There's no doubt that 2017 was another disappointing season. Back-to-back 4-8 records. Still, 2017 was somewhat better than 2016.
âIt's not as though the offense was dynamic. Far from it. But, if you recall, the offense in 2016 was moribund and boring, including a 13-quarter TD-free stretch late in the season.
âThe Cats had far too many inexcusable penalties this year. I believe that as of a couple weeks ago they were third worst in FBS. It wasn't too bad today, though. They finished up with only five flags, none of them of the sort that drive coaches and fans nuts (false starts, late hits, encroachment, substitution penalties). As CLF put it in his postgame comments, he can live with flags committed during aggressive play. A stupid taunting penalty cost UConn at the end of the game. Those 15 yards made Randy Edsall pull his offense off the field for what would've been a two-point attempt to win in regulation. The resultant extra yards allowed for the potential PAT kick to sail wide left. That was a dumb penalty. Fortunately, it was on UConn, but we had our share this year.
âThe coaching staff needs to find a way to get the D off the field on third down (and often fourth down). Also, the secondary can't get beat deep, as they did far too often this year. Today, UConn didn't have the outside speed to burn by for free scores. But almost everyone else did in prior games.
âNext season opens at UCLA, with newly minted coach Chip Kelly. It would behoove the defensive coaches to figure out how to slow them down or get blown out.
âIn the meantime, hit the recruiting trail hard, both to pull in superior talent for 2019, but to secure any of the current class that may be wavering in the face of back-to-back 4-8's.
âIt's not as though the offense was dynamic. Far from it. But, if you recall, the offense in 2016 was moribund and boring, including a 13-quarter TD-free stretch late in the season.
âThe Cats had far too many inexcusable penalties this year. I believe that as of a couple weeks ago they were third worst in FBS. It wasn't too bad today, though. They finished up with only five flags, none of them of the sort that drive coaches and fans nuts (false starts, late hits, encroachment, substitution penalties). As CLF put it in his postgame comments, he can live with flags committed during aggressive play. A stupid taunting penalty cost UConn at the end of the game. Those 15 yards made Randy Edsall pull his offense off the field for what would've been a two-point attempt to win in regulation. The resultant extra yards allowed for the potential PAT kick to sail wide left. That was a dumb penalty. Fortunately, it was on UConn, but we had our share this year.
âThe coaching staff needs to find a way to get the D off the field on third down (and often fourth down). Also, the secondary can't get beat deep, as they did far too often this year. Today, UConn didn't have the outside speed to burn by for free scores. But almost everyone else did in prior games.
âNext season opens at UCLA, with newly minted coach Chip Kelly. It would behoove the defensive coaches to figure out how to slow them down or get blown out.
âIn the meantime, hit the recruiting trail hard, both to pull in superior talent for 2019, but to secure any of the current class that may be wavering in the face of back-to-back 4-8's.
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