Vontae Diggs Tweet

[Block C]

Why is Marvin Washington’s tweet say damn. What’s going on with that

 

[blue93]

I get what you're saying. But, I think Edsall labels guys and doesn't waiver from that. I'll use Newsome as an example. I think we can all agree, he was the most dynamic player on the roster last year. Edsall didn't see him as an every down back. That's his opinion. He labeled Newsome as a 3rd down back and eventually named (his recruit) Mensah the starter. Was Mensah the best option? Did Mensah make the offense significantly better? Was Mensah a better all-around player then Newsome as a true freshman? Was Mensah a threat in the passing game? Was Mensah so far and away better between the tackle runner? Was Mensah a better pass-blocking back? Maybe I'm biased toward Newsome, but I'm going to say, "No." to all of those. Edsall played Mensah because it was his guy and he was the future. He took a guy that was a chunk play threat (in or out of the backfield) and made him a one-dimensional player. In turn making Lashlee's offense very predictable. Couple that with a bad defense and you get the results you got. Then, Edsall did what he does, points the finger at someone else, Lashlee, the roster, lack of strength and leadership....etc. He's never the problem, I guess that's my issue with Edsall. He's never the one being held accountable.

Newsome was horribly misused for a large portion of last year. We definitely agree there.

Hearing the excuses from Edsall has also gotten really tiresome, but I don’t think a lot of those excuses are untrue though. It’s just hard to keep hearing the same things week after week.

Does Randy favor his guys? Maybe - but I think he’s shown more often than not that if you’re good enough to be on the field, you’ll have a chance to prove yourself on gameday.

 

[uconnell]

Mason Donaldson liked the tweet. As well as a few former players as well from Diaco era

Something struck me today that perhaps Edsall seems to forget.....

1) You can't get complete "buy-in" when you're shunning the previous regimes recruits. You have to go with what you have (whether they're your guys or not). Great coaches find out what makes each kid tick and pushes those buttons to get kids to play above their capabilities. Geno is great at it. Kids today want instant gratification. They do whatever it takes to get on the field. If you cast them aside, you're not going to have any kind of team chemistry.
"A house divided against itself cannot stand." -- Abe Lincoln

2) During his prior success at UConn his staff (OC & DC) consisted of future head coaches.

Rob Ambrose (OC) - Towson University, Head Coach
Joe Moorhead (OC) - Mississippi St., Head Coach
Todd Orlando (DC) - U of Texas, Defensive Coordinator

I don't think that can be said about the current staff, right now. To me, that makes a huge difference. Great coaches surround themselves with guys that aspire to be head coaches and have the ability to teach and bring the best out players with lesser ability. I believe Edsall has lost sight of that. Maybe it's ego, maybe it's the athletic budget, but I wouldn't be worried about any BCS schools heading to Storrs for their next HC. Maybe Dunn has a chance. He's still young. Crocker, however, will likely never get another BCS job. Edsall 2.0 is not equipped to get UConn back to the level it once was, at least not on his own. He's not an elite head coach. He can tweet quotes all he wants. He's living in a house divided. Until he learns from his past, there is no future, because he's mishandling the present roster.

I know for a fact this started last season with how he handled Newsome. This isn't new.

I don’t trust coaches who spout cliches and quotes. We have had quite a few lately. I don’t recall that JC ever quoted anybody he had his own ahem,special language .

 

[hardcorehusky]

I honestly think he bolted because he felt unappreciated at UConn and overestimated his ability. And it’s quite possible that game winning FG played a part in his thinking because the Fiesta Bowl was a big deal. The way he departed is a liitle evidence of that, but personally it never bothered me all that much. At the time he was a lot better than what followed, but it isn’t so evident that he can come close to his first round here. He’s making a lot of trying to shift the focus away from himself. I still went to most home games this year, but the absence of lines at the men’s room at halftime is depressing although easier on the bladder.

He left because the relationship with Hathaway was over. Randy expressed his frustration and found a way out. Had there been any other AD, he might not have left so quickly.

 

[Hogoff]

Yes I remember that Pitt 4th and short well. Up until then, Edsall never would take a chance. He took other uncharacteristic gambles that season. I’ve always wondered if he wasn’t already discussing the job worth Maryland and was trying to show them he could be aggressive in play calling.

I swear that was WV. Idk? Wasn’t that the only time we beat them?

 

[hardcorehusky]

So let me see if I get this straight- some people are siding with a couple of 24 year olds over a coach who has been coaching for close to 35 years or so. I trust Randy's eyes a lot more than 2 guys who aren't around the program. Guess what, the stink Diaco left is still here. There were always going to be kids leaving- this twitter crap will just hasten it. The rebuild started in earnest this year and the last vestiges of Diaco will be gone after this season. Hate to sound harsh but in Randy v 1 - lots of kids headed for the door and the build started. It is repeating itself. Kids who have toiled for 2 and 3 years have lost playing time to new kids. They don't have buy in but deep down they know why.

Any coach coming in would want his own players- in this case, the talent level needs to be upgraded and not too many football coaches would have played the seniors and 4th yr juniors out of sentimentality.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

I swear that was WV. Idk? Wasn’t that the only time we beat them?

It was Pitt. We also beat WV for the first and only time.

The tweet is a bad look for Diggs, but iunderstand.

 

[cohenzone]

He left because the relationship with Hathaway was over. Randy expressed his frustration and found a way out. Had there been any other AD, he might not have left so quickly.

I don’t disagree but that lines up with the idea that he felt unappreciated. Hathaway was a disaster.

 

[UConnDan97]

I get what you're saying. But, I think Edsall labels guys and doesn't waiver from that. I'll use Newsome as an example. I think we can all agree, he was the most dynamic player on the roster last year. Edsall didn't see him as an every down back. That's his opinion. He labeled Newsome as a 3rd down back and eventually named (his recruit) Mensah the starter. Was Mensah the best option? Did Mensah make the offense significantly better? Was Mensah a better all-around player then Newsome as a true freshman? Was Mensah a threat in the passing game? Was Mensah so far and away better between the tackle runner? Was Mensah a better pass-blocking back? Maybe I'm biased toward Newsome, but I'm going to say, "No." to all of those. Edsall played Mensah because it was his guy and he was the future. He took a guy that was a chunk play threat (in or out of the backfield) and made him a one-dimensional player. In turn making Lashlee's offense very predictable. Couple that with a bad defense and you get the results you got. Then, Edsall did what he does, points the finger at someone else, Lashlee, the roster, lack of strength and leadership....etc. He's never the problem, I guess that's my issue with Edsall. He's never the one being held accountable.

You and I are 100% on the same page about Arkeel and always have been. The kid was a unique talent in the open field. Last year was a disservice to us all. And it was absolutely due to what you're saying; Edsall is playing for the future. 2020, if my math is correct.

And I'll certainly be happier in 2020 if it comes true. But I get the feeling my current misery could have been minimized during the process...

 

[huskysupporter]

Gems? I find it hard to believe Coach Edsall is overlooking gems. And he isn’t just playing his guys. Take a look at the O Line. He actually inserted a Diaco guy after week 4 (Leone).

The problem here is Diaco signed a lot of FCS players. Hopefully the current players who liked the tweet can drop down a level to find the playing time they desire.

 

[kris1]

So let me see if I get this straight- some people are siding with a couple of 24 year olds over a coach who has been coaching for close to 35 years or so. I trust Randy's eyes a lot more than 2 guys who aren't around the program. Guess what, the stink Diaco left is still here. There were always going to be kids leaving- this twitter crap will just hasten it. The rebuild started in earnest this year and the last vestiges of Diaco will be gone after this season. Hate to sound harsh but in Randy v 1 - lots of kids headed for the door and the build started. It is repeating itself. Kids who have toiled for 2 and 3 years have lost playing time to new kids. They don't have buy in but deep down they know why.

Any coach coming in would want his own players- in this case, the talent level needs to be upgraded and not too many football coaches would have played the seniors and 4th yr juniors out of sentimentality.

I do think those 24-year olds are more in-tune with an 18-22 yr olds thought process today and have a better feel for what they’re thinking but can’t necessarily say. Edsall certainly hasn’t shown that he’s completely willing to deviate from his offensive philosophy from 35-years ago. The game has changed. The kids have changed. I agree a coach coming in is going to want his own recruits. Here’s the problem, the guys he played last year haven’t significantly improved. When you combine that with true freshmen that are physically not ready to play, you get a defense that’s statistically one of the worst in NCAA history. Is that all on Crocker, maybe? But, Edsall is a defensive coach and that unit should have shown some improvement at this point of the season. I won’t give Crocker a pass this year but Edsall still steers the ship. We see the same mistakes defensively week after week, poor tackling, no pass rush, losing leverage on the edge, over-pursuit by LBs, poor eye discipline at the 2nd and 3rd levels, poor communication, etc. I’ve yet to see Edsall call out Crocker. Diaco’s recruits will eventually be gone and we’ll see who Edsall points the finger at then. It’s baffling to me that other coaches can turn things around in 1-2-3 years with another staff’s recruits but UConn can’t.

 

[B1GEast]

The situation in Oakland is eerily familiar

https://nypost.com/2018/11/12/i-gotta-get-the-f-k-outta-here-jon-grudens-raiders-are-lost/

 

[BlueDogs]

But again, apples and oranges comparing the rosters coming in and the sports themselves.

And look, Hurley is a better basketball coach than Edsall is a football coach. UConn basketball can go out and beat p5 programs for the best head coach on the market. Football can't. It is what it is. That doesn't mean Edsall can't eventually be successful. I wish it was sooner but I don't see how

Understood. My point was really simple. Coaching matters and great coaching can turn things quickly.

 

[Chief00]

But doesn’t that comes back to the question of who’s not playing enough that should be? I guess folks could answer, “we don’t know who they are because we’re not @ practice to see the execution/effort” but to me, none of the upperclassmen’s names on D jump out @ me glaring omissions for not seeing the field. I’m all ears...

Donovan Williams is one of the best athletes on our team and he’s built like a man. What’s perplexing to Chief is Randy is suppose to be a coach who gets the best athletes on the field even if it’s changing positions - why not try him at linebacker or DE edge rusher? We have linebackers now who are simply overmatched. Even when Hahn is in the right spot - a truck runs him over and even if it technically somehow ends with a tackle - it’s 5 yards down field.

 

[Chief00]

I get what you're saying. But, I think Edsall labels guys and doesn't waiver from that. I'll use Newsome as an example. I think we can all agree, he was the most dynamic player on the roster last year. Edsall didn't see him as an every down back. That's his opinion. He labeled Newsome as a 3rd down back and eventually named (his recruit) Mensah the starter. Was Mensah the best option? Did Mensah make the offense significantly better? Was Mensah a better all-around player then Newsome as a true freshman? Was Mensah a threat in the passing game? Was Mensah so far and away better between the tackle runner? Was Mensah a better pass-blocking back? Maybe I'm biased toward Newsome, but I'm going to say, "No." to all of those. Edsall played Mensah because it was his guy and he was the future. He took a guy that was a chunk play threat (in or out of the backfield) and made him a one-dimensional player. In turn making Lashlee's offense very predictable. Couple that with a bad defense and you get the results you got. Then, Edsall did what he does, points the finger at someone else, Lashlee, the roster, lack of strength and leadership....etc. He's never the problem, I guess that's my issue with Edsall. He's never the one being held accountable.

Good post. Randy 2.0 is bringing out all of Randy’s worst traits. There is no way it ends well. We can do better.
#ChiefCertified

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Donovan Williams is one of the best athletes on our team and he’s built like a man. What’s perplexing to Chief is Randy is suppose to be a coach who gets the best athletes on the field even if it’s changing positions - why not try him at linebacker or DE edge rusher? We have linebackers now who are simply overmatched. Even when Hahn is in the right spot - a truck runs him over and even if it technically somehow ends with a tackle - it’s 5 yards down field.

Because converting a QB/WR in his last year to a aggressive Defensive position is like asking nana's house cat to become a sled dog.

 

[Stinger92860]

Because converting a QB/WR in his last year to a aggressive Defensive position is like asking nana's house cat to become a sled dog.

Casual fan

 

[Exasperated]

I get what you're saying. But, I think Edsall labels guys and doesn't waiver from that. I'll use Newsome as an example. I think we can all agree, he was the most dynamic player on the roster last year. Edsall didn't see him as an every down back. That's his opinion. He labeled Newsome as a 3rd down back and eventually named (his recruit) Mensah the starter. Was Mensah the best option? Did Mensah make the offense significantly better? Was Mensah a better all-around player then Newsome as a true freshman? Was Mensah a threat in the passing game? Was Mensah so far and away better between the tackle runner? Was Mensah a better pass-blocking back? Maybe I'm biased toward Newsome, but I'm going to say, "No." to all of those. Edsall played Mensah because it was his guy and he was the future. He took a guy that was a chunk play threat (in or out of the backfield) and made him a one-dimensional player. In turn making Lashlee's offense very predictable. Couple that with a bad defense and you get the results you got. Then, Edsall did what he does, points the finger at someone else, Lashlee, the roster, lack of strength and leadership....etc. He's never the problem, I guess that's my issue with Edsall. He's never the one being held accountable.

Bingo. You nailed it.

Let’s talk about leadership and his constant bs on this issue. Typically, it is the role of the upperclassmen to shape the locker room. Leaders emerge on the field, in the meeting rooms, off the field, etc. This coach has shown such a complete lack of respect and disdain for the older kids, why would any of the younger guys respond? RE has cut their legs out from under them and done so publicly and privately.

In this context, Diggs’ comments make total sense.

 

[Exasperated]

So let me see if I get this straight- some people are siding with a couple of 24 year olds over a coach who has been coaching for close to 35 years or so. I trust Randy's eyes a lot more than 2 guys who aren't around the program. Guess what, the stink Diaco left is still here. There were always going to be kids leaving- this twitter crap will just hasten it. The rebuild started in earnest this year and the last vestiges of Diaco will be gone after this season. Hate to sound harsh but in Randy v 1 - lots of kids headed for the door and the build started. It is repeating itself. Kids who have toiled for 2 and 3 years have lost playing time to new kids. They don't have buy in but deep down they know why.

Any coach coming in would want his own players- in this case, the talent level needs to be upgraded and not too many football coaches would have played the seniors and 4th yr juniors out of sentimentality.

After 35 years +/- the game has passed him by and the younger coaches and players don’t buy it.

 

[uconnphil2016]

Bingo. You nailed it.

Let’s talk about leadership and his constant bs on this issue. Typically, it is the role of the upperclassmen to shape the locker room. Leaders emerge on the field, in the meeting rooms, off the field, etc. This coach has shown such a complete lack of respect and disdain for the older kids, why would any of the younger guys respond? RE has cut their legs out from under them and done so publicly and privately.

In this context, Diggs’ comments make total sense.

Exactly this. If a lot of the upperclassmen don't deserve to play, fine. But RE has never taken these players to be his own, which I think a coach needs to do. They've been called out in his press conferences and blamed for the team's failures. Randy seems to not really care about the guys he didn't recruit

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Exactly this. If a lot of the upperclassmen don't deserve to play, fine. But RE has never taken these players to be his own, which I think a coach needs to do. They've been called out in his press conferences and blamed for the team's failures. Randy seems to not really care about the guys he didn't recruit

I don’t know where you’re getting this stuff but you have become King Hot Takes.

 

[uconnphil2016]

I don’t know where you’re getting this stuff but you have become King Hot Takes.

Thank you. That’s all that I aspire to be.

 

[Waquoit]

Never heard of the guy before and was nine letters into typing his name before Google offered his name as an option. I imagine he would've been better off quoting Mike Van Gundy.

Or Joel Osteen. I hate this tweet. It's more Edsall say-do. Tells others one thing while he does what he wants. I still can't believe anyone takes this guy seriously.

 

[Husky68]

It's never too early to stop going in the wrong direction.

Said it 1st week of season, win 1 game or less fire HCRE2.0 at end of season. After this season he will have had 2 years of complete control of program. Looking forward to 2019 have QB situation where no one on roster who has taken meaningful amount of snaps, defense with DC who is not coaching his scheme and has not shown ability to improve technique of players (if gets fired then start over?, what decent DC would want to work for lame duck HC unless he thought he could get the HC gig himself), and a recruiting class that has players that are willing to commit to a program with this type of recent performance.

The recruiting class of 2019 (given the level of recruits UConn can expect to get) will have virtually no positive impact on the UConn 2019 season, that leaves current player improvement, grad transfers and Juco players; how many impact guys like that will UConn get. Any reasonable freshman on UConn's team has to consider his own personal situation and whether staying at UConn is in his own best interest given what he sees coming in the next few years.

UConn is giving up 623.6 yards per game on defense, out of 129 teams only 2 others give up more than 500 and none but UConn are over 600. In 2017 he had to shoe horn the defensive players into Crocker's "scheme", failed miserably. This year he abandons Crocker's "scheme" 'cause he determined didn't have the personnel to run it, result makes the 2017 defense look like the 1987 Chicago Bears compared to 2018.

Maryland was correct, HCREDreamJob1.0 can't run a successful program at this level at this time. This is like Syracuse rehiring PP and his sidekick and then wondering why things went wrong.

In football it's all about the head coach. 22 games, 4-18, worst statistical defense since the Scarlet Knights helped start college football, that's enough.

Lot of you guys were down on Summers for "bad attitude" last year when I saw it as him rebelling against a scheme/regime that was "throwing away" his senior year. HCRE2.0 admitted as much with his "don't care about winning in 2018 comment". If that's what he thinks about 2018, what do you think his attitude was about 2017?

 

[Scrutineer]

All people who aren’t seeing significant playing time.

Former players questioning prior regime/current coaches decisions are not a new phenomenon - just more visible in this day and age.

Good point about the playing time but it raises the question about why Donaldson isn't playing more. He seemed to be very productive his first year and then Edsall awarded him a scholarship. To sit on the bench? Maybe I'm missing something, but who is looking so good that Donaldson doesn't get any playing time?

 

[UConnJim]

What we are seeing is frustration. When teams lose, you will hear a lot of chirping. Let's look at some facts.

In 2017, UConn football had more talent and had more experience than they do in 2018. Look at the 2 deep to start the season last year. No defensive starters returned in 2018. Three, Britton, Lawley, and McAllister could have played one more year, but left. They may have helped the defense, but UConn still would have lost 8 starters. Unfortunately, in hindsight, the talent and experience was not there on the roster for the defense to improve in 2018, although I think it shouldn't be as bad as it is.

On the current roster, there are 5 R-Sr and Srs that were recruited as freshmen. 5! That is totally unheard of in college football. As for R-Jrs and Jrs on the roster, only 11 were recruited as freshman. UConn has 16 recruited as freshmen Juniors and Seniors on the roster! Since UConn is a development program in which players have to be developed over time to be competitive, these are disastrous numbers.

As for playing favorites, first Newsome. In last year's offense, Newsome was very effective as a receiver with 25 catches and averaging 21.6 yards per catch. He ended up 2nd on the team in receiving yards. His rushing was down last year and he averaged 3.9 yards per carry. In my opinion, Newsome was a very effective offensive player, but Mensah brought something to the table as well. Having both Mensah and Newsome share the load was probably the best option for the offense, and Mensah averaged 4.5 yard per carry. I don't think favoritism played a role in playing Mensah.

And, look at the QB situation last year. Lashlee and Edsall picked Pindell to start the season, but it was pretty clear that Shirreffs, a Diaco holdover, was the better QB, so they switched to him. In other words, the best player played.

Unfortunately, Edsall inherited a mess and equally unfortunate, he is not an effective communicator.

 

[UConnNick]

wow, sounds like he's lost the guys in the locker room.

I guess the saying "You can never go back home" is true. This was a mistake. Not sure Randy wants to go through a rebuild at this point in his career. He'll collect a paycheck, but he's not the guy. You should'nt hear something like this from your team.

What ever he's building, these kids are not invested in and that's a shame. HCRE right now is a guy resting on his laurels

What laurels? He reaped the benefits of a down year in the BE combined with five turnovers by WVU QB Geno Smith to make the Fiesta Bowl, knowing all along he was already outta here. 74-70 wasn't exactly Saban-esque.

 

[UConnJim]

What laurels? He reaped the benefits of a down year in the BE combined with five turnovers by WVU QB Geno Smith to make the Fiesta Bowl, knowing all along he was already outta here. 74-70 wasn't exactly Saban-esque.

What a short memory. Edsall took UConn from 1AA to a BCS Conference. When he took over, UConn played at Memorial Field with no indoor practice facility. After going to the Big East, Edsall and UConn went 50-37 playing harder schedules than we play today. His last 4 seasons were 9-4, 8-5, 8-5, and 8-5. Sure, we all wanted UConn to have a really breakthrough season, but who wouldn't love to see an 8-5 record now!

 

[Bubba1957]

I don't buy any of the "only likes his guys" stuff. Hahn is a Diaco recruit, RE seems to like him plenty. Many people on this board have been critical of his play - still RE plays him. The two deep on D includes, Murphy, Atkins, Garson, Hahn, Terry, Gilmartin, Coyle and a few others where recruitment was started by BD. The whole O line including the two deep at tight end are BD buys (Crozier might predate him). Also the kicker. Without any other evidence, I trust that the guys who deserve to play - are playing.

 

[businesslawyer]

You’re still missing the point. Tge kick counted, we were all excited, but the kick didn’t reflect anything significant about Edsal and the league was down. 8-4 is a fine record, but not quite spectacular.

Not quite spectacular for Oklahoma. For who we were and where we came from -- you're just dead wrong.