The View From Section 241 -- Preseason | Page 3 | The Boneyard

The View From Section 241 -- Preseason

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Huskygrad88 said:
With regard to the line development and game work, are people comfortable opening night if we run the ball 15 straight times, even if it's not always successful (I am). Or will people be instantly booing if we don't air it out all over the place in game 1?
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I don't want to see them run it 15 straight times but I do want to see them run enough to keep the linebackers honest. And, if they only need one or two yards I want to see a bull rush that gains them 3 or 4 at least. I expect they'll run more than pass(or try to anyways) but they need to utilize Thomas more.
 
This game is all about setting a tone for the season. Raucous students happy with their gratis bus trip and barbecue treats making it tough on the Maine offense--satiated tailgaters happy with the extra time and able to arrive in their seats by pregame. The Band will be back to running down the stairs to start pre-game as Benedict wanted to see a more kinetic approach, like at Auburn. We'll hear more from the band and less PA announcements. So let's see how engaged we all are. Not so much for Maine-- but to be ready for when it'll really count.
Oh yeah, the team. Get ready for a team that will be crunching their blocks, making breakaway runs and spectacular catches, crisply kicking field goals with a new long snapper and holder, booming punts, causing multiple turnovers--and perhaps, just perhaps, a punt return for giggles.
 
businesslawyer said:
Well that didn't cheer me up. You now have me expecting Tyler Samra to be sitting in Section 241 still looking for someone to block with a puzzled look on his face.
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Pretty sure that was one of the GDL read and reacts.
 
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businesslawyer said:
This is probably the largest OL we've ever put on the field. If the coaches aren't playing to it being a large OL, and are still hoping that we look like Denver zone blocking, than this staff is no better than the last one.

I see no reason to believe that, however. How good these guys are as a uni I don't know, but I will assume that we're at least going to play to their strengths until I'm shown differently.
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I agree with you about the size and strength of this OL and needing to game plan for it. But you need to be able to block to the defensive front you are facing. Newsome's long TD run vs East Carolina was zone blocking all the way.
 
huskypantz said:
Zone blocking 101.
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Remember watching the last game we played in the Carrier Dome and Bennett jumped twice in a row. P calls TO and he and Bennett started yelling at each other full bore with the cameras rolling. That was the same game that Sio got into it with one of the assistants after the game. P had no control over the team or program. I take great comfort that GDL is with Temple. Honestly, how these retreads end up with jobs based on their resumes is a complete mystery to me.
 
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I want to see Gang tackling, yards after contact, blitzes, sacks, a punt return or 2. Don't care who plays, just keep a level head and play tough
 
businesslawyer said:
This is probably the largest OL we've ever put on the field.
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I'm not yet sure it is the largest (will need to look up a couple of seasons six to eight years ago) but it may well be the tallest in the country (as well as the tallest we ever had). 6'8", 6'7" at the two tackles, 6'6" for each of the two starting guards and 6'4" at center is going to be difficult to out height.
 
uconndogs said:
Remember watching the last game we played in the Carrier Dome and Bennett jumped twice in a row. P calls TO and he and Bennett started yelling at each other full bore with the cameras rolling. That was the same game that Sio got into it with one of the assistants after the game. P had no control over the team or program. I take great comfort that GDL is with Temple. Honestly, how these retreads end up with jobs based on their resumes is a complete mystery to me.
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Old boys club. Emphasis on "old".
 
FfldCntyFan said:
I'm not yet sure it is the largest (will need to look up a couple of seasons six to eight years ago) but it may well be the tallest in the country (as well as the tallest we ever had). 6'8", 6'7" at the two tackles, 6'6" for each of the two starting guards and 6'4" at center is going to be difficult to out height.
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Off the top of my head there was a lot of talk about the size of our oline when we played michigan in 2010. I am guessing that group was larger from a weight perspective. Still, this is a decent-sized group and should be able to push d-lines around.
 
businesslawyer said:
Now that's a bizarre overreaction. I am not a cheerleader for HCBD, but certainly a defender. The "whacky Bob" moniker is nicely trying to give him a free pass for kicking a long field goal attempt in a game where we needed a TD to keep the game alive, or not attempting a makeable FG to tie the game in the last minute in Missouri where our D would have given us a chance to win the game in OT, or burning the redshirt of every player, trainer and equipment manager his first year just to let them play a down or two, as if he didn't plan to be here five years out anyway. Or being the only football coach in America who thinks a punt return is a trick play, to only be used once a year.

Would someone explain how we're getting all of these new posters adding so much to our board all of a sudden. It's so great to see intelligence added to our football discussions.
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You may see it as an overreaction; but it's my opinion so sorry if you're offended. It's a public forum (" would someone explain how we're getting all these new posters...to OUR BOARD. So this is a private club? You might want to re-think that chief.) If you can't stand the heat don't share your opinion.
 
CJS87 said:
You may see it as an overreaction; but it's my opinion so sorry if you're offended. It's a public forum (" would someone explain how we're getting all these new posters...to OUR BOARD. So this is a private club? You might want to re-think that chief.) If you can't stand the heat don't share your opinion.
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Welcome? :confused:
 
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CJS87 said:
Whit is not one of your strengths.
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Guess spelling isn't one of yours...

... Getting the sense you are going to be a short timer here so get it all out while you can. Your IP address is ticking.
 
huskypantz said:
Off the top of my head there was a lot of talk about the size of our oline when we played michigan in 2010. I am guessing that group was larger from a weight perspective. Still, this is a decent-sized group and should be able to push d-lines around.
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Just from memory, this OL is avg 6'6+, 310+. That's bigger than any we've had before this. Can't recall having all 5 guys at 300+.
 
We did (for a number of games in 2009) star 325 lb Zach Hurd & 335 lb Erik Kurecza as our guards with 335 lb Mike Hicks at RT. I don't know (off the top of my head) if Mike Ryan (335 lbs) replaced Dan Ryan (320 lbs) at LT before Kurecza got hurt but I think we had more total weight among the starting five (although not by much) even with 290 lb Moe Petrie at center. I'm guessing that once Peart fills out we will have a new heaviest line.
 
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Overall, I agree with most of the original post although I am not sold on BS at QB. I don't like his progressions or passing ability. I think he is a below average QB.
I think the OL will be improved - better at pass protecting - but I too question if they have the mentality or ability to attack and knock guys off the line on the run.
 
Chief00 said:
Overall, I agree with most of the original post although I am not sold on BS at QB. I don't like his progressions or passing ability. I think he is a below average QB.
I think the OL will be improved - better at pass protecting - but I too question if they have the mentality or ability to attack and knock guys off the line on the run.
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Re: BS, below average compared to who within the Huskies program? Compared to Top 25 programs, yeah, I'd give you that. FBS programs? Maybe, given UConn would be considered in the bottom half of that group as a whole (ranked in the 70's pre-season by USA Today). But in comparison to what we've had since Dan O, BS is up there after only one season. Completion %, TD / INT ratio, Total Yards (passing + running) from his first season with what almost everybody acknowledges was a pretty bad O Line, were pretty darn good historically speaking against other QBs we've had.
 
Yeah, I totally don't get the people that want to knock BrS on last years performance. Playing with little to no chance to plant his feet and work past a first read, he was probably worth 4 wins last year over a replacement. I look forward to seeing him play with improved protection, an improved running game, and more credible play action. I expect considerable improvement numbers-wise but it won't, IMHO, because he got that much better. It'll be about us being better around him.
 
Ron and Arkeel look incredibly fit. I think the answer to where we can go offensively relies partially on the OL and QB and more substantially on RJ and Arkeel wreaking the absolute havoc we had hoped hey would. I hear both are a half step faster and off season training was about nothing else but finding that half step. If it worked, look out.
 
CJS87 said:
You may see it as an overreaction; but it's my opinion so sorry if you're offended. It's a public forum (" would someone explain how we're getting all these new posters...to OUR BOARD. So this is a private club? You might want to re-think that chief.) If you can't stand the heat don't share your opinion.
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We are all a bunch of arrogant jerks. If you can't take a counterpunch from your original douchey post maybe it's you that should see yourself out.
 
Hoophound said:
Ron and Arkeel look incredibly fit. I think the answer to where we can go offensively relies partially on the OL and QB and more substantially on RJ and Arkeel wreaking the absolute havoc we had hoped hey would. I hear both are a half step faster and off season training was about nothing else but finding that half step. If it worked, look out.
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Much quicker first step than the year before based on what we saw in the spring. Arkeel gets outside much more quickly than he used to. Ron seems to be through the hole and into the secondary much faster before the hole closes. This may be related to confidence more than anything else, or it may be S&C. But it is noticeable.
 
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Just remember NC State was converting him to TE. Sound like something we recently experienced?
 
Chief00 said:
Just remember NC State was converting him to TE. Sound like something we recently experienced?
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You really are a d*ck.

We have seen the kid play, courageously, through 10 games last year. He was damn good. As you can read above, we acknowledge that he is average when you look at 130 Programs. In the continuum of UConn FB, he really is above most all the guys since Orlovsky left. And, with a improved OLine, he will have the time to read progressions and his RB will be more effective. As much as he MIGHT have been losing his opportunity at NC State (no powerhouse there), he was a good fit here.
 
Chief00 said:
Just remember NC State was converting him to TE. Sound like something we recently experienced?
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Yes, a coaching staff that is 6-18 in ACC conference play made that move, so I'm not sure that it really says much -- though I am not surprised that you chose a model of incompetence as your point of reference . . .
 
Chief00 said:
Just remember NC State was converting him to TE. Sound like something we recently experienced?
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You could just as easily say that he actually was good enough to get snaps at QB at NC State as a true frosh, before they decided that his athleticism needed to be on the field even though they thought they had QBs who were better pure throwers.

That is, if you didn't feel better trashing players.
 
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