Silver: Eight Years of Offensive Struggles

[SubbaBub]

Not to bust your bubble but northern Illinois Toledo. Western Michigan concinnati all had very good passing attacks why can't we.

Good? Consistently good? NIU? We don't recruit Ohio or Michigan consistently.

You are also comparing it to the dumpster fire the has been the UConn passing attack. Recently overshadowed by the dumpster fire that was our running attack last year.

Can we get a good QB, obviously we can. Hopefully we just picked up two. But a 70 old coach isn't attracting top QB talent. Other than an occasional lightning bolt, the best we can hope for is a good system QB or an underrated guy who develops. PP is hoping the two new guys were underestimated. At least that part has a plan.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ZooCougar]

Have you guys watched Chandler Whitmer play? When he isn't running for his life or trying to overcome a three score deficit while running for his life, he is actually pretty good.

Kind of hard to build on your QB's momentum when you pull him in favor of the Wildcat after a big completion. Or have him line up as a WR and run a reverse the week after sustaining a concussion.

We could have made a bowl with him last year.

 

[SubbaBub]

Have you guys watched Chandler Whitmer play? When he isn't running for his life or trying to overcome a three score deficit while running for his life, he is actually pretty good.

Kind of hard to build on your QB's momentum when you pull him in favor of the Wildcat after a big completion. Or have him line up as a WR and run a reverse the week after sustaining a concussion.

We could have made a bowl with him last year.

I like CW if he controls his turnovers. We'll see how much was the line fault this year.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

Have you guys watched Chandler Whitmer play? When he isn't running for his life or trying to overcome a three score deficit while running for his life, he is actually pretty good.

Kind of hard to build on your QB's momentum when you pull him in favor of the Wildcat after a big completion. Or have him line up as a WR and run a reverse the week after sustaining a concussion.

We could have made a bowl with him last year.

Don't necessarily disagree, but one of the signs of a mature, quality QB is taking the sack instead of making a dangerous throw. Aaron Rodgers eats a pretty fair number of sacks -- something people worried about earlier in his career, and yet that ability to know when it makes sense to lose a few yards instead of the ball is an important distinction.

 

[IMind]

We could have made a bowl with McEntee. Every year lots of QBs that aren't elite/NFL talent go to bowls... some even throw for 4000 yards. I don't think PP is the right man for the job. I seriously don't understand the people that dig in so much to support him. The only scenario in which I am comfortable with our current coaching staff remaining is if Weist has full control over the offense AND there's dramatic improvement. I just dont' see it happening though... What actually scares me the most is a 7-8 win season... but the same systemic problems remain... and we remain in limbo for another year or two while PP and company limp along.

 

[uconndogs]

We could have made a bowl with McEntee. Every year lots of QBs that aren't elite/NFL talent go to bowls... some even throw for 4000 yards. I don't think PP is the right man for the job. I seriously don't understand the people that dig in so much to support him. The only scenario in which I am comfortable with our current coaching staff remaining is if Weist has full control over the offense AND there's dramatic improvement. I just dont' see it happening though... What actually scares me the most is a 7-8 win season... but the same systemic problems remain... and we remain in limbo for another year or two while PP and company limp along.

Good post and I agree with it entirely. And I would not worry too much about a 7-8 win season. In fact, if we cannot run the ball again this season I shudder to think what we might be looking at.

 

[zls44]

It's amazing to me because I think we can all agree that if PP gets less than 8 wins this year, he's done, and that its highly unlikely they get to eight wins.

Which is why I never got keeping him around in the first place. You are only delaying the inevitable.

PP isn't a new coach. He is what he is at this point. Every additional season is delaying the potential for a real turnaround by another year.

Enthusiasm for the program is at an ALL TIME LOW. Despite having the best home schedule ever. It's sad, really.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I just found the analysis interesting. The turnover margin really is shocking.

Some of it is on the coaches, who put us into a scheme which took more chances we weren't ready to take, etc. And opened us up.

Some of it is just dropped picks. I don't know of any statistical way to prove it, but the number of times I saw Sio bobble or drop a pick was mind-blowing. A few of those come our way, who knows. Football is a game of momentum. A few good things happen, the kids start believing a little more, you never know.

However, I definitely think there's something to be said for getting away from power running and opening us up to the higher risks of turnovers. Throwing picks in the opponent's end zone is a pretty good way to demoralize your team.

Fundamentally, of course, it all devolves back into the same idea... if the O-line plays well, we play well. Whether it's talent or scheme or a combination of both, well, we've had that argument 30 or 40 times and it's only early May, so.

I don't know why you get so angry all the time. We don't disagree on too many points on this particular topic. Lighten up.

Although I have to admit, blaming the offensive ineptness on dropped picks.......pretty funny.

I don't agree with everything in Silver's article. But it's interesting.

I still think, if we didn't try to change too much too soon on the offensive side of the ball, we go to bowl games the last 2 years. That's on GDL. And fairly or unfairly (I happen to think it's fair), the fact that GDL is P's sidekick and best buddy makes P more complicit. It's the same reason that P doesn't get as much credit in hiring Brown as he gets the blame for hiring GDL.

 

[HomeKing93]

I might as well beat the dead horse, because hey, it's May. The Silver article lists our total offense rankings from 2005-2012. Here's Boise State's in the same time period:

2012: 78
2011: 9
2010: 4
2009: 8
2008: 13
2007: 10
2006: 11
2005: 24

2012 was not great for BSU on offense, but it had very few returning starters on offense (and defense) and still won 10 games. Are we still debating whether we can run a productive offense with 2 & 3 star guys?

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

I don't know why you get so angry all the time. We don't disagree on too many points on this particular topic. Lighten up.

Although I have to admit, blaming the offensive ineptness on dropped picks.......pretty funny.

You can twist my words to make me appear as dumb as you like, but I don't have to pretend that you're an awesome dude for it.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

You can twist my words to make me appear as dumb as you like, but I don't have to pretend that you're an awesome dude for it.

Again........angry. Life's too short.

 

[Carl Spackler]

This website has become a home for negative ninnies. Ugly. It's May. There are no games to be played for about 15 weeks or so. I think the blog writer was paying attention to some things that have popped up around here lately though.

The fundamental common denominator, to success, at any level, is recruiting. it's all about recruiting.

Recruiting is what determines what level of competition you are able to reach. Recruiting is what determines what your ceiling is. Our ceiling was what it was, for the past decade, because of recruiting.

some say recruiting has changed, some say it hasn't - among the pundits here. I look at our QB depth chart, the stable full of beasts at Linebacker, and the three/four deep DB"s that we've got now that all can still fly like before, but also have the bodies that made the NFL scouts book flights to Hartford this spring, the DL's we've got that. On offense - we're still thin on the recruiting side, but it's getting better, but were stocked at that all important position.....QB......

Gee - I wonder why recruiting on the offensive side of the ball, might be a little bit behind the defensive side...........

Whatever your opinion, of the guy, it was made crystal clear from the first day that Pasqualoni arrived, that recruiting was going to be the primary immediate short term goal and focus moving into the future, and that taking the program to a continued upward trajectory was the long term goal. That's most definitely been achieved, I think. In the meantime, over two seasons, we've gone 5-7 twice and very likely - if we'd had the leadership and focus and goals of the previous regime over a decade, we'd have gone 7-5, or 8-4, and been to a bowl game or two. (and still have a grand total of 1 win against a top 25 ranked team)

But we'd also be two years further into a recruiting hole, that we wouldn't be able to climb out of - especially with the conference changes.

(On that note, I can only imagine where we'd be with recruiting.....well...never mind...can't control that)

I'm the kind of guy that believes that everythign happens for a reason. Just who I am. We're damn lucky to have had a guy like Pasqualoni land in our laps two season ago, when it comes to "changing the DNA" of the program as was written by somebody else, and establshing the recruiting patterns that it's going to take, to build our program long term into what it's goign to take to be a top 25, nationally relevant program on par with the rest of our athletic department.

Because we didn't have an athletic director or university leadership that really knew what it takes, and what it looks like. All they knew - was Randy Edsall.

He's in his third year of a three year contract, if I'm not mistaken, and it's crunch time. Prime time scheduling, jobs on the line.

If you're the type of person that thrives when under pressure, being on the UCONN football coaching staff in 2013 is a great place to be. It's make or break time for these guys.

 

[IMind]

It's amazing to me because I think we can all agree that if PP gets less than 8 wins this year, he's done, and that its highly unlikely they get to eight wins.
Which is why I never got keeping him around in the first place. You are only delaying the inevitable.
PP isn't a new coach. He is what he is at this point. Every additional season is delaying the potential for a real turnaround by another year.
Enthusiasm for the program is at an ALL TIME LOW. Despite having the best home schedule ever. It's sad, really.

I think 'encouraging' PP to bring in Weist is at least defensable. I get that, especially in this financial climate, it's probably not all that palatable to deal with a buyout. I like the hire. It's just that it's been tried before with PP and it didn't work out so hot. If they weren't going to can PP after year two... and they weren't for many reasons. It was the only real option.

I just have this sense that we're just spinning our wheels waiting for the inevitable.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

This website has become a home for negative ninnies. Ugly. It's May. There are no games to be played for about 15 weeks or so. I think the blog writer was paying attention to some things that have popped up around here lately though.

The fundamental common denominator, to success, at any level, is recruiting. it's all about recruiting.

Recruiting is what determines what level of competition you are able to reach. Recruiting is what determines what your ceiling is. Our ceiling was what it was, for the past decade, because of recruiting.

some say recruiting has changed, some say it hasn't - among the pundits here. I look at our QB depth chart, the stable full of beasts at Linebacker, and the three/four deep DB"s that we've got now that all can still fly like before, but also have the bodies that made the NFL scouts book flights to Hartford this spring, the DL's we've got that. On offense - we're still thin on the recruiting side, but it's getting better, but were stocked at that all important position.....QB......

Gee - I wonder why recruiting on the offensive side of the ball, might be a little bit behind the defensive side...........

Whatever your opinion, of the guy, it was made crystal clear from the first day that Pasqualoni arrived, that recruiting was going to be the primary immediate short term goal and focus moving into the future, and that taking the program to a continued upward trajectory was the long term goal. That's most definitely been achieved, I think. In the meantime, over two seasons, we've gone 5-7 twice and very likely - if we'd had the leadership and focus and goals of the previous regime over a decade, we'd have gone 7-5, or 8-4, and been to a bowl game or two. (and still have a grand total of 1 win against a top 25 ranked team)

But we'd also be two years further into a recruiting hole, that we wouldn't be able to climb out of - especially with the conference changes.

(On that note, I can only imagine where we'd be with recruiting.....well...never mind...can't control that)

I'm the kind of guy that believes that everythign happens for a reason. Just who I am. We're damn lucky to have had a guy like Pasqualoni land in our laps two season ago, when it comes to "changing the DNA" of the program as was written by somebody else, and establshing the recruiting patterns that it's going to take, to build our program long term into what it's goign to take to be a top 25, nationally relevant program on par with the rest of our athletic department.

Because we didn't have an athletic director or university leadership that really knew what it takes, and what it looks like. All they knew - was Randy Edsall.

He's in his third year of a three year contract, if I'm not mistaken, and it's crunch time. Prime time scheduling, jobs on the line.

If you're the type of person that thrives when under pressure, being on the UCONN football coaching staff in 2013 is a great place to be. It's make or break time for these guys.

Carl, I hope you're right. But, keep in mind, very few P recruits have seen meaningful playing time. Even fewer have had an impact. I have no idea if recruiting has improved or not. I'm the type of guy to judge a recruiting class 3 years after they have signed their LOI's.

 

[Palatine]

Not to bust your bubble but northern Illinois Toledo. Western Michigan concinnati all had very good passing attacks why can't we.

Premise: You can't reliably recruit top QB's and WR's to a northern school in a mid-major conference.

Action: You don't base your offense and hopes of success on a high scoring passing attack.

Premise: It is much easier to find productive RB's and bulk up OL-men.

Action: Do that instead.

Premise: You can't win games by only running the ball.

Action: Run the ball and develop enough of a passing game to keep defenses honest and move the chains without turning the ball over.

Which plan are we following?



Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

That article convenient left out the years prior to 2005 when all your statements are wrong.

 

[sdhusky]

We used to have a good running game. Even though we did not put up big yards, we still won 7-9 games a season and went to bowls.

Under Pasqualoni we don't get the yards, the wins, or the bowls.

How are those facts looking?

I will leave it up to you guys decide.

Here are FCRE's BE records:
3-3
2-5
1-6
5-2
3-4
3-4
5-2


Here are PP's
3-4
2-5

 

[IMind]

Here are FCRE's BE records:
3-3
2-5
1-6
5-2
3-4
3-4
5-2


Here are PP's
3-4
2-5

To me that's even more damning. It means he's losing to crap non-conference schools.

 

[Carl Spackler]

QB play and the defense where never up to par and we still EARNED a BCS bowl. With last years defense and a better QB we could have beaten OU.

And it's not Randy Edsall's strategy. It's been around a lot longer than him.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

What strategy has been around longer?

 

[metsfan2323]

If Weist can get us back to Joe Moorehead's 2010 level of production it will be a huge step forward and probably get us 8 wins. If Weist can get us back to the 2009 level of production we are winning 9 games at a minimum and maybe a top 25 finish.

Keeping P after an 8 win season will be the easy thing to do, keeping Weist if he produces will be difficult.

The dream scenario would be that we are very successful next year but P announces that 2014 will be his last year. Then we could transition the job over to Weist and a now popular P could find an Andy Blaylock type of role with the school and even help with recruiting, which he seems to be very good at.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Carl, I hope you're right. But, keep in mind, very few P recruits have seen meaningful playing time. Even fewer have had an impact. I have no idea if recruiting has improved or not. I'm the type of guy to judge a recruiting class 3 years after they have signed their LOI's.

I think our roster, right now, from #1-#105 is completely different than it was three season ago, and by different, I mean different in such a way that it gives us a greater chance to be where we want to be, and that's playing for championships in December and January.

I also completely disagree that P recruits haven't seen playing time, and haven't made meaningful impact. About the only place, on the team, that P recruits have NOT yet had meaningful impact, and demonstrated improvement - is at cornerback, running back and offensive line. Cornerback b/c we had two starters that weren't getting displaced, and RB and OL - becuase it takes time to develop those players to be able to play a complete game, and we're returning an entire OL unit and QB and RB's.

There's no wiggle room anymore, everybody knows it. it's got to click.

I wish the majority of fans, that have the time and feel the need to actually be vocal, whether it be a blog, message board or wahtever, would actually be excited for the season, instead of such negative jerk offs.

I'm pumped for this season. It can't get here soon enough.

 

[SubbaBub]

That article convenient left out the years prior to 2005 when all your statements are wrong.

Yeah, you're right. We should be waiting around for a local NFL prospect to play QB against a D-1 transition schedule and hope to make a minor bowl game against a MAC opponent in Detroit.

Setting the bar a little low aren't we?

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Carl Spackler]

last thing i'll write for today....on recruiting, and contributions....immediate impact, etc.

In 2011, I sat in my seats in the stadium, and repeatedly watched our kick units line up against division 1 programs, and they looked like a pee-wee midget squad against a high school varsity. We had lots of fast guys, but they were little, and I wouldn't have been nervous out there against them, even at my age on a kick. In 2012, we lined up kick units, with the same speed, but the size and strength, that puts fear into you when you see 11 guys like that barrelling down on you full speed. There's nothing more violent on a football field, than a kick coverage.

That simple observation, has a very important meaning to what goes into building a competitive program that can compete for championships year in and year out with the best programs in the country for the long term.

 

[huskymedic]

He's in his third year of a three year contract, if I'm not mistaken, and it's crunch time. Prime time scheduling, jobs on the line.

If you're the type of person that thrives when under pressure, being on the UCONN football coaching staff in 2013 is a great place to be. It's make or break time for these guys.

PP contract runs through 12/31/2015 but agree this year is make or break.

 

[whaler11]

One of the funnier Boneyard features is people who killed Edsall now pumping up his accomplishments relative to P.

 

[sdhusky]

One of the funnier Boneyard features is people who killed Edsall now pumping up his accomplishments relative to P.

ZooWhiner has a man crush on Edsall now.