Uconn Defense + new DC Lou Spanos /other coaching changes
- Thread starter the Blades
- Start date
If he doesn't find a bunch of JUCO's and FBS transfers to fill in the back 7 on defense, BALCO is the only one who could fix this D in the off season.
But that might not even work..... you can't make guys hit or finish tackles that are afraid to.
But that might not even work..... you can't make guys hit or finish tackles that are afraid to.
From John Silver and Zac Boyer:
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On FB: Not Very Good Is Being Polite
The Story: We here at The UConn Daily don't like to dwell on the negative, but we are determined to give you the news. So here goes: UConn has the worst defense, statistically, in the nation. That we know. But it is actually one of the worst in the history of FBS football. The Huskies need to hold Temple to -163 yards on Saturday to not be the worst defense in yards surrendered.
WHAT!?!: Allow us to take a shower after writing that and maybe another sip of our Irish Coffee. The Huskies will end their 1-10 season on Saturday against Temple -- a team that they used to own in the 2000s -- and are 29-point underdogs. Let that sink in for a moment. Randy Edsall went years without losing to a MAC team in his first stint at UConn. Now, the Huskies need a semi-miracle to keep it close.
HOW BAD IS THE DEFENSE, REALLY? Really bad. I mean, REALLY BAD. Let's take a look at the numbers:
Edsall has played the youngest defense in the nation and has said repeatedly that the freshmen aren't ready to play -- as in physically ready. What does that say about the upperclassmen? Many will move on even though there is eligibility remaining. If you can't break the lineup on this defense, when will you ever? How can you run it back on defensive coaching staff without changes? Hard question to ask -- it's coaches' livelihoods -- but it's the coaches, the players, or a combination of both. In a performance-based business, something has to give.
RECRUITING FIX? Edsall has been lamented for his five-year fix, but it is clear that the players recruited to play Bob Diaco's defense are ill-equipped to play the 3-3-5 employed by Crocker. Diaco's defenses were solid, if not frustrating, in their passiveness, but they never gave up this kind of yardage (to be fair, no one has). He recruited big and tall players who appear too slow for spread offenses. The players have been replaced by freshmen who, on most teams, wouldn't be even playing, let alone starting.
NO IMPROVEMENT? Perhaps the most perplexing aspect is the team hasn't gotten any better on defense. The tackling and reads are poor and the team that was drilled in the season opener against UCF (understandable) gave up 55 points to ECU (not understandable). That lack of marginal improvement in production is concerning.
BACK TO THE 4-3: We think Edsall has seen enough of a 3-3 front. The Huskies will go forward with a classic 4-3 front from now on. The Huskies need more defensive linemen and will have to find them on the recruiting trail.
LAST THOUGHTS: This is embarrassing. Edsall knows it. The players know it. That said, it is not up to the players and coaching staff to entertain and play along with the national ridicule. UCF went 0-12 in 2015. Teams can turn around with right recruits and coaching. What we would like to see on Saturday is some pride. Perhaps it won't make a difference, but play like you belong on that field.
for more go to The UConn Daily and sign up for their newsletter.
On FB: Not Very Good Is Being Polite
The Story: We here at The UConn Daily don't like to dwell on the negative, but we are determined to give you the news. So here goes: UConn has the worst defense, statistically, in the nation. That we know. But it is actually one of the worst in the history of FBS football. The Huskies need to hold Temple to -163 yards on Saturday to not be the worst defense in yards surrendered.
WHAT!?!: Allow us to take a shower after writing that and maybe another sip of our Irish Coffee. The Huskies will end their 1-10 season on Saturday against Temple -- a team that they used to own in the 2000s -- and are 29-point underdogs. Let that sink in for a moment. Randy Edsall went years without losing to a MAC team in his first stint at UConn. Now, the Huskies need a semi-miracle to keep it close.
HOW BAD IS THE DEFENSE, REALLY? Really bad. I mean, REALLY BAD. Let's take a look at the numbers:
- 626.6 yards per game would eclipse Kansas' 560.8 yards per game in 2015 as the most "prolific" defense in allowing yards.
- The Huskies' 8.74 yards per play allowed this year is a full yard worse than any defense since 2004. The Huskies are the worst in yards allowed per play since ECU in 2004 and are a full yard-plus worse than Oregon State, which is allowing 7.49 yards a play.
- The Huskies are slated to give up more than 7,000 yards of offense and have given up 73 touchdowns in 11 games.
- Scoring defense is typically the true-tell sign, and UConn is also last in scoring defense giving up an average of 49.8 points per game.
Edsall has played the youngest defense in the nation and has said repeatedly that the freshmen aren't ready to play -- as in physically ready. What does that say about the upperclassmen? Many will move on even though there is eligibility remaining. If you can't break the lineup on this defense, when will you ever? How can you run it back on defensive coaching staff without changes? Hard question to ask -- it's coaches' livelihoods -- but it's the coaches, the players, or a combination of both. In a performance-based business, something has to give.
RECRUITING FIX? Edsall has been lamented for his five-year fix, but it is clear that the players recruited to play Bob Diaco's defense are ill-equipped to play the 3-3-5 employed by Crocker. Diaco's defenses were solid, if not frustrating, in their passiveness, but they never gave up this kind of yardage (to be fair, no one has). He recruited big and tall players who appear too slow for spread offenses. The players have been replaced by freshmen who, on most teams, wouldn't be even playing, let alone starting.
NO IMPROVEMENT? Perhaps the most perplexing aspect is the team hasn't gotten any better on defense. The tackling and reads are poor and the team that was drilled in the season opener against UCF (understandable) gave up 55 points to ECU (not understandable). That lack of marginal improvement in production is concerning.
BACK TO THE 4-3: We think Edsall has seen enough of a 3-3 front. The Huskies will go forward with a classic 4-3 front from now on. The Huskies need more defensive linemen and will have to find them on the recruiting trail.
LAST THOUGHTS: This is embarrassing. Edsall knows it. The players know it. That said, it is not up to the players and coaching staff to entertain and play along with the national ridicule. UCF went 0-12 in 2015. Teams can turn around with right recruits and coaching. What we would like to see on Saturday is some pride. Perhaps it won't make a difference, but play like you belong on that field.
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The lack of improvement during the course of the season is concerning. I think a change has to be made.
Gee.......ya think ???....ball (er...numbers) don't lie !.....something had to change.
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This could help....Crocker's 3-3-5, with those 190lb hybrids trying to shed blocks from a 300lb pulling guard, was a loser every time. Give me 3 normal sized 225-240lb LB's, then use a nickle back on 3rd and long....
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It concerns me that UConn could be developing a reputation as a “coach’s graveyard.” We have seen a couple of supposedly promising coaching careers grind to a halt at UConn the last 10 years. If it keeps happening it will start to scare away up and coming young coaches.
I meant on the football side of things- UConn football becoming a graveyard for coaches. There have been between Diaco and the assorted Promising OCs and Promising DCs a whole bunch of career stalls.
Well in the last 10 years we've also brought in Pasqualoni and Deleone, which is more like digging them out of the grave, LOL !.... so I'd say it's been a mixed bag on the coaching front...
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Welcome back to the Uconn staff Coach Perkins !... also spent 2015 at Maryland with HCRE:
" Perkins held that position from 2010-13 and coached future NFL defensive backs Andrew Adams, Dwayne Gratz, Byron Jones, Obi Melifonwu and Blidi Wreh-Wilson during his first stint in Storrs."
" Perkins held that position from 2010-13 and coached future NFL defensive backs Andrew Adams, Dwayne Gratz, Byron Jones, Obi Melifonwu and Blidi Wreh-Wilson during his first stint in Storrs."
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Welcome to the next Husky coach !
Matt King- full bio
Comes to Storrs from the Pac-12 and the U. of Washington. Boston born former LB/ DE was captain and First Team All-America selection at the Univ. of Maine (2002-06), who spent time in the NFL.
Archived story: Charismatic King pays his dues at UMaine, lands job
Matt King- full bio
Comes to Storrs from the Pac-12 and the U. of Washington. Boston born former LB/ DE was captain and First Team All-America selection at the Univ. of Maine (2002-06), who spent time in the NFL.
Archived story: Charismatic King pays his dues at UMaine, lands job
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Welcome to the new Uconn DC:
Lou Spanos - Full Bio
(47 year old Pittsburgh native who played CFB at Tulsa)........ Comes to Uconn from Alabama (defensive analyst)...... Prior to that he spent many years in the NFL and was UCLA’s DC (2012 to 2013).....Was with the Tennessee Titans from 2014 to 2017..... also spent 14 years with the Steelers and 2 years with the Redskins.
Lou Spanos Joins Huskies as Defensive Coordinator
New Haven Register Story - Lou Spanos named UConn’s defensive coordinator
Lou Spanos - Full Bio
(47 year old Pittsburgh native who played CFB at Tulsa)........ Comes to Uconn from Alabama (defensive analyst)...... Prior to that he spent many years in the NFL and was UCLA’s DC (2012 to 2013).....Was with the Tennessee Titans from 2014 to 2017..... also spent 14 years with the Steelers and 2 years with the Redskins.
Lou Spanos Joins Huskies as Defensive Coordinator
New Haven Register Story - Lou Spanos named UConn’s defensive coordinator
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New story from Pitt Post-Gazette
From Super Bowls to national championships, Dormont's Lou Spanos
" Spanos took some of the old Blitzburgh defense to the Pac-12. The year before Spanos arrived at UCLA, the Bruins had only 14 sacks. During his two seasons as defensive coordinator, they had 79, including 47 in 2012"
From Super Bowls to national championships, Dormont's Lou Spanos
" Spanos took some of the old Blitzburgh defense to the Pac-12. The year before Spanos arrived at UCLA, the Bruins had only 14 sacks. During his two seasons as defensive coordinator, they had 79, including 47 in 2012"
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Welcome to: Marcus Wasilewski - full bio
Has been named Assistant football strength and conditioning coach. Spent the last two seasons as an assistant S&C coach at the Univ of Minnesota. Also coached & was a QB at Univ. of Maine
Has been named Assistant football strength and conditioning coach. Spent the last two seasons as an assistant S&C coach at the Univ of Minnesota. Also coached & was a QB at Univ. of Maine
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Welcome to new Uconn FB coach...@JarrenHorton....John Wholley takes new position at Miss St.
Jarren Horton- full bio - Defensive Asst Coach /Star, Nickel, Dime
Jarren Horton- full bio - Defensive Asst Coach /Star, Nickel, Dime
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