UConn needs to stomp Towson

[ShakyTheMohel]

I was going to post this in the prediction thread....but I figured it would get lost in the sea of despair....lol.

Usually I don't care how UConn looks when they play FCS teams to start the season. It's the first game they are hitting someone else and it's more about getting their game legs under them and not getting injured. Usually it is all about not showing the playbook and giving time for backups to see the field. Usually UConn is content to win 21-3 and declare the defense is ready and hopefully injuries are at a minimum.

It has to be different this year. The team is lacking confidence after two 5-7 years and needs to feel good about themselves. They will have extra time off before Maryland to rest up. The first time they open the playbook can't be against Md. I think game reps are more important than secrecy. They need to open it up and be aggressive. Then need to beat down Towson and enter the MD game feeling good and on a high.

I believe this season will hinge on the MD game. UConn isn't exepected to beat Michigan....but MD is a winnable game. To win that game they need to be mentally prepared...and I think part of that preparation is building confidence by stomping Towson.

I fear HCPP will be conservative in this game and I think it will be a mistake.

 

[thatguyed]

Agreed. I even thought last year's UMess game was awkwardly close for too long.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Agreed. I even thought last year's UMess game was awkwardly close for too long.

Were you watching the same game as I was? Awkwardly close? UMass didn't cross mid field.

The takeaway, in hindsight, from that game was the struggles of the OL, who had difficulty pushing around the Minutemen. If we can't push around Towson in the trenches.......look out.

 

[Husky92]

I don't think we need to stomp Towson. I think a solid well-played win would give us the confidence me need. We need the offensive line to click and provide some running room, Witmer to make good decisions and complete passes consistently, and the defense to pay solid and strong. I don't care if it turns out to be 20-7 (not a stomping in my book) as long as we look more capable and consistent than anytime over the past wo years.

 

[Husky92]

Of course, a beat down and overwhelming performance I wouldn't shun!

 

[Palatine]

Not really concerned.

I wish to see them play well. I would like the offense to exert its physical superiority. I would like the defense to be sharp mentality.

Past that would like to see lots players, more than one running back and multiple QBs.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Were you watching the same game as I was? Awkwardly close? UMass didn't cross mid field.

The takeaway, in hindsight, from that game was the struggles of the OL, who had difficulty pushing around the Minutemen. If we can't push around Towson in the trenches.......look out.

That's about all I'm looking for as well. Dominating pushes on both sides of the ball. Well thrown passes is the other thing I'm looking for out of the offense.

 

[HomeKing93]

CW threw 2 INTs in the UMass game in three quarters. It would be nice not to see that again vs. Towson to start the season.

 

[Skiblets]

Completely agree with this sentiment. Last year's UMass game showed the major flaws in the running game that were a foreshadowing of the rest of the season. Thankfully the D was unreal. You don't like to emphasize first games too much but this one will be very telling to see how much our O has progressed

 

[Husky25]

I was also looking for a 28 point lead at halftime. In hindsight, last years team showed exactly who they were vs. UMass. The defense was spectacular, and the offensive weaknesses were glaring. I would the team to show exactly what they this year, and I want to see positives on both sides of the ball and special teams...So yes, a good old fashioned beat down would be ideal...

 

[ruskin]

Towson is a huge tone-setter for the offense. Want to see hurry-up/no huddle/misdirection/dink & dunk from the getgo. None of this getting cute and saving the good stuff for later. Show us it's a new day with TJ. All about tempo, none of this "don't want to get behind the chains" BS. Towson is not a layup, but offense could make it one.

 

[Husky25]

Towson is a huge tone-setter for the offense. Want to see hurry-up/no huddle/misdirection/dink & dunk from the getgo. None of this getting cute and saving the good stuff for later. Show us it's a new day with TJ. All about tempo, none of this "don't want to get behind the chains" BS. Towson is not a layup, but offense could make it one.

You mean the key this year is not to make it to 3rd down? We can gain a 1st down on 1st or 2nd down?

 

[Dooley]

I think they'll win by a lot. I'm more concerned with getting through the game injury-free and getting a good look at our 2s and maybe 3s against live competition. We need to get to Maryland and Michigan as healthy as possible.

 

[pepband99]

Open up the playbook when your closely-matched opponent has 2 weeks to prepare? Seriously?

 

[J187Money]

Open up the playbook when your closely-matched opponent has 2 weeks to prepare? Seriously?

I hear what you are saying in theory, but we also need some sort of validation that the offense can do it in live game situations. Clearly there is a middle ground.

 

[ktuck911]

Were you watching the same game as I was? Awkwardly close? UMass didn't cross mid field.

The takeaway, in hindsight, from that game was the struggles of the OL, who had difficulty pushing around the Minutemen. If we can't push around Towson in the trenches.......look out.

I get where you are coming from wholeheartedly bro, BUT what I'm hoping we see is a CRISP offense that can convert when we need and SHOULD do against a FCS opponent.. We should be moving the football on offense even in the 2nd half... If it's a blowout then so be it, but we need to see better production... You could tell a lot about our offense the way we performed against our FCS opponents the previous 2 seasons... Can't be a 3 peat of that performance.. Just can't if it is, expect another 5-7 season.. Just sayin... (our D I'm not worried about, that's our squad's bread and butter.. been that way since the Edsall era and hasn't changed much)

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

I hear what you are saying in theory, but we also need some sort of validation that the offense can do it in live game situations. Clearly there is a middle ground.

This is exactly what I am saying. Usually in these games it is vanilla on offense...the strategy is to show nothing. Well..I think that is a mistake when you have a team who struggles on offense coming off of 2 poor seasons. Don't show everything, but don't sit on the ball and run the clock out.

Football is a lot about the mental aspect of the game. UConn doesn't need to be coy....they need to beat the snot out of Towson and get the team feeling good about themselves going into the MD game.

 

[ruskin]

Open up the playbook when your closely-matched opponent has 2 weeks to prepare? Seriously?

Not quite open up the whole playbook but show at least 75 percent of it and that things are going to be different this year. show some balls

 

[Husky68]

Open up the playbook when your closely-matched opponent has 2 weeks to prepare? Seriously?

Yeah, wouldn't want to show opponent that they have to guard whole field, have 3 or 4 running backs to prepare for, QB will audible to pass if they put 8 in the box, WR's know how to run patterns, Slot receiver is Wes Welker clone, practice getting plays in/off under whatever timing new OC wants; nah - let's hold our guys back so 1st time they run the real offense is against Maryland.
Aim is not to surprise other team as to "what you are and what you run - in general", it is to surprise them on "each particular play" and make that play effective by running it against a defense that can not anticipate that play based on down/distance/formation/personnel, and even if they can there are "Tom Brady/Wes Welker" type adjustments made as play developes" and "ol' Greenbay Packers" type Hornung/Taylor sweep type execution.

 

[freescooter]

I don't think we need to stomp Towson. I think a solid well-played win would give us the confidence me need. We need the offensive line to click and provide some running room, Witmer to make good decisions and complete passes consistently, and the defense to pay solid and strong. I don't care if it turns out to be 20-7 (not a stomping in my book) as long as we look more capable and consistent than anytime over the past wo years.

I'm of the opinion that this needs to be like one of those Edsall openers. P plays these things way to close tot the vest and takes his foot off the gas way too early. Edsall's teams would play full out well inot the 3rd quarter. In 2009 we played URI and won 52-10. Up 21-7 we sent the kicker out to hit a 3 as time was running out in the first half. Mid-way though the 3rd, Endres hit Lang on a 50 yarder. 2008 against Hofstra, UConn has them pinned with time running out in the 1st half and calls time out so they can't run out the clock but have to punt. Starters were in the game until midway through the 4th quarter running the offense. That is how we need to approach this game.

 

[weyuo]

Open up the playbook when your closely-matched opponent has 2 weeks to prepare? Seriously?

Maryland has no weeks off before UConn where as UConn is the one with 2 weeks to prepare for Maryland. I say get the kinks out on Towson, get a good look at what Maryland does their first two games and then just get on the field and out think, out manuever, out perform them. UConn needs that game more than Maryland does just to make a statement that they CAN compete and that they DO belong. They have to play each game this season like it's the "last game they will ever play" and holding back on Towson isn't going to do them any good. Control the game from beginning to end, get as many bodies in there as possible and use the 4th quarter's massive lead to try a few experiments. Give Maryland more than they could ever hope to prepare for and use the week off to fine tune the plan.

 

[PPKChamp]

I am not going to be too excited about the score of Towson game, but I will be watching how well the offense plays. In hindsight last year’s game vs UMass was a good barometer of how our season would go. Defense played really well, dominated UMass, but the offense turned the ball over too much (I am including that crazy interception by UMass). What I want to see from game one, is a new offense that is exciting, that can sustain a drive, and finish the deal by punching it in on the ground.

Things to keep an eye on based on last year.

Turnovers - 3 (2 Int and 1 fumble)
Average Yards per Rush - 3.4
Passing yards 225

 

[pj]

They don't need to go deep into the playbook but they better go no-huddle and work on execution of important plays, executing all the options and reads, getting in some game conditioning, and things like getting on and off the field when they switch personnel. I'd expect 60% runs and all the bread-and-butter plays to get run repeatedly.

 

[freescooter]

The offense can be vanilla, but it has to be the range of base plays, not just run inside left, run inside right, everybody go long on 3rd down on 3rd and 8. Most teams have a group of base plays that the others run off. We don't need to see every wrinkle in the playbook, but good fundamental football. I want to see good execution by the oline. Receivers who get open and make plays and good decison-making by the quarterback. it's game 1 under a new OC, so some problems are to be expected, but they shouldn't be the major story and I'd like to hope they get corrected in the locker room at halftime.

 

[Srqhusky]

This week is our last practice and next week should be preparation for Towson!! Getting close!!