The View From Section 241 -- Temple

[whaler11]

How in the world would next year's team be expected to be better?

Other than it's sort or hard to be worse than this?

 

[Confident Carl]

How in the world would next year's team be expected to be better?

Other than it's sort or hard to be worse than this?

I know it's hard to believe but early in the season when I attended a practice I felt this team was going to be "really good" I was pretty excited. I couldn't believe the size and strength of the Offensive line and posted about it. While at practice a source who will remain anonymous told me this team would be good but next year's team will be really good. I took that as kind of a prophecy that I shouldn't get my hopes too high for this year. I have a lot of respect for this individuals judgement which is why I made the statement. Like I said only time will tell.

 

[whaler11]

I know it's hard to believe but early in the season when I attended a practice I felt this team was going to be "really good" I was pretty excited. I couldn't believe the size and strength of the Offensive line and posted about it. While at practice a couple of sources who will remain anonymous told me this team would be good but next year's team will be really good. I have a lot of respect for the judgement of those sources which is why I made the statement. Like I said only time will tell.

Well they were wrong this year, so why would their prediction for next year carry any water? You can't possibly think that if Diaco returns this team will be any good. Who in their right mind would commit to this program?

Just look at who they lose. They might give up 40 a game next season . They can't stop anyone with the seniors they have.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I know it's hard to believe but early in the season when I attended a practice I felt this team was going to be "really good" I was pretty excited. I couldn't believe the size and strength of the Offensive line and posted about it. While at practice a source who will remain anonymous told me this team would be good but next year's team will be really good. I took that as kind of a prophecy that I shouldn't get my hopes too high for this year. I have a lot of respect for this individuals judgement which is why I made the statement. Like I said only time will tell.

Shirreffs will likely be done. We lose our best (by far) offensive player and 2 starting OL. We lose a ton on defense.

I'm not sure we win 2 games next year.

 

[UCYamsMD]

With all due respect it's more about playing a kid that clearly wasn't ready more than anything else. Losing the additional year of eligibility was just the icing on the cake.

You mean the icing on the fish cake

 

[Alum86]

And the 2 bedt players after Thomas, Wain and Puyol.

 

[UConnJim]

I know it's hard to believe but early in the season when I attended a practice I felt this team was going to be "really good" I was pretty excited. I couldn't believe the size and strength of the Offensive line and posted about it. While at practice a source who will remain anonymous told me this team would be good but next year's team will be really good. I took that as kind of a prophecy that I shouldn't get my hopes too high for this year. I have a lot of respect for this individuals judgement which is why I made the statement. Like I said only time will tell.

At the beginning of the season, I thought the team would be better in 2017 than 2016. Why? We lose only 4 of our top 22 offensive players and 7 of our top 22 on defense. And, I thought Shirreffs would improve in 2016 and in 2017.

2016 has turned out worse than I expected due to poor coaching especially at the beginning of the season, the lack of improvement by Shirreffs, and the lack of playmakers as I thought we would see one true freshman RB and Skanes play this year. Also, I think the UCF game broke the team's spirit with how they lost and the embarrassment of the Conflict trophy debacle. After the UCF game, the team has played poorly.

This team needs to hit the reset button, but I'm not sure Diaco can reset the team. If he can't reset the team, the last 2 games are going to be ugly. That said, I'll be at BC and hope to see a new team.

 

[Confident Carl]

Shirreffs will likely be done. We lose our best (by far) offensive player and 2 starting OL. We lose a ton on defense.

I'm not sure we win 2 games next year.

No way, after this year, I am making any predictions other than I believe Donovan Williams will be a significant improvement over Bryant Shireffs.

You are correct, we lose Andreas Knappe and Richard Levi. Pert will be a year older and stronger plus Crozier, Hopkins, Rutherford, Verchery, Hashemy, Schafenacker and a couple of other huge guys in Bryan Cespedes, 6'7" 313 and Nino Leone, 6'6" 345.

We have all 4 tight ends coming back. Newsome and Johnson are back and they will be backed by Jakevious Vickers and Nate Hopkins who are supposed to be good.

We lose a great player in Noel (Saint) Thomas and also Brian Lemelle but we are adding wideouts Keyion Dixon and Quayvon Scanes.

On defense we lose Meyers, Jhavon Williams and Obi (Big loss) I understand that Marsh Terry and Eddie Hahn are pretty good. We also pick up Tre Bell from Vandy.

Losing Bobby Puyol and Justin Wain will be a big loss and no idea of how good Michael Tarbutt, K, and Brett Graham (P) will be.

So no question we lose some key players, in particular, Noel Thomas, Obi Melifonwu, Mikal Meyers, Puyol, Wain, Knappe and Levi. We can only hope that the up and comers have FBS skill sets!

Again no predictions from this guy. I am pretty down on the program right now. Just pointing out that there are replacement parts that need to be better than the originals.

When I see this guy, I have to think a player like this can help.

VIDEO: A must-see punt return from UConn-bound Keyion Dixon

This guy also looks like he has some talent

Senior Highlights - Quayvon Skanes highlights - Hudl

 

[whaler11]

No way, after this year, I am making any predictions other than I believe Donovan Williams will be a significant improvement over Bryant Shireffs.

You are correct, we lose Andreas Knappe and Richard Levi. Pert will be a year older and stronger plus Crozier, Hopkins, Rutherford, Verchery, Hashemy, Schafenacker and a couple of other huge guys in Bryan Cespedes, 6'7" 313 and Nino Leone, 6'6" 345.

We have all 4 tight ends coming back. Newsome and Johnson are back and they will be backed by Jakevious Vickers and Nate Hopkins who are supposed to be good.

We lose a great player in Noel (Saint) Thomas and also Brian Lemelle but we are adding wideouts Keyion Dixon and Quayvon Scanes.

On defense we lose Meyers, Jhavon Williams and Obi (Big loss) I understand that Marsh Terry and Eddie Hahn are pretty good. We also pick up Tre Bell from Vandy.

Losing Bobby Puyol and Justin Wain will be a big loss and no idea of how good Michael Tarbutt, K, and Brett Graham (P) will be.

So no question we lose some key players, in particular, Noel Thomas, Obi Melifonwu, Mikal Meyers, Puyol, Wain, Knappe and Levi. We can only hope that the up and comers have FBS skill sets!

Again no predictions from this guy. I am pretty down on the program right now. Just pointing out that there are replacement parts that need to be better than the originals.

When I see this guy, I have to think a player like this can help.

VIDEO: A must-see punt return from UConn-bound Keyion Dixon

This guy also looks like he has some talent

Senior Highlights - Quayvon Skanes highlights - Hudl

It's a fairly simple equation.

Here are the underclassman who make any kind of contribution:

Crozier
Beals
Mayala
Peart
Davis
Zecchino
Allmendinger
Williams

So as of today - you've got one underclassman who is performing as at least the level of an average AAC player. That one player is the long snapper.

That list would be a giant red flag if they were 7-3. At 3-7, it should be setting off every single alarm within 30 miles of Storrs.

You lose
Three players from an already mediocre secondary (Obi, Williams, Green) - there is no way they are better in the defensive backfield next year
Two players from a brutal offensive line (Levy, Knappe)
Two players that can handle their specialist positions (Wain, Puyol)
Your best offensive player (Thomas)
A serviceable linebacker (Walsh)
Your best defensive lineman (Myers)


So you've got a mediocre team and a terrible coaching staff. You have zero evidence that quarterback play will be improved next year. You lose most of your best players, you have almost no underclassmen forcing themselves onto the field even though you are 3-7.

If they bring Diaco back next year you'll need a literal miracle worker to fix this program. Jesus can't be in the huddle - Jesus will need to be the head coach.

We just went through bringing back a coach everyone knew was a dead man walking. Can we please avoid doing that twice in 4 years?

 

[UConnDan97]

It's a fairly simple equation.

Here are the underclassman who make any kind of contribution:

Crozier
Beals
Mayala
Peart
Davis
Zecchino
Allmendinger
Williams

So as of today - you've got one underclassman who is performing as at least the level of an average AAC player. That one player is the long snapper.

That list would be a giant red flag if they were 7-3. At 3-7, it should be setting off every single alarm within 30 miles of Storrs.

You lose
Three players from an already mediocre secondary (Obi, Williams, Green) - there is no way they are better in the defensive backfield next year
Two players from a brutal offensive line (Levy, Knappe)
Two players that can handle their specialist positions (Wain, Puyol)
Your best offensive player (Thomas)
A serviceable linebacker (Walsh)
Your best defensive lineman (Myers)


So you've got a mediocre team and a terrible coaching staff. You have zero evidence that quarterback play will be improved next year. You lose most of your best players, you have almost no underclassmen forcing themselves onto the field even though you are 3-7.

If they bring Diaco back next year you'll need a literal miracle worker to fix this program. Jesus can't be in the huddle - Jesus will need to be the head coach.

We just went through bringing back a coach everyone knew was a dead man walking. Can we please avoid doing that twice in 4 years?

This is 100% correct, and it's driving me nuts!

Do people understand how much emotional energy its going to take next year for me to predict a 15-0 season??? I've already started drinking in preparation...

 

[noeynox]

It's a fairly simple equation.

Here are the underclassman who make any kind of contribution:

Crozier
Beals
Mayala
Peart
Davis
Zecchino
Allmendinger
Williams

So as of today - you've got one underclassman who is performing as at least the level of an average AAC player. That one player is the long snapper.

That list would be a giant red flag if they were 7-3. At 3-7, it should be setting off every single alarm within 30 miles of Storrs.

You lose
Three players from an already mediocre secondary (Obi, Williams, Green) - there is no way they are better in the defensive backfield next year
Two players from a brutal offensive line (Levy, Knappe)
Two players that can handle their specialist positions (Wain, Puyol)
Your best offensive player (Thomas)
A serviceable linebacker (Walsh)
Your best defensive lineman (Myers)


So you've got a mediocre team and a terrible coaching staff. You have zero evidence that quarterback play will be improved next year. You lose most of your best players, you have almost no underclassmen forcing themselves onto the field even though you are 3-7.

If they bring Diaco back next year you'll need a literal miracle worker to fix this program. Jesus can't be in the huddle - Jesus will need to be the head coach.

We just went through bringing back a coach everyone knew was a dead man walking. Can we please avoid doing that twice in 4 years?

Agree 100 percent I think everything you wrote, I just can't wrap my mind about the one sided extension that made it expensive to fire him but cheap for him to leave for another job.

Firing him now would be admission hat the people making the decisions have no clue what they're doing. Scary.

 

[whaler11]

This is 100% correct, and it's driving me nuts!

Do people understand how much emotional energy its going to take next year for me to predict a 15-0 season??? I've already started drinking in preparation...

Save some of your liver. You don't want to look at what they lose at the end of 2017...

 

[UConnDan97]

Save some of your liver. You don't want to look at what they lose at the end of 2017...

Oh believe me, I'm already crying about that. Of our three best offensive weapons, we lose one this year (Thomas) and two next year (Newsome, Shirreffs). Will Williams be better by then? Dear God, I hope so. Because if not, I'm going straight to the Betty Ford Clinic...

 

[Husky68]

HCBD puts the defense and offense in position to lose on virtually every play that is run during the game. Opponent's OC and DC do not earn their pay preparing to play against UConn.

 

[Confident Carl]

Well they were wrong this year, so why would their prediction for next year carry any water? You can't possibly think that if Diaco returns this team will be any good. Who in their right mind would commit to this program?

Just look at who they lose. They might give up 40 a game next season . They can't stop anyone with the seniors they have.

We are all disgusted, upset and tired of losing. My seatmates are calling for Diaco's head! I totally get it. I have a feeling the comments I heard were more along the lines that we would be okay this year but next year's team (2017) in spite of the graduations, was going to be better. In order to be better we need vast improvement in the O line and secondary. I appreciate that you can't see much improvement but we are not coaches. We will see for sure how good BD's recruits/ RKG's are.

I respect the source and I am going to keep that little nugget as hope for the future. I have way too much of my life invested in these pups to give up now. Hang in there bud and look at the bright side, it can't get any worse. If it does then I will be joining UCONN Dan at Betty Ford!

 

[noeynox]

We are all disgusted, upset and tired of losing. My seatmates are calling for Diaco's head! I totally get it. I have a feeling the comments I heard were more along the lines that we would be okay this year but next year's team (2017) in spite of the graduations, was going to be better. In order to be better we need vast improvement in the O line and secondary. I appreciate that you can't see much improvement but we are not coaches. We will see for sure how good BD's recruits/ RKG's are.

I respect the source and I am going to keep that little nugget as hope for the future. I have way too much of my life invested in these pups to give up now. Hang in there bud and look at the bright side, it can't get any worse. If it does then I will be joining UCONN Dan at Betty Ford!

Diaco can't handle the basics like when to call a time out, getting plays in on time, or when to clock the ball.

Hard to be optimistic the light is suddenly going to go on for this guy. Oh yeah, and did you see the cluster flick he did on the Navy 1 yds line. The pick 6 against SU was a horrendous playcall/ design.

I think he gets a chance at year 4 for one reason only, the ridiculous buyout.

 

[BlueDogs]

We are all disgusted, upset and tired of losing. My seatmates are calling for Diaco's head! I totally get it. I have a feeling the comments I heard were more along the lines that we would be okay this year but next year's team (2017) in spite of the graduations, was going to be better. In order to be better we need vast improvement in the O line and secondary. I appreciate that you can't see much improvement but we are not coaches. We will see for sure how good BD's recruits/ RKG's are.

I respect the source and I am going to keep that little nugget as hope for the future. I have way too much of my life invested in these pups to give up now. Hang in there bud and look at the bright side, it can't get any worse. If it does then I will be joining UCONN Dan at Betty Ford!

Unless they have a horde of lineman secretly being developed in an undisclosed location, I don't see it. The bunch we have are not one iota better with the season nearly over. What's going to happen in off season to radically improve them? Not more vitamin D and Balis medicine balls.

 

[Confident Carl]

Unless they have a horde of lineman secretly being developed in an undisclosed location, I don't see it. The bunch we have are not one iota better with the season nearly over. What's going to happen in off season to radically improve them? Not more vitamin D and Balis medicine balls.

Losing two lineman. Still have Crozier, Hopkins, Vechery, Rutherford, Pert, Hashemy, Schafenacker and a couple of other huge guys in Bryan Cespedes, 6'7" 313 and Nino Leone, 6'6" 345. They have size and Balis will work over the winter. Wish I could tell you how much better they will get.

 

[06029]

Losing two lineman. Still have Crozier, Hopkins, Vechery, Rutherford, Pert, Hashemy, Schafenacker and a couple of other huge guys in Bryan Cespedes, 6'7" 313 and Nino Leone, 6'6" 345. They have size and Balis will work over the winter. Wish I could tell you how much better they will get.

They need to get quicker, they need better footwork, they need better technique. Look at how the OL has broken down and where the sacks have come from. Size is a great thing but they need to get so much faster and better. I am not sure any of them can get quicker so they need get exponentially better at technique. I just don't see the current coaching helping that at all.

 

[Palatine]

Not caring how people look in practice is an utterly amazing theory. Even for you. Have you ever worked in an organization? Should I just let young associates service clients directly even when they can't convince me they are ready for the responsibility within my office because -- I don't even know how to finish that.

I'd like to think you were just trolling with that suggestion. But I doubt it.

You're talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game. Practice.

Coaches control practice. They can make it do anything they like. Why do you think Bill Parcells started Scott Bruenner ahead of Phil Simms? Because practice can fool you. And sometimes coaches fool themselves.

 

[businesslawyer]

You're talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game. Practice.

Coaches control practice. They can make it do anything they like. Why do you think Bill Parcells started Scott Bruenner ahead of Phil Simms? Because practice can fool you. And sometimes coaches fool themselves.

God knows we've had this conversation before, and I don't need to waste a lot of time on it again, but you are confusing (i) coaches aren't always right, and sometimes players do much better in games than in practice, with (ii) watching practice is still the single best tool coaches have for making the right decision as to who is ready to get a chance in a game.

It's as if you know one lawyer who did great in law school barely surviving his LSATs, so you've drawn the conclusion that everyone, no matter how poorly they did on the single best indicator of success we have, deserves a chance to argue a case for an important client.

 

[John]

As stated in many other threads, my apathy (as most of you as well) is really sad and disappointing. I have had tickets for 15 years, and really am considering not renewing for the first time. I would put the games on the calendar and nothing would prevent me from going. The PP debacle, and now a coach who really seems to have no clue have made me jaded. I just want hope and a reason to get excited.

in the same boat, almost didn't renew for 2016 - however, next season's schedule actually is a very good one, so it might pay to do the one-year-reup just to see the competition.

 

[HuskiesFan1014]

Cbanging OC and QB at the same time was ridiculous. How do you know if a change in play calling would make a difference for BS and the O.

THIS!!!!! 100%.
I said this to my wife the other night, but she didn't get it...if your car won't start, you don't change the battery and the starter at the same time, then test it.

Our Master Mechanic is a peach.

 

[Huskygamble19]

"Put me in coach..I'm ready to play the game" and Diaco did. Very little preparation against a defensive machine. that is bad coaching in capital letters.

 

[UConnNick]

Can someone help me understand the value of finding out if he is the future faster?

They are going to keep recruiting quarterbacks aren't they no matter what?

The actual value is to satisfy the bloodlust of cranking through to the next guy?

Is the premise that players can't be evaluated in practice?

Our coaching staff couldn't predict how a pedigreed dog would act at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show after living with the dog on a daily basis for 15 years.