In Friday’s 17-14 loss to South Florida, UConn only completed six passes the entire game.
With backup quarterback Tim Boyle not available due to a leg injury, it seemed like the safe option for Bob Diaco and his team in rainy conditions.
However, four of those completions came in the last two minutes of the game on a four-play 78-yard drive for the Huskies’ first offensive score. This poses the question: “WHAT TOOK SO LONG?!”
Diaco said after the game that after Chandler Whitmer got banged up on the first drive, he decided to desert the pass game and keep it strictly on the ground.
Whitmer fumbled on the first drive of the game and it was deja vu all over again for the Huskies. Another early turnover that turns into quick points for the opposing team. While the in-game decision wasn’t publicly announced, it could be read in plain site as Whitmer finished the half 0-for-1 in a dismal showing from the offense.
All faith and trust seemed to be disappearing in Whitmer.
If it wasn’t for an amazing tip drill interception from Byron Jones that went the other way for six, Diaco would have had nothing to praise during his halftime speech—the Huskies even had momentum on their side coming into the second half.
Whitmer’s duties were reduced to handing the ball off to four different running backs for a total of 24 times, but even in the rushing department, no player emerged as the top dog/Husky out of the backfield.
Max DeLorenzo led the ground attack with 10 rushes for 36 yards. His first run from scrimmage on the first drive of the game for 17 yards was his most impressive, but after that he went AWOL.
Arkeel Newsome, Josh Marriner and Ron Johnson combined for 14 carries and 52 yards.
Freshmen Newsome and Johnson, the more explosive runners of the group, should be creating pressure for more snaps in a crowded backfield. Even if it was just recruiting politics to get Johnson some snaps in front of his home state, the run game has many options and Diaco couldn’t seem to stick with one.
UConn managed to throw one in the end zone to Geremy Davis with less than two minutes to go, but it was too little too late. A penalty on the onside kick deflated any chance at a comeback.
Let’s just say that if the Huskies read up on three mistakes they need to correct before conference play, they would have only accomplished to correct one — timeliness.
The Byron Jones 70-yard interception return seconds before the half. Timely.
A Geremy Davis touchdown with less than 90 seconds left in the game. Timely.
Other than that it was punt, punt, yellow flags, and more punting. However, when you continue to give away the ball in favorable position early in the game (mistake No. 1) and take the offensive line out of the game in pass protection (failure to address mistake No. 2), you are once again handing the game on a silver platter to the other team.
The scoreboard read 17-14, but that very well could have been a blowout in the USF Bulls’ favor for the conference opener.
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