Our weak spot on offense is how to take 3rd and 3 or 4 when we are in four down territory and how to call two coherent plays. Once we get inside the opponents 45, it should be 4 down territory. Instead of trying a couple of plays that develop quickly and force the defense to read and react the coaches have long, drawn out plays that take forever to come about.
First down calls have been fine, UConn can finally execute a WR screen, there is variety in the schemes. But when UConn absolutely needs a play to keep a drive alive, the coaches bail out and bring out the Goofy play list.
I agree, except FG attempts inside 35 yds to pull you within one with 14 minutes left in the first half, you take unless you are playing the #1 ranked team or a team with a huge talent disparity. I don't have a problem with the flea flicker on the first series, I don't even have a problem kicking at the end of it. But if you are a D1 head coach, you have to recongnize we averaged about 10 yds a play on that drive. We could move the ball on them without much of a problem. So when it's 3rd and 1 and you know you are going for it on 4th, you run it twice. You don't run a negative 5 yd play and still go for it. FWIW, all these trick plays are doing the development of ST no good.
Playing for the punt from the half yard line is correct and we broke one out to the 20. Right plays, right strategy. What you don't do is keep doing it once you get to midfield. The onside kick with 7 to go was correct, the three incompletes were bad luck or lack of player execution. Let me be clear, this staff isn't P and friends by a long shot, but I don't think that should be the standard. We had two more players drafted last year and by that measuring stick we have a few more on the roster right now.
Can someone explain why we have put zero effort into special teams. We don't run anything, even basic returns. Our big leg true freshman comes up short, why are we playing him? Didn't they see this in the preseason? Is he hurt? Why can't we find 5 guys to block for extra points, why can't Puyol get the ball up, is he hurt? These are talent questions, they are coaching questions. Who is working with them on their technique? Their are a ton of little things, basic things that are being missed and it's mostly the coaches.
On the stadium side, it's clear that the operation is a bare bones, part time, intern level operation with zero interest in putting on a first class event. If there intention is to drive me into watching these games on TV, they are doing a superb job. Did the band get a 2 game penalty for high sticking? Compared to the Nova game, they barely played. And I have had it with wall of PA announcements, the malfunctioning scoreboard and the inattentive operation thereof. I've also had it with the AAC officiating, these guys are terrible and whoever is on replay duty is even worse.
Better than last year is not good enough by a long shot.
