Week 1 Film Session: Part I

[UConn07]

Highlighting some miscues & areas for improvement offensively from the opener:

Week 1 Offensive Film Session – This is UConn Country

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Nice job. That rollout where BS threw way too high to a wide open Thomas could have changed the game early. He also under threw a pass to Thomas on what looked like a post route if memory serves me. Thomas dropped a catchable ball. I that ball had been put out in front of him, he probably scores without getting touched.

BS did a great job running, but a bad job throwing. Chalk it up to first game jitters.

 

[cttxus]

Really nice job Matt. Hopefully, these issues are addressed and cleaned up in time for Navy.

 

[BlueandOG]

Highlighting some miscues & areas for improvement offensively from the opener:

Week 1 Offensive Film Session – This is UConn Country

Nice work Matt! Really great detail on the film clips.

 

[CL82]

Great stuff. I want to look at it in more detail later.

Regarding BS, the clips really highlight well what a lot of talked. When BS runs he completely commits ignores the possibility of throwing on the run. He'd make his life, and ours, a lot easier if looks for the little short toss, There are open receivers out there.

I want to think about this more but I've wondered why Knappe isn't more dominant. He's a huge guy. Look at the first clip. Instead of driving the opposing lineman back with his whole body it looks like his upper body is doing, or trying to do all the work, and his lower body is just moving with him.

 

[Palatine]

Drive three was terrible. Sherriff running out of bounds a half yard short -when he fights almost every time- forced a third and short. That is one he should have turned up field.

Then on third and one,a QB sneak was an easy call as UM did not stack the box. And we run off tackle into the strength of the defense. Just awful all around.

 

[UConnJim]

I think after reading/watching this plus the fact that Shirreffs ran 15 times that he should have passed, we can draw some conclusions.

1) The play calling was not conservative, run heavy. In fact, the play calling was about 50% pass, 50% run. In many cases Shirreffs broke off the play early.
2) Many missed blocks that could have been made would have resulted in positive plays.
3) OL did miss some blitzes. Needs to be cleaned up.
4) Shirreffs missed some open receivers, but he didn't make any turnovers and only threw into double covered receivers a couple of times.

I am not concerned about the offensive strategy, but I am concerned with 2 things on the offensive side. The OL needs more improvement and Shirreffs needs to be more patient. I think the 2 issues are closely related and I think Shirreffs will become more patient when he becomes more confident with the OL.

 

[Exit 4]

This is awesome - can't wait to dive into it tonight. Navy is happy too.

 

[rich1122]

Nice!!

 

[BlueDogs]

great work! Many thanks. Some things apparent to me, there is a lot of reach blocking with lineman not moving their feet underneath them. They lean and lose their leverage. Secondly, they are very poor at picking up delayed blitzes and stunts. The linebackers waited for lineman to commit then exploited the gaps. Free lineman need to have much better situational awareness, step back withhead on swivel, and not over commit. They need to maintain an inside out pocket of protection and not collapse down the LOS unless they absolutely need to. This seems to me to be a lack of confidence and overreaction to immediate pressure. The need for a double team in any pass rush is a formula for disaster, unless they are trying to create a run pass option. I agree with another commenter that we may need a heavy fullback for protection. This may alleviate the need for lineman to double down and keep man on man assigments.

 

[freescooter]

Really we are still working mostly with Pasqualoni recruits on the Oline. And I just don't think they are the best fit for the system Whacky Bob wants to use. And despite all the talk the line was not very good. Saying if they made some blocks there would have been some big plays is fine but they didn't make plays. If my aunt was a man she'd be my uncle evaluations don't cut it.

As far as Sherriffs goes he is an ok college quarterback. He is going to make some big plays with his legs but he is going to miss some because he takes off too soon. College football is full of guys like that. They were a staple at USF during their early years for example. Grobe had several at Wake when he was having success too. And every now and then they stay put and have a good day throwing the football too. Sherriffs looks like he can throw on the run at least a bit if he sees guys too

But really the line needs a huge amount of work still.

 

[tiger8mush]

4) Shirreffs missed some open receivers, but he didn't make any turnovers and only threw into double covered receivers a couple of times.

A couple times when BS threw into double coverage, he had Noel Thomas one on one. I'd much rather see BS throw a jump ball to Thomas 1v1 instead of that pass he made across the field to the left sideline (I think to Arkeel) in double coverage. Not a very good choice.

 

[rich1122]

A couple times when BS threw into double coverage, he had Noel Thomas one on one. I'd much rather see BS throw a jump ball to Thomas 1v1 instead of that pass he made across the field to the left sideline (I think to Arkeel) in double coverage. Not a very good choice.

Looks like Maine threw everything but the kitchen sink at them and well ........ At times they just really whiffed. Seemed lost.

Tyler Davis trying to block a little CB and he was just demolished. Work in progress. Let's see Navy.

 

[Excalibur]

Really we are still working mostly with Pasqualoni recruits on the Oline. And I just don't think they are the best fit for the system Whacky Bob wants to use. And despite all the talk the line was not very good. Saying if they made some blocks there would have been some big plays is fine but they didn't make plays. If my aunt was a man she'd be my uncle evaluations don't cut it.

But really the line needs a huge amount of work still.

On the one hand you could say that since most of the issues were with assignments and recognition and not due to physical limitations, those issues are correctable. On the other hand, other than Peart and Crozier, most of these guys have been at it a while and if they haven't improved, they aren't going to.

 

[Milo65]

Oline needs to come together. Crozier is coming off of an injury, Levy is in a new position, Peart is new, Vechery hasn't worked with the first team and new position. Even though this group has experience, it hasn't been in the same positions as last year, this unit needs to Gel and hopefully they will.

 

[UConnJim]

Really we are still working mostly with Pasqualoni recruits on the Oline. And I just don't think they are the best fit for the system Whacky Bob wants to use. And despite all the talk the line was not very good. Saying if they made some blocks there would have been some big plays is fine but they didn't make plays. If my aunt was a man she'd be my uncle evaluations don't cut it.

My point was that after the game, people called into question the game strategy and play calling. From watching the game and the posted videos it's pretty clear that the offensive issues with the Maine game had more to do with execution. We missed blocks and the QB wasn't patient.

 

[weyuo]

My point was that after the game, people called into question the game strategy and play calling. From watching the game and the posted videos it's pretty clear that the offensive issues with the Maine game had more to do with execution. We missed blocks and the QB wasn't patient.

Agree on those points. First game. Lets see if they clean it up this Saturday.

 

[Palatine]

A couple times when BS threw into double coverage, he had Noel Thomas one on one. I'd much rather see BS throw a jump ball to Thomas 1v1 instead of that pass he made across the field to the left sideline (I think to Arkeel) in double coverage. Not a very good choice.

That isn't very likely because Diaco drills BS never to put the ball in jeopardy.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Great stuff -- look forward to seeing these all season...

 

[kris1]

Great job Matt.

1. An offensive lineman should NEVER let a defensive player cross his face to shoot an inside gap. That's in Chapter 1 of the Idiot's Guide to Coaching Offensive Linemen. If the defender wants to get inside, use his momentum to DRIVE him out of that gap and past the play.
2. A double team at the line of scrimmage only remains a double team until the defensive player is no longer a threat to disrupt a play. This occurs when one of the two offensive linemen gains control of the gap threat. At that point, the other offensive linemen needs to disengage and LOOK for the next threat. If there is no other gap threat (inside or out), SEAL the nearest defender at the second level.
3. A blocker needs to GAIN leverage on a defender attempting to disrupt a play. Defenders are taught to play with their shoulders square to the LOS. Get the defender to turn his shoulders.

This offensive line has made small strides, but they still have a way to go. They are far too inconsistent. Many of the issues in Matt's piece are elementary issues. They shouldn't happen as often as they do. They have to do a better job communicating at the line of scrimmage. Attack the defender and engage, using the defenders momentum against them. Gain a leverage advantage and drive the defender, either past their gap responsibility or seal them off. Then get to the next level. Big plays happen when second and third level defenders get caught up in the wash at the line of scrimmage or are sealed off by offensive linemen, tight ends, and wide receivers getting downfield. When EVERYONE starts taking PRIDE in blocking, it will all come together.

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

As others have said, pretty much all but one of these show that we were almost never "beaten" on the line...we just continue to miss the blitz pickups.

Can someone please tell me why we keep seeing this ??? This is not a problem for every damn team, especially those as physically gifted as we are. WTF ???????

We constantly see 2 men on a DT/DE, while a LB strolls in untouched.

Again....WTF ???