guys. His crew recruited some great defensive players and developed them as we'll. lets see if PP is as successful

 

[Palatine]

These are Randy's guys. His crew recruited some great defensive players and developed them as we'll. lets see if PP is as successful

PP certainly deserves credit for player development. Blidi gave PP and his coaches a lot of credit for his development.

 

[Husky25]

PP certainly deserves credit for player development. Blidi gave PP and his coaches a lot of credit for his development.

In my opinion, it's not Coach Pasqualoni's job to develop individual talent. That is the job of the position coaches. His job is to put the individuals together for the greater good of team success. Perhaps that's the problem. Pasqualoni is not fulfilling the roll he was hired to perform!!!

To be honest Pal, I'm surprised you are a football fan. It's pretty Socialist game, when you stop and think about it.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

That's the point, with that defense and schedule we didn't need an explosive and talented offense. We simply needed a competent running game to set up some play action. Instead, we had all this craziness with the wildcat, zone blocking schemes, a tiny workhorse RB and a complete inability to move the ball. GDL was incompetent and the fact that he is still the OL coach scares me to death,

And there's the blueprint for history to keep repeating itself. Until UConn has an offense that can put up thirty on any given game day this mediocrity is not going away. You can't lose at home by 12-10 (vs UNC in '09) or 10-7 (vs NC State last year) and continue to believe that the whole "defenses win championships" thing is gonna work at UConn. Things turn around only when the offense turns around. The rest is just off season bar room drowning of sorrows til another 5-7 season is in the books. Defenses may win championships but exciting offenses put fans in the stands, viewers in front of their televisions and . . . better caliber playmakers in the UConn recruiting fold.

 

[B1GEast]

When GDL came that stopped. Figure it out. Wrong scheme for the wrong caliber of player.

That makes him a bad coach. He's stubborn, slow to change and to quote people who know better than me, he's a pr*ck.

I still hold out hope he is in the NFL by August.

I don't know who's more stubborn, GDL for continuing to run that offense or coach p for allowing GDL to keep running that offense.