Random OL Thoughts from TJW/Player Presser.

[RedSoloCup]

Wonder what Elsberry would consider a real (football) disaster?

I really, really, really hope Foley makes the unnamed guy who buried him to theuonnblog eat his words. And I hope the linemen understand that they don't have any excuses now

I would like Coach Foley to prove that wrong, and then I would like to find out who it was at the end of the season, when they were canned.

good rye whiskey tonight has me posting twice I the same thread.... I feel like Carl!

 

[sportsart]

I think one poster said it went something like this...Forget everything you were taught under GDL. Meeting over.

Actually it was.......Foley busted into the room and said "we are going back to what made the UConn line successful in the past".

 

[Chin Diesel]

From Dez update:

"It's back to being a physical line," Greene said. "Enough of this, that and the other – line up and play football and beat the guy across from you. Be physical, open holes. It's not a math equation. If you're physical, regardless of whether you're doing the right thing or not something good will happen and I think that's the biggest thing we're trying to get back to, come off the ball and play football."

Fans are much more forgiving of mistakes made from aggression than they are of mistakes made from overthinking.

I'm amazed Des actually put quotes in the paper critical of his buddies.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Wonder what Elsberry would consider a real (football) disaster?

I really, really, really hope Foley makes the unnamed guy who buried him to theuonnblog eat his words. And I hope the linemen understand that they don't have any excuses now

One of the things that ticked me off about that quote in the uconnblog was that the writer gave the coward coverage by not outting him.

When a source makes a statement that incomprehensible the responsible thing is to ask for clarification or ask if they want to retract it. But if they reiterate the stupidity they need to be named.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

This is (almost entirely) great news! One critical thing about blocking is that is starts with putting a body on a body. This is something that GDL seemed to lose sight of. I heard the disgust and outrage from a few parents over the past year plus on how difficult (to put it nicely) GDL was making their sons' football lives and how incomprehensible it was that Foley was moved from OL coach. I imagine that many (including some who have since graduated) are thrilled that Mr Foley is again in charge of our offensive line.

One concern I do have (although I do fully agree that the move is the best choice under the circumstances) is that our QB coach (Day) will not be on the sidelines for the USF game. Hopefully he can provide any needed instruction to our true freshman QB (seeing his first collegiate action) over the headset but there very well be moments where face to face would be far more beneficial to Boyle.

All in all we are in a better position now than we were ten days ago.

 

[sdhusky]

It's tough to argue with Steve Greene. Our O-Line went from years of rainbows, rushing titles and Bowl games with Foley to years of dank, dark and dismal with GDL. Coach Foley is back--enthusiastically so---and the O line will respond on Saturday with a vengeance. No more shackles--they are free at last!

One other thing - out TEs have played well this year and last.

The man can coach

 

[Jimdish255]

I'm amazed Des actually put quotes in the paper critical of his buddies.

They can't make it rain anymore.

 

[Kgun7]

The amazing thing about that anonymous quote is: He admits the OL is terrible ... but doesn't think another coach could improve on terrible? WHAT DOES FOLEY HAVE TO LOSE????

"We were terrible up front, but the perception out there that Mike Foley would have done a better job with that group is naive..."

 

[UConn Dan]

the fact that you have quoted the theme song of "Who's the Boss?" in your signature line........

You're the first person to pick up on this (or at least comment). You win!

 

[huskymedic]

JohnFSilver 12:10pm via Web
Looking at UConn OL recruiting over years. Problems with depth go way back, 09, 10, 11 classes struggling. 12, 13 too soon to play.

JohnFSilver 12:15pm via Web
09 UConn OL class had Steve Greene, Kevin Friend and Tyler Bullock. 2 starters and a backup. 10, has starter Cruz and 3rd stringer C Paull.

JohnFSilver 12:16pm via Web
11 class hasn't developed. Hemingway's struggled, Gifford not ready and Nwokeji not even an option.

JohnFSilver 12:17pm via Web
There is a lot of hope for 7 linemen brought in last two years, but it takes time on the OL. Depth, as we know, is a major problem.

 

[UConnJim]

JohnFSilver 12:10pm via Web
Looking at UConn OL recruiting over years. Problems with depth go way back, 09, 10, 11 classes struggling. 12, 13 too soon to play.

JohnFSilver 12:15pm via Web
09 UConn OL class had Steve Greene, Kevin Friend and Tyler Bullock. 2 starters and a backup. 10, has starter Cruz and 3rd stringer C Paull.

JohnFSilver 12:16pm via Web
11 class hasn't developed. Hemingway's struggled, Gifford not ready and Nwokeji not even an option.

JohnFSilver 12:17pm via Web
There is a lot of hope for 7 linemen brought in last two years, but it takes time on the OL. Depth, as we know, is a major problem.

I don't disagree with Silver's tweets, but many of these issues reflect poorly on PP and GDL.

If there was a depth hole for this year and next, why didn't PP bring in a couple of JUCO/2 year players in the 2013 class?
Why were there only 3 OL taken in 2011, 3 in 2012 (that made it to campus), and 4 in 2013 (that made it to campus) if depth was so bad?

Why aren't the RS SOs and RS FR ready to play? Is it not knowing schemes? Strength? Development?

 

[huskymedic]

I don't disagree with Silver's tweets, but many of these issues reflect poorly on PP and GDL.

If there was a depth hole for this year and next, why didn't PP bring in a couple of JUCO/2 year players in the 2013 class?
Why were there only 3 OL taken in 2011, 3 in 2012 (that made it to campus), and 4 in 2013 (that made it to campus) if depth was so bad?

Why aren't the RS SOs and RS FR ready to play? Is it not knowing schemes? Strength? Development?

2011 was Edsall's last class (pp hired in mid-January).

in 2012 - losing Rennick Bryan hurt no doubt and as we have seen, it's not like taking candy from a baby to get JUCO kids into UConn. They chased a bunch of JUCO's in 2012 (Rubacava, Finnin, etc...) but lost out in the end.

Guess we'll see what MF can do in short term with the parts he has.

 

[hardcorehusky]

I don't disagree with Silver's tweets, but many of these issues reflect poorly on PP and GDL.

If there was a depth hole for this year and next, why didn't PP bring in a couple of JUCO/2 year players in the 2013 class?
Why were there only 3 OL taken in 2011, 3 in 2012 (that made it to campus), and 4 in 2013 (that made it to campus) if depth was so bad?

Why aren't the RS SOs and RS FR ready to play? Is it not knowing schemes? Strength? Development?

Can't pin 09 and 10 on Pasqualoni and '11 he did not have a lot of time to do much. This is one of the few things you can't pin on him - OL recruiting. Randy knew we the offense had problems moving forward and surely played into his decision to find his dream.

 

[UConnJim]

Can't pin 09 and 10 on Pasqualoni and '11 he did not have a lot of time to do much. This is one of the few things you can't pin on him - OL recruiting. Randy knew we the offense had problems moving forward and surely played into his decision to find his dream.

I'm not pinning it all on PP per se. But, if there were issues, there should have been a couple of jucos. As a coach, you assess the situation and fix the problems. QB depth was lacking, so he brought in Chandler. Smart move. If my memory serves me correctly, Hemingway was a PP recruit in 2011, so he was going after players when he was hired. In 2012, he could have brought in more OLinemen.

Also, why aren't the young players ready (RS SO, SO, and RS FR) and who is accountable for their lack of development? Going into the 2010 season, the OL had a RS SO starting at LT. And, 9 out of the top 14 OL were either RS SO, RS FR, or FR.

 

[huskymedic]

Seems like everyone has an opinion/observation today... (not completely sure what Ed's is tho)

EdDaigneault 2:24pm via TweetDeck
Worth noting on that last tweet that DeLeone coached the OL in '11 but was still working that zone-blocking sheme into things.

EdDaigneault 2:23pm via TweetDeck
OL coach matter much? In 2011, UConn RB Lyle McCombs ran for 1,151 yards on 275 carries. Since? 1,060 yards on 300 carries.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Seems like everyone has an opinion/observation today... (not completely sure what Ed's is tho)

EdDaigneault 2:24pm via TweetDeck
Worth noting on that last tweet that DeLeone coached the OL in '11 but was still working that zone-blocking sheme into things.

EdDaigneault 2:23pm via TweetDeck
OL coach matter much? In 2011, UConn RB Lyle McCombs ran for 1,151 yards on 275 carries. Since? 1,060 yards on 300 carries.

I believe Ed is wrong. I thought Foley coached the OL in 2011.

 

[pepband99]

Even more amazingly...

Foley's superior numbers came with almost everyone knowing what was coming. It's not like we had Marino at QB, and shook things up with running. It was bread and butter.

 

[huskymedic]

I believe Ed is wrong. I thought Foley coached the OL in 2011.

Yup - that was my point with the not sure what he's saying part. SMH

 

[sportsart]

We have 8 games to see if it was talent or coaching. I don't see how anyone can judge our OL since the arrival of GDL. Even when Foley was the OL coach in 2011 how much "bad" influence did GDL have on the entire offense?

IMO opinion it will take about 4 games to start to see the noticeable improvement. If by UL we are still struggling, it will be an easy call. Remember Foley is not going to reteach these guys a new system. He is going to simply things with a more physical and less thinking approach. If the OL still can't perform we will know the answer to "is it coaching or is it talent?"

 

[metsfan2323]

I may be wrong but I bet if Edsall were still coach Hemingway would weigh more than 272 lbs and be more ready to play. It has been noted that zone blocking doesn't require big linemen as agility is important, so maybe DeLeone wasn't properly motivating Hemingway to put on the weight, we'll find out next year. If Hemingway comes in at 300 lbs it will say a lot.

Player development is a huge part of the problem, its not just recruiting.

 

[HuskyHawk]

We have 8 games to see if it was talent or coaching. I don't see how anyone can judge our OL since the arrival of GDL. Even when Foley was the OL coach in 2011 how much "bad" influence did GDL have on the entire offense?

IMO opinion it will take about 4 games to start to see the noticeable improvement. If by UL we are still struggling, it will be an easy call. Remember Foley is not going to reteach these guys a new system. He is going to simply things with a more physical and less thinking approach. If the OL still can't perform we will know the answer to "is it coaching or is it talent?"

I am sure we will find it is or was, both talent and coaching. This team wasn't going to be a top 10, BCS bowl squad no matter who was coaching. But it sure as hell shouldn't be 0-4 either. I think we will see improvement on Saturday, simply from the feeling of release the team probably feels. That should improve week to week as systems are changed, and play calling is adjusted.

 

[huskymedic]

The follow-up to John Silver's earlier tweets. Does a decent job of laying out the evolution of the line over the last four years.

The decay of the offensive line (edited from previous to include title):

>>The biggest takeaway is UConn didn’t bring in enough linemen to cover attrition and development problems and was caught holding the bag this year.<<

>>The problem lies in classes three and four years ago. Development of the line is key and the Huskies have two years of linemen recruiting and only have three seeing time. Six linemen were brought in total in 2009 and 2010 recruiting classes and only four remain on the roster. Bennett is a 6th year and Mateas a transfer, where would the line be without those two players?

Next year, the Huskies are going to have to replace Bennett and Friend at the tackle positions. The recruiting and development of the younger players has been slow and painstaking. UConn has three more linemen committed in 2014 with Lamont Bradford, T Chasz Wright and T Trey Rutherford and are still looking.

As the past has taught us, you can never bring in enough linemen.<<

 

[sportsart]

The follow-up to John Silver's earlier tweets. Does a decent job of laying out the evolution of the line over the last four years. http://snyuconn.com/uconn/football/the-decay-of-the-offensive-line/

>>The biggest takeaway is UConn didn’t bring in enough linemen to cover attrition and development problems and was caught holding the bag this year.<<

>>The problem lies in classes three and four years ago. Development of the line is key and the Huskies have two years of linemen recruiting and only have three seeing time. Six linemen were brought in total in 2009 and 2010 recruiting classes and only four remain on the roster. Bennett is a 6th year and Mateas a transfer, where would the line be without those two players?

Next year, the Huskies are going to have to replace Bennett and Friend at the tackle positions. The recruiting and development of the younger players has been slow and painstaking. UConn has three more linemen committed in 2014 with Lamont Bradford, T Chasz Wright and T Trey Rutherford and are still looking.

As the past has taught us, you can never bring in enough linemen.<<

I expect the future OC and OL coach to be smart enough to install a copy of Foley's power schemes of the past. If we really are lacking the talent on the OL shouldn't GDL have recognized it and not try and stuff his exotic plan down their throat?

 

[huskymedic]

I expect the future OC and OL coach to be smart enough to install a copy of Foley's power schemes of the past. If we really are lacking the talent on the OL shouldn't GDL have recognized it and not try and stuff his exotic plan down their throat?

Zone blocking is not exotic - other college teams run it very well. That said, the methods utilized to teach it may have been exotic.

 

[CTMike]

Zone blocking is not exotic - other college teams run it very well. That said, the methods utilized to teach it may have been exotic.

If by "exotic" you mean "horribly antiquated..."...