Welcome John Dunn: New OC

[BugsyCT]

If we can lose a guy like Lashlee to another AAC school (after 1 season), then who else can we bring in that's good enough to succeed AND will stick around at UConn? Not like we're the high rung on the ladder of coaching vacancies. If Dunn works out, great; if the offense goes back to 2016 level, then he's probably not the guy.

More worried about getting our D back to competence levels at this point.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

I am cautiously optimistic.

As has been said, RE knows how to build a staff. Slight concern that RE hired someone he knows he can control, but I do think RE realizes that the offense has to be uptempo and Lashlee’s approach will continue. IIRC, Maryland actually had a pretty good offense when they weren’t decimated at the QB position.

The only watch out for me is that Dunn really doesn’t have ties to New England or New York. His alma mater is UNC. Will he easily be pulled to an ACC team?

Who knows...but as I said....cautiously optimistic.

 

[uconnphil2016]

Pictures? BY rules...

Pictures never bring anything good on the BY. Trust me...

 

[Exit 4]

What makes Dunn any less qualified than DannyO? At the very least, he has 13 more years coaching experience.

I’m not an advocate for Danny O as OC FYI. maybe as QB coach however.

 

[Pudge]

Dunn was Recruiting Coordinator at Maryland.

IN HCRE 1.0, Rob Ambrose was in charge of Maryland and DC ... a very productive few years. Todd Orlando was in charge of Western PA and we did well there. WE need to find kids in Maryland, Virginia, WPA, Philly area. I look for a mix of recruiting capabilities; and frankly, nobody gets put in Recruiting Coordinator role at a P5 who can't run that aspect of a Program. Then ... he apprenticed under Gary Crowton. And lots of people thought Crowton was a CFB genius.

 

[UConnDan97]

Also his previous geographic area recruiting footprint/contacts are right where we need them to be:

Recruiting Area (from when @ UMD)

• Primary: Maryland, Central and Eastern Pennsylvania, North Carolina (Charlotte), Southwest Florida and Southern New Jersey

• Secondary: Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee and North Carolina

• Local: Anne Arundel County, Eastern Shore, Frederick County and Carroll County

Absolutely.

And you already know my feelings about having a successful Pennsylvania pipeline to having a successful UConn football team.

Side note: I'm 42. Here are some of the actresses that are also 42:

Charlize Theron, Angelina Jolie, Eva Longoria, Milla Jovovich, Kate Winslet, and even Drew Barrymore (Tara Reid too, but she may be on crack now). The idea that women in their 40s cannot be 10s (or at least 9s) is false. Charlize Theron is the hottest woman on the planet...

 

[Husky25]

I’m not an advocate for Danny O as OC FYI. maybe as QB coach however.

People who were advocating DanO for OC are 6 of one. People who were advocating DanO for QB coach are a 1/2 dozen of another.

Dunn has 13 more years experience coaching and is far more qualified to be QB coach at a minimum, yet fans are treating him as if he's pulling out a ...For Dummies book.

 

[Exit 4]

People who were advocating DanO for OC are 6 of one. People who were advocating DanO for QB coach are a 1/2 dozen of another.

Dunn has 13 more years experience coaching and is far more qualified to be QB coach at a minimum, yet fans are treating him as if he's pulling out a ...For Dummies book.

I don’t think you know what you are talking about.

 

[Husky25]

I don’t think you know what you are talking about.

Not my responsibility to connect the dots for you.

 

[Waquoit]

He fooled a lot of us.

Warde, most of all

 

[RSTuthill]

Terrible hire and setback for the program. Clearly, RE was looking for a loyal yes man and not an independent offensive thinker. I can't believe AD Dave allowed RE to go down this path. So disappointed.

Don't believe AD Dave was in a position to resist too vigorously. His guy upped and left after one season for a lateral within the AAC. Pretty much a slap in the face. There were probably some internal disagreements too that led to the departure that never may it out to us. So RE was in a pretty strong position to insist on his guy.

The hint to me that is a bit ominous was the phrase about installing a drop back passing component. Taken the right way it could be a good thing. The more things a team can do well, the stronger they are. Taken the wrong way, one could infer that UConn is headed back to a whole new playbook again and we will be watching RRPP again. And I do think that it is now unlikely that the OC will have autonomy in play calling. Thus it is now more likely that UConn will drift backwards towards prior offensive philosophies.

In any event, RE2.0 is playing with all the marbles now. Four more years to get respectable or UConn will be headed back to the BE is my suspicion. Got my fingers crossed.

 

[Block C]

What makes Dunn any less qualified than DannyO? At the very least, he has 13 more years coaching experience.

I have heard some of the boneyard wanted WR coach from Jacksonville. What makes Dunn so different?

 

[RSTuthill]

I trust Edsall and AD David Benedict

I don't trust anyone. I ask a helluva lot of questions and peel back the onion until I get to a place where I am comfortable but fully aware of the all the risks. In this case, there is no need to get to that place. They either perform of they don't. When they start performing, I will start buying seasons tix again.

 

[Austin316]

I don't trust anyone. I ask a helluva lot of questions and peel back the onion until I get to a place where I am comfortable but fully aware of the all the risks. In this case, there is no need to get to that place. They either perform of they don't. When they start performing, I will start buying seasons tix again.

Blah blah blah .... “I’m a casual UConn fan that only supports them when they win”... blah blah blah...

I feel u tho they need to perform well.

 

[Uconnalliance]

Absolutely.

And you already know my feelings about having a successful Pennsylvania pipeline to having a successful UConn football team.

Side note: I'm 42. Here are some of the actresses that are also 42:

Charlize Theron, Angelina Jolie, Eva Longoria, Milla Jovovich, Kate Winslet, and even Drew Barrymore (Tara Reid too, but she may be on crack now). The idea that women in their 40s cannot be 10s (or at least 9s) is false. Charlize Theron is the hottest woman on the planet...

Aniston?!

 

[RSTuthill]

No OC experience. Suddenly called upon to develop our young QB's. No playcalling. Time and game management? If this guy isn't a natural we're going to take some frustrating steps backward. Do we have time for another Coach to be on the job training? I don't get it but hoping he has a productive Spring Ball and grows into the job quickly.

Actually half a season of play calling at UMD, right?

 

[RSTuthill]

Blah blah blah .... “I’m a casual UConn fan that only supports them when they win”... blah blah blah...

I feel u tho they need to perform well.

Incorrect. I insist only on competitiveness before I'll buy season tix. Nothing more. Went to four home games last year.

 

[Block C]

Incorrect. I insist only on competitiveness before I'll buy season tix. Nothing more. Went to four home games last year.

But last year we had Diaco talent. Just wait till RE gets his recruiting classes in here. Will be a lot different.

 

[RSTuthill]

I’ve brought that post up a dozen times. Yep. I stupidly fell for some for the 6-6 season - I should have never not trusted my instincts.

Join the club. After watching part of the next blue-white game I bought season tix that year. Only that evening did I realize the ones were playing the twos and that fact combined with the beautiful spring afternoon had seduced me into pulling out the plastic.

 

[Chief00]

Now that Lashlee’s gone Chief has chosen to share two details behind the friction I had indicated was occurring during last season between Randy and Lashlee. There are more that I may or may not reveal.

1) Randy thought Lashlee’s offense was big play not first down focused, therefore defense was on the field too much and wore down. Personally, I thought that was Randy being defensive on his Croacker hire.

2) We did not develop a running game that would make us successful in the red zone.

The reason I choose to reveal these two is I assume Randy will give Dunn a directive to improve in these areas and it will be easy to measure.

 

[Austin316]

Incorrect. I insist only on competitiveness before I'll buy season tix. Nothing more. Went to four home games last year.

I stand I here incorrect. See u at the Rent my friend!

 

[huskyrob1]

What makes Dunn any less qualified than DannyO? At the very least, he has 13 more years coaching experience.

He did call the plays at Maryland for the rest of the season after they fired Edsall, with Locksley assuming head coaching responsibilities.

 

[Rocktheworld]

I don't trust anyone. I ask a helluva lot of questions and peel back the onion until I get to a place where I am comfortable but fully aware of the all the risks. In this case, there is no need to get to that place. They either perform of they don't. When they start performing, I will start buying seasons tix again.

You can respect an established precedent of someone being a good judge of talent while remaining skeptical.

 

[RSTuthill]

Now that Lashlee’s gone Chief has chosen to share two details behind the friction I had indicated was occurring during last season between Randy and Lashlee. There are more that I may or may not reveal.

1) Randy thought Lashlee’s offense was big play not first down focused, therefore defense was on the field too much and wore down. Personally, I thought that was Randy being defensive on his Croacker hire.

2) We did not develop a running game that would make us successful in the red zone.

The reason I choose to reveal these two is I assume Randy will give Dunn a directive to improve in these areas and it will be easy to measure.

Couple questions: 1) do you think it would have been possible to develop a running game with the personnel available? I have my doubts and suspect that this reveals RE's historic run-first preference continues to this day and will into the future.

2.) Do you think this friction is what led to the Lashlee's move?

 

[Exit 4]

2.) Do you think this friction is what led to the Lashlee's move?

Is it correct Lashlee bought a house here? If so, then that would lend credence to the idea he planned to stay longer - but then it didn’t work out family wise and perhaps philosophy wise.

 

[TitleTown]

Get all that...but SEC coordinator versus QC coach...

Don't kid yourself, Gus Malzahn was the man behind Auburn's offense. Lashlee had minimal impact on that offense compared to most OCs.

 

[Husky25]

I have heard some of the boneyard wanted WR coach from Jacksonville. What makes Dunn so different?

What are you trying to ask? Dunn is a better candidate, IMO.

 

[Husky25]

He did call the plays at Maryland for the rest of the season after they fired Edsall, with Locksley assuming head coaching responsibilities.

Yes.

 

[Block C]

What are you trying to ask? Dunn is a better candidate, IMO.

All I’m saying is whoever is saying Dunn is a bad candidate they are wrong.

 

[SubbaBub]

I don’t know how calling plays could be beyond someone.

It’s the easiest part of the job.

I don’t see how you can coach professionally and struggle with play calling.

I agree. Play teaching and executing is much more important than play calling.