Thoughts of an anti-Edsall hire guy as practice starts | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Thoughts of an anti-Edsall hire guy as practice starts

ZOOCONN said:
RE has already stated that he will be hands off when it comes to the offense, it will be RL to run as he sees fit.
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Right. Edsall loved the inside handoff, which is my least favorite play in football because it takes forever to develop and is still right up the middle.
 
nelsonmuntz said:
Right. Edsall loved the inside handoff, which is my least favorite play in football because it takes forever to develop and is still right up the middle.
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you're going to be really disappointed then. I bet we run inside zone at least 15-20% of the time this year.
 
Fishy said:
When the thought of mere competence is a breath of fresh air, you know you've been through some rough coaching tenures. I was happy the first second I heard that he might be the next coach.

I thought we had plateaued with him the last time around and I was not upset to see him go - I was so freaking wrong. If he doesn't leave, we don't crater and perhaps we're not sitting in this no-man's land outside the P5.

Edsall fits UConn and UConn fits Edsall.
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this is spot on. he annoyed me toward the end of his tenure cause he seemed to always be looking to leave. I think both sides have reached the same conclusion. UConn and Edsall just fit. His under the radar recruiting 4-8 win with competent football won't be tolerated many places over the long term, but this place should be home for him.
 
I was fine with the hire because I knew he's competent and I wasn't optimistic about the type of candidates we could attract. Figured best case he'd spend a few years here, get us back to winning 6-7 games, and then we'd bring someone else in to hopefully continue to evolve. Didn't really see Edsall getting us back to our peak without the advantages of the Big East.

Now I'm more optimistic. I don't follow recruiting quite as much as some, but it seems like on paper we are recruiting at a higher level than ever before. Both in filling out our class last minute for the season, and early returns on next year. Inspiring coaching hires. Much more promotion of the program than his previous run here, and probably more than we've seen with Diaco too. Don't want to get carried away since this time last year the vibe around the program was really positive too, , but I'm very excited to see progress this year, and where we can go for the future.
 
I think the potential for RE2.0 is really strong. He is a changed man. He has dynamic assistants and an easy to get along with type of persona now. Honestly, I think RE coupled with some very credible assistants is already proving to be effective. They are recruiting well, the press both locally and nationally is optimistic and the fan base is getting excited. The key in all of this is something RE recently Tweeted. He has an awesome record of putting guys in the NFL. His return is resulting in a light shining on his record putting guys in the league. Recruits are finally getting what we were saying the first time around. Randy Edsall is a great evaluator and developer of talent. Guys should want to play for him. Now that he has dynamic assistants and a hipper culture surrounding him, things should really start to improve. I particularly love that his son is involved. He's got to see things the way many of us do and it is awesome to see him modernize the approach recruiting and publicizing the program.
 
JMick said:
you're going to be really disappointed then. I bet we run inside zone at least 15-20% of the time this year.
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I believe I read that this offense needs to establish the run in order to make the passing game effective.

I'm pretty sure that the running plays we see in this hurry up offense will not look like RE 1.0's running game.

Also, I'm thinking that play action will be a big part of the offense.
 
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sportsart said:
I believe I read that this offense needs to establish the run in order to make the passing game effective.

I'm pretty sure that the running plays we see in this hurry up offense will not look like RE 1.0's running game.

Also, I'm thinking that play action will be a big part of the offense.
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Auburn ran the ball about 70% of the time last year. We are going to see a ton of inside zone and outside zone; both coupled with RPOs. Everything will be set up by the running game.
 
JMick said:
Auburn ran the ball about 70% of the time last year. We are going to see a ton of inside zone and outside zone; both coupled with RPOs. Everything will be set up by the running game.
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I highly doubt we see that high of a percentage, this coaching staff knows what the strengths and weakness of this team are and the most glaring weakness is offensive line play and by result the running game, attempting to run the ball 70% of the time with the current roster would be asinine, I just dont see it. RL has already raved about the skill and speed of the WR on the outside as well as Pindells quick release, if you read between the lines that is a perfect set up for a ton of RPO and WR screens to spread the field and once those occur then the zone will be implemented. Auburn might have run the ball that frequently but this isnt auburn and we dont have the line that auburn did to assume we will operate the same way is crazy.
 
I get the impression that most of you guys missed the Orlovsy era. Maybe it means I'm getting old but regardless when we had a guy who could fling it around we flung it around. If you look at the JUCO kid in 06 pre injury he threw it around too. Then he got hurt and never was the same as a passer. Edsall did what he needed to do with the guys he had. Nobody complained about running it up the middle when Todman got the first down to seal the Pitt game or Dixon scored to beat the Irish.
 
ZOOCONN said:
I highly doubt we see that high of a percentage, this coaching staff knows what the strengths and weakness of this team are and the most glaring weakness is offensive line play and by result the running game, attempting to run the ball 70% of the time with the current roster would be asinine, I just dont see it. RL has already raved about the skill and speed of the WR on the outside as well as Pindells quick release, if you read between the lines that is a perfect set up for a ton of RPO and WR screens to spread the field and once those occur then the zone will be implemented. Auburn might have run the ball that frequently but this isnt auburn and we dont have the line that auburn did to assume we will operate the same way is crazy.
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I never claimed we would run the ball 70% of the time, but running the football is the DNA of any of these new-age offenses. If I had to take a guess, we are going to run the ball close to 60% of the time.
 
Honestly I was not thrilled with the Edsall hire but was so happy the Fiasco was gone. Edsall won me over at the Feb. meet and greet at The Rent, as he apologized for the way he left and his former players rallied around him, meant a lot to me.
 
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uconnell said:
Honestly I was not thrilled with the Edsall hire but was so happy the Fiasco was gone. Edsall won me over at the Feb. meet and greet at The Rent, as he apologized for the way he left and his former players rallied around him, meant a lot to me.
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players coming back and supporting a coach is huge. especially those that have went on to the NFL. Players don't go back and support bad coaches.
 
I was ecstatic with the hire, and now I am even more confident in the direction RE and the staff has taken. The fact that he thought there was talent here to win now is different from what he saw on tape prior to coming here. The spring game was such a different departure to the last few years. There is a happy winning vibe in that building, around the program and with recruits. Now, if we can get the fans to show up and fill up the Rent, this program will be on the up and up year 1. We will go bowling this year. Mark it down.
 
nelsonmuntz said:
Right. Edsall loved the inside handoff, which is my least favorite play in football because it takes forever to develop and is still right up the middle.
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Aren't you the same person who wanted UConn to de-emphasize football and go to the Big East for basketball?

I think HCRE learned a lot being away as we can see by his hirings. He could have gone to a bunch of coaches he knew well but instead brought in a very solid staff that had no to little connection to HCRE before.
 
It's always nice to see the same people re-write history. Edsall loved the inside handoff when we had a dominating OL and NFL running backs.

When we had Dan Orlovsky we didn't see the inside handoff much.

Edsall has always coached the team to their strengths. "Notoriously conservative Edsall" gave the ball to Jordan Todman on 4th and short inside our own 20 yard line to seal a victory over Pitt because he knew that was the easily the best chance at winning the game.

the play.... inside handoff.

 
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I was also a card carrying apologists who was initially underwhelmed by the hire. It felt like a similarly unimaginative, low ceiling move to when JH hired P.

I am thrilled with most of what I have seen since. RE had grown quite a bit since 2010, the two (very young) coordinators appear to be bright, energetic and innovative and it looks like (possibly DB's orders) RE will be more of an administrator, keeping his hands off what the coordinators want, than we ever would have thought possible before his return.

The results remain to be seen but today there is hope, something we've had too little of since RE left 6 1/2 years ago.
 
SeoulHuskyFan said:
I am cautiously optimistic. I can't help but remember how much we all liked Diaco until the football started. 'Won't Get Fooled Again" has been in heavy rotation on my playlists.
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This. While the signs are there and are encouraging, we won't know if randy has really changed until we see him rush more than four on a key 3rd and long in the 4th quarter, or stay in attack mode with a second half lead.
 
FfldCntyFan said:
I was also a card carrying apologists who was initially underwhelmed by the hire. It felt like a similarly unimaginative, low ceiling move to when JH hired P.

I am thrilled with most of what I have seen since. RE had grown quite a bit since 2010, the two (very young) coordinators appear to be bright, energetic and innovative and it looks like (possibly DB's orders) RE will be more of an administrator, keeping his hands off what the coordinators want, than we ever would have thought possible before his return.

The results remain to be seen but today there is hope, something we've had too little of since RE left 6 1/2 years ago.
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He does still have to win.
 
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Excalibur said:
This. While the signs are there and are encouraging, we won't know if randy has really changed until we see him rush more than four on a key 3rd and long in the 4th quarter, or stay in attack mode with a second half lead.
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Glass half full, I'm going to start by enjoying that second half lead.
 
Nostical said:
You can't minimize the influence of Benedict on Edsall 2.0's perspective. Imagine (shudder) at how Edsall 2.0 would be staffing up and acting if the re-hire was made by Hathaway or Warde. I understand he'd never come back for Hathaway, perhaps for Warde, but Benedict's SEC mindset and overall competence garnered respect from Edsall and allowed the acceptance of Lashlee's insistence that he have unimpeded control of all things offensive. Our OLine Coach also gets rave reviews from my Auburn buddies close to that program. Lots of Auburn folks have their eyes on the Huskies this year and they say expect some pleasant surprises. It's no joke that we may very well shock the football world.
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Yes, the addition of Benedict in my view could be the turning point that gives UConn a legit shot at positioning itself for the next P-5 poaching expedition. Right away he brings in Edsall, a gutsy move on his part but a calculated move as UConn Nation is/was in desperate need of anything that resembled competency and something that would remind them of better days. Getting Edsall for a song lessened the initial sting of bringing back a coach that bailed on the school. Then, working some magic to hire a coaching staff that would peak curiosity further softened the blow of Edsall's return.
 
Been thinking about this while traveling this week, and I am very encouraged by Edsall's comment that the current roster has the talent to win. That is very different from the approach that he took during his first tenure here (correctly) and at Maryland (incorrectly). In both places he was very upfront about needing to upgrade talent and change culture before fans could expect success. I hope he really believes what he is saying -- nobody can question his ability to assess talent.
 
Put me in the catagory of not excited with the hire. However, I started to change my mind with the introduction conference and the apoligy, I thought it sincere and heart felt. It was nice that he acknowledge the mistake but that only made forgive him, I still did not think he was the right coach. I think Randy really wanted to come back, I think he believes this is where he wants to be. to paraphrase a quote from the intro conference "I told my wife the only place I would take another HC job would be Connecticut". Is it possible that AD Dave, wanted a person who wanted UCONN, and Randy is that person? I think AD Dave had the leverage to say if we take you back, you need to change, and here is what I want.... I want an exciting offense and I have just the OC in mind.. I want an agressive defence and I have just the DC in mind... I am exicted for next season. I am excited that Randy is doing a great job recruting, I am excited that we have a new OC that is competent, I am excited we have a new DC that is aggressive. I am satisfied with Randy as coach... but time will tell.
 
Last season was supposed to be the peak talent/experience level from the PP/Diaco recruiting classes.

It didn't end well obviously. I'm not sure how the losses in the secondary and lack of OK development affect the talent portion of the program but I am confident that whatever the level was these last years, that the coaching staffs cost us at least 3 games each season for the last 6 seasons.

I don't see Randy doing that. If there is talent left, we could surprise some folks. Step one is protecting the Rent, which RE always did even with transitional D1 talent.
 
Randy needed to see outside his own view. I am sure the Maryland fiasco hurt him deeply, but he started to change up offensively there. His time with the Lions really opened his eyes on how to delegate. The football coach in him saw the way the American played football and Randy's rolodex got him Crocker. Benedict got him Lashlee, but make no mistake about it, Lashlee needed a new perspective and Randy fits the bill for him.

UCONN football will be the winner with the above staff- and Randy will be here as long as he wants, Lashlee will move on to be a P5 coach and Crocker will make a name for himself. And I fully expect Wholley to be Randy's replacement.
 
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