What's the consensus expectation this year for the Huskies?

[jdb50]

If we start the season with blowout losses to Maryland and Michigan I want Warde to fire GDL, PP and name Weist head coach immediately. There is no way this program will survive a death march through the rest of the schedule with all the key players remaining at their posts. That aside my optimistic side sees us winning 7 games and then the question of what to do becomes real murky (i.e. contract extension). We need a great year this year and I'm rooting for PP to succeed. A 4 win season would be unbearable.

 

[mets1090]

I would sign on the dotted line right now for a 7-5 season plus a bowl win. The last two years have been incredibly painful.

 

[rich1122]

If we start the season with blowout losses to Maryland and Michigan I want Warde to fire GDL, PP and name Weist head coach immediately. There is no way this program will survive a death march through the rest of the schedule with all the key players remaining at their posts. That aside my optimistic side sees us winning 7 games and then the question of what to do becomes real murky (i.e. contract extension). We need a great year this year and I'm rooting for PP to succeed. A 4 win season would be unbearable.

Yes commander and next we should invade N. Korea and fire everybody there.

 

[Alum86]

Yes commander and next we should invade N. Korea and fire everybody there.

Small time yankee conference mentality. Why wait? Not unprecedented to fire midseason.

 

[ZooCougar]

If you accept the premise that we had loads of offensive and special teams talent capable of winning football games. If.

There's that old apologist line.

We had better talent than the 115th ranked offense in the country. Chalk that up to Pasqualoni and GDL incompetence.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

There's that old apologist line.

We had better talent than the 115th ranked offense in the country. Chalk that up to Pasqualoni and GDL incompetence.

You say that, but looking at our O-line, our QB, our WR's... I'm not sure I agree.

 

[ruskin]

You say that, but looking at our O-line, our QB, our WR's... I'm not sure I agree.

you can keep throwing the players under the bus all you want loop but people who ACTUALLY PLAYED know there wasn't that much of a talent gap between the defense that was 9th in the country and the offense that sucked because the coaching/playcalling sucked (Buffalo, Temple, momentum-killing wildcat) .
And guess what? The talent on this year's offense isn't going to be significantly better. Maybe when TJ coaches them up to say, 100th, you'll quit defending Statler & Waldorf.

 

[ZooCougar]

You say that, but looking at our O-line, our QB, our WR's... I'm not sure I agree.

You actually think that those guys are 115th? Are you kidding me? You should lose your posting privileges.

It's more like we had the 120th ranked coaching staff.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

You say that, but looking at our O-line, our QB, our WR's... I'm not sure I agree.

GDL has to be the unluckiest person on the planet. In 2005, as running game coordinator at Ole Miss, he inherited talent so freaking bad that they ranked 118 out of 119 teams in total rushing. Now he's been at UConn for 2 years with FCS level talent on offense again. Poor guy.

 

[ktuck911]

GDL has to be the unluckiest person on the planet. In 2005, as running game coordinator at Ole Miss, he inherited talent so freaking bad that they ranked 118 out of 119 teams in total rushing. Now he's been at UConn for 2 years with FCS level talent on offense again. Poor guy.

Not sure if you're being sarcastic bro ( didn't read thru this entire thread...it's on page 4 now and I ain't goin back to look ), but if you are serious about "FCS level" offensive firepower, I have to agree with you. Fact is we do... We're still getting more tweeners ( FCS kids on the cusp of a FBS scholly ) at KEY positions on offense, RB & OL... I hope we finally break through at RB ... we've gotten a few kids on OL in year's past including this one...

 

[Husky25]

Not sure if you're being sarcastic bro ( didn't read thru this entire thread...it's on page 4 now and I ain't goin back to look ), but if you are serious about "FCS level" offensive firepower, I have to agree with you. Fact is we do... We're still getting more tweeners ( FCS kids on the cusp of a FBS scholly ) at KEY positions on offense, RB & OL... I hope we finally break through at RB ... we've gotten a few kids on OL in year's past including this one...

It's a question of actual coaching ability, not necessarily play calling or ingame adjustments (though that is also a probably). Coach Pasqualoni's staff cannot do it.

Coach Pasqualoni's predessor (CPP) recruited 2 star football players, at best, but he managed to coach them up to the point of being viable NFL options and eventually a 1st round pick and 3 second rounders in the same draft.

Coach Pasqualoni takes the same (sometimes better) talent and during most weeks, it looks like they would have a hard time vs. Xavier High School.

Same level of player; Two different coaches; Two different result. I am not convinced the correlation lies between the players and the results.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

You actually think that those guys are 115th? Are you kidding me? You should lose your posting privileges.

It's more like we had the 120th ranked coaching staff.

"You don't agree with me, therefore you're wrong."

Nice point. We still had one of the worst, least experienced O-lines pretty much ever. How many good football teams you know starting that many first-time players at O-Line, QB, and WR?

Actually, don't bother responding cause you'll just keep repeating the same thing over and over again. I know you disagree. That's fine. But it's not fact. It's just the words coming out of your mouth and the thoughts coming out of your brain. Believe it or not, it takes more than that to convince me.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

GDL has to be the unluckiest person on the planet. In 2005, as running game coordinator at Ole Miss, he inherited talent so freaking bad that they ranked 118 out of 119 teams in total rushing. Now he's been at UConn for 2 years with FCS level talent on offense again. Poor guy.

Yeah if only GDL had a history with another former Big East team with some decent offenses in the past. Maybe a ton of bowl victories and whatnot?

Too bad he doesn't, though.

I, too, can cherry pick statistics.

 

[ZooCougar]

Yeah if only GDL had a history with another former Big East team with some decent offenses in the past. Maybe a ton of bowl victories and whatnot?

Too bad he doesn't, though.

I, too, can cherry pick statistics.

20 years ago. Oh ok.. Those are some old cherries! Apologist.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Yeah if only GDL had a history with another former Big East team with some decent offenses in the past. Maybe a ton of bowl victories and whatnot?

Too bad he doesn't, though.

I, too, can cherry pick statistics.

You talk as though your opinion is fact. It's not.

Everyone is a better coach when they have better players. McNabb, Harrison, Rhodes, etc. A coach earns his keep when he does more with less. P & GDL, IN MY OPINION, have been epic failures in this regard.

Say what you want about Edsall. The guy far surpasses P in this area. And there's the problem. P needs to recruit much better players because he can't coach them up. Can he recruit effectively enough considering all the realignment crap? I don't personally think so.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

20 years ago. Oh ok.. Those are some old cherries! Apologist.

Your name-calling is super effective. I'm pretty sure you could start a religion with a silver tongue like that.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

You talk as though your opinion is fact. It's not.

Everyone is a better coach when they have better players. McNabb, Harrison, Rhodes, etc. A coach earns his keep when he does more with less. P & GDL, IN MY OPINION, have been epic failures in this regard.

Say what you want about Edsall. The guy far surpasses P in this area. And there's the problem. P needs to recruit much better players because he can't coach them up. Can he recruit effectively enough considering all the realignment crap? I don't personally think so.

Except Edsall has better talent now and is doing worse than Edsall. So would you fire Edsall at Maryland, then, since he's clearly a worse coach than Pasqualoni because he's doing worse with better talent?

Or does Edsall get context? i.e., Edsall had injuries so he gets a break, but Pasqualoni, with a new QB, new O-line, new WR's... nope. He's just a schmuck.

Again, I never said that Pasqualoni is the answer. I simply believe he has not done poor enough of a job to not be given a third year. And given how our last coach ended up after 2 very dismal years to start, as well as success at the BCS level, I think it's worth giving a shot.

You disagree, which is cool. But your simplistic manner of arguing and inability to even mentally grasp the idea that semi-intelligent life forms may look at the same complex amount of information as you and come to a different conclusion makes me think you're either a) not that bright, or b) kind of a jerk.

 

[Marty Jackson]

what happens to this board if the team goes 7-5 this year.
Does PP get any credit for that? Or do people suggest that this team should have been 9-3 or 10-2.
It seems that PP is going to be the next Edsall. No matter what he does, someone will always bring up some shortcoming or some argument about how the program could have been better.

I've said it before, but even Calhoun with over 800 wins and 3 NC's was severely questioned the year before winning the 3rd NC... numerous posts about him retiring or past his prime. If we can do that to one of the greatest coaches of all time, coaches like PP or Edsall don't stand a chance.

BTW, if Geno can't figure out a way to beat ND and loses to them again, he should be gone. The guy is losing it. Uconn can't afford another crap season like this.

 

[ZooCougar]

Your name-calling is super effective. I'm pretty sure you could start a religion with a silver tongue like that.

It's not name calling. It's fact, stated as an opinion.

 

[JayRU09]

Towson-W
Buffalo-W
SMU-W/L
Temple-W/L
Memphis-W
Maryland-Leaning towards L
Michigan-L
USF-W
Cincy-L
UCF-Leaning towards L
Rutgers-Leaning towards L
Ville-L

So, what I put as near assured wins: 4
Near assured losses: 3
Almost assured losses: 3
Toss Ups: 2

It's gonna be tough, but a bowl game is possible. There's five games that I can't count the Huskies out in right off the bat, so you need to get two of those. Ceiling is 9 wins.

 

[ZooCougar]

I could see Pasqualoni losing to Towson.

 

[ZooCougar]

what happens to this board if the team goes 7-5 this year.
Does PP get any credit for that? Or do people suggest that this team should have been 9-3 or 10-2.
It seems that PP is going to be the next Edsall. No matter what he does, someone will always bring up some shortcoming or some argument about how the program could have been better.

I've said it before, but even Calhoun with over 800 wins and 3 NC's was severely questioned the year before winning the 3rd NC... numerous posts about him retiring or past his prime. If we can do that to one of the greatest coaches of all time, coaches like PP or Edsall don't stand a chance.

BTW, if Geno can't figure out a way to beat ND and loses to them again, he should be gone. The guy is losing it. Uconn can't afford another crap season like this.

Well, if he actually had a 7-5 season or even a 6-6 under his belt here then your statement would have some validity.

But he hasn't done anything as the head coach at CT to indicate that he is building a winner here. It took him almost two full seasons to string together consecutive wins. In order to bank some good will, you actually have to do some good.

 

[Husky25]

Towson-W
Buffalo-W
SMU-W/L
Temple-W/L
Memphis-W
Maryland-Leaning towards L
Michigan-L
USF-W
Cincy-L
UCF-Leaning towards L
Rutgers-Leaning towards L
Ville-L

So, what I put as near assured wins: 4
Near assured losses: 3
Almost assured losses: 3
Toss Ups: 2

It's gonna be tough, but a bowl game is possible. There's five games that I can't count the Huskies out in right off the bat, so you need to get two of those. Ceiling is 9 wins.

I said 8-4, 5-2 pre-bye, 3-2 post bye

Towson-W
Buffalo-W
SMU-L
Temple-W
Memphis-W
Maryland- W
Michigan-L
USF-W
Cincy-L
UCF- W
Rutgers - W
Ville - L

There is probably both an unexpect win and unexpected loss but that is how I see the season going.

 

[Marty Jackson]

Well, if he actually had a 7-5 season or even a 6-6 under his belt here then your statement would have some validity.

But he hasn't done anything as the head coach at CT to indicate that he is building a winner here. It took him almost two full seasons to string together consecutive wins. In order to bank some good will, you actually have to do some good.

recruiting is improved...
we have serious talent competing at QB for the first time in several years...
4 players were invited to the NFL combine (I believe it was 4).
we had the #9 rated defense last season...

There have been positives. they have translated into W's yet.

And, it's been 2 seasons!!!!!

 

[ZooCougar]

recruiting is improved...
we have serious talent competing at QB for the first time in several years...
4 players were invited to the NFL combine (I believe it was 4).
we had the #9 rated defense last season...

There have been positives. they have translated into W's yet.

And, it's been 2 seasons!!!!!

I only care about results on the field. Wanny was a great recruiter at Pitt, they had Top 25 classes. It means nothing.

In 2 seasons he has done an incredible amount of damage.

 

[freescooter]

recruiting is improved...
we have serious talent competing at QB for the first time in several years...
4 players were invited to the NFL combine (I believe it was 4).
we had the #9 rated defense last season...

There have been positives. they have translated into W's yet.

And, it's been 2 seasons!!!!!

In my view part of it is philosophical. Edsall came in assuming he would never get top level recruits and would have to coach up everyone. And he pretty much approached it that way and outside quarterback and wide receiver, he was pretty successful. Pasqualoni has a very different attitude. He expects to be recruiting at a higher level and doesn't have any interest in coaching players up. Hence all the talk about needing more prototype players and lack of talent. It was probably true, but Edsall just accepted that's what he could get and went about trying to make them better. Pasquolaoni assumed he could get better and went about trying to replace them. Whether he will succeed is still an open question. In the "old days" when it was assumed that a new coach would have 5 years to get his recruits and show what he could do, Pasqualoni's approach might be viable. Not so sure in the current environment, where 3 years is considered "too long" that it will be workable.

 

[Husky25]

In my view part of it is philosophical. Edsall came in assuming he would never get top level recruits and would have to coach up everyone. And he pretty much approached it that way and outside quarterback and wide receiver, he was pretty successful. Pasqualoni has a very different attitude. He expects to be recruiting at a higher level and doesn't have any interest in coaching players up. Hence all the talk about needing more prototype players and lack of talent. It was probably true, but Edsall just accepted that's what he could get and went about trying to make them better. Pasquolaoni assumed he could get better and went about trying to replace them. Whether he will succeed is still an open question. In the "old days" when it was assumed that a new coach would have 5 years to get his recruits and show what he could do, Pasqualoni's approach might be viable. Not so sure in the current environment, where 3 years is considered "too long" that it will be workable.

Are you trying to defend Coach Pasqualoni, by saying he has no interest to performing the duties required to succeed in the position for which he was hired? If not, you need to pick your words a tad more carefully. The word is right there in his title (Coach)?

It is absolutely a major part of his job to ensure each and every player in his charge is coached to the appropriate level. If he doesn't do it, his assistant coaches should. If they don't, the whole lot should be relieved from their coaching obligations forthwith.

There is more to coaching than recruiting, there is more to coaching than play calling, and there is more to coaching than teaching. He's been around for decades. He should understand that.

 

[huskymedic]

Are you trying to defend Coach Pasqualoni, by saying he has no interest to performing the duties required to succeed in the position for which he was hired? If not, you need to pick your words a tad more carefully. The word is right there in his title (Coach)?

It is absolutely a major part of his job to ensure each and every player in his charge is coached to the appropriate level. If he doesn't do it, his assistant coaches should. If they don't, the whole lot should be relieved from their coaching obligations forthwith.

There is more to coaching than recruiting, there is more to coaching than play calling, and there is more to coaching than teaching. He's been around for decades. He should understand that.

One could argue that recent evidence says he does... UConn Players Say Pasqualoni Prepared Them For NFL Future. Ryan Griffin has been equally complementary as have others.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

You disagree, which is cool. But your simplistic manner of arguing and inability to even mentally grasp the idea that semi-intelligent life forms may look at the same complex amount of information as you and come to a different conclusion makes me think you're either a) not that bright, or b) kind of a jerk.

You're gonna lecture me about arguing in a simplistic manner and then compare and contrast Edsall and P's first few years at UConn? Give me a break. Yes, Edsall's and Pasqualoni's first 2 years at UConn were under the exact same circumstances?

Are you not bright enough to add a little context to the different circumstances that each started under? Or are you just a jerk?

 

[Husky25]

One could argue that recent evidence says he does... UConn Players Say Pasqualoni Prepared Them For NFL Future. Ryan Griffin has been equally complementary as have others.

I never said that he did or didn't. I just said that coaching his players up to the appropriate talent level is a major part of his job.

Scooter intimated that Coach Pasqualoni's philosophy is to recruit better so he doesn't have to perform duties he has no interest in performing (coaching them up). I asked Scooter if he was defending Coach Pasqualoni by saying he has no interest in doing a major part of his job.