UMass Post Game Thread | Page 3 | The Boneyard

UMass Post Game Thread

We lost to BC by a touchdown and were in the NC State game right until the end. Both were winnable games.
We are 2-19 vs P4 teams since the end of the BIG East. John is absolutely right. We can’t expect to have lots Of success when we only play 7 winnable games. Even NC State and BC we we dominated in every statistical category. The scores were close but the games weren’t that close.
 
I also saw some things I didn’t like with Rosa. The kid is a stud with all kinds of potentiaL He underperformed this year - for him - and I blame coaches for this. Over-reacting to his very slight celebration on the NC State game, Mora making comments he was a 3rd stringer when his name was added to a national watch for running excellence. Nice motivator, Jim. And you wonder what you lost key players this season?

Biggest issue was watching some very talented players seemingly unprepared to step up at game defining moments. We didn’t run to the action but away from it.

Even Today before the first half and we’re in UMass territory with a minute to go. What do we do? We run down the clock like it’s the end of a game.…

I am all for setting high expectations but maybe Mora needs to simply play game by game and stop speculating mid-season on what things might make us better. Just play each game like it’s our last. That’s all I want to see next year is our team bringing it week in and week out. No plays off.
Agree, however Mora needed to draw attention to the issues that he was facing above and beyond building the program the "old fashioned" way. Assuming the NIL stuff works out the way he wants(1.5mil), then you should be able to judge the job he does by the usual parameters, W's and L's. Many have pointed out how close we were to 6-6. If he is what he is supposed to be, once the OC, DC and NIL are not overwhelming issues, Coach Mora should be able to show his stuff.
 
Back in the day beating Yale and UMass were the games that mattered most. I am always happy beating UMass. Getting the win today was important for the seniors. Saw Mitchell at the end of the S Florida game sitting on the bench as our offense came up short in another game and realizing how bad the season had gone. I felt really bad for him as he put so much into the program. The D today really set the tone and with our offense we needed that on the road. We should have had 40 plus points today and that has to get fixed. Having both bands at the game is a nice thing about his rivalry. With it being right after Thanksgiving the students will always be home so it removes some of the energy of a bigger crowd. Last year we ended with 2 losses and this year we end with 2 wins and a staff that says changes are needed. Let's get after it.
 
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I also saw some things I didn’t like with Rosa. The kid is a stud with all kinds of potentiaL He underperformed this year - for him - and I blame coaches for this. Over-reacting to his very slight celebration on the NC State game, Mora making comments he was a 3rd stringer when his name was added to a national watch for running excellence. Nice motivator, Jim. And you wonder what you lost key players this season?

Biggest issue was watching some very talented players seemingly unprepared to step up at game defining moments. We didn’t run to the action but away from it.

Even Today before the first half and we’re in UMass territory with a minute to go. What do we do? We run down the clock like it’s the end of a game.…

I am all for setting high expectations but maybe Mora needs to simply play game by game and stop speculating mid-season on what things might make us better. Just play each game like it’s our last. That’s all I want to see next year is our team bringing it week in and week out. No plays off.
“Very Slight Celebration” …come on it was a terrible penalty and doomed the momentum we had, very big deal.

Plus, Houston & Brewton transferred because Rosa was given the lion’s share of touches early. Houston has a legit gripe as he was our best RB in 2022.
 
It isn’t good. They had 5 games where they were long shots. So, its a 7 game season, They went 3-4 in those games. Should have been 5-2.

I’d say reasonable record this year, looking back, is 5-7.

The 4 P5 games and JMU, flat out not enough talent.

The FIU, USF and Utah State games decided the season.

They may have to re-think schedule if they can’t get better players year in and year out. You can’t have that many games against P5 schools without increasing your talent base. TBH, our talent looked fine in the G5 games.
Got to disagree. JMU was no better. NCState was marginally better. BC was marginally better. Poor play calling on the O and special teams murdered us. We weren’t nearly as out matched as the staff made us look. You can’t score 14 points a game and win, and you can’t give away field position and points on special teams and expect good things to happen.
 
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On a side note, the team needs to wear these beauties more next season. The Block C is a classic look and still represents the most success UConn football ever had.

View attachment 93402
If you were to take a national poll of college football fans, a clear majority would say that’s the best helmet we ever had.
 
One (kind of wishful) thought: Mora spent a lot of time speaking with Brown at the coaches handshake. Hopefully JM said "if you're interested, we're adding a defensive coordinator and we should be able to match your current salary".

As far as "winnable games", if Mora can stabilize the program, the teams we field against a schedule similar to this season's should have one game that a win would be viewed as out of reach.
 
“Very Slight Celebration” …come on it was a terrible penalty and doomed the momentum we had, very big deal.

Plus, Houston & Brewton transferred because Rosa was given the lion’s share of touches early. Houston has a legit gripe as he was our best RB in 2022.
If they transferred for that reason, who would want them?
 
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Went with the family to get a Christmas tree, so couldn't listen to the game but avidly kept checking ESPN's gamecast. The early lead surprised me, but it seemed the D held UMass in check for the first half. Still gave up the late scores, but getting a TD right after UMass showed they were not gonna let this game get away. Very happy to end the season with a win...now let's get a real offense and special teams coaching staff for Christmas!
 
We are 2-19 vs P4 teams since the end of the BIG East. John is absolutely right. We can’t expect to have lots Of success when we only play 7 winnable games. Even NC State and BC we we dominated in every statistical category. The scores were close but the games weren’t that close.
How do you expect to have any success when the program has trouble beating FCS schools on the schedule during this time?
 
“Very Slight Celebration” …come on it was a terrible penalty and doomed the momentum we had, very big deal.

Plus, Houston & Brewton transferred because Rosa was given the lion’s share of touches early. Houston has a legit gripe as he was our best RB in 2022.
OMG with all due respect, this was a very slight celebration and I’ve seen so much worse not be called. Tennessee practically broke out fireworks after every TD in Knoxville and celebration call? Nah,,,



And also in that game after Rosa’s penalty we folded up like a cheap lawn chair on Defense. None of that had anything to do with Rosa. One call even I might point to that was a terrible cheap shot by our defender that sent an NC State to the tent - that was a terrible penalty and a bit embarrassed as a UConn fan at that moment - not a good look.

Some look to pin reason why we lost key game on one play but don’t look at the 10 plays after it.
 
If they transferred for that reason, who would want them?
Carter was a bigger loss. Would have liked to see him behind this good o-line. Personally, I like the running styles of both Edwards and Rosa better than the other two who left. They both remind me of Rodney Hampton types. Some speed, some shiftiness and a whole lot of toughness that wears defenses down. IMO, love that from a RB, need speed at receiver. Nice to see Hanson with a catch and run. Watch him a lot. He seems like he’s all in and a good teammate.
 
We had a a Grade A punter who put a punt on the one yard line, we blocked a punt and special teams were still terrible.

A botched extra point, a dropped pass on a two point point conversion, a missed FG, and numerous penalties that took the distance of great punts or put us in bad field position. Special teams was the worst unit on the field in virtually every game. UMess was no exception.
 
I would, I’d bet anything it was PT.

I don’t think either of those guys is at the level to be poached
Brewton was easier to understand. He went in the doghouse when he crashed into the ball carrier on the end around, and with Rosa and Houston there wasn’t likely to get out of it. And, while Mora liked him, he hadn’t proven anything yet.

Houston was harder to understand. He had proven himself and was playing. Was it that he wanted to be the feature back instead of part of a rotation? Had his head turned by other suitors? Something else? My instinct is we’ll find out soon enough.
 
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We had a a Grade A punter who put a punt on the one yard line, we blocked a punt and special teams were still terrible.

A botched extra point, a dropped pass on a two point point conversion, a missed FG, and numerous penalties that took the distance of great punts or put us in bad field position. Special teams was the worst unit on the field in virtually every game. UMess was no exception.
Seriously? A player has a 48 yard FG fall short in literally freezing temperature and that’s viewed as part of being terrible? You can’t even try to make a point without hyperbole?
 
Bingo! More G5 games please. Tulane will probably be playing in a major bowl two years in a row, they played one P5 game this year and lost it.
It’s just not that easy. I think there is a balance and maybe it’s a bit fluid.
Getting wins and just getting some forward traction is critical right now. But fans won’t be juiced to see a slate of lower tier FBS schools in perpetuity. And you’re scheduling 5 years out which makes it tough.

I like the scheduling right now. Tennessee is a tall order regardless. But BC, Syr, and other mid tier ACC teams are fair. We just need to get better.

I think this team is better than the record reflects. Hopefully with Moras guys coming in, we start to see a bump.
 
Seriously? A player has a 48 yard FG fall short in literally freezing temperature and that’s viewed as part of being terrible? You can’t even try to make a point without hyperbole?
Excellent nit picking.
 
Carter was a bigger loss. Would have liked to see him behind this good o-line. Personally, I like the running styles of both Edwards and Rosa better than the other two who left. They both remind me of Rodney Hampton types. Some speed, some shiftiness and a whole lot of toughness that wears defenses down. IMO, love that from a RB, need speed at receiver. Nice to see Hanson with a catch and run. Watch him a lot. He seems like he’s all in and a good teammate.
Carter was our best back by a significant margin. But he played in 0 of our FBS wins last year. So yes, we would have been better if he stayed, but you can’t explain our getting worse by his leaving since he didn’t contribute to any wins while he was here.
 
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