The View From Section 241 — Liberty

[businesslawyer]

Which was somewhat strange since Edsall 1 was noted for how well he DEVELOPED guys who were too raw for the higher rated programs. But I put some of that at least on the assistants he could get during his second run. He had a great offensive line coach in his first run. 2nd time not as much. Same with DC, and he had several very good OCs in his first run. 2nd not so much. I don’t know how much of that was on Edsall and how much was on the AD trying to do this on the cheap. And I am told by someone who is an Edsall friend that he was livid over the move to independence. It is possible he just said the hell with it.

I don’t have any inside information, and nothing excuses how completely and thoroughly the second Edsall regime failed. But if I had to guess, I would guess your last two sentences probably nail it. To be withdrawn from a conference without even having been consulted, he probably just quit. But please be clear — that is not an excuse and, while you’re taking a pay check, isn’t acceptable.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

I mean the majority of the players on the roster were recruited by him. Watts, Yates, Durante Jones, J. Mitchell. Swenson was a Diaco recruit. He recruited some good players. But you also have coach them.

Sure, Edsall recruited Watts, Mitchell, Jones. Good players, but he had 4 years to improve a team that was basically an FCS team talent and skill wise, and he barely budged the needle, if at all. I mean RE 2.0 was a disaster, as was his stint at Maryland. Please preface what I’m saying here with my previous post. Compare all that with his recruiting and coaching with RE 1.0 where he sent 22 players on to the NFL and you’re comparing an ant hill to K2. From the Fiesta Bowl to his time after Maryland, something changed in the coach and the man. I mean 3 or 4 wins in 4 years, getting shellacked by Holy Cross, he was done as a coach and I’ve yet to talk to someone who knows why. Not sure what happened at Maryland but I did hear the players didn’t like him.

 

[Guru13]

Sure, Edsall recruited Watts, Mitchell, Jones. Good players, but he had 4 years to improve a team that was basically an FCS team talent and skill wise, and he barely budged the needle, if at all. I mean RE 2.0 was a disaster, as was his stint at Maryland. Please preface what I’m saying here with my previous post. Compare all that with his recruiting and coaching with RE 1.0 where he sent 22 players on to the NFL and you’re comparing an ant hill to K2. From the Fiesta Bowl to his time after Maryland, something changed in the coach and the man. I mean 3 or 4 wins in 4 years, getting shellacked by Holy Cross, he was done as a coach and I’ve yet to talk to someone who knows why. Not sure what happened at Maryland but I did hear the players didn’t like him.

I am not sure where the FCS talent stems from but according to Rivals the Uconn recruiting ranks were
2015-99
2016-NR
2017-89
2018-89
2019- NR
2020-79
2021-86

If Mora can turn most of Edsall roster to be at 6-5 currently then it pours a lot on coaching because I only count 5 total guys who Mora brought in that are starting. Those 4 years Edsall had, he couldn't develop the roster. Also have to take account into how young the roster was because Edsall did not bother replacing a lot of guys he booted out with talent from the transfer portal because he felt portal guys had some type of "entitlement".

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

I am not sure where the FCS talent stems from but according to Rivals the Uconn recruiting ranks were
2015-99
2016-NR
2017-89
2018-89
2019- NR
2020-79
2021-86

If Mora can turn most of Edsall roster to be at 6-5 currently then it pours a lot on coaching because I only count 5 total guys who Mora brought in that are starting. Those 4 years Edsall had, he couldn't develop the roster. Also have to take account into how young the roster was because Edsall did not bother replacing a lot of guys he booted out with talent from the transfer portal because he felt portal guys had some type of "entitlement".

What's shocking is that Edsall couldn't even field a good FCS team let alone a respectable FBS team.

 

[noeynox]

I am not sure where the FCS talent stems from but according to Rivals the Uconn recruiting ranks were
2015-99
2016-NR
2017-89
2018-89
2019- NR
2020-79
2021-86

If Mora can turn most of Edsall roster to be at 6-5 currently then it pours a lot on coaching because I only count 5 total guys who Mora brought in that are starting. Those 4 years Edsall had, he couldn't develop the roster. Also have to take account into how young the roster was because Edsall did not bother replacing a lot of guys he booted out with talent from the transfer portal because he felt portal guys had some type of "entitlement".

Even Victor Rosa was an Edsall recruit. Who knows the reason, but the man just didn't look like someone trying to win games. Even still, the results this year indicate he was finding good players. Our DL manhandled BCs OL, who played well this week against NC State. Our OL this week didn't give up a sack after to Liberty after I watched them harass the crap out of Arkansas QB. He left decent talent here. But don't take it from me, Mora and Charlton said the same thing.

 

[huskyblooz]

I knew we were toast, when coming off the COVID year, Edsall said that the players had 2 years to learn the scheme.
Well, the schemes didnt work before, you stubborn old ****

 

[giddyup]

The remarkable work is winning 5 of 6 after getting obliterated 3 weeks in a row. It would have been so easy for the team to tank. Instead, they have gotten stronger week over week. They believe they can beat people, and that makes a huge difference.

 

[freescooter]

I don’t have any inside information, and nothing excuses how completely and thoroughly the second Edsall regime failed. But if I had to guess, I would guess your last two sentences probably nail it. To be withdrawn from a conference without even having been consulted, he probably just quit. But please be clear — that is not an excuse and, while you’re taking a pay check, isn’t acceptable.

Not excusing it. I agree with you completely. Just reporting what I have heard.

 

[Nostical]

Burns is just solid. Runs hard, makes great cuts and protects the ball. Rosa is not going down on the first hit.

We talked about Coach Sammis and the improvement in the O line. Now throw in RB coach Barthel. The run game has been a key for us and these coaches got the most out of our players. Someone mentioned tackling had vastly improved—that’s coaching. And the comment by one of our posters about how the players “still believed” even after the 3 shellackings—that’s a testament to HC Mora. Like at Kansas, it’s amazing to see how the right coach can work wonders and the wrong coach can keep you buried for years.
Unlike in prior years this team does not go down “on the first hit”.

 

[Nostical]

The line against Army, to me, is absurd. I don’t see why anyone thinks Army is going to beat us handily.

Vegas isn’t just analyzing the admittedly weak computer models. They’re also factoring in a potential letdown by UConn after bowl eligibility euphoria and the heart of an Army team playing at home for the last time this year after a disappointing season. The key to this game, more than us coping with the triple option is whether Mora can convince the players about the urgency to win and be a 7-5 team—to continue shocking the football media, improve our Bowl prospects, and raising their own profiles. If he can, we’ll win. I think he can. Take the points.

 

[Bubba1957]

Edsall (and Cory) recruited much better than Diaco. My seats were behind the bench and you could easily see better athletes were committing. I posted about it a number of times. One of the reasons I thought they would start winning (I was wrong).
The coaching and schemas were just bad. The running game had one play left or right. Took forever to develop and was easy to plan for. Contrast to this years staff where they run multiple formations (that diamond one is cool) and have a mixture of quick hitters, stretches and options. They very much remind me of the 49ers.
Mora and his staff are going to coach up, scheme up, build up and encourage guys to be their best. No excuses from them or their players. Here we are approaching Thanksgiving with something else to be thankful for, UConn football.

 

[Bongo Fury]

RE refused the transfer portal. Only dinosaurs do that these days.

He didn’t refuse it but didn’t utilize it enough. Kinda like Dabo. Part of it was he likely wasn’t good at convincing good transfers although some of the ones he got have been successful here.

 

[Bongo Fury]

Sure, Edsall recruited Watts, Mitchell, Jones. Good players, but he had 4 years to improve a team that was basically an FCS team talent and skill wise, and he barely budged the needle, if at all. I mean RE 2.0 was a disaster, as was his stint at Maryland. Please preface what I’m saying here with my previous post. Compare all that with his recruiting and coaching with RE 1.0 where he sent 22 players on to the NFL and you’re comparing an ant hill to K2. From the Fiesta Bowl to his time after Maryland, something changed in the coach and the man. I mean 3 or 4 wins in 4 years, getting shellacked by Holy Cross, he was done as a coach and I’ve yet to talk to someone who knows why. Not sure what happened at Maryland but I did hear the players didn’t like him.

Kids today don’t seem to respond to tough love well.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

I am not sure where the FCS talent stems from but according to Rivals the Uconn recruiting ranks were
2015-99
2016-NR
2017-89
2018-89
2019- NR
2020-79
2021-86

If Mora can turn most of Edsall roster to be at 6-5 currently then it pours a lot on coaching because I only count 5 total guys who Mora brought in that are starting. Those 4 years Edsall had, he couldn't develop the roster. Also have to take account into how young the roster was because Edsall did not bother replacing a lot of guys he booted out with talent from the transfer portal because he felt portal guys had some type of "entitlement".

Most of the FCS talent stems from Red Pants tenure.

 

[uconndogs]

Most of the FCS talent stems from Red Pants tenure.

Crazy Bob recruited a basketball team and a slow one at that.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Most of the FCS talent stems from Red Pants tenure.

Very true.

For some reason Diaco mistook the directive of having student athletes that were also students into a belief that as long as he recruited kids that stayed out of trouble and graduated, in field performance didn't matter.

Yes, he did bring in some players with sufficient talent to compete at the level we needed but there were too few of those and far too many who, while having sufficient size, did not possess anything close to the athleticism necessary.

 

[ZooCougar]

Kids today don’t seem to respond to tough love well.

They aren’t being soft at UGA, Michigan, tOSU, and Bama.

Saban doesn’t kiss recruit’s butts.

If you are going to go the tough love route then there has to be a payoff. Tough love plus continuing to suck is what we had,

From everything I have heard about Mora he’s very demanding and tough on his people. But he is very respected so it works.

 

[Husky25]

They aren’t being soft at UGA, Michigan, tOSU, and Bama.

Saban doesn’t kiss recruit’s butts.

If you are going to go the tough love route then there has to be a payoff. Tough love plus continuing to suck is what we had,

From everything I have heard about Mora he’s very demanding and tough on his people. But he is very respected so it works.

Sure he does, but a recruit ceases to be a recruit once that fax (Do they still commit via fax?) is received by the Athletic Dept. Donny Marshall was talking about the Calhoun transformation during the BU game. Something to the effect of, "Remember that nice old gentleman from your living room? You won't be seeing him again."

Edsall's problem was that the game evolved, rules changed, super conferences finally happened, and the entire process passed him by. In the 90s and 00s, there were only a few QBs who could handle what evolved into RPO. When he came back, that was the norm. He (as well as Diaco) didn't think a pass heavy open offense could work in the northeast, while also disregarding how they were playing ball in Foxborough and East Rutherford. He was recruited and coached a Big East roster to play in the Southeast-based AAC. Finally, he saw the transfer portal as a sign of player disloyalty, without also recognizing the hypocrisy of his own actions following the Fiesta Bowl.

Anyway that is all in the past. UConn is bowl eligible, with a solid chance to win at least 7 games.

 

[businesslawyer]

They aren’t being soft at UGA, Michigan, tOSU, and Bama.

Saban doesn’t kiss recruit’s butts.

If you are going to go the tough love route then there has to be a payoff. Tough love plus continuing to suck is what we had,

From everything I have heard about Mora he’s very demanding and tough on his people. But he is very respected so it works.

Exactly this. Tough love that brings results people learn from and deal with. Tough love that serves no purpose just makes the boss a jerk.

 

[Patman]

They aren’t being soft at UGA, Michigan, tOSU, and Bama.

Saban doesn’t kiss recruit’s butts.

If you are going to go the tough love route then there has to be a payoff. Tough love plus continuing to suck is what we had,

From everything I have heard about Mora he’s very demanding and tough on his people. But he is very respected so it works.

I line mora's attitude on things. Hard but quick to love. It makes people want to do the work if they know the praise is going to come after the effort.

That "today" attitude is more that you need to reinforce quicker but this doesn't mean you reinforce marginal behavior. I think attention span is part of it. Possibly our overpraising culture, sure. Hard glove soft glove. If a guy at a gym belts out an epic set of five you celebrate it immediately as opposed to catching up later after the workout. However if it ain't epic you don't celebrate it.

I think that's the difference. Long term waits on feedback in this era doesn't work well. Rewarding short term outstanding work will breed more frequent outstanding work

 

[Tdaley]

Edsall (and Cory) recruited much better than Diaco. My seats were behind the bench and you could easily see better athletes were committing. I posted about it a number of times. One of the reasons I thought they would start winning (I was wrong).
The coaching and schemas were just bad. The running game had one play left or right. Took forever to develop and was easy to plan for. Contrast to this years staff where they run multiple formations (that diamond one is cool) and have a mixture of quick hitters, stretches and options. They very much remind me of the 49ers.
Mora and his staff are going to coach up, scheme up, build up and encourage guys to be their best. No excuses from them or their players. Here we are approaching Thanksgiving with something else to be thankful for, UConn football.

Your are 100 percent correct. Edsall found running backs with great speed and the current staff are utilizing that speed in the play designs! As one poster said a few weeks ago, bringing too many players close to the line scrimmage on defense it is a risky proposition against UConn. If Rosa, Houston or Turner ( on a swing pass) get pass that first wave of tacklers there is a good chance they take it to the house. I love what our offensive coordinator has done this year!

 

[Guru13]

Your are 100 percent correct. Edsall found running backs with great speed and the current staff are utilizing that speed in the play designs! As one poster said a few weeks ago, bringing too many players close to the line scrimmage on defense it is a risky proposition against UConn. If Rosa, Houston or Turner ( on a swing pass) get pass that first wave of tacklers there is a good chance they take it to the house. I love what our offensive coordinator has done this year!

Also utilizing Burns as a bruiser back has helped

 

[ZooCougar]

Sure he does, but a recruit ceases to be a recruit once that fax (Do they still commit via fax?) is received by the Athletic Dept. Donny Marshall was talking about the Calhoun transformation during the BU game. Something to the effect of, "Remember that nice old gentleman from your living room? You won't be seeing him again."

Edsall's problem was that the game evolved, rules changed, super conferences finally happened, and the entire process passed him by. In the 90s and 00s, there were only a few QBs who could handle what evolved into RPO. When he came back, that was the norm. He (as well as Diaco) didn't think a pass heavy open offense could work in the northeast, while also disregarding how they were playing ball in Foxborough and East Rutherford. He was recruited and coached a Big East roster to play in the Southeast-based AAC. Finally, he saw the transfer portal as a sign of player disloyalty, without also recognizing the hypocrisy of his own actions following the Fiesta Bowl.

Anyway that is all in the past. UConn is bowl eligible, with a solid chance to win at least 7 games.

Huh?

 

[ZooCougar]

I line mora's attitude on things. Hard but quick to love. It makes people want to do the work if they know the praise is going to come after the effort.

That "today" attitude is more that you need to reinforce quicker but this doesn't mean you reinforce marginal behavior. I think attention span is part of it. Possibly our overpraising culture, sure. Hard glove soft glove. If a guy at a gym belts out an epic set of five you celebrate it immediately as opposed to catching up later after the workout. However if it ain't epic you don't celebrate it.

I think that's the difference. Long term waits on feedback in this era doesn't work well. Rewarding short term outstanding work will breed more frequent outstanding work

You can be tough and still celebrate victories both big and small.

You can also be rigid and tough but with no point. That’s Edsall.

Is it better to be feared or loved? The answer is both.

 

[Husky25]

Huh?

Which word don't you understand? Saban very well kisses recruits' butts until they are no longer recruits.

 

[ZooCougar]

Which word don't you understand? Saban very well kisses recruits' butts until they are no longer recruits.

No actually he does not. You have no idea of what you are talking about.

There are literally books written about Saban and recruiting. The sales pitch is that you come to Alabama to work harder than anyone else and be the best.

You should delete your post.

 

[Tdaley]

Also utilizing Burns as a bruiser back has helped

Burns is one of the MVP's of this team. He plays many positions at a very high level.

 

[Husky25]

No actually he does not. You have no idea of what you are talking about.

There are literally books written about Saban and recruiting. The sales pitch is that you come to Alabama to work harder than anyone else and be the best.

You should delete your post.

Nah, I don't think I will...There is more in it than just the Saban/Calhoun bit.

Kissing a recruits' butt does not have to mean a coach is on his hands and knees, begging the recruit to play at their school. I can't imagine many coaches with that type of pitch being very successful.

On the other hand, a sales pitch must include something that the recruit wants to hear or it's not much of a pitch. Just by a coach of Saban's caliber making contact with a recruit is a signal of how much he is wanted.

 

[giddyup]

Burns is one of the MVP's of this team. He plays many positions at a very high level.

He is very talented P5 level RB and I’m glad he has gotten more use as the season as gone on. The OL opening holes for north south runners makes a huge difference too.

 

[ZooCougar]

Nah, I don't think I will...There is more in it than just the Saban/Calhoun bit.

Kissing a recruits' butt does not have to mean a coach is on his hands and knees, begging the recruit to play at their school. I can't imagine many coaches with that type of pitch being very successful.

On the other hand, a sales pitch must include something that the recruit wants to hear or it's not much of a pitch. Just by a coach of Saban's caliber making contact with a recruit is a signal of how much he is wanted.

Do some research. You’re incorrect. Some places are so good they sell themselves.