The defense has given up a TD on every overtime possession this year. | The Boneyard

The defense has given up a TD on every overtime possession this year.

Palatine

Palatine

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Every single one of the four possessions by our opponents, 1 by Syracuse, 1 by Delaware, 2 by Rice, have resulted in our defense allowing a TD.

As pathetic as this is, it suggests after our TD in the first overtime at Rice, we should have gone for 2 rather than kicking the extra point and going into a second overtime.

See you at the Rent next weekend.
 
Palatine said:
Every single one of the four possessions by our opponents, 1 by Syracuse, 1 by Delaware, 2 by Rice, have resulted in our defense allowing a TD.

As pathetic as this is, it suggests after our TD in the first overtime at Rice, we should have gone for 2 rather than kicking the extra point and going into a second overtime.

See you at the Rent next weekend.
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So knowing this you choose to not go for 2 and give Rice a chance to do the exact same thing again. Nothing that happened during the entire game indicated that a different result was likely. Nothing.
 
JM is rapidly creating the impression that he is approaching his glass ceiling, or he's already there. he needs to sell us again on himself... that is, if he wants the job bad enough, still.
 
Defense can’t stop anyone, yet in game decisions are made as if they can. Punting on 4th and short, not going for 2 in OT, safe throws in the flat on 3rd and long, kneeling just before the half instead of throwing it into the end zone. Instead of rolling the dice with our O, which is explosive, we place it in the hands of our D, which is anemic.
 
Milo65 said:
Defense can’t stop anyone, yet in game decisions are made as if they can. Punting on 4th and short, not going for 2 in OT, safe throws in the flat on 3rd and long, kneeling just before the half instead of throwing it into the end zone. Instead of rolling the dice with our O, which is explosive, we place it in the hands of our D, which is anemic.
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That’s my thought exactly. Second half play calling on offense was atrocious, particularly when the defense was actually getting off the field the first few drives after half. Why we weren’t going aggressive to try to put the game out of reach is beyond me, especially when everyone knows our defense is susceptible. Would’ve forced Rice to start passing the ball too!
 
The offense has averaged 31 points on the road in our three OT losses. If the defense was upgraded to meh we’d be 8-0.

The offense has been off at times, but our major troubles are 100% on the defensive side of the ball. Just last year none of us would have dreamed of having a passing game like we do this season. If we could combine last year’s D with this year’s offense then UConn is a top 25 team.
 
NIT88 said:
The offense has averaged 31 points on the road in our three OT losses. If the defense was upgraded to meh we’d be 8-0.

The offense has been off at times, but our major troubles are 100% on the defensive side of the ball. Just last year none of us would have dreamed of having a passing game like we do this season. If we could combine last year’s D with this year’s offense then UConn is a top 25 team.
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What does the passing game and great offense do when it's really needed?

We had a 21-17 lead at the half. The game was 24-24 going into OT.

The offense failed in the 2nd half. They had numerous chances to expand the lead or take the lead again. They scored 3 points. They also could have made clinching plays vs Syracuse and Delaware and didn't. Yeah the D has been the story. But it's not the only reason we lost this game today.
 
RitzLuce1 said:
What does the passing game and great offense do when it's really needed?

We had a 21-17 lead at the half. The game was 24-24 going into OT.

The offense failed in the 2nd half. They had numerous chances to expand the lead or take the lead again. They scored 3 points. They also could have made clinching plays vs Syracuse and Delaware and didn't. Yeah the D has been the story. But it's not the only reason we lost this game today.
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No doubt the offense has had lapses, and play calling has been frustrating. My point is just that we are top 30 in most offensive categories, but few offenses can overcome this defense. I think some of the offensive lapses could be due to the pressure of having to carry the team. It wares on a team. You pair an average D with this offense and we are 8-0.
 
Jetskies said:
JM is rapidly creating the impression that he is approaching his glass ceiling, or he's already there. he needs to sell us again on himself... that is, if he wants the job bad enough, still.
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JM’s career has always been an 7,8 win max glass ceiling guy. He was 46-30 at UCLA. He’s a fine coach and glad to have him, but make no mistake he isn’t creating miracle one loss/undefeated seasons. If you can’t run deep with this schedule, things are not as rosey as they think. His staff is inconsistent and can’t put together solid end to end games. I
 
Jimdish255 said:
So knowing this you choose to not go for 2 and give Rice a chance to do the exact same thing again. Nothing that happened during the entire game indicated that a different result was likely. Nothing.
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Rice scored, kicked the extra point.
We scored. So if we convert the two point conversion, we win, our defense does NOT have to take the field again.

This is not conventional nor is it good analytics in general.
However, it puts the game in the hands of the offense -- not the defense.
 
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Inability to close out followed by 3 losses in OT certainly says something about mindset. Not sure what, but whatever it is it isn’t good. There are too many players shrinking in the moment. In any case, it doesn’t matter. The whatever opportunity we had to show some separation from the rest of the G5 c+ students disappeared. Opportunity squandered is our motto.
 
What year was the record setting terrible defense? 2019? I am pretty sure I played a half at corner that year. We aren't that bad defensively, yet, but we are making a run at it.
 
I think the huge overhaul/turnover on D from last year Is rearing its ugly head. Cohesion ain't there. Those guys don't truly get each other on the field of battle (not talking about practice where itlooks a little better I'm sure).
Talent is there, but experience playing with one another...it shows...it actually shows early in games as well as OT. We can't stop anybody on 3rd down early in games none whatsoever...

That said, I still like where we're headed. Just can't get our hopes up too high for this year's squad. Let's get our bowl eligibility and then go from there.
 
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ktuck911 said:
I think the huge overhaul/turnover on D from last year I rearing its ugly head. Cohesion ain't there. Those guys don't truly get each other on the field of battle (not talking about practice where itlooks a little better I'm sure).
Talent is there, but experience playing with one another...it shows...it actually shows early in games as well as OT. We can't stop anybody on 3rd down early in games none whatsoever...

That said, I still like where we're headed. Just can't get our hopes up too high for this year's squad. Let's get our bowl eligibility and then go from there.
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Agree with D assessment, but concern is that the turnover this year equal to what it was last year. May be an annual exercise. Something has to change in order for us to stabilize defense year to year.

Offense has to operate full throttle all the time, am worried that the combo of Fagnano Bell will not be remotely close to being replaced.
 
We will not replace Fagnano to Bell. This is a special era by our standards.

But we will be fine offensively -- we have other guys and we will run a different offense around those guys.
 
nelsonmuntz said:
What year was the record setting terrible defense? 2019? I am pretty sure I played a half at corner that year. We aren't that bad defensively, yet, but we are making a run at it.
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It was 2018 and we gave up what was an NCAA record 50.4 points per game. This year's defense is bad, even non-existent at key times, but they've had their moments and are nowhere near as ridiculous as 2018.
 
BugsyCT said:
It was 2018 and we gave up what was an NCAA record 50.4 points per game. This year's defense is bad, even non-existent at key times, but they've had their moments and are nowhere near as ridiculous as 2018.
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100%. Way more talent than the 2018 squad whe we nothing but fresh out of HS, physically under developed kids playing major minutes.
 

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