Positives

[BlueDogs]

Disagree somewhat on this one. UCF's RBs regularly busted off big gains. Only when it was an obvious rushing down did UConn's D line make any tackles.

Could agree here. My thinking, however, is there was no run fill from LB positions. Line was not getting moved, but smaller personnel just not getting it done.

 

[JMick]

Pindell is deceptive...he glides along like Vick used to do....deceptively quick.

He looks like he is ambling along sometimes...his vision is so good, he is just waiting for a tackler to close so that he can shape shift and appear on the backside of the guy.

and he wasn't just shifty, he was strong. he was not going down easy.

 

[JMick]

Could agree here. My thinking, however, is there was no run fill from LB positions. Line was not getting moved, but smaller personnel just not getting it done.

we were -1 and -2 in the box all night. the D line would eat up the blockers but then we had one LB in the middle of the field and two safeties split. there was no one in the middle of the field to stop anyone. We're going to get spread out all the time in this league. We can't afford to get beat 1-1 in the open field near the LOS because when you don't make that tackle, there's no one around for 15-20 yards. the closing speed from DBs was better this year, though, so that's a plus

 

[BlueDogs]

we were -1 and -2 in the box all night. the D line would eat up the blockers but then we had one LB in the middle of the field and two safeties split. there was no one in the middle of the field to stop anyone. We're going to get spread out all the time in this league. We can't afford to get beat 1-1 in the open field near the LOS because when you don't make that tackle, there's no one around for 15-20 yards. the closing speed from DBs was better this year, though, so that's a plus

Sounds about right. I’d prefer, as you know, a more conventional personnel package.

 

[TheDoggPound]

Tarbutt kicked a great Field Goal, maybe his best in a UConn uniform. Would've been good from 55+

 

[JMick]

Sounds about right. I’d prefer, as you know, a more conventional personnel package.

there's just not a lot you can do when they're running a tight formation trips on the wide side of the field and another split out to the sideline on the short side. If you're running a 4 down front, your options are to leave them +1 for the bubble screen on the trips side or leave them +1 in the run game. Or you lose a safety and they run a fade on the short side.

If you leave them +1 on the trips side, you need a playmaker at DB/OLB to break through the blocks

If you leave them +1 in the box, you need a playmaker at MLB who can make the 1-on-1 tackle

If you get rid of the safety help over the top, you need a playmaker at corner that can guard the guy 1-on-1 down the field

We tried all of it last night. None of it worked. They either gashed us up the middle after the LB missed the tackle/got eaten up or they picked on Paul for a TD.

 

[BNich]

The good:

* Eye tests says the Team is better than last year.

*Pindell and receivers are very good.

* OLine is solid on pass protect. Need some work on run blocking.

* Running backs will find their groove.

* D line is credible on run stop.

The ugly:

Well, the ugly is ugly.

They gave up 8.2 YPC. That is PATHETIC. For the rest of the defense, McKenzie passed for a touchdown every 4.8 completions which equates to a TD every 6.4 pass attempts.

 

[BlueDogs]

They gave up 8.2 YPC. That is PATHETIC. For the rest of the defense, McKenzie passed for a touchdown every 4.8 completions which equates to a TD every 6.4 pass attempts.

D line stuffed the LOS...zero run stop support. They do need to learn to get off their blocker and make plays. Didn’t say they were great. I said they were holding their own and credible, not getting blown off the LOS. The D line is the best part of an abysmal D.

 

[TheDoggPound]

I thought physically Keyshawn Paul wasn't over matched, just extremely raw. Herring-Wilson has the athleticism to play at this level, there's no reason to believe those 2 won't get better