So What's Next?

[BlueDogs]

Another seemingly “safe” bad hire. When your losing for 10 years you can be afraid to change paths until you find one that works.

 

[Bongo Fury]

No one has the $ for someone new.

They can always find the money

 

[uconNYC]

Can’t see turnaround happening under RE. Will be more of the same next year, so might as well change things this year. A coach winning at the MAC, CUSA,Sunbelt level fine with me. Actually think we need someone who comes from a smaller program as they will know how to be more resourceful. A big time program assistant will get frustrated quickly.

 

[hardcorehusky]

Despite what some say about Diaco, I would have liked to see a Lashlee/Diaco team. I think we’d be having a different conversation today.

Diaco was told to hire Jerry Kill and declined. Lashlee wasn't going to work with Diaco because Diaco didn't want anyone outside his circle on his staff. It was the final straw that got him fired.

 

[metsfan2323]

We need to hear from AD Dave soon (as in the next two days) otherwise silence will speak volumes.

The optimistic view on Edsall and next season is the entire defense should (hopefully) be back and we have some legit talent on offense in Ross, Drayton, Jeffries, Rose, Mensah and JZ.

I think he should get one more season unless AD Dave has an ace up his sleeve.

 

[geordi]

So, what’s next? Well, I’d say that half of us eejits on this board want Edsall fired, half want to give him at least one more year, half really don’t care as long as the entertainment value of reading the competing posts of the first two groups maintains a high level. News flash folks. It’s not only the coaches. Recruiting high potential kids to UConn is shoveling feces against the tide. We’re not tOSU, Bama, or Notre Dam-it. We’re never going to be a top 10 program. Maybe crack the top 25 for a week or two once in a while. Knute Rockne can’t do much better than that. Enjoy what we’ve got. And look forward to next year when you can ratchet up the ‘fire Randy’ invective starting after the spring game next year.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

We have plowed this ground before. Edsall stays. Doing the same thing over and over again (firing coaches over and over again after three years) and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.

So lets stick with a retread out of the 1960's. Fire him and get someone who eats, drinks, and breathes offensive football.

 

[Bubba1957]

Sometimes you have look beyond the stats.

The important role that Georgia Tech’s Tyler Davis has, and wanted

www.ajc.com

Preseason article not unlike thousands of other preseason articles. He is a fine player but Rose is better. You really think he would have made a big difference?

 

[huskysupporter]

Please fire him. Please.

 

[kris1]

Preseason article not unlike thousands of other preseason articles. He is a fine player but Rose is better. You really think he would have made a big difference?

OK

 

[temery]

Reminder: No transfer speculation.

 

[huskysupporter]

The longer we wait to fire HCRE the deeper the hole the program falls. Do the right thing.

 

[uconnfan68]

They can always find the money

Sorry, not seeing it. They would have canned to last 2 coaches earlier if they had money.

 

[uconnbill]

He isn't going anywhere, just isn't happening, after this year.

After next if they are similar results, then that is different. He will get the first crack at the independent schedule.

 

[Adios]

So, what’s next? Well, I’d say that half of us eejits on this board want Edsall fired, half want to give him at least one more year, half really don’t care as long as the entertainment value of reading the competing posts of the first two groups maintains a high level. News flash folks. It’s not only the coaches. Recruiting high potential kids to UConn is shoveling feces against the tide. We’re not tOSU, Bama, or Notre Dam-it. We’re never going to be a top 10 program. Maybe crack the top 25 for a week or two once in a while. Knute Rockne can’t do much better than that. Enjoy what we’ve got. And look forward to next year when you can ratchet up the ‘fire Randy’ invective starting after the spring game next year.

You never know. Oregon and Baylor used to reside at the bottom of their conferences for a long time.

 

[Redding Husky]

With HCRE, I see very slow improvement.

If we hire a new coach, it's going to be another Diaco fiasco based on our history.

 

[geordi]

You never know. Oregon and Baylor used to reside at the bottom of their conferences for a long time.

Yeah. But we no longer have a conference

 

[UConnDan97]

Reminder: No transfer speculation.

Are you referring to the two players I had mentioned? Well I won't bring up their names again if you prefer, but it was mentioned in the Hartford Courant that they participated in senior day activities because they weren't going to continue on. If I got the report wrong, my apologies. I actually want them to stay...

 

[Jimdish255]

I doubt Randy doesn't get another year and it's a legit thought process if you're an AD concerned about an impact on future hires. But I also feel that if a Coach is confident he can bring measurable improvement to a struggling program in 3 seasons he's not going to be overly concerned about a "quick trigger". He knows he was hired to win games.
And to anyone who thinks we would set ourselves back by firing a Coach and starting over I have to ask. Set back to where? Where are we headed now?

 

[temery]

Are you referring to the two players I had mentioned? Well I won't bring up their names again if you prefer, but it was mentioned in the Hartford Courant that they participated in senior day activities because they weren't going to continue on. If I got the report wrong, my apologies. I actually want them to stay...

It was just a general reminder to everyone.

 

[bigAbruns]

Just fire him whenever possible in the next couple of days. There will be coaches available who understand a modern approach to the game of football....that's what UConn needs now.

 

[kris1]

Preseason article not unlike thousands of other preseason articles. He is a fine player but Rose is better. You really think he would have made a big difference?

You don’t push out the kids that give their heart and sole to the program. You build it around them...Davis’ impact as a leader is bigger then statistical output.

 

[metsfan2323]

You don’t push out the kids that give their heart and sole to the program. You build it around them...Davis’ impact as a leader is bigger then statistical output.

You have evidence of a push out? More likely Davis who was a starter here received another opportunity and he decided to leave, I highly doubt he was pushed out. Rose ended up having a good year for us and is probably a legit pro prospect.

It was also well documented that the kid who went to Cincy wanted to be closer to home.

 

[Bubba1957]

You don’t push out the kids that give their heart and sole to the program. You build it around them...Davis’ impact as a leader is bigger then statistical output.

I don’t know if he was pushed or not, my point is the narrative that there was an exodus of impact players, is false. I missed your point about ND playing more P5 games. You are right but my point stands. The schedule is much more interesting (except ND).

 

[SubbaBub]

Its not. Its stuck in quicksand. It really bothers me that Edsall and some like Orlovsky were so critical of the program under Diaco. We all agree Diaco had to go but there is no defense of Edsall at this point either.

Let's not lump Edsall in with Diaco please. How many fake punts per game did we average this season?

You don’t push out the kids that give their heart and sole to the program. You build it around them...Davis’ impact as a leader is bigger then statistical output.

All this says to me is that a FB team is a single entity comprised of many different parts. You need them all working to have success. I'm happy that Tyler had a good season, that is a function of being surrounded by better players.

People are looking for chicken salad when we are cleary lacking the ingredients for said recipe at the moment.

It looks like we will have at least one serviceable QB next season.
I'd like to see a second RB emerge and wouldn't mind more power I formations if we can execute them.
I like our WR group coming back, they were the highlight on offense.
We have 35 potential TE's on the roster, we'll be fine there. I hope couple can block.
The OL will be the big ?, as it has for years. This group had it's moments this season after a couple years of being really terrible. If you want to judge Edsall, look here as this is the only group that had upperclassmen who had a more that one year in the Edsall program. RE can still make players better. Can the next group step up quickly? They'll need to.

On D, I am concerned. We are playing True/RS Freshman and Sophomores almost exclusively. These are Edsall guys mostly and they are unlikely to be replaced by new recruits over the next couple years. This is the true test of the Edsall program.

The DL needs to get stronger and learn their techniques. There hasn't been a group that's been more of a non-factor in the last 5 years (3-3-5 era is duly noted). Many of the D issues start here.

LB position has fallen the furthest, can't defend wide, can't get off blocks, can't cover. Some of blame belongs to the DL, but as a group this used to be a strength. The young guys played better, but not nearly well enough. I'd like to see a leader emerge to become the face of the defense.

The secondary has been embarrassed the last two seasons. We know the story, too young, bad reads. They won't be too young next season. They actually defended passes this year and had a few INTs. They also got burned deep at least 3-4 times a game. Eliminate that and we will have something. The personnel won't change next season. This is another test of the Edsall program. He wanted to play the young guys to get them experience. Well, next year they have it. If next October, people are still howling for Edsall to go, you can cite this as reason number one.

Our ST, seem to be in good shape. Luke will be a RS junior (he is 24, so it will likely be his last season) and Harris seems fine. Our return game in this era of fewer actual returns is also fine, though I would love to see at least one Kick Return TD next season.

We didn't hire Edsall as a game manager. We hired him to rebuild the program. Next season he will have a full roster of his guys, though most didn't get to redshirt, but it's time to see the results on the field. Road wins will be harder to come by next year so winning home games will be the litmus test on whether he continues as coach.

If I'm Randy, I make darn sure I find a couple of OL and LB whether they are on the roster or in the transfer market that will contribute next season. I also lock the DB's in the film room and both lines in the weight room.

Is it weird that I'm more excited for next season than I was for this season?

 

[kris1]

You have evidence of a push out? More likely Davis who was a starter here received another opportunity and he decided to leave, I highly doubt he was pushed out. Rose ended up having a good year for us and is probably a legit pro prospect.

It was also well documented that the kid who went to Cincy wanted to be closer to home.

Is there evidence Davis wasn’t???
It’s been pretty well documented that Edsall has “his guys”. Conversation with Arkeel confirm that to be true.

 

[blue93]

I hope DB has a finger on the pulse of the locker room. We can’t afford an exodus of guys, whether Randy is kept or let go. At some point we need to stop relying on freshmen and sophomores every year.

I think at a minimum, the OC position needs to be re-evaluated. Guiffre was less than stellar as a play caller and his unit was the biggest underperformer this year IMO. He was adequate as a bandaid fix, but he can’t be the future.

 

[huskymedic]

You have evidence of a push out? More likely Davis who was a starter here received another opportunity and he decided to leave, I highly doubt he was pushed out.

Is there evidence Davis wasn’t???

Might be worth a read... Remember Davis was part of Edsall’s Leadership Council. The transfer seemed more a life choice than a football choice and after the swirling 4 years he had in Storrs it was his call.

 

[weyuo]

The thing that really bugs me is how UConn can play lights out good football in most of the first quarters this year and then the wheels come off and by the fourth quarter you could see guys phoning it in. I know depth is still an issue and the team is still pretty young as a whole but these guys are for the most part in their teens or very early 20's. They can't go four quarters?

 

[ktuck911]

Let's not lump Edsall in with Diaco please. How many fake punts per game did we average this season?




All this says to me is that a FB team is a single entity comprised of many different parts. You need them all working to have success. I'm happy that Tyler had a good season, that is a function of being surrounded by better players.

People are looking for chicken salad when we are cleary lacking the ingredients for said recipe at the moment.

It looks like we will have at least one serviceable QB next season.
I'd like to see a second RB emerge and wouldn't mind more power I formations if we can execute them.
I like our WR group coming back, they were the highlight on offense.
We have 35 potential TE's on the roster, we'll be fine there. I hope couple can block.
The OL will be the big ?, as it has for years. This group had it's moments this season after a couple years of being really terrible. If you want to judge Edsall, look here as this is the only group that had upperclassmen who had a more that one year in the Edsall program. RE can still make players better. Can the next group step up quickly? They'll need to.

On D, I am concerned. We are playing True/RS Freshman and Sophomores almost exclusively. These are Edsall guys mostly and they are unlikely to be replaced by new recruits over the next couple years. This is the true test of the Edsall program.

The DL needs to get stronger and learn their techniques. There hasn't been a group that's been more of a non-factor in the last 5 years (3-3-5 era is duly noted). Many of the D issues start here.

LB position has fallen the furthest, can't defend wide, can't get off blocks, can't cover. Some of blame belongs to the DL, but as a group this used to be a strength. The young guys played better, but not nearly well enough. I'd like to see a leader emerge to become the face of the defense.

The secondary has been embarrassed the last two seasons. We know the story, too young, bad reads. They won't be too young next season. They actually defended passes this year and had a few INTs. They also got burned deep at least 3-4 times a game. Eliminate that and we will have something. The personnel won't change next season. This is another test of the Edsall program. He wanted to play the young guys to get them experience. Well, next year they have it. If next October, people are still howling for Edsall to go, you can cite this as reason number one.

Our ST, seem to be in good shape. Luke will be a RS junior (he is 24, so it will likely be his last season) and Harris seems fine. Our return game in this era of fewer actual returns is also fine, though I would love to see at least one Kick Return TD next season.

We didn't hire Edsall as a game manager. We hired him to rebuild the program. Next season he will have a full roster of his guys, though most didn't get to redshirt, but it's time to see the results on the field. Road wins will be harder to come by next year so winning home games will be the litmus test on whether he continues as coach.

If I'm Randy, I make darn sure I find a couple of OL and LB whether they are on the roster or in the transfer market that will contribute next season. I also lock the DB's in the film room and both lines in the weight room.

Is it weird that I'm more excited for next season than I was for this season?

We need another DT to add to that rotation too, or hope someone we already have makes a leap fwd and help provide adequate depth. That and a true edge rusher with speed.
Lastly, we need guys that can simply TACKLE.