True Freshman

[Carl Spackler]

Actually it was just his entire roster was injured.

This is a distinct possibility for every single roster in the country, every year!! Injuries are a part of football.

 

[Husky25]

Redshirts are part of a roster decision making process. My only point, is my belief, that in the past - the decision making process was very much involved in the recruitment of players during the entire calendar year, where as now, the decision making process, red-shirts - is very much less involved in the recruitment of players during the calendar year, and is a decision making process that is focused on the actual roster determinations in a specific period of time, limited to the short period of time after fall camps and into the first 1-2 weeks of the season after fall camps. This is all my opinion. I have no inside knowledge of how Pasqualoni's calendars are set up with UCONN. Take it for whatever you think it's worth.

I'm not presenting this as fact, i'm just giving my opinion. I think we recruited a lot differently in the past, than we do now, and I think we made decisions about red-shirts very much involved in the recruitment process in the past, where when recruits were being evaluated, the red-shirt year was a big part of it, where there is much less of that now.

It wouldn't surprise me at all that a large majority of NFL draft picks, had the luxury of a red shirt year in college.

I can see your POV, I'm just not sure I agree with all of it.

Getting back to the topic at hand, UConn lost 2 Senior TEs, that is where I think a True Freshman can contribute.

For the most part, I would hold off on plopping a tFr. on the 2-Deep (or even 3 Deep) at QB. Lagow may very well be the next coming of Andrew Luck (who redshirted, incidentally), but he has some competition in Boyle and little initial leverage to be placed that high, seeing as Cochran is healthy and experienced in the system (remember 70% of the terminology is the same under Coach Weist. The difference is the person analyzing outcomes of previous plays and their effect on what to call next).

 

[Kgun7]

Is it possible for you to discuss something -- anything -- without being condescending? Sheesh

Fixed it for you ...

 

[joey3$trike$]

It has to be the TE position, that's where the pt will be. I think Lagow or Boyle
becomes the #2 by the end of the year. I think they want that pro-qb type more,
you can't teach 6-5. Of course until I see them throw the ball in College. I haven't seen
much improvement in CC, and if he's injury prone, I think one of the two FR. replaces him.

 

[gioff23]

If this is your view, I think You'd be surprised at how many draftable/rookie free agents likely to hook up with an NFL team were redshirts this past draft. Granted this was a quick and dirty analysis but 186 by my count using CBSSports.

I'm not arguing with your research - god knows, i would not have the time or patience to do that. But ... that means 1/2 weren't and it doesn't necessarily prove they were RS'd their freshman year. I'm not asking that we put kids out on the field who are not ready. And i understand the majority of recruits will be RS'd. But if we need a kid to go in to a game and play, what do we think about - the play, the series, the game, that season, or 5 years down the road? ALL I'm saying is that if the kid earns PT, he plays, I dont care what year of the program it is for him.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I can see your POV, I'm just not sure I agree with all of it.

Getting back to the topic at hand, UConn lost 2 Senior TEs, that is where I think a True Freshman can contribute.

For the most part, I would hold off on plopping a tFr. on the 2-Deep (or even 3 Deep) at QB. Lagow may very well be the next coming of Andrew Luck (who redshirted, incidentally), but he has some competition in Boyle and little initial leverage to be placed that high, seeing as Cochran is healthy and experienced in the system (remember 70% of the terminology is the same under Coach Weist. The difference is the person analyzing outcomes of previous plays and their effect on what to call next).

Discussions are boring if everybody agrees all the time.

 

[whaler11]

This is a distinct possibility for every single roster in the country, every year!! Injuries are a part of football.

I hadn't heard. Maybe another half dozen links to concussion studies might help.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I'm not arguing with your research - god knows, i would not have the time or patience to do that. But ... that means 1/2 weren't and it doesn't necessarily prove they were RS'd their freshman year. I'm not asking that we put kids out on the field who are not ready. And i understand the majority of recruits will be RS'd. But if we need a kid to go in to a game and play, what do we think about - the play, the series, the game, that season, or 5 years down the road? ALL I'm saying is that if the kid earns PT, he plays, I dont care what year of the program it is for him.

I agree with this completely.

I'll put my thoughts out from a different direction. IF...IF....the redshirt decision making process, is tied to development expected in players as incoming recruits, it will leave you in a very bad place on your roster, when injuries start knocking out rosters. Redshirt decisions that are made based on competition level, rather than physical development are going to leave your roster in a much better place when the injuries start knocking players out. But that means you need to recruit players that don't need much physical development.

 

[Husky25]

I'm not arguing with your research - god knows, i would not have the time or patience to do that. But ... that means 1/2 weren't and it doesn't necessarily prove they were RS'd their freshman year. I'm not asking that we put kids out on the field who are not ready. And i understand the majority of recruits will be RS'd. But if we need a kid to go in to a game and play, what do we think about - the play, the series, the game, that season, or 5 years down the road? ALL I'm saying is that if the kid earns PT, he plays, I dont care what year of the program it is for him.

It doesn't take a ton of patience to copy, paste to Excel, and sort by class, but thanks...

For one, they already said that the best players will play, but that is not my point. My point is that a 17-18 year old kid, who was the best player on the field for virtually every play during his senior high school season, is at the low end of the totem pole when he enters college, and it's typically not for lack of effort. Upperclassmen are typically more mature and obviously have the distinct advantage of years of experience of their teams' system, familiarizing themselves with the ins and outs. In fact, they probably redshirted themselves. A QB literally has to know the assignments for each of the other ten players on the field on every down...and possibly the positioning of the water boy. At UConn, there are currently three people already ahead of the three incoming freshmen. I just want people to show patience with the young kids and not throw them needlessly to the wolves.

In the end, the team can plan for, but doesn't have to declare redshirts during the season, so all of this is moot. And even if a team plans to redshirt a player, they are still allowed to dress. the fact still remains that the moment they cross the white line during a regulation game, they burn their red shirt eligibility for that year (i.e. Bobby Puyol).

 

[Husky25]

It has to be the TE position, that's where the pt will be. I think Lagow or Boyle
becomes the #2 by the end of the year. I think they want that pro-qb type more,
you can't teach 6-5. Of course until I see them throw the ball in College. I haven't seen
much improvement in CC, and if he's injury prone, I think one of the two FR. replaces him.

I wasn't aware that Cochran wasn't a pro-style QB, or that a freak injury to his non-throwing hand equates to injury prone. I think we, as fans, haven't seen much of anything from Cochran because: 1) practices are closed. 2) He ran the 2nd stringers during a windy Spring Scrimmage, where quite frankly, not many showed much of anything.

Just like with Warde Manuel's day-to-day activity, Hearing nothing does not mean nothing is happening. Just my opinion.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I hadn't heard. Maybe another half dozen links to concussion studies might help.

If I had more time, I'd oblige you, just for spite.

 

[Carl Spackler]

It doesn't take a ton of patience to copy, paste to Excel, and sort by class, but thanks...

For one, they already said that the best players will play, but that is not my point. My point is that a 17-18 year old kid, who was the best player on the field for virtually every play during his senior high school season, is at the low end of the totem pole when he enters college, and it's typically not for lack of effort. Upperclassmen are typically more mature and obviously have the distinct advantage of years of experience of their teams' system, familiarizing themselves with the ins and outs. In fact, they probably redshirted themselves. A QB literally has to know the assignments for each of the other ten players on the field on every down...and possibly the positioning of the water boy. At UConn, there are currently three people already ahead of the three incoming freshmen. I just want people to show patience with the young kids and not throw them needlessly to the wolves.

In the end, the team can plan for, but doesn't have to declare redshirts during the season, so all of this is moot. And even if a team plans to redshirt a player, they are still allowed to dress. the fact still remains that the moment they cross the white line during a regulation game, they burn their red shirt eligibility for that year (i.e. Bobby Puyol).

I look at Ashiru and Vann. They were on the two deep at LB as true frosh all season long if I'm not mistaken. Don Brown, after the season, was talking and said that he was having heart palpitations every time that Sio or Jory was down on the ground, because they didn't want to burn the red shirts. It's on record somewhere, in some media interview.

Got to ask yourself - why was he having palpitations? Why was he so concerned? How does a true freshmen, make it on to the 2-deep depth chart, and give their coordinator heart palpitations if the starter is down on the field after the whistle?

Is it because that coach really wants to save the 5th year - or is it because the coach thinks the player isn't ready now and needs to develop? How does that true freshmen make it on the 2-deep roster?

The condition of our roster in fall 2011, was a disaster - up down and sideways - everywhere. I'll leave out my opinions as to why that was - it was a disaster. Period.

It's much better, MUCH better, in fall 2013. You look at the roster, and you actually start seeing position groups that are stacking up (Fr, Fr, RsF, RsF, So, So....at various positions - the upper classes are still a mess..)

We've still got two years to go, before the roster can potentially be stacked up in an ideal form.

 

[Husky25]

...Got to ask yourself - why was he having palpitations? Why was he so concerned? How does a true freshmen, make it on to the 2-deep depth chart, and give their coordinator heart palpitations if the starter is down on the field after the whistle?

Is it because that coach really wants to save the 5th year - or is it because the coach thinks the player isn't ready now and needs to develop? How does that true freshmen make it on the 2-deep roster?

Gotta go with the latter there, Chief... As I said, I don't think the coach is really worried about having a year of eligibility 5 years out unless it is a game really late in the season under a specific set of circumstances (e.g. I think burning Puyol's redshirt was the wrong thing to do last year, but as a fan I have the luxury to hope for a win vs. Cinci, while expecting a loss). Who know if the player will even use it, but it's nice to know it's there if needed. Basically the Red shirt is there to relieve pressure to play a kid who is not ready.

 

[FAIRTIDES]

Actually it was just his entire roster was injured.

And/or quit/left team.

 

[huskypantz]

And/or quit/left team.

Suspended for doo-rag use.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

I look at Ashiru and Vann. They were on the two deep at LB as true frosh all season long if I'm not mistaken. Don Brown, after the season, was talking and said that he was having heart palpitations every time that Sio or Jory was down on the ground, because they didn't want to burn the red shirts. It's on record somewhere, in some media interview.

Got to ask yourself - why was he having palpitations? Why was he so concerned? How does a true freshmen, make it on to the 2-deep depth chart, and give their coordinator heart palpitations if the starter is down on the field after the whistle?

Is it because that coach really wants to save the 5th year - or is it because the coach thinks the player isn't ready now and needs to develop? How does that true freshmen make it on the 2-deep roster?

The condition of our roster in fall 2011, was a disaster - up down and sideways - everywhere. I'll leave out my opinions as to why that was - it was a disaster. Period.

It's much better, MUCH better, in fall 2013. You look at the roster, and you actually start seeing position groups that are stacking up (Fr, Fr, RsF, RsF, So, So....at various positions - the upper classes are still a mess..)

We've still got two years to go, before the roster can potentially be stacked up in an ideal form.

Ashiru and Vann made the 2-deep because Jerome Williams who was slated to start at MLB went down in the spring moving Smallwood to mike. Johnson back filled Smallwood's old slot. Dabney screwed up his eye and his days were done at OLB before the season started. Donahue had to sit as a transfer leaving Steg, with Opoku and Kenney both of which never could find a home with either staff. Marcus Campbell never saw his senior year.

 

[whaler11]

Spacker I think has a PR contract for P. If I wasn't so lazy I'd dig up all the posts that claimed UConn finally had the size and speed to compete on special teams at the FBS level last year. You must remember how dominant UConn finally was on specials once Carl was comfortable with the heights and weights.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I picked the LB position group on purpose guys. Injuries can decimate a roster. At any time. Ashiru and Vann most certainly could have played as true frosh. But the coach didn't want to burn their shirts unless necessary.

Redshirts are handled differently now than they were in the past. I think. You better recruit players that can play from day 1, if you want to be able to compete in top 25 1-A football.

Ashiru and Vann made the 2-deep because Jerome Williams who was slated to start at MLB went down in the spring moving Smallwood to mike. Johnson back filled Smallwood's old slot. Dabney screwed up his eye and his days were done at OLB before the season started. Donahue had to sit as a transfer leaving Steg, with Opoku and Kenney both of which never could find a home with either staff. Marcus Campbell never saw his senior year.

Exactly.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Spacker I think has a PR contract for P. If I wasn't so lazy I'd dig up all the posts that claimed UConn finally had the size and speed to compete on special teams at the FBS level last year. You must remember how dominant UConn finally was on specials once Carl was comfortable with the heights and weights.

All I did Whaler - you old stick in the mud - was re-iterate, what Blidi Wreh-Wilson said at the podium at the kickoff dinner. Blidi stood up there in front of probably the biggest crowd that at ever attended (probably bigger this year), and talked about how he played specials as an underclassman, and how he saw a few players here and there, but now, he was watching athletes on the field, run down on kickoffs, that were bigger, faster and more athletic than any he had ever seen.

Were you there?

 

[businesslawyer]

All I did Whaler - you old stick in the mud - was re-iterate, what Blidi Wreh-Wilson said at the podium at the kickoff dinner. Blidi stood up there in front of probably the biggest crowd that at ever attended (probably bigger this year), and talked about how he played specials as an underclassman, and how he saw a few players here and there, but now, he was watching athletes on the field, run down on kickoffs, that were bigger, faster and more athletic than any he had ever seen.

Were you there?

As opposed to him having said that "the best that I can tell, we are making no progress whatsoever in recruiting." Self serving statements are meaningless, and you don't learn anything of value from them. No matter how many times you use them.

 

[whaler11]

I picked the LB position group on purpose guys. Injuries can decimate a roster. At any time. Ashiru and Vann most certainly could have played as true frosh. But the coach didn't want to burn their shirts unless necessary.

Redshirts are handled differently now than they were in the past. I think. You better recruit players that can play from day 1, if you want to be able to compete in top 25 1-A football.




Exactly.

The whole argument against redshirts doesn't make any sense.

If someone can play as a true freshman either you've finally recruited well or you prior recruits didn't turn out too well.

With 85 scholarships you shouldn't have more than a few true freshman play unless something has gone wrong. Either you blew some recruiting classes, weren't recruiting well, players transferred or players got hurt.

That Pasqualoni will burn a redshirt to put a player on special teams who doesn't handle the ball either means he doesn't understand the value of a fifth-year senior, he'll do anything to save his job or he really has a bad roster that can't block or cover kicks.

There is no logic in what he did with Samra. If you are going to burn somebody's redshirt they either have to be ready or there has to be a need. To have someone play a handful of meaningless snaps does the program and player a disservice.

Top programs recruit a handful of studs who play from day 1. The idea that top 25 programs are consistently playing true freshman all over the field is easily disproved by looking at the number of NFL picks that redshirt and by glancing at their rosters.

I can not fathom why someone would generally think having true freshman play is a positive, except for the exceptions that are immediate stars.

For the average FBS recruit how could you ever want their age 18 season over their age 23 season? The transition to college is difficult enough, when you let them mature physically and get their academic legs under them.. And then that fifth season they have physically matured and have a cake academic schedule... It's just got too many advantages.

 

[whaler11]

All I did Whaler - you old stick in the mud - was re-iterate, what Blidi Wreh-Wilson said at the podium at the kickoff dinner. Blidi stood up there in front of probably the biggest crowd that at ever attended (probably bigger this year), and talked about how he played specials as an underclassman, and how he saw a few players here and there, but now, he was watching athletes on the field, run down on kickoffs, that were bigger, faster and more athletic than any he had ever seen.

Were you there?

I was not - I have no interest in crap like that. It's too bad that bigger, faster and more athletic didn't translate to better results. I wonder where the blame for that might lie?

I also like how you told us your posts were based on what you saw with your eyes, but now you were stealing BWW's comments. You were very specific about how you could see the players physical superiority.

 

[businesslawyer]

The whole argument against redshirts doesn't make any sense.

If someone can play as a true freshman either you've finally recruited well or you prior recruits didn't turn out too well.

With 85 scholarships you shouldn't have more than a few true freshman play unless something has gone wrong. Either you blew some recruiting classes, weren't recruiting well, players transferred or players got hurt.

That Pasqualoni will burn a redshirt to put a player on special teams who doesn't handle the ball either means he doesn't understand the value of a fifth-year senior, he'll do anything to save his job or he really has a bad roster that can't block or cover kicks.

There is no logic in what he did with Samra. If you are going to burn somebody's redshirt they either have to be ready or there has to be a need. To have someone play a handful of meaningless snaps does the program and player a disservice.

Top programs recruit a handful of studs who play from day 1. The idea that top 25 programs are consistently playing true freshman all over the field is easily disproved by looking at the number of NFL picks that redshirt and by glancing at their rosters.

I can not fathom why someone would generally think having true freshman play is a positive, except for the exceptions that are immediate stars.

For the average FBS recruit how could you ever want their age 18 season over their age 23 season? The transition to college is difficult enough, when you let them mature physically and get their academic legs under them.. And then that fifth season they have physically matured and have a cake academic schedule... It's just got too many advantages.

This. If he needed Wiliams to play specials, so be it. Although that would be easier to understands if Williams got more snaps on specials. But the Samra decision was beyond stupid. Period.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

I would love to hear PP's logic on burning Samra's redshirt. But I doubt the question get's asked.

 

[huskymedic]

I would love to hear PP's logic on burning Samra's redshirt. But I doubt the question get's asked.

Been asked and answered by Ed D @ Rep-Amer back in October... "Samra played a limited amount early in the year but hasn't been used in a long time as the offensive line is not in the same seven-man rotation it used to start the year. Pasqualoni said burning Samra's redshirt was a calculated move because he doesn't want to have so much inexperience up front next year."

It seemed to be left @ that.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I was not - I have no interest in crap like that. .

Thank you for your interest in UCONN football.

The kickoff dinner to the fall season. The head coach, the season captains get up to speak. At the stadium banquet hall. All proceeds going back to the school via alumni routes. Scholarships funded by the proceeds. THe people that really, are interested in UCONN football.

You don't have any interest in crap like that.

You're a shotty reporter.

 

[whaler11]

Thank you for your interest in UCONN football.

The kickoff dinner to the fall season. The head coach, the season captains get up to speak. At the stadium banquet hall. All proceeds going back to the school via alumni routes. Scholarships funded by the proceeds. THe people that really, are interested in UCONN football.

You don't have any interest in crap like that.

You're a shotty reporter.

I do not have interest in banquets. I do not care what people have to say. I care what they do. If that means I'm not a fan maybe next time I'll stay home or leave at halftime when they are getting destroyed by Cincinnati.

I figured having 6 season tickets for 2 people meant I was contributing but I guess I need to go sit through speeches at a dinner.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I do not have interest in banquets. I do not care what people have to say. I care what they do. If that means I'm not a fan maybe next time I'll stay home or leave at halftime when they are getting destroyed by Cincinnati.

I figured having 6 season tickets for 2 people meant I was contributing but I guess I need to go sit through speeches at a dinner.

You have a piece of Memorial Stadium turf somehow defying gravity In a frame in your office - but you have no interest in listening to the head coach and captains talk about the upcoming season prior to fall camp in the season where we have Michigan coming to visit our home field. .

OK.

 

[whaler11]

You have a piece of Memorial Stadium turf somehow defying gravity In a frame in your office - but you have no interest in listening to the head coach and captains talk about the upcoming season prior to fall camp in the season where we have Michigan coming to visit our home field. .

OK.

Yes you are correct. I love the games and going to the games. I don't give a damn what the coach or captains have to say before the season. I care what they do Sept-Dec. I honestly can't understand why you'd want to waste a night listening to people talk out of their a**es when two months later we will see what really happens.

 

[Husky25]

I ask this with all due respect: Why does one have to be in attendance at every single athletic related event in order to be classified by others as merely interested in UConn football? Fans come in all shapes, sizes, socioeconomic backgrounds, etc., but unless someone gives their UConn attendance resume' before each post (and heaven forbid if it doesn't include perfect attendance at 100% of home games, bowl games, and select road games), that person is not a "true" fan and their opinion is discounted? I routinely miss one game a year for whatever reason (Wedding, birth of child, vacation, etc.) and I haven't been to a UConn basketball game in almost 2 years. However, there is no way you can't call me a true fan.

I think if a UConn fan is posting on this site (trolls and fans of other teams notwithstanding), their fandom is almost beyond reproach, until they prove through their postings that they are not fans (You know who they are).

Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not trying to single anyone out. I am truly interested in a logical answer.