The View From Section 241

[sdhusky]

DeLeone scares the hell out of me, because I can't even begin to understand what he is trying to accomplish with this offense. Hopefully, he's a genius and I'm a dope.

We have to give a bit more time before we judge him.

I want to see flashes of offensive production this year and a offense good enough to win the BE (with strong D) next year.

 

[businesslawyer]

We have to give a bit more time before we judge him.

I want to see flashes of offensive production this year and a offense good enough to win the BE (with strong D) next year.

We will have strong D next year. We return 8 starters off this unit, and we've already seen the backups and presumptive replacements for the 3 departees (Byron Jones, shamar Stephen and Wirth).

 

[uconndogs]

We have to give a bit more time before we judge him.

I want to see flashes of offensive production this year and a offense good enough to win the BE (with strong D) next year.

That is a very fair and balanced post.

My main question for next season is who carries the ball, because I don't see McCombs ever being a workhorse back or a banger between the tackles. That could be solved and we will certainly have more experience at QB.

 

[RMS25CT]

I think you will hear more comments about O line play this year, due to fact that no one is going to respect the passing game. They will game plan for the run. This makes the O line look bad.

How is this any different than the last however many years since Orlovsky was at QB?

 

[Excalibur]

How is this any different than the last however many years since Orlovsky was at QB?

Great running backs make up for a lot of mistakes.

 

[Carl Spackler]

How is this any different than the last however many years since Orlovsky was at QB?

What I'm seeing, that's different, is an offensive system that in breakdown through 4 games, looks like an offense that is not predictable to a defense. We were entirely predictable in the past several years. It's ok to be predictable if you've got a balanced offense and athletes that can compete with anybody, anywhere. We didn't have that either. That's why you;re lucky if you score a dozen TD's in an entire season of big east play on offense last year.

What we haven't done, is finish off plays successfully to get any defense we face to actually choose to come out in a balanced look, so far in 2011, instead of coming out selling out to stop the run and then waiting for us to force them to adjust.

just need to keep practicing, and get better. The opportunities have been there, every game we've played so far, to move the ball real far down the field against unbalanced defenses, and score TDs.

 

[businesslawyer]

It is always less predictable to a defense when you try to do stuff you suck at than when you try to do stuff you're good at because the defense will always expect you to do stuff that you're better at. The Patriots would be fooling everybody every game if they committed to run two thirds of the time. But they don't do that. Obviously, because Belicheck is an idiot.

You do want to be unpredictable, but you need to balance that with what you do best and what you can do against a particular defense and come up with playcalling that maximizes your chances of winning. You can adjust play calling game to game. Justifying play calling one week because it might work in another year when you have different talent is -- well, everyone can pick out their own adjective.

We look lost on offense. Am I blaming that all on coaching as opposed to personnel -- no, I'm not. But to pretend that play calling that is not working is working in super secret because of how it's preparing is for the future -- jeez.

 

[Husky68]

What I'm seeing, that's different, is an offensive system that in breakdown through 4 games, looks like an offense that is not predictable to a defense. We were entirely predictable in the past several years. It's ok to be predictable if you've got a balanced offense and athletes that can compete with anybody, anywhere. We didn't have that either. That's why you;re lucky if you score a dozen TD's in an entire season of big east play on offense last year.

What we haven't done, is finish off plays successfully to get any defense we face to actually choose to come out in a balanced look, so far in 2011, instead of coming out selling out to stop the run and then waiting for us to force them to adjust.

just need to keep practicing, and get better. The opportunities have been there, every game we've played so far, to move the ball real far down the field against unbalanced defenses, and score TDs.

The opportunity is always there to move the ball, especially against unbalanced defenses; question is "did we" and the answer to that has been generally no. Something is wrong when 1st down plays net almost zero yardage over the course of a game against Buffalo. You line up, 8 guys in box and other 3 DB's no deeper than 10 yards, think you have to call other than dive or sweep to short side. Just too many defenders to block. Looks very predictable on 1st down. Tight formation with 2 tight ends and/or H back on 1st down isn't working. After 1st down the hole is dug.

 

[Carl Spackler]

All valid points counselor and husky68. the common denominator that I see, is what I think we're missing. (never mind talent/basics issues of completing passes etc. etc.)

What i think is glaringly missing from the offense at this point is the ability of a QB to check out of a play call at the LOS based on what the defense is presenting and go to another play call.

We've still got QB's trying to figure out what the best options are with the ball based on the play call out of the huddle and blockers trying to figure out who to block based on the play call out of the huddle.

You factor in a new offensive system, and the situatino we've got in the offensive backfield, and the offensive line replacing players, with essentially NO experience at the QB position, and i used the word remarkable before,

I think it's remarkable that we've been able to put up any points at all, let alone show the progress we've had.

 

[mattp]

What i think is glaringly missing from the offense at this point is the ability of a QB to check out of a play call at the LOS based on what the defense is presenting and go to another play call..

it's been frustrating to watch us line up in tight, big formations on one first down, run into 11 guys and net half a yard. it seems like we've done a lot of that this year, and we're not built for that type of running game anymore. last year we had the Oline and RBs to pull that off, but not yet this year. it seems like every drive ends up at 2nd and 8 or longer and it's tough to convert those consistantly when you have no passing game.

 

[J187Money]

Easier said than done but use Williams as a Welker type receiver. Short underneath safety valve type role. I know it is Brady and Welker, but at times they seem unstoppable.

As a side note, I lived in Buckley 509 and get nostalgic ever time you post...

 

[Husky68]

it's been frustrating to watch us line up in tight, big formations on one first down, run into 11 guys and net half a yard. it seems like we've done a lot of that this year, and we're not built for that type of running game anymore. last year we had the Oline and RBs to pull that off, but not yet this year. it seems like every drive ends up at 2nd and 8 or longer and it's tough to convert those consistantly when you have no passing game.

I'd like to understand what is the authority/technique for the QB to call another play. Let's say 1st down, tight formation, defense 8 in the box; JMac sees this - now what. Since that is what the defense usually shows, does he (and rest of team) know what alternative "B" is and he calls it, if on road and noise then what? If not an alternative for that play in particular, do we have a method to get to a "group of plan B" calls by QB signaling receivers or whatever.

Seems to me if QB had the authority and method of changing 1st down plays, every single 1st down against Buffalo would have been changed by the QB.

 

[huskysupporter]

I'd like to understand what is the authority/technique for the QB to call another play. Let's say 1st down, tight formation, defense 8 in the box; JMac sees this - now what. Since that is what the defense usually shows, does he (and rest of team) know what alternative "B" is and he calls it, if on road and noise then what? If not an alternative for that play in particular, do we have a method to get to a "group of plan B" calls by QB signaling receivers or whatever.

Seems to me if QB had the authority and method of changing 1st down plays, every single 1st down against Buffalo would have been changed by the QB.

They definitely have audibles and they practice them. Heck every team in high school has audibles. Not difficult to call and learn. QB says a couple words that indicate play, line protection, and if it is a run, which hole they are running two.

 

[Jimdish255]

As best I can remember a key to Dan Orlovsky's success was becoming more comfortable with his audibles and checkdowns. Production up and mistakes down. (the int's didn't go down but he was passing a lot more). It will be a key for McEntee and for any pocket passer to get this down with his personnel. I just get the feeling that this starts the second season for him and for us.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Need to be able to recognize what a defense is doing and how it matches up to your play call, before you can even think about trying to check out of your primary play call.

not so easy to do, when your standing in the middle of the field with 21 guys around you and you've got a matter of seconds, tops. If you can get in and out of the huddle and have a good tempo, you can get a lot done at the line of scrimmage, but if you're slow in and out and up to the line.....kind of like when you've got a brand new offense, new players, rotating every position including QB in and out of the game......

As I"ve said before, it's pretty remarkable we've been able to do anything positive on offense, and a tribute to these players on this roster that they continue to improve week to week.

From what I understand, WMU's offense this weekend is a high pace offense and they'll look to make adjustments at the line.

 

[Carl Spackler]

They definitely have audibles and they practice them. Heck every team in high school has audibles. Not difficult to call and learn. QB says a couple words that indicate play, line protection, and if it is a run, which hole they are running two.

I will lay down any amount that Deleone's offense is a hell of a lot more complex, and requires a more 3 dimensional spatial awareness than the QB looking at DT lined up in the B gap where a run is going to go and yelling out George or Ted to tell the Guard or Tackle to block down on the guy and the other one to move out to the Linebacker.

I could be wrong, but I don't think I"ve seen the offense come up to the line and be able to check out of anything yet. They're stll in the process of identifying the defenses they're looking at prior to snap, and figuring out what they're supposed to block based on that first play call.

I'm not involved in any way, I have no idea if the QB is involved in blocking adjustments at all, or is just looking at the coverage shells or if Petrus is up front identifying what the defensive front is and how it's going to get picked up.

But, I can watch, and what i see, is that it's getting better when tit comes to blocking on the offensive side of the ball, I didn't see any real brainfarts against Buffalo.

 

[Jimdish255]

I will lay down any amount that Deleone's offense is a hell of a lot more complex, and requires a more 3 dimensional spatial awareness than the QB looking at DT lined up in the B gap where a run is going to go and yelling out George or Ted to tell the Guard or Tackle to block down on the guy and the other one to move out to the Linebacker.

I could be wrong, but I don't think I"ve seen the offense come up to the line and be able to check out of anything yet. They're stll in the process of identifying the defenses they're looking at prior to snap, and figuring out what they're supposed to block based on that first play call.

I'm not involved in any way, I have no idea if the QB is involved in blocking adjustments at all, or is just looking at the coverage shells or if Petrus is up front identifying what the defensive front is and how it's going to get picked up.

But, I can watch, and what i see, is that it's getting better when tit comes to blocking on the offensive side of the ball, I didn't see any real brainfarts against Buffalo.

Totally agree without pretending to understand the technical aspects mentioned above. I think the new system is also part of the problem when it comes to blocking full tilt. Two things were clear to me about the offense after DVR-ing through the offensive series last nite after getting back in town. Our blocking is not what it was last year and our runing game is really below what it was without Sherman and the guys we had. The RB position is explained by talent and experience, the line has more to do with new system blues and not being able to just "get after it" IMHO. We'll see improvement, but the pace of that improvement is going to determine a lot of what happens on the field. It's not just the QB who is learning but his progress can help move the other guys forward.

 

[Husky68]

I will lay down any amount that Deleone's offense is a hell of a lot more complex, and requires a more 3 dimensional spatial awareness than the QB looking at DT lined up in the B gap where a run is going to go and yelling out George or Ted to tell the Guard or Tackle to block down on the guy and the other one to move out to the Linebacker.

I could be wrong, but I don't think I"ve seen the offense come up to the line and be able to check out of anything yet. They're stll in the process of identifying the defenses they're looking at prior to snap, and figuring out what they're supposed to block based on that first play call.

I'm not involved in any way, I have no idea if the QB is involved in blocking adjustments at all, or is just looking at the coverage shells or if Petrus is up front identifying what the defensive front is and how it's going to get picked up.

But, I can watch, and what i see, is that it's getting better when tit comes to blocking on the offensive side of the ball, I didn't see any real brainfarts against Buffalo.

I thought that seemed like too many guys to block on 1st downs, I initially put it to missed blocks, then as it kept repeating, thought that we must be trying to do something that can't be done, being run into too many defenders. If anyone has seen JMac audible out of 1st down run, let me know as I haven't seen it.

 

[Jimdish255]

I thought that seemed like too many guys to block on 1st downs, I initially put it to missed blocks, then as it kept repeating, thought that we must be trying to do something that can't be done, being run into too many defenders. If anyone has seen JMac audible out of 1st down run, let me know as I haven't seen it.

Good news is that WR's may be starting to catch the balls they can get their hands on. Maybe getting more comfortable with JM's throws. He started to put a little more zip on a few throws but still catchable. A slight adjustment on the longer balls could make a big difference for him.

 

[uconnbaseball]

Good news is that WR's may be starting to catch the balls they can get their hands on. Maybe getting more comfortable with JM's throws. He started to put a little more zip on a few throws but still catchable. A slight adjustment on the longer balls could make a big difference for him.

Agreed. If our WR play was as bad as it was last year, our offense would be worse than it was in 2005.

 

[huskysupporter]

I will lay down any amount that Deleone's offense is a hell of a lot more complex, and requires a more 3 dimensional spatial awareness than the QB looking at DT lined up in the B gap where a run is going to go and yelling out George or Ted to tell the Guard or Tackle to block down on the guy and the other one to move out to the Linebacker.

I could be wrong, but I don't think I"ve seen the offense come up to the line and be able to check out of anything yet. They're stll in the process of identifying the defenses they're looking at prior to snap, and figuring out what they're supposed to block based on that first play call.

I'm not involved in any way, I have no idea if the QB is involved in blocking adjustments at all, or is just looking at the coverage shells or if Petrus is up front identifying what the defensive front is and how it's going to get picked up.

But, I can watch, and what i see, is that it's getting better when tit comes to blocking on the offensive side of the ball, I didn't see any real brainfarts against Buffalo.

I think you might have misunderstood my post. I was saying that it is easy for the offense to understand the audible call. In no way was I insinuating that McEntee is remotely close to being able to read a defense well enough to call an audible.

I was saying that when an audible is called it is not tough for the O to know and understand their assignments. Something like the quarterback come up to the line and says "Nine!" That signals that there is an audible (that is why a qb will always come to the line and shout numbers/phrases/colors even if they don't mean anything). Blue 52 Rover! Blue tells the line the protection (inside or outside), the 52 would be what the general audible play is, and rover would tell the receivers what routes to run if it is a pass.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I get that, believe me, I do, and I"m sure those kind of things are already built in. The example I gave is something pee wee QB's learn to do with their offensive lineman. But I think you underestimate the complexity of what a guy like Deleone is capable of installing.

The depth of what we can do on offense, will depend on how well all 11 guys on the field at any time understand spacing on the field, and what the defense is doing and how the play call(s) can attack it, and how the offense needs to move as a unit to make it happen - AND - the ability of the center and QB to get the ball into the right guy's hands whether it be a handoff or a pass.

I'll go back to what Skip Holtz said about installing offense. When you first put in an offense, it's about figuring out who to block, and where the spaces are.

WHen you've got that down, then you start to install HOW and WHY - and then the offense can really start clicking.

Blocking and tackling. that's football.

Another way to say it is creating space, or taking away space.

There's only so much space on football field, and it's blocked out, or filled up, and measured very nicely.

The way you grow in knowledge about the game, following it, is also the reason why guys that get to be my age, or the guys like Deleone, P, and B's age, would do anything to be able to suit up again. THose 18 year old guys dont' know jack . IF you only had the bodies to go with the knowledge you could kick anybody's ass.

The learning curve though, I think has been pretty good so far through the fist quarter of the season, we'll see on Saturday afternoon, if the arrow is still pointing up.

 

[businesslawyer]

I get that, believe me, I do, and I"m sure those kind of things are already built in. The example I gave is something pee wee QB's learn to do with their offensive lineman. But I think you underestimate the complexity of what a guy like Deleone is capable of installing.

The depth of what we can do on offense, will depend on how well all 11 guys on the field at any time understand spacing on the field, and what the defense is doing and how the play call(s) can attack it, and how the offense needs to move as a unit to make it happen - AND - the ability of the center and QB to get the ball into the right guy's hands whether it be a handoff or a pass.

I'll go back to what Skip Holtz said about installing offense. When you first put in an offense, it's about figuring out who to block, and where the spaces are.

WHen you've got that down, then you start to install HOW and WHY - and then the offense can really start clicking.

Blocking and tackling. that's football.

Another way to say it is creating space, or taking away space.

There's only so much space on football field, and it's blocked out, or filled up, and measured very nicely.

The way you grow in knowledge about the game, following it, is also the reason why guys that get to be my age, or the guys like Deleone, P, and B's age, would do anything to be able to suit up again. THose 18 year old guys dont' know jack . IF you only had the bodies to go with the knowledge you could kick anybody's ass.

The learning curve though, I think has been pretty good so far through the fist quarter of the season, we'll see on Saturday afternoon, if the arrow is still pointing up.

Your optimism is far exceeding the results on the field i''m seeing. But I certainly hope you're right.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I'll save you a run down on stats. We had a big hiccup in the runnig game against Buffalo. Just didn't seem to be able to either recognize that they were constantly bringing more guys up to the LOS that we could block, or were full aware that they were doing it, but as I"ve been talking about probalby didn't have the mechanisms in place to avoid it, or if they did, didn't get the job done often enough.

Other than that, there has been definite upward progress in the offense in the passing game and running game. The running game took a downward angle against Buffalo, but there's no reason to think it won't turn back up.

THe only thing I'l mention is that we are moving the ball in bigger chunks at a time, than we were last year, significantly, and that's exactly what they said they were going to do, and I've seen lots of change in the offense in the ability to take the ball through the air and crss the goal line.

The running game will continue to be strong, because the emphasis on running te ball in the game plans is there, and we've got the players up front on the line to make it happen.

Just got to go out tomorrow, with the energy and passion and kick some tail.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Explain your position that Buffalo was a hiccup in the run game, that we are making progress in the run game and that the running game will continue to be strong. All the numbers are going in the opposite direction from the start.

 

[Husky68]

Explain your position that Buffalo was a hiccup in the run game, that we are making progress in the run game and that the running game will continue to be strong. All the numbers are going in the opposite direction from the start.

Agree. I was watching the USF Pitt game and thinking, I can't think of a team I've watched on TV this year that doesn't have at least one back who is hard to bring down, gets 2 yards falling forward and twists and fights for every inch. In the BE and then any other BCS team, who has a starting RB who "WOULDN'T" start for Uconn. Who has a 2nd string RB who wouldn't start for Uconn? At some point talent does matter. A nice 5'8" and 175lb back had better be named Rodgers or Devine or he isn't going to get it done - period.