Progress. Mistakes, but progress.
If anything good comes out of the 38-21 loss to Boise State Saturday, it was that UConn looked more comfortable on the field and was able to make a game out of the visiting Broncos. That was until the fourth quarter.
After opening the game with a running back fumble for the third game in a row, Boise State scooped the loose ball up and ran it back for a touchdown. We’ve seen this story before.
Mistake number one.
If you give the ball up on your first offensive possession, you are inviting the opponent to score. Good teams capitalize on other teams’ mistakes.
UConn was able to settle in and contain Boise State to just 242 yards through the air. Considering that Boise State threw for 387 and 352 yards in its first two games, UConn’s defense made a big impact, especially on third down. The Broncos were just 4-of-13 converting on third down.
A six play, 83-yard drive led by Chandler Whitmer resulted in a touchdown pass to his tight end, Alec Bloom. Other than a few miscommunications with his receivers, Whitmer looked to be on target and maintained awareness in the pocket, despite six sacks in the first half.
You read that right. Whitmer was brought down six times in the first half as UConn’s offensive line couldn’t pick up the extra rusher when the blitz came.
Mistake number two.
I call this O-line a mistake, but it could have been much worse. Andreas Knappe’s 6-foot-9 build often got beat off the snap and there was no consistency in protecting the quarterback. This should be UConn’s first priority heading into conference play. As confident as Whitmer looked compared to last week’s nail biter to Stony Brook, confidence won’t keep your quarterback from getting a mouthful of Rentschler Field grass.
Boise State ended the first half with some razzle dazzle, drawing up a trick play to free up quarterback Grant Hedrick in the endzone, courtesy of a Matt Miller lob pass. The Broncos are no stranger to trickery (see 2007 Fiesta Bowl), and it burned UConn seconds before halftime.
Geremy Davis caught his second touchdown pass of the season in the third quarter, but finished with only 47 yards receiving — his lowest since October of last year against UCF.
It will be a struggle to get the ball to the most talented player on the team as defenses become aware of the 6-foot-3 NFL-talent.
At the start of the fourth quarter, it was anybody’s game. Boise State held a three-point lead and after exchanging punts, UConn took the field with Whitmer just under 200 yards on the day — and mistake free.
Foreshadowing? Indeed.
That didn’t hold up, as Whitmer got picked off on first down, giving Boise State superb field position. A few plays later, the Broncos capitalized on UConn’s mistake. (See mistake No. 1.)
Trailing by 10 with four minutes to go, Whitmer fired a pass to Davis only to have it ripped from his hands. The Broncos took it 50 yards and ended any doubt of leaving without a victory.
Mistake number three.
I can’t blame Whitmer on the throw, and neither Davis on the grab, but the timeliness of the Huskies’ mistakes could not come at a worse time.
A senior quarterback can’t be losing games in the fourth quarter. Coming into the final 15 minutes of the game, UConn had the momentum. Perhaps the most they had from their home crowd all season. It disappeared just as quickly as the fans did after the team’s second turnover in the final quarter.
There you have it.
First drive turnovers, an incompetent offensive line, and untimely plays. If UConn wants to be a .500 team this year, it must be consistent. And by consistent I mean consistently efficient.
Next up is USF, UConn’s first game on the road and first AAC conference game — with flashbacks to the Big East days as well.
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