Realistic Expectations

[Jimdish255]

5-7 is a realistic outcome but I want to get back to winning seasons and a team the exceeds expectations instead of rationalizing incremental progress as a substitute. 7-5 has to be the bar for success but this is year 1 of raising the Titanic so I'll take 6-6.

 

[freescooter]

4-5 wins would be my expectation with maybe 1 upset and improvement as the season goes on. I have serious reservations about the offensive line. We will have to see about the quarterback situation too.

 

[Stinger92860]

We should improve dramatically over last year. We had 3 wins and one taken away by Fiasco. I am expecting 6-7 wins under new leadership.

 

[FDNY99]

With new systems on both sides of the ball and the OL still a question mark; I think any record .500 or better will be a HUGE accomplishment.

 

[UConnfan4ever]

I'm not a big fan of predicting wins. I especially dislike predicting the outcome of each game at the beginning of the season. I want to focus on winning the first game then the next and so on and so on.. The record will be what it will be. I expect the coaching will be better and hopefully that translates into more wins. So in that regard I'm probably more optimistic this season than what I would have been if there wasn't a coaching change.

 

[weyuo]

Well, in the last 6 years there have been offensive line coaching changes almost every year to no avail. It seems the coaching staffs have tried virtually everything under the sun, including a 6'8" archer from Denmark, to get some kind of production out of that group and until improvements are made your looking at 5 wins tops. Is the new regime going to magically change that group into a legit, functioning Div-1 O-line overnight? I have to see it to believe it. Still, last year they could have won 6 games except for the fact that Bob Diaco couldn't clock manage very well and had no coherent game plan. You didn't really lose much as far as attrition so conceivably the O-line should be better. Plus the fact that many conference foes will be going through regime and/or key personnel changes and 6 wins doesn't look that far from reach. One thing is almost certain, the offense shouldn't be as predictable with Lashlee taking over. That and Edsall can coach a better game. 6 wins, sure why not?

 

[jackl]

15-0 destroying Nebraska's new defense in the national championship game.

But realistically, I thing 6-8 wins with a bowl game.

And embarrassing the black shirt defence in a Bowl Game that is in a Southern Clime.

 

[Palatine]

I do not, nor every will have, realistic expectations. I expect perfection.

 

[IMind]

I usually avoid posting in threads like this, but I'm cautiously optimistic. We've got probably as soft a schedule as you could hope for. Lot's of coaching changes and teams that were just as bad as we were... I think six wins is doable... and if we're any good at all the ceiling might be much higher.

 

[mikedog10]

15-0 destroying Nebraska's new defense in the national championship game.

But realistically, I thing 6-8 wins with a bowl game.

"defense"

 

[HuskyBandDad]

If we crush Holy Cross 52-3 then I will be optimistic.

 

[LoyalFanCT]

Why I am hopeful is that Edsall typically did not lose winnable games -- even if some were close. I do not predict lopsided victories but many wins nonetheless -- that will push UConn up in the rankings.

 

[Husky25]

It is really completely dependent on what J.B Grimes can do with the offensive line. If he turns out to be the second coming of Dante Scarnecchia, UConn could win between five and seven games. On the other hand, they probably won't be favored in any game they play this year other than than Holy Cross.

 

[Nostical]

We probably won't be favored in any game this year other than than Holy Cross.

Get ready to make some cabbage this fall.

 

[huskypantz]

We've got probably as soft a schedule as you could hope for.

I don't see this schedule as soft. As Husky25 noted, it is likely that we're only going to be favored in 1 game. We play 3 P5 teams with only one true home game among those three. I don't feel comfortable with any of the AAC games. Maybe I have PostDiacoStressDisorder.

 

[Husky25]

Get ready to make some cabbage this fall.

I said favored. Whether UConn beats the spread is a topic for a different thread.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

If we crush Holy Cross 52-3 then I will be optimistic.

There's truth in them thar words. I've found in previous seasons that the first game really does set the tone. Even one year where we beat a decent opponent pretty good, but when you thought about the score you realized the D scored 14 of the points and the O had 17, give or take a few. A convincing victory with well played O and D could be a sign of a decent season.

 

[Sky ball]

Realistic Expectations? OK no 13-0 prediction with a NC. So now a 12-1 record and a Fiesta Bowl Win over Oklahoma.

 

[HuskyHawk]

It is really completely dependent on what J.B Grimes can do with the offensive line. If he turns out to be the second coming of Dante Scarnecchia, UConn could win between five and seven games. On the other hand, they probably won't be favored in any game they play this year other than than Holy Cross.

Looking at it right now they may not be favored. But win a few games, while others falter (looking at you BC!) and they certainly could be favored in some games by the time they play them. I expect them to be better in every phase of the game except FG kicking.

I choose to look at it another way. There's not a single really intimidating, "no way you can win this" game on the whole schedule. If USF was a road game, that would be the one. But that's it. So every single game is a sub 7 point spread game as I see it, even if we are underdogs. Those are winnable games.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Our expectations should be more based on the on-field play rather than strictly the results. We should expect an improved offensive scheme that's more geared to the tools we have. Randy and Rhett obviously don't have their guys in the offense yet so they have to work with what they have, thus setting results expectations isn't the most reasonable way to approach this question. We should expect the offense to better adjust in-game to how the defense is playing. We should expect the defense as well to better adjust to what's going on and not do dumb things like staying with lax CB coverage while the opposition dinks and dunks their WR all the way down the field. We should expect general competence in play calling on both sides of the ball. No more going for it on 4th and 12 from the 14. No more fake FGs at the end of the game without the personnel able to pull it off. We should expect special teams to make use of the rule that allows punts to be returned. If we go 3-9 but are competing at the right level, the coaching staff is putting the right schemes on the field, the playcalling makes sense, and the losses come because of a talent gap, then I'd rather that result than go 5-7 or 6-6 where we luckbox our way into two or three wins because we play like garbage but the other team makes unforced errors that hand us victories. Overall quality of play and coaching > results, for this year.

 

[sdhusky]

We should expect special teams to make use of the rule that allows punts to be returned.

Is that a new rule? Are you sure its allowed???

 

[tjhusky]

I expect - Lots of new things to watch. More uptempo offense. Slight upgrade on oline and qb, and coaches that can better adapt to what the d is playing. The downside, still lacking speed, will have to limit the playbook, may only be able use uptempo game periodically to limit mistakes and not gas guys not capable of playing at that speed.

Same with D. Scheme; changes may help a bit, but need to get enough personnel fast enough to play it and not make big mistakes.

Specials - should be a big improvement. Randy won't just ignore 1/3 of the game. Hopefully it will swing the tide in our favor in a few games.

That is what I expect this year. Hopefully that gets us some wins.

 

[SubbaBub]

I don't know how anyone can have any idea but I do know this. BD cost us a number of wins both in game management and scheme. That should be worth at least a couple more this season. What I don't know is if there is any talent left on this team. Most of the guys on the roster are BD recruits with scares the living bejeebers out of me. What if he recruited like he coached? We expect RE to be able to coach up these guys, but what if slow and unfocused are still the ceiling? Horror!

But seriously, DB and LB play will be key, as will some positives on ST (all new kickers), and an Offense that can hold on to the ball, both in terms of time and turnovers. I don't expect great leaps on O, just a better plan of attack. The D not dropping off and not giving up big plays are what are going to keep us in games long enough to win them.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

I think anybody who speculates about how good or bad we're going to be before we play Holy Cross is insane. I have no idea what to expect, other than, "not miracles."

 

[IMind]

I don't see this schedule as soft. As Husky25 noted, it is likely that we're only going to be favored in 1 game. We play 3 P5 teams with only one true home game among those three. I don't feel comfortable with any of the AAC games. Maybe I have PostDiacoStressDisorder.

I don't feel comfortable with any game and understand the Diaco factor but I still think .500 against this schedule isnt crazy. Im normally on the other side of this argument, but like I said I'm optimistic.

 

[Excalibur]

My expectation is for them to win every game. Setting such low expectations is short-sited. Obviously, none of you have ever coached football.

We are neither coaching nor playing, so there is no need to take that approach. We have the luxury of being somewhat detached from the situation and can assess our prospects more objectively . . .

 

[J187Money]

There is zero reason that we can't get to 6 wins and a bowl game. I refuse to believe otherwise until we are mathematically eliminated from doing so.

 

[junglehusky]

I have no freakin' idea. I do know thatmore than a few people expected 7-8 wins last year. In hindsight, that was never going to happen. My hope was to see an arc of improvement over the course of the season, and the exact opposite of that was what we got. With Randy back, I am going back to hoping for improvement. What record that translates to, I honestly don't know.

 

[Woof 101]

I think anybody who speculates about how good or bad we're going to be before we play Holy Cross is insane. I have no idea what to expect, other than, "not miracles."

I like this Irish as I agree other than the word insane. A few fans are way over the top but insane is a bit much, they may just not know how to express themselves.
Again keeping it real, it is way too early to have expectations other than the obvious....

Expectations this early...A new enthusiasm among the hard core to get the situation turned around.
A head coach leading the team onto the field not wearing his wife's pants...
A lot of empty seats for the opener, bring a friend and tell them to come again...
A much easier watch for the informed fan, no longer will we have to scream, THE CLOCK! THE CLOCK! .....................
BOB LOOK AT THE FREAKING CLOCK !!!!!!
Yes we will have players running back punts etc but still much too early to to generate actual realistic expectations....Randy not starting from scratch but damn close to it.!

 

[Ldandy]

I glanced at the schedule and there is not one team on there that is a guaranteed L. None. That doesn't mean that this team can't lose to any of them, just that realistically they should be in every single game. Even the so called P5 Teams UVA, Missouri, and BC are well within reason for Uconn to be able to grab a W. I'm sure the team's goal will be to get to a bowl game. That is definitely achievable.