My Random thoughts...

[coachcap]

1. Play clock mismanagement-I am getting sick of constantly screaming "Snap the damned ball!" as the play clock winds down to zero. It is readily apparent that: the play calls are shuttled in too slowly & that Sherriffs doesn't glance at the clock often enough.
2. As has been stated in numerous threads over the last 13 hours, the actual play selection on the final play was abysmal. Before Diaco called that timeout. Sherriffs was in shotgun position. This would have allowed 3 options: handoff to Johnson, Sherriffs running the ball, or a pass play. Diaco calls timeout & calls Sherriffs under center & handoff to Johnson. Stunning. The only logic I can put on that call was that it worked on Johnson's previous touchdown & that Diaco wanted to instill confidence in the o-line, akin to Edsall going for the 4th & 1 on his own 20 in the Pitt game during the Fiesta Bowl year. In this case it backfired big time.
3. Let me offer similarities to the coaching staff funneling in plays from the side line: Keystone Kops, Chinese Fire Drill. Unless you are fans of the team on the opposite sideline, only the latter two offer comedic relief.-David Benedict PLEASE take notice & do something about it.
4. When Navy scored their final touchdown, about 20 seconds ran off the game clock while the officials untangled the pile before signaling the score. Joe D. even alluded to this when I heard the replay of his play call post game. Since a score results in an automatic timeout on the field, why weren't those 20 or so seconds restored to the game clock?
4. Listening to WTIC this week will be interesting: I fully expect Gresh to go off on Diaco, calling the timeout, & the play call for the last play. Joe D. may or may not softtone it. How will he handle the Coach's Show on Thursday? Will he ask the hardball questions that the fans want answers to or will he lob softballs in Diaco's direction? Will the show be broadcast from Geno's with audience participation, or will Diaco go in to bunker mode & insist that this week's show be broadcast from the Burton Complex & pretaped for editing purposes?

 

[noeynox]

I was too emotional yesterday after that loss. Its 1 loss and Diaco has earned himself a few mulligans. I apologize for my overreaction to the board.

However when people get really pissed at coaches is when they dont admit they were wrong publicly and when members of the media act as apologists and belittle fans for their displeasure.

All we can hope for is the coach learns and the kids werent devestated to the point they come out totally flat next week vs Virginia.

They need to have a canned play they can go to in end of play clock situations. Every single game this is an issue. God we are the absolute worst at getting plays in.

 

[JSM1970]

Joe D is awful, he'll never criticize a coach under any scenario. That's why he's a play by play guy doing college and doesn't have a bigger gig.

 

[Jarhead_1775]

As mad as I was and to a large extent still am, it was only one game. To give it away like that is just no mind numbingly stupid. We are our own very unique community here though. The vast majority of fans of this team will get over it much more quickly than we will. We definitely don't represent the "norm". The writers know that. I'm sure the administration is at least aware of our existence.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Upon review the team played well, very well in the second half. The last drive by BS was brilliant.

HCBD is getting a great effort by the team, but he needs to address that at crunch time proper fb decisions have to be made instantly. Don't know if its the OC, playcaller, or him that freaks out, but we have seen this before and it needs to be solved.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

If BD and staff learn from this it will ultimately be a small but necessary price paid to get wherever want to be (BD isn't the first young head coach who early in his career had a few things to learn. That list includes many hall of fame coaches, many who never accomplished much of anything and everything in between.

There was a thread somewhere with posters complaining that we hired Diaco when Hermann was an assistant at OSU. Imagine how the boneyard would have blown up if we had hired Hermann, Hermann started building a top team and then lost an undefeated season by losing to a clearly less talents Diaco coached team.

 

[noeynox]

If BD and staff learn from this it will ultimately be a small but necessary price paid to get wherever want to be (BD isn't the first young head coach who early in his career had a few things to learn. That list includes many hall of fame coaches, many who never accomplished much of anything and everything in between.

There was a thread somewhere with posters complaining that we hired Diaco when Hermann was an assistant at OSU. Imagine how the boneyard would have blown up if we had hired Hermann, Hermann started building a top team and then lost an undefeated season by losing to a clearly less talents Diaco coached team.

My only issue is Houston wasnt a "top" team. They fired their coach for going 8-4 or 7-5. That is not a top team. Herman has made them s top 10 witj agressive style offensive coaching.

 

[Sky ball]

Upon review the team played well, very well in the second half. The last drive by BS was brilliant.

HCBD is getting a great effort by the team, but he needs to address that at crunch time proper fb decisions have to be made instantly. Don't know if its the OC, playcaller, or him that freaks out, but we have seen this before and it needs to be solved.

I think HCBD panics in these situations and his head is

Maybe he is a slow, methodical thinker. This works well in day to day management of the program but in last min game situations, clock management and getting plays in on time you need a quick thinker. Maybe he just can't comprehend what to do in a fast moving environment.

In self defense scenarios they always talk about Flight or Fight. The third one not mentioned too much is Freeze. Maybe he freezes when things get hectic?

 

[06029]

If BD and staff learn from this it will ultimately be a small but necessary price paid to get wherever want to be (BD isn't the first young head coach who early in his career had a few things to learn. That list includes many hall of fame coaches, many who never accomplished much of anything and everything in between.

There was a thread somewhere with posters complaining that we hired Diaco when Hermann was an assistant at OSU. Imagine how the boneyard would have blown up if we had hired Hermann, Hermann started building a top team and then lost an undefeated season by losing to a clearly less talents Diaco coached team.

Learning was year 1. Getting better should have been year 2. Year 3 and making mistakes that you made in year 1, not acceptable. I don't have the stomach or masochistic need to do it, but if you add up all the wasted seconds in just the fourth quarter getting plays called and the ball snapped, it will boggle your mind.

This still all comes down to his philosophy to shorten the game, limit mistakes (don't call a pass play with 17 seconds because it might get picked off) and be in a position to win at th end. It worked against Maine and almost worked yesterday but the margin for error with this philosophy is very small. And he makes lots of errors.

 

[Confident Carl]

1. Play clock mismanagement-I am getting sick of constantly screaming "Snap the damned ball!" as the play clock winds down to zero. It is readily apparent that: the play calls are shuttled in too slowly & that Sherriffs doesn't glance at the clock often enough.
2. As has been stated in numerous threads over the last 13 hours, the actual play selection on the final play was abysmal. Before Diaco called that timeout. Sherriffs was in shotgun position. This would have allowed 3 options: handoff to Johnson, Sherriffs running the ball, or a pass play. Diaco calls timeout & calls Sherriffs under center & handoff to Johnson. Stunning. The only logic I can put on that call was that it worked on Johnson's previous touchdown & that Diaco wanted to instill confidence in the o-line, akin to Edsall going for the 4th & 1 on his own 20 in the Pitt game during the Fiesta Bowl year. In this case it backfired big time.
3. Let me offer similarities to the coaching staff funneling in plays from the side line: Keystone Kops, Chinese Fire Drill. Unless you are fans of the team on the opposite sideline, only the latter two offer comedic relief.-David Benedict PLEASE take notice & do something about it.
4. When Navy scored their final touchdown, about 20 seconds ran off the game clock while the officials untangled the pile before signaling the score. Joe D. even alluded to this when I heard the replay of his play call post game. Since a score results in an automatic timeout on the field, why weren't those 20 or so seconds restored to the game clock?
4. Listening to WTIC this week will be interesting: I fully expect Gresh to go off on Diaco, calling the timeout, & the play call for the last play. Joe D. may or may not softtone it. How will he handle the Coach's Show on Thursday? Will he ask the hardball questions that the fans want answers to or will he lob softballs in Diaco's direction? Will the show be broadcast from Geno's with audience participation, or will Diaco go in to bunker mode & insist that this week's show be broadcast from the Burton Complex & pretaped for editing purposes?

Coach Cap

You have been rightly critical of the play calling and time management from day one. While admittedly I have turned a blind eye to some of Diaco's now glaring short comings. I just want to let you know that I appreciate your rather astute objective recognition of areas that Diaco has to clean up immediately or despite some of his excellent gifts, he will either end up as a D coordinator or coaching at the FCS level. We all either make it or break it in life by the decisions we make and in this case Diaco will have to prove to UCONN nation that he has the ability to admit , correct and grow from his mistakes. I think I felt worse after yesterday's game (we had a group of 35 family and friends ) than I did after the Army loss at Yankee stadium. The wound is still open and it will take me some time to get over this one.

 

[coachcap]

Coach Cap

You have been rightly critical of the play calling and time management from day one. While admittedly I have turned a blind eye to some of Diaco's now glaring short comings. I just want to let you know that I appreciate your rather astute objective recognition of areas that Diaco has to clean up immediately or despite some of his excellent gifts, he will either end up as a D coordinator or coaching at the FCS level. We all either make it or break it in life by the decisions we make and in this case Diaco will have to prove to UCONN nation that he has the ability to admit , correct and grow from his mistakes. I think I felt worse after yesterday's game (we had a group of 35 family and friends ) than I did after the Army loss at Yankee stadium. The wound is still open and it will take me some time to get over this one.

Carl, Thanks for the kind words. I want Coach Diaco to succeed in leading UConn football. He is a breath of fresh air compared to the previous regime & has resuscitated the program in many areas. BUT, he needs to recognize those areas where he has fallen short (no pun intended) & correct them. It is agonizing to sit in the stands at home games or watch on tv from home during road games & see the same mistakes being made in year 3 of the regime as were made in year 1.

 

[junglehusky]

Things IDGAF about - which take Gresh has on the game.

 

[Devland]

1. Play clock mismanagement-I am getting sick of constantly screaming "Snap the damned ball!" as the play clock winds down to zero. It is readily apparent that: the play calls are shuttled in too slowly & that Sherriffs doesn't glance at the clock often enough.
2. As has been stated in numerous threads over the last 13 hours, the actual play selection on the final play was abysmal. Before Diaco called that timeout. Sherriffs was in shotgun position. This would have allowed 3 options: handoff to Johnson, Sherriffs running the ball, or a pass play. Diaco calls timeout & calls Sherriffs under center & handoff to Johnson. Stunning. The only logic I can put on that call was that it worked on Johnson's previous touchdown & that Diaco wanted to instill confidence in the o-line, akin to Edsall going for the 4th & 1 on his own 20 in the Pitt game during the Fiesta Bowl year. In this case it backfired big time.
3. Let me offer similarities to the coaching staff funneling in plays from the side line: Keystone Kops, Chinese Fire Drill. Unless you are fans of the team on the opposite sideline, only the latter two offer comedic relief.-David Benedict PLEASE take notice & do something about it.
4. When Navy scored their final touchdown, about 20 seconds ran off the game clock while the officials untangled the pile before signaling the score. Joe D. even alluded to this when I heard the replay of his play call post game. Since a score results in an automatic timeout on the field, why weren't those 20 or so seconds restored to the game clock?
4. Listening to WTIC this week will be interesting: I fully expect Gresh to go off on Diaco, calling the timeout, & the play call for the last play. Joe D. may or may not softtone it. How will he handle the Coach's Show on Thursday? Will he ask the hardball questions that the fans want answers to or will he lob softballs in Diaco's direction? Will the show be broadcast from Geno's with audience participation, or will Diaco go in to bunker mode & insist that this week's show be broadcast from the Burton Complex & pretaped for editing purposes?

There were two instances on that Navy touchdown drive where time ran off and was never restored. The one you alluded to. It also happened on the play where Navy's touchdown was nullified because they called time out before the play started. I was yelling at the TV telling them they needed to put time back on the clock.

 

[Confident Carl]

Carl, Thanks for the kind words. I want Coach Diaco to succeed in leading UConn football. He is a breath of fresh air compared to the previous regime & has resuscitated the program in many areas. BUT, he needs to recognize those areas where he has fallen short (no pun intended) & correct them. It is agonizing to sit in the stands at home games or watch on tv from home during road games & see the same mistakes being made in year 3 of the regime as were made in year 1.

Like water boarding or the bamboo fingernail treatment agonizing!

 

[JSM1970]

Another random thought, why isn't anyone talking about how much the punter blows

 

[Stainmaster]

Another random thought, why isn't anyone talking about how much the punter blows

Because a) the punter doesn't blow and b) most normal human beings don't get off on putting undue criticism on college students like you do.

 

[huskymedic]

Another random thought, why isn't anyone talking about how much the punter blows

His last punt out of the back of the endzone into the wind left a bit to be desired but he ranks 45th in country after yesterday w/ 41.4 yds/punt?

Season - 9 punts >> 1 Touchback, 3 Fair catches, 4 Inside 20. Long of 51.

 

[Confident Carl]

Another random thought, why isn't anyone talking about how much the punter blows

Justin is an asset and NOT a liability.

 

[JSM1970]

It was a 34 yard punted returned 18 yards or something. If you are going have an awful punt why has it returnable

Even Diaco made a comment about it

Justin is an asset and NOT a liability.

 

[Confident Carl]

It was a 34 yard punted returned 18 yards or something. If you are going have an awful punt why has it returnable

Even Diaco made a comment about it

So he had one less than perfect punt. Read Medics stats. Your comment that the punter blows was based on one punt and I disagree with that. Besides, considering how the game ended, not fair to hang the punter. Based on how our offense has performed, we will need hm a lot this year.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I'm seldom at a loss of words.

This game has me speechless.

 

[hardcorehusky]

Wain is not one of the better punters we have had, but we have been spoiled by some really good punters in our time. A big punt in a key situation is what we needed and Wain has to hit that one 38 yards into the wind and high enough for a fair catch.

 

[Tdaley]

I continue to be amused by the many boneyarders who want Diaco to admit he screwed up. Its not going to happen. Our buddy Jim Calhoun never admitted to any mistake and further often intimated that it the stupidity of the media for not understanding that an apparent dumb move by JC was actually a brilliant one. Diaco is a defensive minded coach who still struggles with both offensive strategy and game management. This isn't all that unusual for a young ,defensive and conservative type coach even though it can be very frustrating to the fans. Not throwing at least once when Navy pin us down in our end of the field was his first mistake. Not hiking the ball immediately when we were in the shot formation and saving our last time-out arguably was also a mistake as well. Handing the ball off in a power formation and running behind the weaker run blocking part side of our line ( after you called a timeout) is one of the strangest calls that I have ever seen. Its only a good call if it works. Makes me wonder whether or not there is play that the team has practiced and the coaches feel comfortable running in that situation other than the power running play. Maybe its me, but if I going to lose the game its going to be with the ball in my best player's hands. Bryant Shirreffs should have been giving the chance to win the game with him throwing the ball or running with it. Diaco will have to learn and grow from this heart breaking loss. I know there are a lot of doubters but I do think he will. Going forward he has to recognize what kind of offensive team he has and adapt to it. We shouldn't get hung on what he says in press conferences but rather what his actions are in the future. Many here think he is too stubborn to change but I saw a better offensive called game overall than the Maine game. I am still guardedly optimistic.

 

[kemba]

I continue to be amused by the many boneyarders who want Diaco to admit he screwed up. Its not going to happen. Our buddy Jim Calhoun never admitted to any mistake and further often intimated that it the stupidity of the media for not understanding that an apparent dumb move by JC was actually a brilliant one. Diaco is a defensive minded coach who still struggles with both offensive strategy and game management. This isn't all that unusual for a young ,defensive and conservative type coach even though it can be very frustrating to the fans. Not throwing at least once when Navy pin us down in our end of the field was his first mistake. Not hiking the ball immediately when we were in the shot formation and saving our last time-out arguably was also a mistake as well. Handing the ball off in a power formation and running behind the weaker run blocking part side of our line ( after you called a timeout) is one of the strangest calls that I have ever seen. Its only a good call if it works. Makes me wonder whether or not there is play that the team has practiced and the coaches feel comfortable running in that situation other than the power running play. Maybe its me, but if I going to lose the game its going to be with the ball in my best player's hands. Bryant Shirreffs should have been giving the chance to win the game with him throwing the ball or running with it. Diaco will have to learn and grow from this heart breaking loss. I know there are a lot of doubters but I do think he will. Going forward he has to recognize what kind of offensive team he has and adapt to it. We shouldn't get hung on what he says in press conferences but rather what his actions are in the future. Many here think he is too stubborn to change but I saw a better offensive called game overall than the Maine game. I am still guardedly optimistic.

Eh, he already did take at least some responsibility in his comments, and I'd be surprised if he didn't admit fault a little more strongly next time he speaks to the media. He admitted he messed up the Missouri game last year.

 

[Stinger92860]

I continue to be amused by the many boneyarders who want Diaco to admit he screwed up. Its not going to happen. Our buddy Jim Calhoun never admitted to any mistake and further often intimated that it the stupidity of the media for not understanding that an apparent dumb move by JC was actually a brilliant one. Diaco is a defensive minded coach who still struggles with both offensive strategy and game management. This isn't all that unusual for a young ,defensive and conservative type coach even though it can be very frustrating to the fans. Not throwing at least once when Navy pin us down in our end of the field was his first mistake. Not hiking the ball immediately when we were in the shot formation and saving our last time-out arguably was also a mistake as well. Handing the ball off in a power formation and running behind the weaker run blocking part side of our line ( after you called a timeout) is one of the strangest calls that I have ever seen. Its only a good call if it works. Makes me wonder whether or not there is play that the team has practiced and the coaches feel comfortable running in that situation other than the power running play. Maybe its me, but if I going to lose the game its going to be with the ball in my best player's hands. Bryant Shirreffs should have been giving the chance to win the game with him throwing the ball or running with it. Diaco will have to learn and grow from this heart breaking loss. I know there are a lot of doubters but I do think he will. Going forward he has to recognize what kind of offensive team he has and adapt to it. We shouldn't get hung on what he says in press conferences but rather what his actions are in the future. Many here think he is too stubborn to change but I saw a better offensive called game overall than the Maine game. I am still guardedly optimistic.

Not true, Jim did admit to a up once.