Silver: Eight Years of Offensive Struggles

[Rumrunner]

Notwithstanding some minor descent into bickering and name-calling, it sure is nice to read actual football talk.

And kudos to Silver and sny for the article. UConn needs a lot more of this kind of writing, even (especially) in May.

 

[whaler11]

There are a handful of other coaches still alive, that would be equal or better fits for UCONN right now, but they're all older. Pasqualoni, is the last of a dying breed. A highly successful college football recruiter for a northeast based division 1 football program.

As a member of the Big 10 conference, or the ACC conference, I wouldn't be saying the same thing. But with the way things have turned out, if we want to be able to compete nationally, we need to be able to recruit in ways that are much more in depth and personal, than showing up at kids doorstep wearing the colors they see all over ESPN all day.

It is a perfect fit, because he is one of the only college football head coaches in the country, that is active, and has the ability to transfer what he's built and learned about recruiting for a program in our region of the country, to younger coaches that he brings on staff. It's essential for the pipelines in the northeast,and extended out to the Midwest, and into TExas and florida, to all lead to UCONN.

He's one of the few active head coachs in the country, that have the connections to build it and build it quickly, and he's been doing it. What's more important, is that he's got at most, a decade left, if that, s he's got to develop coaches that can carry it on, in the northeast.

Quick - name all the head coaches that have had success in building a 1A program to national level competition regularly in the northeast in the past 20 years.

It's a short list, and one of them died recently, and the others are all a lot older than P.

Addazio, is the only other one that has a chance, but as long as P is around, he won't be able to.

If you want some of this peyote, just ask, BTW.

Your position is that the best coach UConn could possibly have in 2013 is Paul Pasqualoni.

I don't think most people here realize you are just screwing around with this stuff. They take you seriously.

 

[junglehusky]

Next on SNYUConn.com: Eight years (and counting) of messageboard bickering...

 

[Alum86]

Who, other than Whitmer, Norris, and Campenni are the P recruits who have seen meaningful minutes?

Thank you. Blue has lived a charmed life with us using the cover of his recruiting prowess and his relationship with the CT HS FB coaches fraternity of small state mediocrity.
This is all he has, as his play calling and decisions are sooooooo suspect.
Can we really be optimistic after our glorified flag football blue/white scrimmage?

 

[formerlurker]

Thank you. Blue has lived a charmed life with us using the cover of his recruiting prowess and his relationship with the CT HS FB coaches fraternity of small state mediocrity.
This is all he has, as his play calling and decisions are sooooooo suspect.
Can we really be optimistic after our glorified flag football blue/white scrimmage?

How much did you get from a Michigan fan for your tickets?

 

[Carl Spackler]

Your position is that the best coach UConn could possibly have in 2013 is Paul Pasqualoni.

I don't think most people here realize you are just screwing around with this stuff. They take you seriously.

That might be your best post yet, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[ZooCougar]

So Carl is just screwing around? Good.

We are truly blessed to have Ozymandias with us. Or is he Shiva, destroyer of football programs?

 

[TouchdownHusky]

There is a third way.

You actually spend the money and hire coaches that bring cutting edge football ability. If you believe the assumption that we'll never be able to recruit the blue chips then you mitigate that by bringing the very very best.

Keep these three things in mind:

1. The fanbase isn't as "built" as we want or need it. In order to do that you have to entertain. That means offense, so you bring in the best offensive coaching.

2. Assume that these coaches will move on to bigger things after achieving some success. This reality should be embraced. Their success will demonstrate that great things can be done here. It will be easier to lure in the next crew. Cincy demonstrates this every three years.

3. Everyone here agrees that the AAC is not where we want to be. The best way to get out is dominate it.

Under Pasqualoni, we will never dominate this conference. WE ARE WASTING OUR TIME. And a great man once said, "Don't waste your time, or time will waste you."

This really is the blue print that UConn should be following. Make the program exciting for fans.

 

[FAIRTIDES]

I'm not sure what your beef is Fairtides. I read that a couple times to try to figure it out, I suppose I wasn't specific enough as to what "contrary" meant.

I think that PP and UCONN at this point in time are absolutely a perfect fit, because of recruiting, and the situation the university finds itself in now with it's entire athletics department, where you start out by saying he's not. I"ve written elsewhere, that establishing a commonality on recruiting rules in this new conference should be very high priority for Warde Manuel, as he speaks with the commissioner.

I think that high academic standards, are a strength, and not a weakness. You simply can't have lazy recruiters for a program like UCONN. Dumb players make dumb mistakes, according to Bill Parcells.

As for going forward you say "UCONN has to decide what it wants to be football-wise." Huh?

Forgive me, but that sounds like yet another UCONN basketball fan, trying to come to grips with the reality of the national intercollegiate athletics landscape where college basketball doesn't really matter that much among the true power brokers. We've already decided what we're going to be, the "deciding" part happened over two decades ago.

You are only limited by what you allow yourself to envision as a goal. That may sound like platitudes of spirit, dedication, commitment, but it is reality. If you cannot set a goal in your mind, and for an organization, as a leader, it can never be achieved. SImple. Our former head coach, and former administration were unable to set goals higher for this university, than what they achieved. YOu are only limited by the goals you set, and time.

I completely understand the reality of the money situation, and how that may affect time to reach those goals. I also know that things like that can change, very, very quickly regarding that, and we've got a 6 year window to work with, in a broadcasting technology world that changes exponentially.

"YOu(sic) are only limited by the goals you set, and time. "

Sadly, you are wrong. Less talented "implementers" are inhibiting to goal attainment. Noble missions (goals) are great as long as talented "implementers" provide strong tactical support.

And, while I am a UCONN MBB fan, it has absolutely nothing to do with my feelings about the University's "reality" as it relates to football or the coming revenue shortfall. You tell me. Does UCONN want to be a national player in football? If it does, pick one of two goals; either "INCREASE REVENUE," or "INCREASE MARKET SHARE" and make sure every person at every level in the Athletic Department understands their individual responsibilities as it relates to the goal and football. At the big schools, the athletic departments are part of a cut throat business market and FB is, overwhelmingly, the primary product.

So I'll ask again. Is UCONN willing to do, within the rules, what it takes to compete in the cut throat business of college football? It's a fair question.

 

[Waquoit]

Can we really be optimistic after our glorified flag football blue/white scrimmage?

The answer, of course, is no. I was ready to park my disdain for P and start thinking good thoughts once we hit signing day. And I was pretty much successful...until that Blue/White game. Forget the off-the-field debacle that it was, the real debacle was on the field. No juice coming the players at all. The post-game spin that they were holding back for the Towson game made my head spin. The realistic posters, the ones with their hearts in the right place aren't buying this happy HS from the fluffers. They care about this program. The fluffers care more about P. If the fluffers held sway, GDL would still be the OC.

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

It's tragic, actually. More horrible timing for the program. Another reason why the time to can P was last year. His Droopy Dog act might just kill the fanbase for good.

 

[metsfan2323]

The answer, of course, is no. I was ready to park my disdain for P and start thinking good thoughts once we hit signing day. And I was pretty much successful...until that Blue/White game. Forget the off-the-field debacle that it was, the real debacle was on the field. No juice coming the players at all. The post-game spin that they were holding back for the Towson game made my head spin. The realistic posters, the ones with their hearts in the right place aren't buying this happy HS from the fluffers. They care about this program. The fluffers care more about P. If the fluffers held sway, GDL would still be the OC.




It's tragic, actually. More horrible timing for the program. Another reason why the time to can P was last year. His Droopy Dog act might just kill the fanbase for good.

What do you hope to accomplish with a post like this? What is the upside of doing this in May? And the spin wasn't holding back for the Towson game, the spin was too many players were injured to have a traditional spring game so it was essentially canceled, get your facts together clown.

 

[UConnDan97]

There are a handful of other coaches still alive, that would be equal or better fits for UCONN right now, but they're all older. Pasqualoni, is the last of a dying breed. A highly successful college football recruiter for a northeast based division 1 football program.

As a member of the Big 10 conference, or the ACC conference, I wouldn't be saying the same thing. But with the way things have turned out, if we want to be able to compete nationally, we need to be able to recruit in ways that are much more in depth and personal, than showing up at kids doorstep wearing the colors they see all over ESPN all day.

It is a perfect fit, because he is one of the only college football head coaches in the country, that is active, and has the ability to transfer what he's built and learned about recruiting for a program in our region of the country, to younger coaches that he brings on staff. It's essential for the pipelines in the northeast,and extended out to the Midwest, and into TExas and florida, to all lead to UCONN.

He's one of the few active head coachs in the country, that have the connections to build it and build it quickly, and he's been doing it. What's more important, is that he's got at most, a decade left, if that, s he's got to develop coaches that can carry it on, in the northeast.

Quick - name all the head coaches that have had success in building a 1A program to national level competition regularly in the northeast in the past 20 years.

It's a short list, and one of them died recently, and the others are all a lot older than P.

Addazio, is the only other one that has a chance, but as long as P is around, he won't be able to.

If you want some of this peyote, just ask, BTW.

You've caught a lot of crap for this post already (and I'm sure there's more to come), but you're absolutely right. And there is already data supporting that you're right. This past recruiting class was our best on paper despite our current conference conundrum.

There are only two problems with your post; 1) people who want PP gone will never admit that he has improved recruiting, and 2) people didn't feel like reading the part where you mentioned it was short-term. Neither problem can be overcome, I'm afraid...

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

You've caught a lot of crap for this post already (and I'm sure there's more to come), but you're absolutely right. And there is already data supporting that you're right. This past recruiting class was our best on paper despite our current conference conundrum.

There are only two problems with your post; 1) people who want PP gone will never admit that he has improved recruiting, and 2) people didn't feel like reading the part where you mentioned it was short-term. Neither problem can be overcome, I'm afraid...

Or......people don't want to say recruiting has improved until these kids actually see the field.

These are all opinions Dan.

 

[Carl Spackler]

"YOu(sic) are only limited by the goals you set, and time. "

Sadly, you are wrong. Less talented "implementers" are inhibiting to goal attainment. Noble missions (goals) are great as long as talented "implementers" provide strong tactical support.

And, while I am a UCONN MBB fan, it has absolutely nothing to do with my feelings about the University's "reality" as it relates to football or the coming revenue shortfall. You tell me. Does UCONN want to be a national player in football? If it does, pick one of two goals; either "INCREASE REVENUE," or "INCREASE MARKET SHARE" and make sure every person at every level in the Athletic Department understands their individual responsibilities as it relates to the goal and football. At the big schools, the athletic departments are part of a cut throat business market and FB is, overwhelmingly, the primary product.

So I'll ask again. Is UCONN willing to do, within the rules, what it takes to compete in the cut throat business of college football? It's a fair question.

It's already happening. Football is taking the lead. Basketball, is and always will be the love of the long time Husky fans, but pushing the football program is priority #1.

What makes you think it's not happening? Because the whiners around here, the pundits, think that we've got a terrible football coach?

 

[Carl Spackler]

You've caught a lot of crap for this post already (and I'm sure there's more to come), but you're absolutely right. And there is already data supporting that you're right. This past recruiting class was our best on paper despite our current conference conundrum.

There are only two problems with your post; 1) people who want PP gone will never admit that he has improved recruiting, and 2) people didn't feel like reading the part where you mentioned it was short-term. Neither problem can be overcome, I'm afraid...

Thanks Dan. I'm glad somebody is paying attention. Pasqualoni's legacy at UCONN, and his legacy for college football in our part of the country in general, has nothing to do with wins and losses. Our ability to be successful in the future, hinges on our ability to establish and maintain the personal connections in recruiting that it takes to build pipelines that lead to UCONN. The beauty of our oncampus facilities, is not in what it provides for the team to practice in bad weather, it's what we can do with our campus, when it comes to recruiting entire high school and prep school football programs to have UCONN become a destination school. The more players we pump into the NFL, the better.

It would be much less important, if our recruiters, were ablt to show up on the doorstep of a kid, with the media power and the influence that wearing Big10 colors, and giving the pitch of playing in front of 100,000 people in Ohio or Michigan or Pennsylvania brings.

But we don't have that, so we need something else that works, and Pasqualoni, is one of the very few coaches left, that know what it takes, to build in this area of the country. He's got to pass that knowledge down to a younger generation of coaches, and I hope that we've got them on staff now.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Are there other coaches that can do it? Recruit to build a complete, nationally competitive division 1 football program in New England? Sure. But they have to want to come to UCONN too you know. That's a big part of the hiring process.

have a nice day all.

 

[UConnDan97]

Or......people don't want to say recruiting has improved until these kids actually see the field.

These are all opinions Dan.

Yes, these are all opinions. I've heard a lot about how stars and RR's don't matter. And yet somehow the teams with a lot of higher star rankings seem to be in the top25 every year.

At the very least, the people here can admit to Carl that third-party recruiting opinions are supporting Carl's opinion of Pasqualoni's recruiting upgrade, right? But I doubt we'll even see that...

 

[Srqhusky]

Thanks Dan. I'm glad somebody is paying attention. Pasqualoni's legacy at UCONN, and his legacy for college football in our part of the country in general, has nothing to do with wins and losses. Our ability to be successful in the future, hinges on our ability to establish and maintain the personal connections in recruiting that it takes to build pipelines that lead to UCONN. The beauty of our oncampus facilities, is not in what it provides for the team to practice in bad weather, it's what we can do with our campus, when it comes to recruiting entire high school and prep school football programs to have UCONN become a destination school. The more players we pump into the NFL, the better.

It would be much less important, if our recruiters, were ablt to show up on the doorstep of a kid, with the media power and the influence that wearing Big10 colors, and giving the pitch of playing in front of 100,000 people in Ohio or Michigan or Pennsylvania brings.

But we don't have that, so we need something else that works, and Pasqualoni, is one of the very few coaches left, that know what it takes, to build in this area of the country. He's got to pass that knowledge down to a younger generation of coaches, and I hope that we've got them on staff now.

Carl great points. Although it is debatable to what point recruiting has improved or not the man must be given credit just for keeping it on the same level and not having it drop to the bottom. This conference has been decimated like the black knight in the holy grail. We are turning in very strong recruiting classes despite this.

 

[Waquoit]

There are only two problems with your post; 1) people who want PP gone will never admit that he has improved recruiting, /quote]

I have no problem admittting that he might have improved recruiting. The concern after the last two years is his ability to translate that to wins on the field.

 

[uconndogs]

Carl great points. Although it is debatable to what point recruiting has improved or not the man must be given credit just for keeping it on the same level and not having it drop to the bottom. This conference has been decimated like the black knight in the holy grail. We are turning in very strong recruiting classes despite this.

How do we know he has improved recruiting? Virtually none of his recruits have seen the field.

I will say that getting Chandler in was a huge get.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Clueless. So many UCONN fans are just so clueless about our own football program.

Let's all just be excited for football games at Renstchler field. Can we do that? Let's focus on that. Ambrose is bringing his program to the field to open the season. Then Edsall is bringing his. Then we get Michigan. All in September before we get our last run at yet ANOTHER Big East title and a BCS game.

How are the rest of you not climbing the walls? Does anyone really think that these players and coaches aren't working their asses off in preparing for this season? How about we show them support?

I'm so psyched for football season, I don't know how I'm going to make it through the summer. I'm sure getting out on the ocean will help, and probably staying away from this website too.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Yes, these are all opinions. I've heard a lot about how stars and RR's don't matter. And yet somehow the teams with a lot of higher star rankings seem to be in the top25 every year.

At the very least, the people here can admit to Carl that third-party recruiting opinions are supporting Carl's opinion of Pasqualoni's recruiting upgrade, right? But I doubt we'll even see that...

Yes, the attacks on PP go beyond rational criticism to angry hysteria. His recruiting has been solid, given the situation he landed in. Great? No. Looking at the players leaving for the NFL suggests to me that he knows how to coach a team in practice and that players improve under him. By the way, I think this was Calhoun's strength as well and I never felt he was more than just "good" as a game coach.

Everyone screams about the poor in game performances, especially last year. But as Belichick always says, the coaches don't run the ball, throw the ball, catch the ball, tackle or block. At some point it is on them. Looking back on the season I see a team with a very good defense. So good that if they can run the ball, control it, and score even a little, and not turn it over, they win. So GDL crashes an undersized RB into the line, and when we can't run, Whitmer airs it out, and the turnovers fall like rain. Was the strategy great? No, but I do think our personnel on offense last year were a horrible match to our strong D. We needed an accurate short passer, and bruising ball carrier to complement that D. We had an inaccurate QB, who turned it over way too much and forced the ball, and a small RB that couldn't make yards after contact. The inability of the coaches to adapt to that personnel, and find a way to run a ball control offense despite them, was their biggest failure.

In 2013 I don't think you will see a wide open passing offense. I expect the passing offense to use quicker reads and shorter routes, a more a West Coast style offense. More screens and passing to the backs. Cutting down the turnovers has to be a huge priority.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Yes, the attacks on PP go beyond rational criticism to angry hysteria. His recruiting has been solid, given the situation he landed in. Great? No. Looking at the players leaving for the NFL suggests to me that he knows how to coach a team in practice and that players improve under him. By the way, I think this was Calhoun's strength as well and I never felt he was more than just "good" as a game coach.

Everyone screams about the poor in game performances, especially last year. But as Belichick always says, the coaches don't run the ball, throw the ball, catch the ball, tackle or block. At some point it is on them. Looking back on the season I see a team with a very good defense. So good that if they can run the ball, control it, and score even a little, and not turn it over, they win. So GDL crashes an undersized RB into the line, and when we can't run, Whitmer airs it out, and the turnovers fall like rain. Was the strategy great? No, but I do think our personnel on offense last year were a horrible match to our strong D. We needed an accurate short passer, and bruising ball carrier to complement that D. We had an inaccurate QB, who turned it over way too much and forced the ball, and a small RB that couldn't make yards after contact. The inability of the coaches to adapt to that personnel, and find a way to run a ball control offense despite them, was their biggest failure.

In 2013 I don't think you will see a wide open passing offense. I expect the passing offense to use quicker reads and shorter routes, a more a West Coast style offense. More screens and passing to the backs. Cutting down the turnovers has to be a huge priority.

Their biggest failure and the inability you cite was that they could only see a ball control offense. That's not how college football is played these days. Unless you have the best players (position for position) the old 1950's running game won't get it done. Passing is the great equalizer today. Get a hot QB a couple of slippery WRs and you can compete with the best. Plus it's exciting football. UConn not only had an inept offense (a liability to the defensive efforts) but it was boring. No wonder the lack of enthusiasm for this program over the past two years.

 

[CTMike]

Get a hot QB a couple of slippery WRs and you can compete with the best.

I'm in the camp that it was both the lack of talent and some poor coaching that killed us the last two years. But you can't possibly say this line with a straight face not realizing that our QBs and WRs were neither hot, nor slippery? Plus we had a line like a sieve?

 

[HuskyHawk]

Their biggest failure and the inability you cite was that they could only see a ball control offense. That's not how college football is played these days. Unless you have the best players (position for position) the old 1950's running game won't get it done. Passing is the great equalizer today. Get a hot QB a couple of slippery WRs and you can compete with the best. Plus it's exciting football. UConn not only had an inept offense (a liability to the defensive efforts) but it was boring. No wonder the lack of enthusiasm for this program over the past two years.

Interceptions were the single biggest reason we lost games last year. Throwing more, while a great idea in the abstract, was a bad idea both as implemented by our team/coaches and for that particular team. Controlled short passing attack might have worked, but with a line that couldn't pass block and a QB that forced the ball too often, interceptions killed us.