The improvement is obvious

[Nostical]

It's pretty obvious that the staff feels limited by their current talent level.

I think you have the problem reversed.

 

[UCFBfan]

Team is still learning how to win.

I just don't buy this expression anymore. It especially doesn't apply to yesterday. It might work in some close games where we make dumb mistakes, but yesterday, and even against USF, we were just taken out. We were in it for 2 and a half quarters against USF and then we just folded up. There was no "learning how to win" yesterday. It was a complete dismantling. I'm not taking this out on you Dooley because lots of posters throw this expression around but I'm getting sick of it.

I know 4 wins was the reality this year but it seems we're moving away from the other part of that 4 win expectation, staying competitive in loses. Yesterday was not sticking to that and after the way the USF game went in the second half after they scored to go up for good, it's starting to build into a pattern that's concerning. Hopefully we bounce back against ECU.

 

[Nostical]

I keep seeing this. It's your false rationale.
Hermann could not do in New England what he can easily do in Houston.

Sorry but here are some facts. None of Hermann's recruits (in his first year)--no true freshmen--are even playing. He's coaching what he inherited--at a higher level than we are. I ask you again. Would Diaco have this same Houston team at 7-0? Would Herman have us at 3-5? This is all opinion. Mine is that our coaches have let this team down.

 

[Dooley]

I just don't buy this expression anymore. It especially doesn't apply to yesterday. It might work in some close games where we make dumb mistakes, but yesterday, and even against USF, we were just taken out. We were in it for 2 and a half quarters against USF and then we just folded up. There was no "learning how to win" yesterday. It was a complete dismantling. I'm not taking this out on you Dooley because lots of posters throw this expression around but I'm getting sick of it.

I know 4 wins was the reality this year but it seems we're moving away from the other part of that 4 win expectation, staying competitive in loses. Yesterday was not sticking to that and after the way the USF game went in the second half after they scored to go up for good, it's starting to build into a pattern that's concerning. Hopefully we bounce back against ECU.

I agree that yesterday was a complete dismantling. There was absolutely nothing close about yesterday whatsoever. My "learning to win" statement was directed more at the "cupboard is/isn't bare" debate. Had we pulled out a W against USF, a game that we should have won given the 500+ yards of offense we amassed, then yesterday might not have been so bad. Or a W in Missouri - same thing. If we're sitting at 4, or even 5, wins before yesterday, then a lot more of us would be able to brush off yesterday as just being one bad game. But instead, yesterday pretty much sealed the deal on not making a bowl game - although that hope was probably more realistically lost after our USF loss.

Learning to win applies to everyone in the program: coaches and players. We are not going to win by paying incredibly zone coverage like we did yesterday. We won't beat anyone left on our schedule playing that soft. Hopefully the coaches will adjust the schemes and employ more of an aggressive style defense going forward and our players respond. Playing so soft sends a message to our players that we don't believe we can win, we are just hoping that the other team makes mistakes so we can keep it close. That attitude has to stop now. As a coaching staff, you have to know that Cincinnati thrives on their passing game and giving a QB that much time in that soft of coverage is a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[whaler11]

Hermann took over a roster so good that THE QUARTERBACK WHO LOST THE JOB TRANSFERRED TO MICHIGAN.

Comparing what Diaco took over compared to Houston is so far beyond insanity it's incredible.

 

[whaler11]

Houston went 8-5 and 8-5 and beat Pitt last year in a bowl game. What planet are some of you from?

 

[Nostical]

Playing so soft sends a message to our players that we don't believe we can win, we are just hoping that the other team makes mistakes so we can keep it close. That attitude has to stop now.

Absolutely, right on the money. I'd rather go down to Cincy playing press coverage and trying a few blitzes than laying back and getting beetch slapped anyway. Our attitude and swagger is phony. We jump around pre-game and yet stay tentative throughout. Let the big dogs run!! They might chase a few stray cars -but they also may catch a few stray cats.

 

[Dooley]

Comparing Houston and UConn is a complete non-starter. A better comparison would be to compare UConn to Memphis. Fuente won 4 games in year 1; 3 games in year 2 and then took off in year 3 and this year. I don't think we have 10 wins in us next year, but the floor expectation should be 6-7 wins. Anything less than 6 wins should mean that Warde will sift through the Classifieds.

 

[Pudge]

Sorry but here are some facts. None of Hermann's recruits (in his first year)--no true freshmen--are even playing. He's coaching what he inherited--at a higher level than we are. I ask you again. Would Diaco have this same Houston team at 7-0? Would Herman have us at 3-5? This is all opinion. Mine is that our coaches have let this team down.

Answer:

No.

Hermann has done a phenomenal job with what was left him. (More than PP ... But that's another point). I guess I'd be hard pressed to see anyone else do what Hermann is doing in 2015. But both Briles & Sumlin did something similar. (You'd have to ask why Levine failed?)

And ... Contrary to your wet dreams ... Tom Hermann was not coming to UConn no way/no how.

No.

I'd go in more detail. But the very nature of CFB today is making me say that a NEW ENGLAND program isn't going to be easy. I'd say 3-5 with the schedule we've had is pro Forma Maybe one more win.

Whipple? I'd say I'd agree that he has brought a bunch of disparate parts to a far higher level. That's true. Call me crazy ... I'd still take Diaco over Whipple on a 5 year arc. Knowing everything.

 

[UConnDan97]

Hermann took over a roster so good that THE QUARTERBACK WHO LOST THE JOB TRANSFERRED TO MICHIGAN.

Comparing what Diaco took over compared to Houston is so far beyond insanity it's incredible.

The coach that I'd really like to trade for on the Houston staff has a name that rhymes with "Modd Jorlando". The dude makes winning defenses wherever he goes, including Utah State. Houston has the #28 defense right now, and #9 against the run. That's really impressive when you consider that they give the ball back to the opposing offense every 2 minutes after they score. I would love to see him back in a UConn jacket again...

 

[blue93]

You guys need to step off the ledge. A lot of people said going into this season that a five win season would be acceptable. We can still accomplish that.

Has the coaching been beyond questionable? Of course it has. But this is still a young team. I'm trying to stay optimistic for the future. A loss to a team that we expected to beat us pretty badly is not going to have me calling for heads to roll. The talent is clearly there. We need to be able to put it all together, coaching included.

 

[businesslawyer]

You guys need to step off the ledge. A lot of people said going into this season that a five win season would be acceptable. We can still accomplish that.

Has the coaching been beyond questionable? Of course it has. But this is still a young team. I'm trying to stay optimistic for the future. A loss to a team that we expected to beat us pretty badly is not going to have me calling for heads to roll. The talent is clearly there. We need to be able to put it all together, coaching included.

Acceptable? Unfortunately, many of us thought it was unduly optimistic.

 

[Stray_Dog]

I'm a half glass full kinda guy. We lost to Cincy at home 41-0 last year. This year, we only lost 37-13 on the road. Give it 3 more years and we'll get there!!!

OMG!!!

 

[J187Money]

Sorry but here are some facts. None of Hermann's recruits (in his first year)--no true freshmen--are even playing. He's coaching what he inherited--at a higher level than we are. I ask you again. Would Diaco have this same Houston team at 7-0? Would Herman have us at 3-5? This is all opinion. Mine is that our coaches have let this team down.

He has Greg Ward and we don't. So I'm not sure.

 

[whaler11]

Back to original post: UConn leads the AAC in takeaways.

 

[hardcorehusky]

I say to myself- we are sophomores and freshman on offense and we will be better. Defensively, other than Campenni, I am not concerned by the other seniors leaving.
There has been some improvement over last year, but not enough to win games. And worse, the game plans have devolved and other teams have figured us out.

I keep going back to Edsall and when a Dan Orlovski sophomore year team was 2-6 and then went on a roll to finish 6-6. The light went on. Here, the light seems to have gone off. I hope we don't skid the rest of the way or next year, 20K will be the home attendance high with Syracuse and Virginia coming here!!

 

[Chief00]

There is a fairly well established body of work that Diaco isn't a good head coach game coach. I do like his positive approach and not throwing players under the bus. I have never been a fan of bend but not break defense except situational. The truth is they nearly always break. Football is a mix of discipline and aggressiveness. We have no pass rush so a good DC would try to manufacture one at times.

 

[uconnell]

Not to me. But to a lot of people on this board.

BTW, whoever made the decision, coming into this game, playing a QB that had been knocked out of two games this year, and decided the best way to win was to rush three guys and let him get comfortable in the pocket -- well, whoever decided that is an idiot.

Not that that dopey defensive game plan decided the game. We were outmanned, outplayed and out coached.

But...not pressuring a QB who had been hurt and had low confidence coming into the game, well.,,not really a brilliant defensive game plan.

Anyhow, how has this team improved over Pasqualoni? -Seriously?

I like Diaco, could not stand Pasqualoni. I think that Diaco will get this team to learn to play to win. Pasqualoni&. Friend were just collecting pay checks, I think between PP and GDL they drained the teams confidence.

 

[Pudge]

I say to myself- we are sophomores and freshman on offense and we will be better. Defensively, other than Campenni, I am not concerned by the other seniors leaving.
There has been some improvement over last year, but not enough to win games. And worse, the game plans have devolved and other teams have figured us out.

I keep going back to Edsall and when a Dan Orlovski sophomore year team was 2-6 and then went on a roll to finish 6-6. The light went on. Here, the light seems to have gone off. I hope we don't skid the rest of the way or next year, 20K will be the home attendance high with Syracuse and Virginia coming here!!

ahhh ... lights went on in Game 9 with 4 to go. Let's see then.

 

[uconnell]

I keep seeing this. It's your false rationale.

TEXAS. Hermann could not do in New England what he can easily do in Houston. Simply a good fit considering his background as a successful HS coach in Texas and then a variety of promotions (in Texas first). How can you possibly think you can replicate that in the Northeast? I understand: You are discouraged. Dismayed. Disappointed.

This isn't Texas where you are referencing. This isn't NFL or Fantasy; you can easily plug 6-4 WRs in with a troubled past. This is a University that wants Student-Athletes; did you check the number of JCs on Cincinnati's roster?

I will argue til I am BLUE'r than our National Flag Blue. We have seen improvement. What else could be done? If I had all the resources necessary: I would elevate NE prep schools to be feeders for UConn. Throw cash. (*boosters Nostical-like) I would push the HS all over NE to get their kids into UConn summer. etc etc

Elsewhere, YOU can find where I outlined what I didn't like yesterday. It ain't an easy fix.

Does anyone think that a conference that is thinking of adding a team take into consideration how many JCs play on that team? I think they want a winning team (See Cincy).they may brag about academics ( see ACC ). And then they take the Ville.

 

[Pudge]

Does anyone think that a conference that is thinking of adding a team take into consideration how many JCs play on that team? I think they want a winning team (See Cincy).they may brag about academics ( see ACC ). And then they take the Ville.

Actually, the answer is mixed.

B1G is obviously expanding with an eye on academics and a full Branded State University with research muscle; they need to play decent football. (see Maryland & Rutgers). On the other hand ... the B12 mandate are things that move the needle to higher dollars in their TV contract in the very next few years; and therefore, they can't put together any mix that is attractive because their per school share doesn't rise with the incremental dollars. ACC went for Past success in Football (and that included Ben Schwartzwalder from 1957); I think the ACC has proven that it lacked strategic wisdom as some of their takes now are not killer additives to the TV contract or a prospective network. Pac12 resembles the B1G (meaning San Diego State, Boise and the Nevada schools are screwed forever). The SEC could be hyper selective and, while certainly Football pressed, they were able to offer superlative deals to Texas A&M, Missouri and will have that for any future.

If we want to get into the B1G (*YESSS), we keep building our Brand and (in football) that means not reaching for too many marginal sourced players. That would diminish us in some eyes.

 

[Tdaley]

the staff definitely has to their fair share of blame but i honestly think on the offensive side ts hard for them to put in a well structured offense when we dont have good players right now. our o line is better than it was but its bad. shirreffs will be good eventually i believe and isnt bad now but hes very inexperienced especially in the pocket which can kill drives especially when he takes off and tries to run like a fullback. our only good receivers besides noel thomas are all true freshman, shirreffs sometimes has trouble identifying the tight ends unless theyre way up field. and the coaching staff cant control that we keep giving up the ball inside the 25 yard line. shirreffs fumbled around the 27 after we came right now the field and we gave up atleast 3 points there possibly 7. we had the penalty at the 1 yard line which cost us 4 more points. and multiple other penalties like 2 men in motion which is just confusion by players. on the defensive side i think the coaches definitely need to make adjustments because we are running a defense that we dont have the personnel for. its a well thought out defense but we dont have very good coverage by our dbacks nor linebackers so we cant afford to sit off the line and let guys have space to get open. itd be more useful playing press coverage and letting the linebackers blitz because they cant make tackles anyways so the safeties have to make all of the tackles 10 yards down the field. so its impossible to run diacos defense right now. maybe its smart to implement it sooner rather than later but weve been burned the past few weeks as we will by any team with big and athletic recievers

This may be a worthwhile debate on the boneyard about our defense. Do we have the talent or likely to get the talent to run the defensive schemes that Diaco wants to run? If not, then what kind of defense should we be employing? Edsall's teams had a lot of trouble with high powered offensive teams that had speed like West Virginia and Cincinnati etc. and those Connecticut teams never blitzed. Why, because as we were told many times by Edsall, we didn't have the personal. I'm not sure this team has that personal yet. Don Brown was coordinator that was very popular with the fans here but he also had Sio Moore and T Williams chasing down the other teams quarterback. Everyone agrees that we need to put more pressure on the other team's quarterback. The question is how do we do it? When we rush 4 we get very little pressure. If you send to extra linebacker in on a pass rush( for those that can't count thats now 5 guys leaving only 6 in coverage) and the other team picks up the extra pass rusher and burns us for big pass play then what have you accomplished? Remember which 6 guys would be in coverage. I love our cornerbacks but neither safety nor any of our linebackers distinguishes themselves in pass coverage. Thats one of the reasons we use a lot of zone coverage. Which player should we sending on a blitz who will get there before the other team's quarterback reads the blitz and finds the open receiver. Although we were rushing 3 against Cincinnati at times, most the time we rush at least 4 guys and yet we have very few sacks to show for it. We got some hitters in our linebacker group but none of them are especially fast. None of them have proved to be an effective pass rusher. Further, our defensive ends are more run stoppers and not very good pass rushers. Fatukkasi, Ormsby and Carezola have shown signs that they could develop into good pass rushers but they are not there yet. I'm not sure changing the defensive schemes would have help at all. Better tackling and better effort by our defensive was probably our only hope in the Cincinnati game. Diaco and Poindexter are in a tough spot. Until they develop a defensive line and linebackers who can get great pressure on the quarterback and/or linebackers who are great pass coverage ( or a secondary that is great in man coverage) we are going to struggle with great passing teams. Hell, we struggled against USF. Diaco has a long ways to go but I disagree with those who think its the offensive and defensive schemes that is holding this team back. In the end it will come down to the quality of recruits and Diaco's ability to develop that talent. Time will tell.

 

[Pudge]

This may be a worthwhile debate on the boneyard about our defense. Do we have the talent or likely to get the talent to run the defensive schemes that Diaco wants to run? If not, then what kind of defense should we be employing? Edsall's teams had a lot of trouble with high powered offensive teams that had speed like West Virginia and Cincinnati etc. and those Connecticut teams never blitzed. Why, because as we were told many times by Edsall, we didn't have the personal. I'm not sure this team has that personal yet. Don Brown was coordinator that was very popular with the fans here but he also had Sio Moore and T Williams chasing down the other teams quarterback. Everyone agrees that we need to put more pressure on the other team's quarterback. The question is how do we do it? When we rush 4 we get very little pressure. If you send to extra linebacker in on a pass rush( for those that can't count thats now 5 guys leaving only 6 in coverage) and the other team picks up the extra pass rusher and burns us for big pass play then what have you accomplished? Remember which 6 guys would be in coverage. I love our cornerbacks but neither safety nor any of our linebackers distinguishes themselves in pass coverage. Thats one of the reasons we use a lot of zone coverage. Which player should we sending on a blitz who will get there before the other team's quarterback reads the blitz and finds the open receiver. Although we were rushing 3 against Cincinnati at times, most the time we rush at least 4 guys and yet we have very few sacks to show for it. We got some hitters in our linebacker group but none of them are especially fast. None of them have proved to be an effective pass rusher. Further, our defensive ends are more run stoppers and not very good pass rushers. Fatukkasi, Ormsby and Carezola have shown signs that they could develop into good pass rushers but they are not there yet. I'm not sure changing the defensive schemes would have help at all. Better tackling and better effort by our defensive was probably our only hope in the Cincinnati game. Diaco and Poindexter are in a tough spot. Until they develop a defensive line and linebackers who can get great pressure on the quarterback and/or linebackers who are great pass coverage ( or a secondary that is great in man coverage) we are going to struggle with great passing teams. Hell, we struggled against USF. Diaco has a long ways to go but I disagree with those who think its the offensive and defensive schemes that is holding this team back. In the end it will come down to the quality of recruits and Diaco's ability to develop that talent. Time will tell.

Remember what WE didn't like about Don Brown? Yes. We had way too many 3rd and Longs converted in that period. You need all of the components and depth to be good. And, knock on wood, that Cincinnati team has lost 4 defensive starters. We haven't.

 

[freescooter]

Really good defenses in my view start with linebackers. Even though the middle linebacker isn't the position it was back in the day having a group with multiple skills and speed is critical. I'm not sure that we have guys with the speed or the ability to cover in the passing game. We really need an upgrade here