Safety (Andrew) Adams in line for expanded role

[huskymedic]

Some good info here from Jim Fuller with video:

"The move of starting safety Byron Jones has been a popular story line during UConn's spring practice but if not for the emergence of Andrew Adams, it's unlikely that the Huskies' coaching staff would be able to make such a move."

"I am still trying to get a lot of the assignments down but everything has been going good," Adams aid after Saturday's practice. "The biggest adjustment is a new playbook, have a new defensive coordinator (Hank Hughes) so it is kind of mixed between last year and this year."

"I'm just focusing on my assignments, doing what I am supposed to do, being in the right position and all the stuff goes a long way so if you do the little things right you will find the field and you will get a decent amount of playing time."

 

[metsfan2323]

"new playbook"? I'm not very excited to hear that but it should excite Edsall fans. Hopefully we don't revert to Edsall era safety play which always seemed to be the weakest part of the team.

 

[huskymedic]

"I think this group can be just as good as last year, I really do," Adams said. "If we keep pushing and do what we’ve been doing day in and day out and I think we can be better than last year, I really do."

 

[FfldCntyFan]

"new playbook"? I'm not very excited to hear that but it should excite Edsall fans. Hopefully we don't revert to Edsall era safety play which always seemed to be the weakest part of the team.

I could be wrong here but my opinion is a mix of 60% Edsall era defense 40% Don Brown defense would be ideal and make each approach far more successful.

 

[metsfan2323]

I could be wrong here but my opinion is a mix of 60% Edsall era defense 40% Don Brown defense would be ideal and make each approach far more successful.

I was hoping for 70% Don Brown, 30% Randy Edsall, with the 30% being the redzone defense which was horrible under Brown. I hope we keep our linebackers on the line of scrimmage like they have been under Brown, Smallwood is very effective at getting in our opponents backfield and blowing up plays, that needs to continue to be a big part of the gameplan.

Also I want the players in better shape. I think stamina was a big part of our redzone problem. Long drives wore the defense out.

 

[coachRD]

I was hoping for 70% Don Brown, 30% Randy Edsall, with the 30% being the redzone defense which was horrible under Brown. I hope we keep our linebackers on the line of scrimmage like they have been under Brown, Smallwood is very effective at getting in our opponents backfield and blowing up plays, that needs to continue to be a big part of the gameplan.

Also I want the players in better shape. I think stamina was a big part of our redzone problem. Long drives wore the defense out.

Good point about our D getting gassed at times. Obviously a lot of that falls to the offense-when you run one of the worst offenses in the country, the lack of sustained drives keeps that D on the field for a LONG time each game.

 

[huskymedic]

Good point about our D getting gassed at times. Obviously a lot of that falls to the offense-when you run one of the worst offenses in the country, the lack of sustained drives keeps that D on the field for a LONG time each game.

... and Wiest addressed that in an article by Paul Doyle. (http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-uconn-football-0414-20130413,0,1140469.story)

>>Head coach Paul Pasqualoni has hinted at some new wrinkles in the offense. Weist said he's preaching patience and consistency to his players. "We don't want just big plays, we want sustained drives," Weist said. "Just good plays after good plays. If a good play becomes a big play, then so be it. But I think we were patient [Saturday]. We didn't always try for a knockout punch. We had some good drives and I think that's what is key for our players to understand, that we have to execute one play at a time."<<

 

[Jerry27]

... and Wiest addressed that in an article by Paul Doyle. (http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-uconn-football-0414-20130413,0,1140469.story)

>>Head coach Paul Pasqualoni has hinted at some new wrinkles in the offense. Weist said he's preaching patience and consistency to his players. "We don't want just big plays, we want sustained drives," Weist said. "Just good plays after good plays. If a good play becomes a big play, then so be it. But I think we were patient [Saturday]. We didn't always try for a knockout punch. We had some good drives and I think that's what is key for our players to understand, that we have to execute one play at a time."<<

I don't know if he was addressing one of the many problems from last years offense with that statement, but I can recall countless times yelling about going for the homerun too much. If we needed 5 yds, you don't have to run everyone 20-30 yds downfield and we seemed to do that way too much last year with no outlet in the flats or quick slant to go to, then Whitmer would get in trouble make a bad read or try to force it and the inevitable INT would happen. It's nice to have the big plays if they happen but keep the damn chains moving. Taking what the D is giving seemed to only apply to their pressure last year.

 

[huskysupporter]

I don't know if he was addressing one of the many problems from last years offense with that statement, but I can recall countless times yelling about going for the homerun too much. If we needed 5 yds, you don't have to run everyone 20-30 yds downfield and we seemed to do that way too much last year with no outlet in the flats or quick slant to go to, then Whitmer would get in trouble make a bad read or try to force it and the inevitable INT would happen. It's nice to have the big plays if they happen but keep the damn chains moving. Taking what the D is giving seemed to only apply to their pressure last year.

Sustained drives are the key, not only for the O, but also for the defense. I don't care how well you are conditioned, if your offense continues to go three and out, you are going to get winded.

My gripe with the offense, was the predictability. The current personnel isn't going to remind anyone of Oregon. But that doesn't mean the offense can't be successful. Utilize play action. Reduce the number of 5 step drops. Keep it to 3 steps, and make the reads for Whitmer simple. Utilize the inside trap.

 

[Palatine]

Adams looked like he belonged in limited action last year. He is a very good blitzer for a safety.

 

[Nostical]

I can recall countless times yelling about going for the homerun too much. we seemed to do that way too much last year with no outlet in the flats or quick slant to go to.

You are right on. We hardly used Lyle and Nick as outlets or Ryan and John for short over the middle looks.

 

[huskynation]

Adams looked like he belonged in limited action last year. He is a very good blitzer for a safety.

Adams is not that great at coverage. I don't think he's that fast and he lacks that explosive burst. I think last year they liked to bring him up to play man coverage on the slot receiver and he got beat a few times. Might be more of a strong safety than a free safety IMHO. He's a physical DB.

http://espn.go.com/ncf/video?gameId=322930183 beat by Alec Lemon on Man to Man coverage see first highlight for 3rd quarter).

http://espn.go.com/ncf/video?gameId=322662711 playing FS and a receiver caught the ball underneath in front of Adams and was able to turn it up the field before Adams could catch up to him. (first 2nd quarter highlight.

 

[huskymedic]

Adams is not that great at coverage. I don't think he's that fast and he lacks that explosive burst. I think last year they liked to bring him up to play man coverage on the slot receiver and he got beat a few times. Might be more of a strong safety than a free safety IMHO. He's a physical DB.

http://espn.go.com/ncf/video?gameId=322930183 beat by Alec Lemon on Man to Man coverage see first highlight for 3rd quarter).

http://espn.go.com/ncf/video?gameId=322662711 playing FS and a receiver caught the ball underneath in front of Adams and was able to turn it up the field before Adams could catch up to him. (first 2nd quarter highlight.

He was also a RS Frosh last year...

 

[Pudge]

Hank Hughes ain't a Randy Edsall disciple. He just isn't ... and he had many many years in Football before he first worked for Randy. And, I don't think he totally bought the Program. He is his own man ... and he is NOT Don Brown. I think Pasqualoni will have a HUGE say in this year's defense; whereas Brown was given some free rein. I also expect the mix to look like Don Brown (40%) and a lot of RE at times.

 

[gioff23]

I could pull 2 random plays showing BBW and/or Gratz getting beat and both are being talked about as 2d or 3d round draft picks. Adams is a player. If the opponents were able to twice over a 12 game season take advantage of him, good for them.

BTW, the video of the WMU game is of them kicking a FG - are we blaming him for WMU making the FG?

 

[huskysupporter]

I could pull 2 random plays showing BBW and/or Gratz getting beat and both are being talked about as 2d or 3d round draft picks. Adams is a player. If the opponents were able to twice over a 12 game season take advantage of him, good for them.

BTW, the video of the WMU game is of them kicking a FG - are we blaming him for WMU making the FG?

He is right about Adams, he struggled in coverage, but I loved when they used him as a 3rd safety and he played near the line. On defense, safety is the single toughest position to transition to from high school. It is just a completely different speed. They have to learn to take good angles on the ball. Usually, safeties take a big leap their second year in the lineup. Adams flashed alot of athleticism, and I am cautiously optimistic we see a leap much like Dahna Deleston's.

 

[rich1122]

He only had 2 stars how good can he be (lol).

Honestly I can remember all of out Dbacks, even those who made the NFL, get beat on occasion. Safety is about reads and ability to tackle as opposed to flat-out coverage.

Nice to hear a good improvement story though.

 

[huskynation]

I could pull 2 random plays showing BBW and/or Gratz getting beat and both are being talked about as 2d or 3d round draft picks. Adams is a player. If the opponents were able to twice over a 12 game season take advantage of him, good for them.

BTW, the video of the WMU game is of them kicking a FG - are we blaming him for WMU making the FG?

you have to choose the highlight from the links to the right of the screen, 1st 2nd quarter link. But this is not about blame, more constructive criticism, players can only improve if they evaluate their performance objectively and work on there weaknesses. I mean Adams is a good player, smart, tough, strong and competitive. But he can, must and no doubt will improve in coverage and with his technique. And as far as speed explosiveness, he should improve every year with the weight training program, conditioning and, plyometrics . I mean at 19 years old, with all of the coaching and resources he is gonna really improve.

My point was to highlight some of his weaknesses. And just thinking proactively. I mean Tymeer Brown is not that physical and AA is so I think that he would be very good at strong safety. Plus I'm not sure that Adams will necessarily be the best FS in coverage out of the group out of the young safeties that we have on the roster. If you got a young player like floyd or Melifonwu who is better in coverage they may take that spot. Its all about who wants it more. But Adams I definitely want to see him stronger and better this season.