This Was a Great Win

[Brochacho]

Don't know if it has been mentioned, but Villanova is likely better than or at least equivalent to Army, USF, or Tulane. Hard to not be optimistic right now.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I don't believe we had an illegal procedure penalty all game. If so, how long has it been since that happened?

The end of first half wasn't anything that would draw a flag, but was pretty offensive. yes, we did show improvement in not drawing penalties for procedure in communucations, personnel, lining up and getting a snap off, but we got work to do!

 

[BlueDogs]

Good post. I think the linebacker play was very disappointing. We will have huge problems if our LBs cannot get off blocks and read wildcat, QB tuck and runs and the run option.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Good post. I think the linebacker play was very disappointing. We will have huge problems if our LBs cannot get off blocks and read wildcat, QB tuck and runs and the run option.

They're going to get plenty of reps against Army and Navy.

 

[Husky68]

He didn't say great game, he said great WIN. It was. Played a descent team, with top notch QB, left lot of points on the table, ran the clock out on offense rather than hoping defense holds at end of game, offensive play calling was workmanlike, players looked like not 1st time putting on jock straps - plenty of things to do better but also plenty of good things; not a great game but definitely a GREAT WIN.

Before game told wife for Missouri game "we get to 2 and 0, we got to go". 11 hour drive from NOLA but chance to see undefeated UConn team at an SEC site, got to do it.

 

[Husky25]

I'm re-watching the game as we speak...Carrazola (15) played the first quarter like a man possessed, J.J. Watt style. Johnson looked good running the ball too. O-line needs to find their Dr. Scholl's. They are far better than last year, but it's clear they are not quite gellin' yet.

 

[Dooley]

Solid win. There is a fair amount of stuff to clean up but overall, I liked the way our OL played, I liked Shirreffs decision making with the football, and RonJon ran in beast mode (although the taunting penalty can be left in the locker room). Defense looked good, particularly the secondary. Luke Carrezola looks like a mini-Vrabel for us on D.

Adeymi's penalty for throwing a punch (he was lucky to not get thrown out of the game) was the worst play of the game. Led to Nova's late TD which could have been killer had their coach given them a chance to win the game by attempting an onside kick.

 

[Husky25]

He didn't say great game, he said great WIN. It was. Played a descent team, with top notch QB, left lot of points on the table, ran the clock out on offense rather than hoping defense holds at end of game, offensive play calling was workmanlike, players looked like not 1st time putting on jock straps - plenty of things to do better but also plenty of good things; not a great game but definitely a GREAT WIN.

Before game told wife for Missouri game "we get to 2 and 0, we got to go". 11 hour drive from NOLA but chance to see undefeated UConn team at an SEC site, got to do it.

Correct. Anytime win that you can end the game in the Victory formation is a good win.

 

[NYUConn]

I was so nervous and intense my girlfriend has already sworn off watching games with me this year.

At any rate, it was a very good win on every level that the OP mentioned. Team showed incredible improvement over last year.

Army is going to be tough too next week, but we can get the W.

Let's go Huskies!!!

 

[sportsart]

All I'll say it was the most important win in the last 3 years. We lose this game and it could have been a program killer. We might be looking at 1-4 to start the year with attendance being SMU like for the rest of the year.

 

[sdhusky]

Dude all I said is that Villanova can make the case that their mistakes cost them the game. If that's a 'rag' - I'll live with it because it's true.

The Villanova what-if case is that they could have made it a nail biter, the UConn what-if case is that it could have been a blowout.

Not equivalent.

 

[whaler11]

The Villanova what-if case is that they could have made it a nail biter, the UConn what-if case is that it could have been a blowout.

Not equivalent.

Had they been smart enough to attempt an onside kick it could have been a nailbiter even with making all the mistakes.

They were down 4 with 9 minutes left at the UConn 36 and fumbled the snap.

People say I'm argumentative? Good grief.

 

[CTMike]

I was so nervous and intense my girlfriend has already sworn off watching games with me this year.

At any rate, it was a very good win on every level that the OP mentioned. Team showed incredible improvement over last year.

Army is going to be tough too next week, but we can get the W.

Let's go Huskies!!!

Good strategy

 

[Carl Spackler]

Had they been smart enough to attempt an onside kick it could have been a nailbiter even with making all the mistakes.

They were down 4 with 9 minutes left at the UConn 36 and fumbled the snap.

People say I'm argumentative? Good grief.

I couldn't believe we called timeout, but it had to be because the guys on our side couldn't figure out what the hell villanova was doing by lining up in standard kick formation. Right?

 

[Husky25]

The most disruptive mistake was the holding call on Levy in the first half that turned a huge gain for us into an ultimate safety for them.

I just got to that play. It was a ticky-tack call. D-lineman played it up. On the other hand The hold on Knappe was blatant. He just flat got beat.

 

[Waquoit]

I couldn't believe we called timeout, but it had to be because the guys on our side couldn't figure out what the hell villanova was doing by lining up in standard kick formation. Right?

That was a great TO. We weren't sure and you don't get money back at the end for unused TO's. We should have used one at the end of the 1st half just before the pick when we seemed to be in a bit of disarray.

 

[tense50]

Nice win. Shoulda, coulda been 34-9 if a few miscues didn't happen. But, overall, the crowd was loud and the players responded. The student section should get a round of applause for their support of the team tonight. They were shakin' the rafters at the Rent. Show up like this for every home game and the team will respond in kind. Game Balls to Carezolla, Shirreffs, Myers, Johnson and Noel Thomas who kept a lot of key drives going with runs for 1st downs throughout the game. Outstanding way to start the season off. And let me not forget Verducci. Called a great offensive game and showed the trust he has in the players. Good game coach. It was nice to sit in a stadium that was not filled with expectant doom. Except for my son-in-law who is a born pessimist. See you all at the Army game.

 

[Dooley]

We should have used one at the end of the 1st half just before the pick when we seemed to be in a bit of disarray.

Thought the same thing. Looked like there was confusion on where to line up and they looked a bit discombobulated coming to the line. If I remember correctly, there even looked to be some panic/confusion getting the play to Shirreffs.

 

[Excalibur]

I couldn't believe we called timeout, but it had to be because the guys on our side couldn't figure out what the hell villanova was doing by lining up in standard kick formation. Right?

I think Diaco was assuming onside, and called timeout to see how they were going to try to execute it -- kind of like taking the TO before the inbounds play in basketball.

 

[Dooley]

I think Diaco was assuming onside, and called timeout to see how they were going to try to execute it -- kind of like taking the TO before the inbounds play in basketball.

Yup. Lining up to see their formation and then get the proper guys in the proper spots on the field. I don't think anyone in the stadium, other than Villanova, expected a kick off there. My guess is Diaco just reminded EVERYONE to stay on their toes, including Adams and Obi (who were in the middle by the kicker).

 

[Husky25]

You know what was great about this win? Even when 'Nova scored 9 straight points in the second quarter, I don't remember the feeling of dread that UConn couldn't come back and win that always seemed to accompany a score vs. a Pasqualoni team. As I expected, UConn's depth on Defense took over in the second half. 'Nova's offensive line didn't play particularly well at all.

 

[Waquoit]

You know what was great about this win? Even when 'Nova scored 9 straight points in the second quarter, I don't remember the feeling of dread that UConn couldn't come back and win that always seemed to accompany a score vs. a Pasqualoni team.

I'll be honest. I had "same ol" thoughts creeping back into my head when we botched that last-minute 1st half drive. After the pick, a guy in the next section yelled "Pasqualoni" and I had to wonder. However, that all went out the window after the Myers catch and run.

 

[Carl Spackler]

That was a great TO. We weren't sure and you don't get money back at the end for unused TO's. We should have used one at the end of the 1st half just before the pick when we seemed to be in a bit of disarray.

A bit of disarray? Lol. After the run that put the ball just outside the goal, nobody on the field had any idea what to do. The play clock was under 10 secs and they were still futzing around. Diaco needs to call a TO there. I won't have a chance to rewatch this game unless its available online, but there i'd say were probably 65-70 or so plays for O,D,K units in the game, that probably 75% had major mistakes, some penalties, some assignments and mental, some physical, and coaching -and that goes for both teams.

Amazingly, the communication got done, the new sherriff in town got them squared away and lined up and the got the ball snapped legally. It almost turned into a TD too, if the ball isn't bobbled. Gotta stop bobbling, happened more than once too. Even if we score there, there are coaching issues to clean up. Usually you've got 2 plays called out to the field in that kind of situation, down distance and click. To avoid exactly whst hsppened, you don't get in, you line up and go with the next call.

Either they didn't do that, or that play before was the second play. Either way somebody on the sideline or booth has got to be ready to call a TO. It was way too close to a delay penalty there in a situation where you got to come away with points. A FG or TD. No penalties. No turnovers. That situation was a fail on everybody. Even though it wasn't an actusl procedure penalty.

In this case, they managed to line up in time, get the ball snapped and nearly pulled off the score if not for a physical error.

Twominute drill and situational football got lots of room to improve.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I think Diaco was assuming onside, and called timeout to see how they were going to try to execute it -- kind of like taking the TO before the inbounds play in basketball.

I think everybody in the stadium thought an onside kick was coming except the villanova coaches and nova layers on the field. I brt lots of nova players on the sideline expected it too. I think we came out ready for it and seeing a normal kickoff alignment confused everybody and we weren't ready for a long kick (which we had trouble with earlier in game -tarbutt showed he's a kicker thatcan hitwell, for a kicker. I don't agree with the basketball analogy. It was a good decision to take the TO either way though.

 

[Husky92]

-tarbutt showed he's a kicker thatcan hitwell, for a kicker.

That was awesome. Tarbutt played huge on that hit! So unlike most kickers.

 

[Husky25]

I'll be honest. I had "same ol" thoughts creeping back into my head when we botched that last-minute 1st half drive. After the pick, a guy in the next section yelled "Pasqualoni" and I had to wonder. However, that all went out the window after the Myers catch and run.

HA!! I heard that too!!!

The difference is the interception would have come on third down after two straight runs into the center of the line. It also would have come in UConn's end of the field, unless they were starting in the offensive end. There's an aggressiveness to the play calling that UConn has not seen since the Orlovsky years.

 

[Carl Spackler]

That was awesome. Tarbutt played huge on that hit! So unlike most kickers.

Yeah. There were lots of times when we really just were clearly the more physically dominant team, and that's the way it should be since we are actually 1A to there 1AA. that was one, Ron Johnson's run over penalty another. Just get up and walk away kid. That guy and everybody in the stadium kniws what you did. Dont get in his face, walk away like you done it a thousand times and are going to do it a thousand more. There was a nice collision midfield on a throw with one of our TE's and their defender resulted incomplete pass, but the defender came away the loser, i think it was bloom walked away like it was nothing but a speed bump. Our OL wasn't getting pushed around, and we demonstrated some power football off right tackle and guard. Our DL is the strength of the team.

And OBI, much maligned Obi was laying wood and bresking up big play passes all night.

 

[Nostical]

You just can't have a rational conversation because your bias doesn't allow it.

No one is more rational than me. I'm just more positive than you. Every game has plays that don't work and execution that goes awry. I'm talking about self inflicted errors. Penalties are the first and foremost examples. Levy's holding, Johnson's celebration and Fatukasi's fighting either led to their scoring a safety and touchdown or stopped our drives toward other scores. I repeat, our mistakes kept us from burying them far more than their (self inflicted) mistakes kept them from simply beating us. You can disagree but it's so. Nevertheless, lets agree to not pick nits over this and simply rejoice in the win. Let's get ready to watch our Huskies beat Army next weekend. And they will.

 

[Carl Spackler]

No one is more rational than me. I'm just more positive than you. Every game has plays that don't work and execution that goes awry. I'm talking about self inflicted errors. Penalties are the first and foremost examples. Levy's holding, Johnson's celebration and Fatukasi's fighting either led to their scoring a safety and touchdown or stopped our drives toward other scores. I repeat, our mistakes kept us from burying them far more than their (self inflicted) mistakes kept them from simply beating us. You can disagree but it's so. Nevertheless, lets agree to not pick nits over this and simply rejoice in the win. Let's get ready to watch our Huskies beat Army next weekend. And they will.

You were right to be confident they would win. I was nervous until the final offensive series when we kneeled on it. That's a important concept btw, much easier to win games when you possess the ball at the end rather than defending.

I think whaler's point is simply that the game was in reality very close and very much in doubt for most of the 60minutes,which is the truth.

It was a great win. Fantastic game for building on positively.

 

[pnow15]

Well, when you consider the ultimate goal is to beat Alabama....