The View From Section 241 -- UCF

[businesslawyer]

It's been a long time since we've scored 40 straight points in a game. A long, long time. Saturday was more proof -- much more proof -- that 2014 was rock bottom and we are climbing up from there. And that we have a quality defense. And that we have some playmakers on offense. Having said all that, I have avoided getting too low during the three game losing streak, and as fun as watching yesterday was I am going to avoid getting too high after a win. Let's be clear about one thing -- while we played a very solid game in all phases, that game said more about UCF being awful than us being good. Because, yesterday, they were just awful. And while we were dominating, it was not a "clean" game for us, especially on offense, at all. Far too many penalties. Far too many sacks allowed. And far too many instances of struggling to get plays in on time. All of those are things we did better avoiding early against Nova and Army, but have now crept back into our game. Along with, yet again, our staff giving away 3 points with aggressiveness. Now, in that situation that was not an awful decision (the call, yes, but not the decision to go for it) given that failing would pin them deep and we only needed a yard. But still -- for a team that has a good D and, until yesterday, was point challenged (and broke out yesterday based largely on UCF repeatingly giving us a short field), we have to be willing to take points when they are there. So I don't want to minimize all the things we did well yesterday. Nor do I want to minimize just getting it done when facing a must win situation on the road. But if we're going to beat not just Tulane and USF, but beat someone else and get to 6, all those negatives have to be eliminated. Or as fun as yesterday was we're not getting to 6.

On D, very little to say negative. About anything. Yes, we don't play aggressive D, and we can give up yardage if the other team can execute, but the results speak for themselves. Especially in a game where, as happened yesterday, the opposing offense makes tons of mistakes. Given that we're still a while from our one off week, it was also nice to see that we really didn't run a ton of defensive plays with our starters in, and that hopefully combines with a big crowd and a return home to give them extra energy for Saturday. Shout out to Summers for another really nice pick, and VAnn looked as good as I've seen this year. Now they need to do it against an offense that lit up Syracuse yesterday.

A nice, clean game on specials. Bobby Puyol, for what it's worth, hasn't missed a FG in the first half of the season. Maybe we can show a little more confidence going forward? Both Lemelle and Vitale were free to return punts. Coverages remained solid. And finally, someone blocked enough for Arkeel that he finally found a crease and could make a play. It took long enough.

The story on the O is harder. The mistakes didn't go away, and against a team that doesn't suck it will stop us from having good offensive days. But somehow, despite all the penalties and sacks allowed, our QB put up huge numbers, we finally ran decently and we still didn't turn the ball over. Not once. As easy as it is to find flaws in Shirreffs game, the numbers he is putting up despite his OL are actually quite remarkable. As he grows, if his line grows with him, he coud be really good. For Arkeel, it was a breakout game. He can do everything he needs to. The question will be if he maxed out on carries yesterday, or if they're willing to let him carry it 22 or 25 times. The good news, if the answer is he did max out on carries, is that we saw a little more of last year's Ron Johnson, and maybe that gets his confidence up. Also noting that we saw more of McLean and Magala. So a lot of good, because they put up yardage and made plays, but too many errors to think that they showed they can do that against teams with a pulse. We'll see.

So that's it. How big is Saturday's game. We have family coming to Vermont with us next weekend. Coming off the last few seasons, I told my wife a year ago to make plans and if it conflicted with a home game "not a big deal." Well -- it is a big deal, and the Rent is only a little more than an hour further from my Vermont house than my Fairfield one. This change of plans may cost me points at home, and it will cost me buying some extra tickets so all the males can come to the game, but small price. I intend to be there. I said coming into the season that 6 wins wasn't even on my radar -- that 4 or 5 with clear improvement being shown and promise for next year was the cieling. Well, a win on Saturday and the odds of bowling are creeping up to the 50% range. Six wins will require beating USF and Tulane, and then showing enough improvement -- and having enough luck -- that we come up with a sixth. But maybe this team isn't a little better than I thought, but a lot. I'm not convinced yet. It still is going to come down to the OL stepping up a little more. But Saturday is both a chance to get #4, and a chance to convince us that the speed at which we're moving forward is more than, to use a lawyer's phrase, "all deliberate." Go Huskies.

 

[NYUConn]

Great write up. Agree UCF is a complete dumpster fire this year, but that being said, it was good to see a UConn team finally take advantage of another team's mistakes on offense and put points on the board. We've had a number of 3-4 turnover games from our defense over the last few seasons and we've never had an offense that could consistently turn those takeaways into points.

The road to 6 wins will still be difficult, but it's doable now.

Very anxious to see how this team performs against a much improved USF team.

 

[wethyhusky]

Off topic, but how can the UCF "faithful" call for Olearys head after the last 3 years of success? They were awful yesterday, and I enjoyed the drubbing, but can we kind of equate this to calling for Calhoun to be fired after a Nit year?

 

[Chin Diesel]

Agree with both. It's nice to put a mud hole stompin' on a dumpster fire and not play to the level of competition.

When McClean came in, he immediately caught my eye. That's a big target with long strides.

Also nice to see so many of the Florida players doing well and getting snaps in front of their family and friends.

 

[NYUConn]

Off topic, but how can the UCF "faithful" call for Olearys head after the last 3 years of success? They were awful yesterday, and I enjoyed the drubbing, but can we kind of equate this to calling for Calhoun to be fired after a Nit year?

Dude GOL has three good seasons at UCF that resulted in one BCS win, a bowl win over Ball State and a loss to NC State.

In what world would you put him on par with Jim Calhoun?

 

[Dooley]

UCF very well might not win a game this year. What I saw yesterday from UCF made our 2014 look like the Patriots. But as others have written in other places, the better teams should always beat up on the weaker opponents...and that's what we did yesterday.

I agree with you Biz - we'll learn MUCH more about this team and what to expect this season on Saturday. We've beaten all of the weaker teams and lost to all of the better teams on our schedule. Now we play a team that is probably on par with us at this point in the season. A close loss to Memphis where they held them to just 24 points and a drubbing of the Fruit in their last 2 games means that they are playing pretty well heading into Saturday. We always play close games against USF and I expect the same this weekend.

 

[NYUConn]

Off topic, but how can the UCF "faithful" call for Olearys head after the last 3 years of success? They were awful yesterday, and I enjoyed the drubbing, but can we kind of equate this to calling for Calhoun to be fired after a Nit year?

Also, given it was under GOL's watch that the team was hit with the sanctions that they are suffering from today, combined with the fact that he's basically gone into each of the last two seasons threatening to quit and that he's assumed Athletic Director duties at UCF, I think their fans are justified to be frustrated with him.

 

[noeynox]

Clear sign of improvement? Last year when we played a bad team, we couldn't get out of our own way, Tulane, USF, SMU come to mind.

USF looks improved. I hope our defense and our home field are enough. To be over .500 after 7 games would be a hell of an improvement.

I also think all the chances/trick plays coupled with younger players like Mayala and McClean playing now is not only for this year but also for next year.

I'm starting to feel like we could really compete for the top of the,conference next season. Continued OL development will be the key.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

USF, Tulane, and ECU are our path to bowl eligibility. I think it can be done.

 

[Exit 4]

I actually thought there was much to be negative about this week. UCF handed us the game. Yeah - I know - I'm raining on the parade.

Rather than run through all there was to be disappointed with, I'll narrow my comments to three players.

i) Newsome is really showing us something. The fruits of his strength/conditioning are beginning to bear. I'm glad to be so wrong about my condemnation from week 1.
ii) Sherriffs - Still doing a solid job. Still the best we have had at QB is many years. I'd like to see him/the staff - push the vertical game more in ways them are comfortable for his arm strength which seems to be middle of the road.
iii) Carrezola - Am I missing it or has his presence been less impactful since week one?

 

[businesslawyer]

Luke has been invisible after week 2. Without seeing film, I seem to see Cam Stapleton making more plays.

 

[Exit 4]

Luke has been invisible after week 2. Without seeing film, I seem to see Cam Stapleton making more plays.

That is what I thought. When I look at the new bulk on his body, I wonder if he got too big - lost his speed. I need to pay more attention - all I know is I haven't noticed him.

 

[uconndogs]

Through half the season we've beaten whom we should and have been in most every game into the 4th quarter. There is no disputing the progress made.

A bowl is huge for the program for momentum. That extra practice is just what this relatively young team needs.

Agree on Sherrifs. He has played remarkably well and has dramatically limited mistakes. The remainder of the schedule is tough, but there is not a single game that we can't hang in. With good defense and limited mistakes we have a chance at 6 and a bowl. I gave us almost no chance at that before the season.

 

[huskypantz]

Nice post, BL. One thing I like about our offense this season is that 3rd and long is no longer a death sentence. Even in our best offensive years with Edsall, those situations always seemed a little hopeless. With a solid stable of WR's/TE's and Shirreffs slinging the ball around or tucking and running if nothing materializes, we're a much greater threat.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Major props for laying the points at home and bringing in some extras for the game. I'm trying to figure something out for the game. Trying to sell my son on the merits of skipping his game to go the Rent. Bribery in full effect. I'm not exactly proud of myself but it has to be done.

 

[Carl Spackler]

BL starting to sound likeva real deal football dude. Even keel. Its never as good as it seems, and its never as bad. Lots of stuff to clean up and improve. Study, identify, and improve. Proper preparation prevents poor performance.

I'm super psyched that we broke through some shackles and laid a whoopin on somebody. I'm super super duper psyched that we're 3-3 at the half way mark. I'm super super duper pooper scooper psyched we brought the trophy home for another year.

On to South Florida, they made some orange juice this weekend and scored more than we did.

 

[Dooley]

iii) Carrezola - Am I missing it or has his presence been less impactful since week one?

There has been some drop off since week 2. I don't think there have been a slew of mistakes or anything, just not the impact player we saw in the first 2 games of the season. Joseph and, dare I say, Stewart have been our two best/most consistent LBs in weeks 3-6.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Couple of other areas I liked.

Welcome back Alec Bloom. He's a big target who showed promise last year. He's a needed cog for the offense to click.

Secondly, it is a GREAT feeling when you are on the road and you have to go to your cell phone to see who's in the game for UConn. The game day program only listed the 2-deep. So when I'm having to see who #49 (Parker), #50(Lawley), #75(Oak), #70(Bokeloh) and a few others are, it's a good thing. Plenty of players go valuable playing time that pays dividends down the road. I doubt there were three dressed players who didn't see a snap.

This was my first game of the season so I got to see the players up close. A few observations. Pert looks skinny but has a nice frame to add the 30-40 lbs he'll need in the next two years. Samra looks very short compared to all the other linemen. Ron Johnson has massive legs. Tyler Davis is a big kid. Looks like a TE. McLean is a big kid too. He presents a big target for the QB.

Finally, no problems with the crowd or pre/post game festivities. There was a group of 8-10 UCF students who infiltrated the UConn section and were sitting in front of some of the UConn fans (probably parents of players). I was 3-4 rows behind and hadn't heard or seen anything crazy. But, three or four deputy sheriffs working the game walked down to the UCF students and calmly and quietly moved them on their way. Well done by the Orange County sheriffs dept.

 

[Palatine]

The key the game was the offensive line played a bit better and it resulted in a big improvement. There were some big holes for the running game. Not always but more than we have seen in while. And the pass protection was solid. That set everything up.

I thought Sherriffs had his best game. He didn't do the one read than run thing. He kept plays alive and threw downfield. A little confidence is a powerful thing.

It's hard to judge the defense because of all the dropped passes by UCF. A couple should have been TDs. And a couple of others would have kept drives alive. Add in a string of penalties and we faced a offense with zero confidence. The defensive domination was probably a combination of us being okay and them being terrible. This was the perfect team for Diaco's defense. They were a mistake waiting to happen.

It all added up to a very pleasant Saturday, especially since I'm on vacation in a very warm place.

 

[whaler11]

Oh good I've stumbed upon the thread where we all humblebrag about our second homes and elaborate vacations.

Someone let Art know we need an update on his bikini boat.

(before someone gets all hot and bothered it's a joke).

 

[Excalibur]

That is what I thought. When I look at the new bulk on his body, I wonder if he got too big - lost his speed. I need to pay more attention - all I know is I haven't noticed him.

I would add Ron Johnson to the list of guys who may have put on too much weight. I think he lost his ability to accelerate. It makes him a load to tackle when running downhill, but limits his effectiveness when the line doesn't open holes.

 

[CL82]

I have to say that I look forward to "The view from 241" after every game. Fair criticism after a loss, moderate optimism after a win; it's just a good read.

As easy as it is to find flaws in Shirreffs game, the numbers he is putting up despite his OL are actually quite remarkable. As he grows, if his line grows with him, he coud be really good.

That's the thing that keeps sticking in my mind this season. This is a very young team that still has some significant flaws. As it matures it could be pretty could. Give Shirreffs more time and the criticism about him not going through his reads goes away. Be able to pass block without having hold practically everyone back and he'll have more options available to him. Newsome, Johnson, Bloom and Myers, the pieces are there. All we need is time and experience.

 

[NYUConn]

I have to say I look forward to "The view from 241" after every game. Fair criticism after a loss, moderate optimism after a win; it's just a good read.

As easy as it is to find flaws in Shirreffs game, the numbers he is putting up despite his OL are actually quite remarkable. As he grows, if his line grows with him, he coud be really good.

That's the thing that keeps sticking in my mind this season. This is a very young team that still has some significant flaws. As it matures it could be pretty could. Give Shirreffs more time and the criticism about him not going through his read goes away. Be able to pass block without having hold practically everyone back and he'll have more options available to him. Newsome, Johnson, Bloom and Myers, the pieces are there. All we need is time and experience.

Agreed. @businesslawyer doing a great job with these.

 

[sdhusky]

Agreed. @businesslawyer doing a great job with these.

Lets not go overboard...

Let's be clear about one thing -- while it was a good post in all phases, it standing out says more about most boneyard posts being awful than BL being good.

 

[businesslawyer]

Lets not go overboard...

Let's be clear about one thing -- while it was a good post in all phases, it standing out says more about most boneyard posts being awful than BL being good.

LMAO. On the other hand, if I had said that it would just be more evidence of my being condesending.