Thoughts on the 2015 season ( v long)

[UConn9604]

Last home game with a shot at bowl eligibility would be the most meaningful home game in years. I would expect the crowd to act accordingly

Me too. People seem to forget that our crowds have been aching for something to cheer for, for quite some time. For that miserable UCF game in the rain at Homecoming last year, we were pretty loud -- a lot of fans were huddled under the upper decks and taking timeouts in the john, sure, but we were pretty loud.

We haven't had anything to play for since the Michigan game, but this year could be different. As Pepband99 noted, this year's home/away split is ugly on paper but it may not be bad in the long run, if only because the home games are more winnable. You need to do two things to have a happy fan base -- win home games and play in bowls -- and the home schedule, although not sexy, is set up for a nice bounceback.

I can't wait.

 

[junglehusky]

Good write up and responses. I hope the will be signs of progress at the end of the season, but I expect a mixed bag overall and probably 3-4 wins. I suppose ANY progress will be the first that the program has had in a long time, so there's that.

 

[UConn9604]

One thing that will be interesting on the defensive side is how much more complicated the defensive schemes are.
Diaco has commented that it was at a 100 level and will be moving to a 200 level. Hopefully this leads to more pressure on the quarterback - that was a huge ingredient that was missing last season and it's a fairly easy connection as to why they didn't generate many turnovers.

Reading this post again (for at least the tenth time), this comment reminded me of something Belichick once said after his first year with the Patriots, in which they went 5-11 and finished in last place. It was something to the effect of, I'm never going to dumb down my system again. I'm going to coach my system, and the players are going to learn it or they're not going to play.

I recognize that it was his first year with them and their first year with him, but it had to be difficult for both the players and Diaco to get to know one another on such short notice. If Pasqualoni's hiring was meant to be a band-aid, Diaco's was a transplant, and those usually have lengthy recoveries. Another year with each other can only help them implement more advanced schemes, and, as you noted, help us get to the QB more often and more effectively.

So, we should expect us to have the best program in football for the next 15-20 years.

 

[IMind]

Whaler didn't mention him much, because there really isn't much we know... but to me the key here is Verducci. How much influence does he have over the game. The way I see it crazy Bob had too much influence over the offense. A lot of the in game decisions were baffling and I'm hoping at the very least Verducci can help that.

 

[Dooley]

Reading this post again (for at least the tenth time), this comment reminded me of something Belichick once said after his first year with the Patriots, in which they went 5-11 and finished in last place. It was something to the effect of, I'm never going to dumb down my system again. I'm going to coach my system, and the players are going to learn it or they're not going to play.

I recognize that it was his first year with them and their first year with him, but it had to be difficult for both the players and Diaco to get to know one another on such short notice. If Pasqualoni's hiring was meant to be a band-aid, Diaco's was a transplant, and those usually have lengthy recoveries. Another year with each other can only help them implement more advanced schemes, and, as you noted, help us get to the QB more often and more effectively.

So, we should expect us to have the best program in football for the next 15-20 years.

I can only hope that 2014 will be the 5-11 Pats season for UConn football. It certainly did seem that 2014 was more of a scrimmage year than a year that we actually tried to do everything possible to win games. Maybe Diaco had to dumb down his defense last year in order to roll out a defense this year that is more up to his standard. I would never compare any coach to Bill Belichick...it's just not fair. But that 2014 season that we all just suffered through saw very few moments of creativity and game-winning decision making just like Belichick's first year as Patriots head coach, that's for sure.

 

[blue93]

I can only hope that 2014 will be the 5-11 Pats season for UConn football. It certainly did seem that 2014 was more of a scrimmage year than a year that we actually tried to do everything possible to win games. Maybe Diaco had to dumb down his defense last year in order to roll out a defense this year that is more up to his standard. I would never compare any coach to Bill Belichick...it's just not fair. But that 2014 season that we all just suffered through saw very few moments of creativity and game-winning decision making just like Belichick's first year as Patriots head coach, that's for sure.

I think the difference between dumbing down our system compared to dumbing down the Patriots system has a lot to do with inexperience all over the place for us.. We're working with 19/20 year old kids that have probably played in just a couple of schemes in their entire lives and some guys who are in new positions that they need to become accustomed to. At least with NFL players, you know that they have had to learn quite a few playbooks and should know how to adjust on the fly. There are a lot of things that were reasonable to disagree with in Diaco's first year, but I don't think simplifying a brand new defense is one of them.

With that said, it's time to ramp it up and cause some havoc this year. We're ready to win games again.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I just really don't want to be embarrassed anymore, for them, or for myself for having to defend myself for paying attention. Let's start there.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I can't believe I am actually going to a game a week from now for a team that will be an underdog to an FCS program.

I refuse to believe that Pasqualoni's recruiting was so bad that a team that was competitive in a BCS league just a couple of years ago is now on the verge of a 1-2 win season and multiple curb stompings in a mid-major conference. Diaco shouldn't have been a high school head coach last year, and still makes me cringe every time he opens his mouth. We don't need the players to mature, we need the coach to mature. Diaco was no where near ready to be a Head Coach last year and is learning on the job. I hope he figures something, anything, out this year because there will be 5,000 in the stands by mid season if the team is as bad as it looks right now.

If Diaco is capable of being a Division 1 coach, then UConn should beat Villanova.

 

[FDNY99]

I can't believe I am actually going to a game a week from now for a team that will be an underdog to an FCS program.

I refuse to believe that Pasqualoni's recruiting was so bad that a team that was competitive in a BCS league just a couple of years ago is now on the verge of a 1-2 win season and multiple curb stompings in a mid-major conference. Diaco shouldn't have been a high school head coach last year, and still makes me cringe every time he opens his mouth. We don't need the players to mature, we need the coach to mature. Diaco was no where near ready to be a Head Coach last year and is learning on the job. I hope he figures something, anything, out this year because there will be 5,000 in the stands by mid season if the team is as bad as it looks right now.

If Diaco is capable of being a Division 1 coach, then UConn should beat Villanova.

Nelson...thanks for showing up...and adding complete nonsense as usual. You just forgot about lack of player development under Pasqualoni that's al..but it's ok..

 

[ZooCougar]

If we can win 4 games this season, then I think we'll be pretty good next year.

I don't care how good Nova is. Our athletes are bigger, faster and they should be better football players.

If the Huskies can't beat Villanova then it's on coach.

 

[Stinger92860]

I expect a key part of our success or failures will depend on Verducci. Does Bob trust him and will he let him call the game? Will he be a competent OC? We can't have a repeat of the USF game and eliminate passing from the game plan.

Looking strictly at the numbers if the defense can improve to a top 30-40 or better defense and the offense can get to top 80, we should be around 5-6 wins. Assuming the defense is as good as we expect, it's the improvement in the offense that will determine if we can get to a bowl.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Nelson...thanks for showing up...and adding complete nonsense as usual. You just forgot about lack of player development under Pasqualoni that's al..but it's ok..

You are right. Diaco was the next coming of Vince Lombardi last year.

Thanks for your nonsense.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I expect a key part of our success or failures will depend on Verducci. Does Bob trust him and will he let him call the game? Will he be a competent OC? We can't have a repeat of the USF game and eliminate passing from the game plan.

Looking strictly at the numbers if the defense can improve to a top 30-40 or better defense and the offense can get to top 80, we should be around 5-6 wins. Assuming the defense is as good as we expect, it's the improvement in the offense that will determine if we can get to a bowl.

If we have a Top 40 defense and Top 80 offense, we will be 7-5 or better with our schedule. I don't know that 7-5 is realistic.

The Army game last year may have been the worst defensive play calling I have ever witnessed in a college game. Army is a triple option team that threw three passes all day and our safeties were lined up 15-20 yards off the line of scrimmage the whole game. If there was any doubt that Diaco was in over his head, it was eliminated that day.

We don't have time for on-the-job training. If Diaco is winless after USF and we are getting blown out by bad teams again, Warde has to re-evaluate. Diaco can start showing he belongs at this level by beating Villanova.

 

[businesslawyer]

I can't believe I am actually going to a game a week from now for a team that will be an underdog to an FCS program.

I refuse to believe that Pasqualoni's recruiting was so bad that a team that was competitive in a BCS league just a couple of years ago is now on the verge of a 1-2 win season and multiple curb stompings in a mid-major conference. Diaco shouldn't have been a high school head coach last year, and still makes me cringe every time he opens his mouth. We don't need the players to mature, we need the coach to mature. Diaco was no where near ready to be a Head Coach last year and is learning on the job. I hope he figures something, anything, out this year because there will be 5,000 in the stands by mid season if the team is as bad as it looks right now.

If Diaco is capable of being a Division 1 coach, then UConn should beat Villanova.

What does it say about you that you watched this team the last two years and don't believe that P didn't leave this team with less than a mediocre FBS roster?

This is the first year that the team has no player who at least got to redshirt under Edsall and his staff. If HCBD is a fine, but not great, coach, it might take more than this year before we know it.

 

[noeynox]

If we can win 4 games this season, then I think we'll be pretty good next year.

I don't care how good Nova is. Our athletes are bigger, faster and they should be better football players.

If the Huskies can't beat Villanova then it's on coach.

I agree with this. Our defensive front 7, and even our Oline should have a physical advantage over these guys. The only time we didn't have a pronounced advantage in these areas against an FCS opponent it showed up on the scoreboard against Towson. Their Dline was knocking our Oline off the ball almost every snap after the first possession of the game. If Balis is what everyone says he is, in year 2, we should not see that. The loss of Crozier is huge. Really interested to see who winds up being the starting center.

 

[SubbaBub]

It's taken me a while to adjust from the zero level personality of Edsall and the negative four personality of P to the crank it up to eleven personality of Bob.

He obviously still needs some growth as a head coach but, to use his own words, he won the offseason in my book.

Recruiting has a noticeable uptick in buzz, the guys are saying and doing the right things and there have been few off the field issues. Even Bob's rhetoric is more coherent. I've also done a 180 on the civil conflict, it was a good bump for the program provided he wins the game.

Speaking of winning, he acknowledged that winning is what counts. That's good, because last year didn't convince me that he knew that. All that's left is winning games.

I've taken some flack for predicting a bowl berth but until we're out, I'd rather do that than accept a 4 win season as this programs ceiling this year. There is still too much talent on this squad to accept 4 against this schedule.

 

[businesslawyer]

Last home game with a shot at bowl eligibility would be the most meaningful home game in years. I would expect the crowd to act accordingly

Weren't we 5-6 with Cincy coming in after the Louisvile upset in '11?

 

[Colt house75]

Very awesome post Whaler. Did not know what to expect-honestly !!!
Very well written and insightful. (and contrary to the thread title - it WAS NOT long). Eloquently penned !!!
Enjoyed reading your assessments, predictions and probability-tremendous. (I also had them at 4 wins in the predictions barring injuries etc ).
Thank you.

 

[UConn9604]

Weren't we 5-6 with Cincy coming in after the Louisvile upset in '11?

Yes, on a two-game win streak after that win and after handling Pitt. I was so excited for that game, until I went to the Husky Walk.

Those 100+ kids who got off the bus looked like they wanted to be ANYWHERE other than East Hartford on that morning. If it would accomplish anything, I'd name names, but it won't and I won't. After they all filed past us, my buddy and I -- with whom I've been watching games for two decades -- turned to each other and said, "that's not good."

The results on the field matched the looks on their faces. I wish I had been wrong.

 

[Dooley]

Weren't we 5-6 with Cincy coming in after the Louisvile upset in '11?

Yes. That's the game that tweetledee and tweetledumb lined up our concussion prone QB out wide on the same trick play that they put on film towards the end of a 30-0 win over UMass.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Yes. That's the game that tweetledee and tweetledumb lined up our concussion prone QB out wide on the same trick play that they put on film towards the end of a 30-0 win over UMass.

That play call still pisses me off to no end. I would not have allowed P in the locker room after that. And would've walked over to the coaches box and had GDL escorted from the stadium immediately.

 

[pepband99]

I refuse to believe that Pasqualoni's recruiting was so bad that a team that was competitive in a BCS league just a couple of years ago is now on the verge of a 1-2 win season and multiple curb stompings in a mid-major conference. I hate Diaco blah blah blah...

You only need look at our OL to see why you're wrong. You won't, because your schtick is your UConn and Diaco hate, but it's clear as day. We haven't been able to block or protect for the better part of 2-3 years.

 

[whaler11]

Yes, on a two-game win streak after that win and after handling Pitt. I was so excited for that game, until I went to the Husky Walk.

Those 100+ kids who got off the bus looked like they wanted to be ANYWHERE other than East Hartford on that morning. If it would accomplish anything, I'd name names, but it won't and I won't. After they all filed past us, my buddy and I -- with whom I've been watching games for two decades -- turned to each other and said, "that's not good."

The results on the field matched the looks on their faces. I wish I had been wrong.

The 2011 season they were 5-6 after beating RU and went to Cincinnati and got beat up.

You are remembering them sleepwalking through the 2012 finale at home against Cincinnati.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

It was 2012, not that long ago. Hung with them til the fourth. Mac came in, threw a couple INTs. Few personal fouls. Debut of Puyol.
P went for it on 4th and long well inside Cincy's 40.
Edit. I do remember the discussion we had on here about the teams energy level that game given its importance for bowl eligibility.

 

[UConn9604]

The 2011 season they were 5-6 after beating RU and went to Cincinnati and got beat up.

You are remembering them sleepwalking through the 2012 finale at home against Cincinnati.

That's right. I was remembering 2012 even though BL said 2011.

2011: http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/41/year/2011/connecticut-huskies
2012: http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/41/year/2012/connecticut-huskies

Those two teams played some seriously uninspired football and were still a handful of missteps away from qualifying for a bowl game.

 

[noeynox]

The 2011 season they were 5-6 after beating RU and went to Cincinnati and got beat up.

You are remembering them sleepwalking through the 2012 finale at home against Cincinnati.

They made a nice comeback in that game at Cincinnati. If only Tebucky Jones hung on to that TD.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

You only need look at our OL to see why you're wrong. You won't, because your schtick is your UConn and Diaco hate, but it's clear as day. We haven't been able to block or protect for the better part of 2-3 years.

UConn is one of the worst teams in FBS right now. There is no way Pasqualoni's recruiting was so bad that we should be worse that most of the AAC, MAC, Sun Belt and MWC. None.

My schtick is that this board refuses to set any milestone by which to measure success or failure for the coaching staff. Do I have to pull up Pasqualoni threads where I was one of a handful calling for his head by the last two months of his second year?

Weist has been the only decent Head Coach since Edsall left, and Warde had to show how much smarter he was than everyone else and hire Diaco. Maybe Diaco will figure out how to be a Head Coach, but in the meantime, he is making the Pasqualoni look like the Calhoun of football.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

What does it say about you that you watched this team the last two years and don't believe that P didn't leave this team with less than a mediocre FBS roster?

This is the first year that the team has no player who at least got to redshirt under Edsall and his staff. If HCBD is a fine, but not great, coach, it might take more than this year before we know it.

I would celebrate mediocrity at this point. UConn went from being a competitive BCS conference team to being one of the worst teams in FBS in 1 year. Weist's three wins look pretty impressive considering what the 3 opponents did the following year compared to what UConn did the following year.

 

[pepband99]

UConn is one of the worst teams in FBS right now. There is no way Pasqualoni's recruiting was so bad that we should be worse that most of the AAC, MAC, Sun Belt and MWC. None.

My schtick is that this board refuses to set any milestone by which to measure success or failure for the coaching staff. Do I have to pull up Pasqualoni threads where I was one of a handful calling for his head by the last two months of his second year?

Weist has been the only decent Head Coach since Edsall left, and Warde had to show how much smarter he was than everyone else and hire Diaco. Maybe Diaco will figure out how to be a Head Coach, but in the meantime, he is making the Pasqualoni look like the Calhoun of football.

I set one. The OL. You know, the one that was controlled by PPs buddy? It's also a trailing indicator that happens to impact Diaco, but predictably, you ignored it.

 

[blue93]

UConn is one of the worst teams in FBS right now. There is no way Pasqualoni's recruiting was so bad that we should be worse that most of the AAC, MAC, Sun Belt and MWC. None.

My schtick is that this board refuses to set any milestone by which to measure success or failure for the coaching staff. Do I have to pull up Pasqualoni threads where I was one of a handful calling for his head by the last two months of his second year?

Weist has been the only decent Head Coach since Edsall left, and Warde had to show how much smarter he was than everyone else and hire Diaco. Maybe Diaco will figure out how to be a Head Coach, but in the meantime, he is making the Pasqualoni look like the Calhoun of football.

You can't say that Pasqualoni's recruiting wasn't that bad, then completely ignore what happened from the time they stepped on campus to the time HCBD arrived. I dont think anyone would say that Diaco didn't make mistakes in year one, but you can't put the entirety of the blame on him either and say that PP's recruiting wasn't that bad... Rome wasn't built in a day.... Let's see how the players have developed. This year will be a much better indicator of Diaco's ability to coach guys up.