UConn projected 2.6 wins, rated 124th in Brad Powers’ 2021 CFB Power Rankings and Preview | Page 4 | The Boneyard

UConn projected 2.6 wins, rated 124th in Brad Powers’ 2021 CFB Power Rankings and Preview

ZooCougar said:
True but they are a year older and stronger than the year that people are basing their projections on.

So is everyone else.
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True but Connecticut was a relatively young team. A year of development and weight training may make a meaningful difference.

Or it may not.
 
That would be great if other teams didn’t train and develop as well. I figure they can’t be worse and I’m always optimistic.
 
ShakyTheMohel said:
I get what you are saying....but UConn was in a unique position. They had FCS talent and players were playing without redshirting and were physically underdeveloped. They also didn't have a lot of upperclassmen talent whose leaving would make an impact.

I think it's fair to assume that purely from a physical standpoint they will be much better....from an X's and O's standpoint...who knows.

But physically alone, they have to be better.
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That is for sure. But I don’t think we have ever seen a team essentially keep its roster intact, add 30 more players to it, and skip a year.
 
So let me get this straight, people here think a year away from doing your job you are going to come back and be better at doing your job than people who were doing their job for an entire year? Some here will say, but they've been practicing... didn't you learn anything from the great Allen Iverson.
 
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polycom said:
So let me get this straight, people here think a year away from doing your job you are going to come back and be better at doing your job than people who were doing their job for an entire year? Some here will say, but they've been practicing... didn't you learn anything from the great Allen Iverson.
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No substitute for in game reps. We are deluding ourselves if we think otherwise. However, we might be a bit bigger and stronger which won’t hurt the cause.
 
BlueDogs said:
No substitute for in game reps. We are deluding ourselves if we think otherwise. However, we might be a bit bigger and stronger which won’t hurt the cause.
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They may or may not help on the field.
 
polycom said:
So let me get this straight, people here think a year away from doing your job you are going to come back and be better at doing your job than people who were doing their job for an entire year? Some here will say, but they've been practicing... didn't you learn anything from the great Allen Iverson.
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To be clear....I believe UConn will be better this fall than they were in 2019. Because I think the 2019 team was forced to play underdeveloped young kids who shouldn't have been playing. I believe they now have better players...and they are more developed players. That's why I say they will be better in 2021 than they were in 2019. And why I say they shouldn't be an underdog to Yale.

I am NOT saying they are a better team for not playing in 2020. The team would be better if they had played in 2020. But that wasnt the question....the question is is there a reason to believe the 2021 football team will be better than the 2019 football team. And I say yes because of their unique circumstances of having such a young team in 2019.
 
ShakyTheMohel said:
To be clear....I believe UConn will be better this fall than they were in 2019. Because I think the 2019 team was forced to play underdeveloped young kids who shouldn't have been playing. I believe they now have better players...and they are more developed players. That's why I say they will be better in 2021 than they were in 2019. And why I say they shouldn't be an underdog to Yale.

I am NOT saying they are a better team for not playing in 2020. The team would be better if they had played in 2020. But that wasnt the question....the question is is there a reason to believe the 2021 football team will be better than the 2019 football team. And I say yes because of their unique circumstances of having such a young team in 2019.
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So I disagree with this...I think they might be bigger strong faster but they aren't going to be better football players. They didn't play for a year. Watching film and Oklahoma drill can only help you get so much better.
 
Since the program is an absolute ongoing disaster, we must live with the delusion that somehow we are getting better practicing against inanimate objects. What else can we do? Complaining doesn’t work. In Storrs you can have a historically bad defense, win 3 FBS games in 3 years, take a season off and get a contract extension. What a great job!
 
BlueDogs said:
Since the program is an absolute ongoing disaster, we must live with the delusion that somehow we are getting better practicing against inanimate objects. What else can we do? Complaining doesn’t work. In Storrs you can have a historically bad defense, win 3 FBS games in 3 years, take a season off and get a contract extension. What a great job!
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Randy's first 5 years at UConn his first go around were 4-7, 3-8, 2-9, 6-6, 9-3. Half of which were against the Yankee conference which is significantly less in competition compared to even the AAC. Seems to me he is on a similar Track so anywhere from 4-6 wins should be about right.

And yes we all get it we lost a lot of games due to bad defense, but to be fair, Billy Crocker's defense was the best defense in the country at the FCS level the year prior to be hired by UConn. Problem was we didn't have the players/speed to play a 3-3-5 and it showed. Had Crocker shown any semblance of success or progress he would still be here. Spanos has a track record of greatly improving defenses from year to year, so the defense will be better this year.
 
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I’m honestly not sure that playing 4 or 5 games against on an almost pick up basis would be much help. And in fact player often do get better when redshirting. They get bigger and stronger. Especially younger guys. That’s why coaches generally redshirt most frosh. Even good ones if they can. So we will see how it plays out. And it isn’t as if we have an overwhelming schedule this year. So I am cautiously optimistic. If we can build a little momentum 4-6 wins seems at least plausible. Holy Cross, Yale, UMass, are all winnable. I mean really HC and Yale are pure speculation as to how good they will be. Army built a winning record against a pretty weak schedule with 9 home games. Wyoming, Purdue, MTSU, Vandy were all unspectacular at best. Houston struggled too. Not to say we will win any of those games, but they are not out of the realm of possibility. N
 
I believe playing some games would have helped. The games didn’t really count anyways. Hard to gage improvement when they just played with themselves all year. Reckon they will be a more mature and hopefully confident team next year.
 
I admire your optimism.

Yes redshirting players get stronger. But they are surrounded by players who have experience at game speed in recent history.

If Randy doesn’t beat Holy Cross, Yale and two FBS level teams then it is truly time for him to go.
 
polycom said:
So I disagree with this...I think they might be bigger strong faster but they aren't going to be better football players. They didn't play for a year. Watching film and Oklahoma drill can only help you get so much better.
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I find it hard to believe that the team never scrimmaged, 11 on 11, at 100% through the lost year.
 
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Husky25 said:
I find it hard to believe that the team never scrimmaged, 11 on 11, at 100% through the lost year.
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Do we know that they didn't? I honestly don't know...and as I have said before, I think it was a miss to not stream a scrimmage. Throw the fans a bone.
 
polycom said:
So I disagree with this...I think they might be bigger strong faster but they aren't going to be better football players. They didn't play for a year. Watching film and Oklahoma drill can only help you get so much better.
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So how do you think this team will do versus 2019? Worse or the same? You obviously don't think they will be better.
 
BlueDogs said:
No substitute for in game reps. We are deluding ourselves if we think otherwise. However, we might be a bit bigger and stronger which won’t hurt the cause.
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It doesn't, but I think we are undervaluing the film room work. Assuming they guys put in the time productively, their understanding of what they are seeing during games should improve dramatically. That has been problem number 1 on defense (esp at DB/S) other than the lack of sideline speed.
 
ShakyTheMohel said:
Do we know that they didn't? I honestly don't know...and as I have said before, I think it was a miss to not stream a scrimmage. Throw the fans a bone.
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They must have but 11 on 11 is not the same thing. Not even close. Different speed, different pressure, high level of familiarity with the opposition.
 
polycom said:
I'd say we'd do the same. I have no reason to believe we'll be better.
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I knew you wouldn't say better. Your posts sound like you would think worse since they didn't play last year.

Same is fair....I don't agree but it's fair. I still have confidence in edsalls player development to think they will be better. Time will tell.
 
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We were beyond horrendous in 2018 and were better in 2019. We were more competitive in our losses( ECU, Houston).

Being bigger, stronger and faster and knowing the playbook better helps all involved. Having a more committed team is also important. The key is to have enough reps before Fresno. I think we will show giant leaps from Games 1 to 2 and 2 to 3. Ultimately, it is what we get a QB and out of the O line that will dictate how great a season we have. To those who are doubters, I get it- you want to see it first. To those of us who know how RE ticks, we have more faith.
 
hardcorehusky said:
We were beyond horrendous in 2018 and were better in 2019. We were more competitive in our losses( ECU, Houston).

Being bigger, stronger and faster and knowing the playbook better helps all involved. Having a more committed team is also important. The key is to have enough reps before Fresno. I think we will show giant leaps from Games 1 to 2 and 2 to 3. Ultimately, it is what we get a QB and out of the O line that will dictate how great a season we have. To those who are doubters, I get it- you want to see it first. To those of us who know how RE ticks, we have more faith.
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How does HCRE tick?
 
Husky68 said:
How does HCRE tick?
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Slow burn on building a program - step by step building blocks without getting high end guys. Watch version 1 and see the similarities to version 2.
 
hardcorehusky said:
Slow burn on building a program - step by step building blocks without getting high end guys. Watch version 1 and see the similarities to version 2.
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He could have gone one of 2 ways. 1 was bring on a bunch of JUCOs and transfers and try to win right away. The other is try to rebuild from scratch. In hind sight maybe he should have taken the other route given the decision to downgrade the athletic program. But Edsall is Edsall and will build from the ground up with plans to get back to a solid program within 5 years.
 
Kinda tough to toss your recruiting and building strategy when you're already waist deep on the 2020 class when being informed of going indie.
 
Bigger, stronger, faster...just like every single team in college football.

Less in game experience than...every single team in college football besides New Mexico and Old Dominion.

Some of you guys are beyond delusional.
 
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