Whitmer officially #1

[Srqhusky]

Even peyton manning throws about 15 int a year. They say you want to keep at least a 2:1 ratio. We need to push the ball down the field so come Wagners leg doesnt fall off

 

[huskysupporter]

The key to me is having a qb who completes 62-65% of his passes and limits his mistakes. I don't care if he has 40 tis or 4, as long as the offense is effective. Deleon's offense is very good, if a qb can get the ball to receivers where they can make a play. Short to intermediate passes with a couple long passes a game. Emphasis on play action and two tight end sets.

 

[BlueMAB]

would u 2 rather have 12 tds and 8 pics or 25 and 14?

if all of whitmers stats come in the mac games, then i bet P will deal with that issue like last year.

How many games did we win with 12/8 and how many did we win with 25/14. Answer that, and I'll answer your question.

 

[Excalibur]

I would be more worried about the receivers except for one big thing in my mind; Mike Smith. Two years ago, the man was a monster. I expect that he is going to have a break out year this year.

Monster is a bit of a stretch. He was a reasonably competent possession receiver. Granted that's better than most of what we've had lately, but let's not overstate things.

 

[huskysupporter]

Monster is a bit of a stretch. He was a reasonably competent possession receiver. Granted that's better than most of what we've had lately, but let's not overstate things.

If Smith would just be more consistent, he would be an All BE caliber receiver. Dropped alot of passes in his career. But he is an imposing target and finds ways to get open on the intermediate routes. Hope he spent alot of time in front of a Jugs machine.

 

[UConnDan97]

Monster is a bit of a stretch. He was a reasonably competent possession receiver. Granted that's better than most of what we've had lately, but let's not overstate things.

You're right, Excalibur. I should have only said that he was our number 1 receiver in 2010, going for 36% more yards than our second best receiver (a person in the NFL now) and averaging 13 more yards per game than that second highest wide receiver:

http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2010-2011/teamcume.html#TEAM.IND

But I guess you're right; the use of the word "monster" is so controversial.

(By the way, my comments are not a slight on Kashif Moore. I loved Kash's game, and I'm happy that he's in the NFL now.)

 

[Waquoit]

So is it OK to admit that the folks that went to the Spring game and said he was the clear No.1 were right all along?

 

[Excalibur]

You're right, Excalibur. I should have only said that he was our number 1 receiver in 2010, going for 36% more yards than our second best receiver (a person in the NFL now) and averaging 13 more yards per game than that second highest wide receiver:

http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2010-2011/teamcume.html#TEAM.IND

But I guess you're right; the use of the word "monster" is so controversial.

(By the way, my comments are not a slight on Kashif Moore. I loved Kash's game, and I'm happy that he's in the NFL now.)

I loved Kashif as well, but Smith is a better, more well-rounded receiver. If Whitmer can get them the ball, we look to have options in Smith and Phillips (at least the Phillips we saw in the spring game).

 

[huskysupporter]

I loved Kashif as well, but Smith is a better, more well-rounded receiver. If Whitmer can get them the ball, we look to have options in Smith and Phillips (at least the Phillips we saw in the spring game).

You are going to have to elaborate a little more on that. Smith is definitely the better blocker, but I am curious to see why you think he is the better receiver.

 

[metsfan2323]

I would not be shocked to see Smith have an Easley like, breakout season. He's playing for an NFL contract now plus he has Whitmer throwing to him. Nick Williams and Phillips are also going to have Easley like seasons. Geremy Davis is also the new Easley. By my count we will have 4 Easley's on the same team. Tebucky is the new Kashif and Griffin is going to have a huge year. Osiecki and McCombs will also catch their fair share of passes.

We're going to be throwing a lot this year.

 

[Excalibur]

You are going to have to elaborate a little more on that. Smith is definitely the better blocker, but I am curious to see why you think he is the better receiver.

Not as fast as Kash, but IMO a better route runner who gets open more consistently, has a few inches on Kash and presents a better target, and has more consistent hands. Kash made some spectacular catches and was very good after the catch, but sometimes struggled with the easy ones.

 

[Waquoit]

I loved Kashif as well, but Smith is a better, more well-rounded receiver. If Whitmer can get them the ball, we look to have options in Smith and Phillips (at least the Phillips we saw in the spring game).

Not yet, he's not. He has to cut way down on the drops. Hopefully, this will be his year when it all comes together.

 

[freescooter]

I still have nightmares about the drop against Michigan, so I'm sort of holding my praise for Mike Smith. I certainly hope he turns out to be at the next level, but I'm going to have to see it. As far as Whitmer is concerned, I thought he looked very good in the Spring game. I'm a little concerned that he is on the small side, and there is some evidence that he sometimes tries to throw the ball into places it shouldn't be thrown. On the other hand, again using the spring game as evidence, it doesn't look like he lets mistakes bother him. Threw a pick in the endzone, but the next time he got the ball he drove it right down...didn't worry about putting it up again. This time he scored. I think in the passing game you have to occasionally take a risk. the thing is that you have to know when to do it and you can't let it get to you when it doesn't work out.

 

[pepband99]

Peg me in the holding camp for Smith, too. Lost in the drop @ Michigan was the 50-bobble catch he had too.

 

[FAIRTIDES]

Whitmer won't be the only offense for us, so he may only be passing in better situations. With a balanced attack everyone's numbers look better.

+1. His team might have been the exact opposite of UCONN; i.e. all passing, no running game. Does anyone know?

 

[pj]

+1. His team might have been the exact opposite of UCONN; i.e. all passing, no running game. Does anyone know?

If anything they were run oriented: 544 rushing attempts, 327 passing attempts on the season. 222 rushing ypg, 256 passing ypg. http://www.butlergrizzlies.com/sports/fball/2011-12/teams/butlercc

 

[mattp]

If anything they were run oriented: 544 rushing attempts, 327 passing attempts on the season. 222 rushing ypg, 256 passing ypg. http://www.butlergrizzlies.com/sports/fball/2011-12/teams/butlercc

that sounds good to me. i think having higher INT numbers in a run first offense, when a lot of your passes are on obvious passing downs isn't as damning as a lot of INTs when most of the passes are short, west coast style routes.

 

[businesslawyer]

I still have nightmares about the drop against Michigan, so I'm sort of holding my praise for Mike Smith. I certainly hope he turns out to be at the next level, but I'm going to have to see it. As far as Whitmer is concerned, I thought he looked very good in the Spring game. I'm a little concerned that he is on the small side, and there is some evidence that he sometimes tries to throw the ball into places it shouldn't be thrown. On the other hand, again using the spring game as evidence, it doesn't look like he lets mistakes bother him. Threw a pick in the endzone, but the next time he got the ball he drove it right down...didn't worry about putting it up again. This time he scored. I think in the passing game you have to occasionally take a risk. the thing is that you have to know when to do it and you can't let it get to you when it doesn't work out.

boy, it's hard to call that a "drop." Yes, he got his hands on it and it was catchable, but he had to turn fully around and try to pick the ball a few inches off the carpet with a defender right there. I'd not call something a drop unless it would have been a routine catch. That would not have been a routine catch had he made it.