UConn 45, Buffalo 21: Before we get carried away
by Kevin Meacham on Sep 25, 2010 6:31 PM EDT
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PrintReal quick notes from UConn's 45-21 victory over Buffalo at Rentschler Field this afternoon:
First, The Good:
- A win! A win against Division I-A competition! It feels so good to win!
- Cody Endres, obviously. As much as I do want to blame the competition - and I do, and I fully expect Endres to be exposed against higher-level athletes - Zach Frazer did nothing against the same Bulls. Endres comes in, boom-boom-boom-boom, and 24 offensive points on UConn's first four drives of the second half. I've said all along that Endres was the better quarterback, and has shown himself to be consistently better basically since this blog was founded. Finally, mercifully, Edsall may have seen the light.
- Robbie Frey looked really good, and made some moves that he hadn't showed in any of his carries before today.
- The secondary's play was mixed (at best), but I thought the cornerbacks played fairly well, and UConn's the type of team that needs big plays on defense to beat a lot of teams on their schedule. Two pick-sixes will suffice.
Now, before we get carried away, The Bad:
- Zach Frazer. 'Nuf said. Thank God that's over.
- The defense. I don't care how good Endres might be, UConn will not surpass .500 in the Big East playing defense like it did today. More allowed third-down conversions, more huge passing plays given up, receivers running all over the place...it keeps happening game-in, game-out. Buffalo gained 368 yards (compared to UConn's 388); That isn't good enough, and it's more than enough to stay on the pessimist wagon for this team.
- The coaching staff. This team looked woefully unprepared, making a ton of mental mistakes (turnovers, silly fumbles, ridiculous penalties). It's amazing the number of problems competent QB play can gloss over, but it is inexcusable that Edsall did not have this team ready for a home game. Especially considering UConn hadn't come within two touchdowns of a Division I-A opponent in its two tries this year.
So yeah, there it is. Happy with the win, but still cautiously pessimistic. Really, I'm just glad we were able to avoid Meltdown Mode after that first half.
On to Vanderbilt.
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did anyone notice
how our receivers actually caught balls from endres?
"...Don't talk black to me. How do you even talk black? End words with izzle..." Modern Family
by kemba walker is my hero... on Sep 25, 2010 7:00 PM EDT reply actions
Hope
The optimism for me is only based on the fact that the Big East is horrible this year. And really Endres showed competent enough QB play that I’m fully back on the Orange Bowl wagon. However, the optimism ends at us making it to the game. Pretty sure we get crushed Florida-Cincy style against anyone we would play. One last really important point is that the road to the BCS clearly goes through WVU as they have the least glaring mistakes. So here’s hoping we finally get that win against them.
Hey, we never said UConn would WIN the Orange Bowl during the offseason. Just that they’d get there. Anything after that is completely beyond the scope of our prediction.
You will fear our polo and field hockey teams! FEAR THEM!
by Kevin Meacham on Sep 25, 2010 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions
thoughts
When SNY/ Uverse finally stopped the blackout, and I was able to watch the game, I thought it ironic to see Edsall counting the men on the field while lining up a play… Cody had rust, think that was why he tripped on Sherman for the fumble… A bit afraid for the WRs, Moore hung way out for three of Endres’ throws, and only could reel in one, he got up real slow after the last one.
I think the D has some room to grow but seemed better overall. The secondary was exposed again, but I felt like they did do their jobs and gave our line time to get in on the QB. growing and learning.
Have read about the half time speech, must have been a heck of a show.
Also, about the first playcall of the second half
So we do we believe that’s a designed play?
If so, it says a whole bunch of different things:
Edsall wanted to test Endres right out the gate
or
Edsall was really hoping that Endres would complete the pass to lift his team’s confidence
or
Edsall was so mad at Zach Frazer that he called a deliberately insulting play that more or less said “You aren’t playing again.”
or all three. But I really hope it’s three. Because that would be really funny. Nevertheless I think that’s an interesting first call, particularly in light of the QB change. If the pass was incomplete no one would have said much except “first play in 10 months, blah blah blah” so, hey, win-win for Endres. Really that play is best enjoyed as a big thumbs down to Zach Frazer.
I'm still operating under the
hilarious and depressing theory that the only reason Frazer wasn’t replaced earlier is because he hadn’t thrown a pick. The announcers said Moorehead talked specifically about that, and then, once Frazer threw the pick Endres came in to take a knee. There was really no need for him to pop in except to say, “yep, I’m back.”
by Andrew Porter on Sep 26, 2010 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
When we beat a team with a decent chance at finishing with 7 or more wins
So…no earlier than October 29.
You will fear our polo and field hockey teams! FEAR THEM!
by Kevin Meacham on Sep 26, 2010 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions
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