The View From Section 241 — Temple

[ScottVib]

In fairness.. Fresno was on their backup QB for that game & Liberty was horribly overrated after their one upset with a gaudy record built on a weak schedule having squeaked by Gardner Webb by one (2 weeks later they’d get drilled by 5TD by New Mexico State).

Of course typically no one drills into those details. 8-4 (hopefully 9-4) would look a lot better than 6-7; even if the coaches/fans knew better, the narrative would be that with two bowl games in three seasons that Mora looked to have things turning around.

 

[businesslawyer]

In fairness.. Fresno was on their backup QB for that game & Liberty was horribly overrated after their one upset with a gaudy record built on a weak schedule having squeaked by Gardner Webb by one (2 weeks later they’d get drilled by 5TD by New Mexico State).

Of course typically no one drills into those details. 8-4 (hopefully 9-4) would look a lot better than 6-7; even if the coaches/fans knew better, the narrative would be that with two bowl games in three seasons that Mora looked to have things turning around.

No less credit because Fresno St played without its #1 QB. We played 99.9% of the season without our #1 QB.

 

[jbdphi]

Fagnano had almost many yards passing against Temple as Evers has for the whole season.

Maybe you should actually look up some stats before making such a statement.

Every time Fagnano has come in when when Evers gets hurt, the offense functions better.

What a beautiful 60 yard bomb Fagnano threw to Sheffield for that TD…(checks earpiece) wait he threw it behind the line of scrimmage and the WRs made awesome plays? Amazing yardage.

Fagnano made an awesome play to Buckman and thank goodness he did but as others have said, his yardage is mostly YAC.

 

[AllHusky]

Part of the game, depth in FB is critical
People gonna go down

 

[Excalibur]

This is why we could not run. Mora even said this in the press conference. We couldn't make them pay for putting an extra hat (or two) in the box and playing man coverage.

I like Fagnano. He is tough as hell. Look at the way he takes a hit and gets up. He is a gamer. Is he a better passer than Evers as we have all been saying. Yes. And he has made some beautiful throws. But he has also been wildly inconsistent. As much as folks want to give some blame to the receivers for drops. I don't. I think there is a reason there are so many drops by many receivers. It is not just one guy. Fagnano's passes are just enough off target/off velocity to throw off the receiver even if the receiver gets his hands on it. There is alot to be said about timing an rhythm at this level and speed.

Which leads me to OK, if we knew they are stacking the box, why did we not go over the top more? Is it bad play calling or did Sammis just not have enough confidence in Fagnano's consistency that he could trust a throw like that especially given that the few times they went deep, Fagnano did not come close to hit his target. I don't think Sammis is dumb. I think he was trying to play it safe with Fagnano especially with Bell out of the game or not 100% when he was in there.

As for a QB controversy, I am fine with Fagnano in there. I am very happy to have a guy like that on the team. I like Evers too as while he has struggled with his passes he has added a running dimension and has a higher ceiling given his experience level. So I am indifferent who plays but lean more to Evers due the running dimension and ability to improve. And frankly, even if Mora sticks with Evers assuming he is cleared, I do not doubt for a second we won't need Fagnano to come in again given Evers's propensity to injury.

One of the reasons we couldn't beat them vertically is that the O line had probably its worst game of the year in pass protection.

 

[rich1122]

Our guy was pushed into the punt receiver, but yeah, too close for comfort.

Hit his helmet

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

I think anybody who can look at Evers and Fagnano and think that one is OBVIOUSLY better than the other is deluding themselves. They are both solid QB's who have advantages and drawbacks.

Evers

Pros:

• Runs RPO very well
• More years of eligibility remaining to possibly get better at throwing

Cons:

• Arm seems so-so thus far
• Injury prone

Fagnano

Pros:

• Seems to have a better arm
• Injury free so far

Cons:

• Not really a threat in the RPO
• Inconsistent throwing

I tend to favor Evers because I think the RPO can make our run more unstoppable and I don't think either guy is gonna really keep pass defenses particularly honest. Plus, Evers has way more eligibility remaining, so if he can improve his throwing game, he's gonna be a better long-term play for us.

But I think you can make a decent case for either and I'm glad we both both, given our history of QB injuries.

 

[Husky68]

One thought on the point that you, and others, are making. I am not downplaying in any way that an 8-4 season is a step forward. Especially with a number (and, hopefully by the time we're done, many) of the wins being blow outs. The point I was really trying to make, however, is that if we go 8-4 losing to the two ACC teams, given the weakness of our schedule a really strong case can be made that, from a resume perspective, our '22 team with wins over Fresno State (which won the MWC and a bowl game against a P-4 team), Liberty (which won at Arkansas and was ranked when we beat them) and P-4 BC would have accomplished far more than this year's team. It won't have been the best season since 2010 if we go 8-0 against teams rated over 120 and 0-4 against everyone else. That's all.

Buffalo beat NIU who beat .........

 

[Chin Diesel]

One of the reasons we couldn't beat them vertically is that the O line had probably its worst game of the year in pass protection.

Yep. Temple's DC took Sammis to school on Saturday. O Line was playing reactionary all game and missed plenty of assignments.

 

[freescooter]

In fairness.. Fresno was on their backup QB for that game & Liberty was horribly overrated after their one upset with a gaudy record built on a weak schedule having squeaked by Gardner Webb by one (2 weeks later they’d get drilled by 5TD by New Mexico State).

Of course typically no one drills into those details. 8-4 (hopefully 9-4) would look a lot better than 6-7; even if the coaches/fans knew better, the narrative would be that with two bowl games in three seasons that Mora looked to have things turning around.

This.

Plus I think it is fair to say that the Duke team we played was better than the BC team we beat who finished 3-9. I also think you play who is on your schedule. Temple was a tough opponent though I think it was a combination of factors. And we won the game. Week 6 is a tricky point in everyone’s season. Just ask Alabama, Tennessee, Michigan and the rest. Teams are rarely at the top of their games 12 times/year. And I think this is the point where they start to wear down a bit. I also wonder if we weren’t expecting another blowout. 1-4 team coming in. “Worst” run defense in football. We coming off 3 home blow out wins. You can see a team being a little over confident. And Mora said they were flat coming out.

I hope the week off gets everyone healthy again and pumped up. Beating Wake would be nice.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

For many years we were, arguably, the worst team in FBS football. Now, we have a reasonable basis to say we are not. Sure, that's nothing that I want to be printing up T-shirts about, but it is progress.

Syracuse would print shirts for that!

 

[Fairfield_1st]

We lost a lot of variability with the offense when Evers was ruled out. Hopefully he is good to go for Wake.

I didn't play football, won't pretend to be some guru, but doesn't putting Evers in make us even more of a running team and reduce variability? At least Fagnano offers the possibility of passing, though it didn't go well Saturday.
For those beating on Fagnano for his performance, think about your favorite baseball pitcher. Do they go 7 innings every time. Did our best BB player even have an off night? You just can't adequately rate a QB based on 1 game, good or bad.

 

[Palatine]

This is why Evers should get more snaps and time to develop at the college level. He has the potential to separate from Fagnano and become a very good player.

Evers, a former four-star QB prospect from Flower Mound High School, finished his decorated prep career throwing for 4,944 yards and 40 touchdowns through the air. He added another 915 yards rushing for 15 scores on the ground across two seasons as a starter, according to MaxPreps.

 

[ZooCougar]

What a beautiful 60 yard bomb Fagnano threw to Sheffield for that TD…(checks earpiece) wait he threw it behind the line of scrimmage and the WRs made awesome plays? Amazing yardage.

Fagnano made an awesome play to Buckman and thank goodness he did but as others have said, his yardage is mostly YAC.

Stick to Aussie Rules.

In order to get YAC you have to place the ball well for the receiver.

Maybe if Evers did that he would pass for more than 80 yards a game.

 

[ZooCougar]

I didn't play football, won't pretend to be some guru, but doesn't putting Evers in make us even more of a running team and reduce variability? At least Fagnano offers the possibility of passing, though it didn't go well Saturday.
For those beating on Fagnano for his performance, think about your favorite baseball pitcher. Do they go 7 innings every time. Did our best BB player even have an off night? You just can't adequately rate a QB based on 1 game, good or bad.

Yes.

People are hyping up his sleight of hand because the CBSSN camera operator gets fooled. I mean the Temple QB fooled the same operator too…

 

[ZooCougar]

No less credit because Fresno St played without its #1 QB. We played 99.9% of the season without our #1 QB.

Yup. We beat Fresno, Liberty and BC with Zion freaking Turner who is now a 3rd stringer at Jax State.

 

[uconnfan68]

That is no excuse. He needs to have more awareness than that. Teams go entire seasons without having of of their own run hit the punt returner. It's sloppy.

He was there to block, and was pushed from the back. So entirely his fault?

 

[Duncan Idaho]

No less credit because Fresno St played without its #1 QB. We played 99.9% of the season without our #1 QB.

Haener was a much bigger loss, by a lot.

 

[businesslawyer]

Haener was a much bigger loss, by a lot.

Injuries are part of football. Might they have won with their #1QB? Sure. But UConn has more than its share of injuries, and that doesn't justify it when we lose. Principles work both ways.

 

[rich1122]

Yep. Temple's DC took Sammis to school on Saturday. O Line was playing reactionary all game and missed plenty of assignments.

They almost got away with their game plan.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Great writeup BL. I file this game under ”Thank the fb gods for a favor”.

But this win can work to our advantage because team now realizes they have to bring it every game. Concerning our qb situation: It will work out but our OC needs to have a plan for each of their strengths. I thought he called a so-so game for JF’s strengths. Either that or the Temple dbs are really really good (which may be the case).

 

[Hamms30]

I didn't play football, won't pretend to be some guru, but doesn't putting Evers in make us even more of a running team and reduce variability? At least Fagnano offers the possibility of passing, though it didn't go well Saturday.
For those beating on Fagnano for his performance, think about your favorite baseball pitcher. Do they go 7 innings every time. Did our best BB player even have an off night? You just can't adequately rate a QB based on 1 game, good or bad.

It forces the defense to account for the QB as a threat. If you're not really worried about the QB running, you can load the box and your front seven now have 5 defenders matched against the linemen, and two defenders left to account for the running back since you're not worried about the QB. Then your other 4 defenders are responsible for 3 receivers and a tight end. With a running QB, now it's one defender covering the RB while the other extra guy has to make sure the QB doesn't take off and run unaccounted for. If Evers can throw a bit more accurately and take some heat off his short throws so the receivers can catch and possess, he could be a very dynamic player. And he has to stay in the game. Fagnano isn't the stronger runner and now with Evers down and McDonald out for the season, he's even less of a running threat because the staff needs to make sure he stays healthy otherwise Welliver is the only one left in the bullpen. Guessing they'd like to keep his redshirt.

 

[uconnbill]

I learned from this game that UConn can win a game they shouldn't have. That is something that would not have happened last year or in the last 10+ years. The week off will help to heal and get the game plan to beat Wake who looked good the past weekend.

 

[jbdphi]

Stick to Aussie Rules.

In order to get YAC you have to place the ball well for the receiver.

Maybe if Evers did that he would pass for more than 80 yards a game.

I’ll stick to Aussie Rules if you stick to Zoos.

Different strokes for different folks - you seem enamored with Fagnano and think Evers is dogshit. I think Fagnano has inflated numbers from passing against incompetent defenses (see Merrimack) and from great plays made by his receivers. As for Evers, I think he has better potential if he can stay healthy (which he hasn’t).

Hopefully we can win a bunch more games with either or both and move on. Maybe you can go a day or two without taking a dump in Evers’ corn flakes. You never know - anything is possible.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I learned from this game that UConn can win a game they shouldn't have. That is something that would not have happened last year or in the last 10+ years. The week off will help to heal and get the game plan to beat Wake who looked good the past weekend.

Good teams learn lessons from their losses and improve.

Really good teams and great teams learn while winning and take those lessons forward.

 

[rich1122]

It forces the defense to account for the QB as a threat. If you're not really worried about the QB running, you can load the box and your front seven now have 5 defenders matched against the linemen, and two defenders left to account for the running back since you're not worried about the QB. Then your other 4 defenders are responsible for 3 receivers and a tight end. With a running QB, now it's one defender covering the RB while the other extra guy has to make sure the QB doesn't take off and run unaccounted for. If Evers can throw a bit more accurately and take some heat off his short throws so the receivers can catch and possess, he could be a very dynamic player. And he has to stay in the game. Fagnano isn't the stronger runner and now with Evers down and McDonald out for the season, he's even less of a running threat because the staff needs to make sure he stays healthy otherwise Welliver is the only one left in the bullpen. Guessing they'd like to keep his redshirt.

McDonald out for the season? Missed that. How come?

 

[Bongo Fury]

If they had a bad record, they’d probably bring in Welliver out of desperation.

 

[huskymedic]

McDonald out for the season? Missed that. How come?

Bob Joyce mentioned he was out for year w/ foot injury during the pre-game radio show on Saturday.

McDonald came up limping during a series in the Buffalo game… not sure if he further exacerbated it in practice leading up to Temple or just from the Buffalo game.

 

[noeynox]

I’ll stick to Aussie Rules if you stick to Zoos.

Different strokes for different folks - you seem enamored with Fagnano and think Evers is dogshit. I think Fagnano has inflated numbers from passing against incompetent defenses (see Merrimack) and from great plays made by his receivers. As for Evers, I think he has better potential if he can stay healthy (which he hasn’t).

Hopefully we can win a bunch more games with either or both and move on. Maybe you can go a day or two without taking a dump in Evers’ corn flakes. You never know - anything is possible.

You're not even the least bit curious why the same group of receivers can't make great plays on throws from Evers? Maybe if a simple slant is thrown in a manner where the WR can catch it and keep running rather than having to dive to the turf to complete the catch, we'd see similar great plays by the same WRs.

I think a lot of that is from rust and can get better, and i have to believe he nails those throws in practice cause it hasn't happened yet in games.

I think you are selling Fagnano short, the throw to Buckman after escaping a sack was a winning play.

 

[CL82]

I think you are selling Fagnano short, the throw to Buckman after escaping a sack was a winning play

It was. His locking on to receivers, under throwing, overthrowing are not though.

I think both Fagnano and Evers are good enough to help us to win, barely. I also think against semi-decent competition both will struggle. It doesn't mean that either one is a bad kid, or a bum, it's just who both of them are.