What’s goin’ on?
The Huskies are 1-0 after a 37-0 drubbing of UMass. Lots of good in the win and there should have been with the Minutemen just stepping up to the FBS. It wasn’t perfect but, who plays perfect football games?
Onto the report card…
DEFENSE
Overall Grade A Plus
The unit allowed 59 yards of total offense.
Line: UMass averaged 0.1 yards per rush.
Senior tackle Ryan Wirth had four tackles. Redshirt freshman Julian Campenni had two. Angelo Pruitt and B.J. McBryde got action inside. On the outside seniors Trevardo Williams (three tackles, sack) and Jesse Joseph (2) were active along with Tim Willman (2). Teddy Jennings left with the game with a left knee injury. We should get an update on that from the coach this afternoon during his 1 p.m. conference call. A
Linebackers: This unit, with the understanding it went against UMass, had to leave the fans with a great impression about their potential. Yawin Smallwood (team-leading seven tackles including a sack) be a sophomore but he is man. He looks, acts and plays like one. He showed the range of his athleticism last night and that batting balls thing we talked during the spring is a real weapon for him. He deflected the first past of the game. So he was ready early. Sio Moore was a monster last night, too. He had five tackles and almost had a pick, too.Jory Johnson had three hits but he was a disruption as well. Reserves Marquise Vann (two) and Ryan Donohue (1) getting some action – many players on both side of the ball did as planned – is a lift for the unit. A
Secondary: Dwayne Gratz was third in tackles with four and he was first in interceptions with one, a 37-yard pick six late in the second quarter. Fellow corner Blidi Wreh-Wilson, and safeties Byron Jones and Ty-Meer Brown had three hits each. They were excellent in run support. You would have liked to seem them challenged a little more but it’s the defensive line’s job to make sure that doesn’t happen. As we mentioned earlier, it did its job.
Special Teams A (Nice job overall by coach Clayton White and all the assistants that have a unit bringing this group along because you better believe special teams are important to head coach Paul Pasqualoni. Some coaches say it just to say it. Pasqualoni isn’t one of them).
The Huskies were in good field position all night as opposed to the Minutemen who never go past their own 40. Chad Christen was remarkable, Cole Wagner, too and Nick Williams seems like even more of a threat to go to the house every time he touches the ball on a return.
Kicking: Wasn’t Christen something else? Here’s another young man with all the confidence he needs for the position. Had a battle with decorated freshman Bobby Puyol and stayed the course. First field goal 36 yards, second 47? Christen also hit a 19-yarder late. Nice job by a young man who has worked for and deserves his time to shine. A plus
Punting: Cole Wagner only punted twice, averaged 39 on them – one went into the end zone, the other went to the UMass 3 in the fourth quarter. Not bad for two plays. A
Coverages: There were no punt returns and UMass averaged 19 yards on five kickoff returns. The blocked punt for a touchdown, Taylor Mack and Max DeLorenzo looked really fast… A
Returns: Williams averaged 22 yards on three punt returns and he had a kickoff return for 37. Nice job blocking by those units and a nice job by Williams A
OFFENSE: It amassed 372 yards total, not bad but clearly there should have been more 7s than 3s. Running back Lyle McCombs should have had a buck against UMass, there were some balls that should have been caught and better decision-making at the quarterback position but overall it was encouraging.
Line: Lots of reserves got time including freshman guard Tyler Samra. It allowed no sacks but it has to do a better job for McCombs. That is a must. B minus
Quarterback: Chandler Whitmer was 15 of 25 for 219 yards no TDs and two interceptions including that freak show, saved from out of bounds and batted to Tom Brandt who returned the thing 20 yards. The Huskies had a freak-show type play in their last outing at Cincinnati. Remember that one? Anyone it could be a SportsCenter moment. It was a tremendous play but it also showed how casually Whitmer threw that thing out of bounds. Can’t do it. Whitmer is too good for that. Despite that he was good in plenty of spots. He throws the deep ball well. Shakim Phillips should have caught that deep ball over Randall Jette. I know I’ve seen him make acrobatic catches look routine. He should have that one. Scott McCummings got a lot of burn but he didn’t throw a pass. He rushed for 13 yards on seven carries. There was a lot of wildcat out there but the way the Minutemen were lined up UConn had to take those opportunities. If they would have more production it would have been better but to be clear UConn is going to run the wildcat, how much, when, that’s going to be the coach’s. Pasqualoni and offensive coordinator have had dual threat quarterbacks at their disposal an awful lot in their careers. They know it works. Whitmer said rhythm wasn’t a factor and if it was he’d have to get used it, same with McCummings. B minus
Running back: 82 yards on 23 carries. And they were a hard 82 yards, too. McCombs’ longest run from scrimmage was 12 yards. We have to give UMass some credit here but the OL should have been better. B
Fullback: Nice job by Mike Osiecki on a 16-yard reception. He dropped the same pass later trying to run before the catch. He’s a really good blocker as is Reuben Frank A minus
Receiver: OK, now you know you have guys that can catch the ball and do something with it afterward. That had to be an encouraging to the many skeptics (but a skeptic is a skeptic they’ll find something to be skeptical about, right?) Mike Smith did a good job as did Williams but Geremy Davis (5×79) has really come on strong. He started the game over Phillips. He had a nice 26-yard catch and run over the middle. UConn, receivers, led by Davis caught 16 passes for 225 yards (Johnny McEntee was 1 for 2). B
Tight end: Nice haul-in by Ryan Griffin (1×34) on the trick play although I’m a bit mystified as to why it was put on film against UMass but I’m not a coach and Pasqualoni reminded us last night that he has enough plays to wallpaper a room so maybe that was just one of many. Who knows. It worked. Griffin also had a holding penalty on a big run early. B
DC
- We’ll get a day-after report later this afternoon from the head coach
- A reminder: our first live chat will go off on Wednesday here from 11 am to noon. Please go to www.courant.com/ucfootchat to join. You can throw questions in at 10:30 and I’ll be along at 11 to answer them.
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14 Responses to Report Card: UConn Vs. UMass
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Dez,
Sounds like a great way to bring in the new season. I couldn’t be there, but will for the next 5 home games. NC State should provide the true test for this team.
One thing I would really like to see a few plays designed with both Whitemer and McCummings in together (who gets the snap?) so the defense needs to protect against both pass and wildcat plays. Do you think we will see anything like this going forward?
Thanks for keeping us all up to date. I do believe UCONN will be the sleeper of the Big East this year.
Paul
Hard to have any negative after a blow out so I will keep it mild. That and I also realize the players and parents read what we think and I truly appreciate all the student athletes that chose to represent CT on the field.
Our wildcat is more like a pussycat. McCummings has shown in the past he can do way more than average under 2 yards a carry. There is a problem here. Do the coaches realize he can throw the ball? Obviously this is not a play NC State is going to be fearing. Speaking of this could we at least rename it to fit a team of dogs? This could be the root of the problem! Dogs do not like running cat plays. Let’s go with mad dog, rabid dog or maybe the doggone that being the one that we do not give the play away before it happens.
Coach P says we have enough plays to paper the wall. That only means something if you can execute them. The running game was weak for this level of competition. That or I may just be misunderstanding how good UMASS was prepared to stop the run.
Can someone please tell the PA announcer that he should not be announcing every QB change UCONN makes! Part of the advantage of the QB rotation is to catch the opponent off guard and gain an advantage. So please tell me…..why is this beauty announcing the QB changes so all in the stadium (including opposing players and coaches) are informed?
Worse example, he announces that McCummings is in the game as QB and Whitmer is a wide out.
Hey genius, why not just hand the playbook to the other team?
Defense dominated against this level of opponent and gives us positive feelings going forward. Better test Saturday vs a solid NC State team with a senior QB and solid running game.
Special teams executed well in all phases. No obvious issues.
Offense had positives: Three receivers making plays, #6, 8, and 85 all looked good. Separated from defenders, caught the ball in traffic and ran good routes.
Big question is O line. NOT impressive. Did not open holes for runners. How does McCombs not get 100 yds against this level of competition? The Wildcat needs to be a part of UCONN’s offense all season for this team to win. Looked weak on Thurs night; mostly because there were no holes for McCummings to run thru.
If this was a “vanilla” offense being run, not wanting to tip off future plays/formations than I can accept that. If not, and this was best effort, we are in trouble with the O line play.
what was wierd when i watched the DVR of last nights game was the O-line from side to side was not bad getting people to the edge. Going North/South not very good at all. I agree with a lot of the talk about the wildcat formation, but hey if you cant get any push or open holes, it doesnt matter how many times you run it, its not going to work. Since this was essentially a preseason game my only grades are
Lighting fireworks off when we are at the 1 yard line. F
Dj joey. F
new kicker. A
Apparently the new college trend of ripped tank tops with short skirts. A+
The constant playing of music by felon Chris Brown. F
D.J. Joey ad Chris Brown MUST go.
Good analysis Dez spot on…however I agree with mg grade on the O-line c- /D+ We have a big o-line (big on paper)but far less intimidating in action. Apparently no strength to move and have their way with an inferior Umass team..should be interesting and telling against NC State.. Atleast there werent any sacks…
Dez,Beautiful night and some excellent play last night.The only negatives were the offensive line not being able to dominate a weak team like UMASS and the Wildcat.The Wildcat was very,very disruptive to UCONN last night.Please have Coach P leave Whitmer in the game and let him get in the flow of the game.
I just don’t get how they use McCummings. Is there anyone in the entire stadium that doesn’t know the play when he comes out? To me, that’s going to start being a wasted down unless they stop using him or at least have him throw the ball regularly.
What a beautiful night at The Rent.
I think your grades are spot on. Whitmer was fun to watch and had some nice touch on the ball. A bad INT and a freak INT hut a bit. What a play on the freak INT.
It should be interesting next week against N.C. State.
I miss D.J. Joey’s pal. D.J. Joey must go.
Grades are right on. I have had a chance to see umass play over the past several years. They struggled in 1AA competion with teams such as UNH putting up 35 points a game with their OFFENSE. I am really concerned about their ability to move the ball against big time competion. Time will tell. QBs have to be able to move in D1.
Hi Dez…
I enjoyed the game, couldn’t ask for a better evening weather wise. I agree about the overuse of the wildcat…I could see the same play coming every time McCummings came into the game. But hey… what happened to those advertized fireworks? Some big booms and no sparkle..
Keep up the good reporting, you are spot on with your analysis and coverage.
Teresa
Good analysis. I would have graded the OL a C minus/D+. That was UMass we could not move off the blocks or create space for, not the 86 Bears.
Fair grades Dez. Overall there was plenty more good than bad last night (better be in a 37-0 win).
The great – the defense and specials were as good as I’ve ever seen a UConn team play. Forget the opponent. What that defense did was spectacular. UMass was a better team than Fordham was last year. And we didn’t clamp down on Fordham the way we stuffed UMass last night. Less than 60 yards of total offense? You kidding me?
Nick Williams is a football player.
For improvements….let’s talk offense. Now I’m a big believer that you’re never quite as good or bad as you look after your first game. And maybe we ran a vanilla offense intentionally. But the run blocking needs to improve. Whitmer showed me enough last night that tells me he has the tools to be a good college QB. I just didn’t get that sense last year. Needs to take care of ball better and not stare down WR’s too much, but he has time. A lot of expectations have been heaped on him but this was still his first college game.
The TO’s simply can’t happen like that next week. Have to take better care of the ball. Nitpicking now, but I thought the Wildcat was overused.
All in all, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Mostly worried about Jennings this morning. Losing him would be a significant loss.