Some player observations

[Palatine]

I re-watched the game a couple of times (it doesn't get any better) and focused on a few guys.

As a general comment, the offensive blocking was confused on many occasions. Maine blitzes got home way too often, many times with a free rusher. This needs to be a priority for Diaco.

Tommy Meyers had a very inconsistent game. He has some great blocks, and a few complete mental whiffs where he set rushers free. He has to clean that up.

Noel Thomas was a spectator on run plays. He needs to get to his man faster and with more attitude. He could have made a difference on several plays if he was a little more aggressive. If he wants to be all conference he needs to add this to his game.

Peart did very well for his first action. He physically dominated most of the game. Mentally he made mistakes like blocking the wrong guy or failing to pick up where the blitz was coming from. He will be very good.

Brice McCallister should be the starting safety. He had two pass defensed on third down where he covered like a corner.

John Green had a good night as the nickel back and the PI on him was a terrible call. He had position and the WR hit his arms.

Obi was a step slow all night. To exploit his physical skills he needs to be sharper and be ahead of the play and not behind it. He played okay. He is capable of much more.

Oh, another general comment. Junk that 3-man rush. The Maine pick up of third and 13 in the final three minutes almost cost us the game.

Lastly, Sherriff has to see Lemelle is totally uncovered in the slot and get the ball to him. This should be an automatic.

 

[JMick]

It appears we don't audible but the slot receivers were uncovered all night long. They should be running a seam or hi-lo route combination to the twins when that happens

 

[WestCoastHusky]

It appears we don't audible but the slot receivers were uncovered all night long. They should be running a seam or hi-lo route combination to the twins when that happens

True, but our QB was tucking and running way too early. BS needs to settle down a little, watch the field, before running. I love his aggressive attitude with the run, but he needs to be a QB first and foremost.

 

[JMick]

True, but our QB was tucking and running way too early. BS needs to settle down a little, watch the field, before running. I love his aggressive attitude with the run, but he needs to be a QB first and foremost.

That has nothing to do with audibles. In fact, an audible in a situation like the screenshot above turns the route into a quick hitter which is what we need more of.

 

[uconndogs]

I thought Diggs got much better as the game progressed after struggling out the gate.

I thought the OL took over the last third to quarter of the game having finally worn Maine down. Johnson and Newsome ran through some monstrous holes late in the game.

BS did not play well even though the stats say he did. He struggled making the reads and feeling the pressure. He missed some throws and some receivers that would have made this a very different game. Great attitude and toughness.

 

[uconnflyer88]

As a general comment, the offensive blocking was confused on many occasions. Maine blitzes got home way too often, many times with a free rusher. This needs to be a priority for Diaco.

View attachment 15336

While I mostly agree with this (there was definite confusion), I think it had more to do with Maine sending 8/9 rushers almost every down knowing that we were not going to pass the ball. You have 5-7 guys blocking 8-9 guys consistently and there is bound to be some confusion. I'd put it on the play calling that didn't exploit the fact that they were stacking the box with essentially the entire defense.

 

[junglehusky]

While I mostly agree with this (there was definite confusion), I think it had more to do with Maine sending 8/9 rushers almost every down knowing that we were not going to pass the ball. You have 5-7 guys blocking 8-9 guys consistently and there is bound to be some confusion. I'd put it on the play calling that didn't exploit the fact that they were stacking the box with essentially the entire defense.

So was the success on the last 2 scoring drives predicated on Maine's D pulling back a bit? If so, expect future opponents to replicate stacking the box from here on out.

 

[minidarren]

So was the success on the last 2 scoring drives predicated on Maine's D pulling back a bit? If so, expect future opponents to replicate stacking the box from here on out.

Opponents have been stacking the box against UCONN for an eternity. Scouting the team is simple when there is little chance is an aerial attack.

 

[uconnflyer88]

So was the success on the last 2 scoring drives predicated on Maine's D pulling back a bit? If so, expect future opponents to replicate stacking the box from here on out.

I think the success was a number of factors from the offense finally settling in a little bit to Maine's defenders getting tired to us actually opening up the playbook a little bit and having that threat to pass.

For some reason, it seemed that they came into the game wanting to establish the run at all costs, even when they stacked the box with 8 or 9 guys. I have a feeling that from here forward we'll pass more which will obviously cause the defense to stop stacking.

 

[Nostical]

My biggest gripe was we never blitzed. It may have been a hide the game plan maneuver but when Maine had third and long late in the game (before we blocked their field goal) we stayed back, rushed with three and the QB completed the pass for a first down in front of our deep backs. That was a scene reminiscent of Cincy last year.
Thank God, Maine's field goal kicker wasn't as good as ours.
We'll need to stay focused in our assignments against Navy's triple option but be more aggressive vs UVA, Syracuse, and especially Houston.

 

[Exit 4]

My biggest gripe was we never blitzed. It may have been a hide the game plan maneuver but when Maine had third and long late in the game (before we blocked their field goal) we stayed back, rushed with three and the QB completed the pass for a first down in front of our deep backs. That was a scene reminiscent of Cincy last year.
Thank God, Maine's field goal kicker wasn't as good as ours.
We'll need to stay focused in our assignments against Navy's triple option but be more aggressive vs UVA, Syracuse, and especially Houston.

Houston? At this point I am thinking a W against Houston means limiting them to 49 points or less while we score 10.

 

[Pudge]

Well ...

Is it on Shirreffs for targeting Noel Thomas 14 times and Mayals & Beals Zero?

I think so. Nobody quite tells him to go to #5 every damn time. When he did get to the line - a little panic'd - found Lemelle, things were good. I want to keep on beating on Verducci; but, that snapshot above shows me that everyone involved with the offense should take the easy play occasionally. If no one is on the slot, then please ... make them pay for that.

And Houston? I am not quaking. We can be a confident ballclub going there. We don't need to spot them 48.

 

[jbdphi]

My biggest gripe was we never blitzed. It may have been a hide the game plan maneuver but when Maine had third and long late in the game (before we blocked their field goal) we stayed back, rushed with three and the QB completed the pass for a first down in front of our deep backs. That was a scene reminiscent of Cincy last year.
Thank God, Maine's field goal kicker wasn't as good as ours.
We'll need to stay focused in our assignments against Navy's triple option but be more aggressive vs UVA, Syracuse, and especially Houston.

We blitzed several times, particularly on third down, and got burned for a TD on one of those occasions.

 

[kris1]

I think it had more to do with Maine sending 8/9 rushers almost every down knowing that we were not going to pass the ball. You have 5-7 guys blocking 8-9 guys consistently and there is bound to be some confusion. I'd put it on the play calling that didn't exploit the fact that they were stacking the box with essentially the entire defense.

Opponents have been stacking the box against UCONN for an eternity. Scouting the team is simple when there is little chance is an aerial attack.

Agreed....Teams have been and will continue to stack the box and dare BS to beat them with his arm. Teams also know that our OLine/TEs can be shaky in pass pro, so they will play man coverage and send more then we can block. Again, daring BS to make a quick decision against the blitz. They know he's going to tuck it at the slightest hint of pocket pressure. If he runs, they'll put a lick on him whenever the opportunity presents itself. He's taken far too many hits and I cringe every time he fights for that extra yard.

So was the success on the last 2 scoring drives predicated on Maine's D pulling back a bit? If so, expect future opponents to replicate stacking the box from here on out.

The success on the last drive IMO was absolutely due to Maine playing prevent. They didn't want to give up the big play over the top. They got away from playing 8/9 in the box. The majority of the game they played zero, man free, or two-deep man under and brought pressure with the LBs and secondary. On the last drive they went to a 3-5-3 zone scheme. BS was able to scramble for chunks with the LBs and DBs dropping into coverage. When he did keep his eyes downfield, Maine was willing to give the underneath routes (Thomas & Davis) and the WRs were able to find holes in the zone coverage (Lamelle). It also allowed the OLine to fit at the line of scrimmage on run plays getting Newsome and Johnson to the second level against a four-man rush late in the game.

 

[ZOOCONN]

I thought Diggs got much better as the game progressed after struggling out the gate.

I thought the OL took over the last third to quarter of the game having finally worn Maine down. Johnson and Newsome ran through some monstrous holes late in the game.

BS did not play well even though the stats say he did. He struggled making the reads and feeling the pressure. He missed some throws and some receivers that would have made this a very different game. Great attitude and toughness.

I agree 100% on the Diggs view, he had a rough start but recovered nicely.

 

[jackl]

True, but our QB was tucking and running way too early. BS needs to settle down a little, watch the field, before running. I love his aggressive attitude with the run, but he needs to be a QB first and foremost.

Probably why BS transferred here to get away from his slot as a Hback/fullback at NCState. They knew.

 

[noeynox]

Shireffs right now is a one, two read tops qb. Want proof? He forced a pass to Newsome on a wheel route down the sideline that was double covered from the snap. Lucky it wasnt intercepted cause Arkeel fought like hell to get his hands on the ball.

 

[noeynox]

Probably why BS transferred here to get away from his slot as a Hback/fullback at NCState. They knew.

And yet he is better than almost anything we've had here. Kid jas some warts as a QB, but things have been MUCH worse.

 

[BlueDogs]

And yet he is better than almost anything we've had here. Kid jas some warts as a QB, but things have been MUCH worse.

BS is not a bad passer. He is an average college QB (which puts him in the above average category at UConn) with better than average legs. At this point he will never see the whole field. I don't there is much to do with him other than tailor schemes around his strengths. His legs won us a game agaibst Maine thanks to sheer will power. His legs cannot win us a game against Houston. Too fast, to strong. I don't even know if true play actions under center and roll outs help. This is where Verducci better gets his act together and start earning his pay. Obviously, it starts with Oline protection, and these guys needs to have simple assignments.

 

[Marty Jackson]

True, but our QB was tucking and running way too early. BS needs to settle down a little, watch the field, before running. I love his aggressive attitude with the run, but he needs to be a QB first and foremost.

I think that's hard for him. The more success he has as a runner the more he looks to run first.

Seen it many times in games.

 

[Palatine]

BS is not a bad passer. He is an average college QB (which puts him in the above average category at UConn) with better than average legs. At this point he will never see the whole field. I don't there is much to do with him other than tailor schemes around his strengths. His legs won us a game agaibst Maine thanks to sheer will power. His legs cannot win us a game against Houston. Too fast, to strong. I don't even know if true play actions under center and roll outs help. This is where Verducci better gets his act together and start earning his pay. Obviously, it starts with Oline protection, and these guys needs to have simple assignments.

That is pretty right on. One read and run. He determines who to throw to in the huddle. If he ever starts seeing the field we will be quantumly better.

The point of about play action is another he has to work on. His play action fake is awful. It is quick and half hearted. He needs to look at film of himself handing off and tailor is fake to those standards.

 

[ctkaiser]

It's only one game of year 2 of our QB but I tend to think he is what we see. Hard to believe there haven't been attempts to reel him in from his pattern of constant quick reads and then take off running strategy. How about more designed runs, rollouts and that type of play calling. He's extremely talented as a scrambler but besides giving us our best chance to win he's also giving us our best chance to be without our best QB by exposing himself on these runs.

 

[whaler11]

Shireffs right now is a one, two read tops qb. Want proof? He forced a pass to Newsome on a wheel route down the sideline that was double covered from the snap. Lucky it wasnt intercepted cause Arkeel fought like hell to get his hands on the ball.

That was the worst decision BS made all night. That was just a brutal throw into that coverage.

 

[Excalibur]

That was the worst decision BS made all night. That was just a brutal throw into that coverage.

He practically threw it blind. The entire play moved to the right and then Shirreffs planted and threw back to the left. Have to assume that was the call (Another gadget play -- interesting that we ran 2 of them with one ending in disaster and the other nearly doing the same), but the QB has to make some effort to look at the defense.

 

[noeynox]

He practically threw it blind. The entire play moved to the right and then Shirreffs planted and threw back to the left. Have to assume that was the call (Another gadget play -- interesting that we ran 2 of them with one ending in disaster and the other nearly doing the same), but the QB has to make some effort to look at the defense.

Gadget play or not, he cant make that throw. If it was a gadget play, i dont think it was btw, that is the perfect one to tuck and run. There is only one explanation for that throw, he made up his mind where he was going with that pass pre snap come hell or highwater and there were no "reads" whatsoever. Only Newsome's effort saved a turnover.

It is one of BS shortcomings at the moment, but he is our best option by a long shot. We habe to live with those types of plays.

 

[Excalibur]

Gadget play or not, he cant make that throw. If it was a gadget play, i dont think it was btw, that is the perfect one to tuck and run. There is only one explanation for that throw, he made up his mind where he was going with that pass pre snap come hell or highwater and there were no "reads" whatsoever. Only Newsome's effort saved a turnover.

It is one of BS shortcomings at the moment, but he is our best option by a long shot. We hav e to live with those types of plays.

He actually had a WR open on the same side as his roll out. I think it was a designed "throw back" with all of the action going right and Newsome trying to leak out to the left. You can see in the screen shot that Bloom is starting to drag to the right, Thomas is opening up to the right (it was Thomas that was open), and (off screen) the wideout is running deep down the right sideline. Either way, we agree that he has to recognize that the primary option is covered and either run it or find a secondary receiver. You can see even as Shirreffs starts to roll out that two defenders have keyed in on Newsome coming out of the backfield.