UConn’s Bob Diaco Praises Tim Boyle’s First Start of Season

According to the scoreboard and box score, nothing went UConn’s way in a 41-0 loss to Cincinnati on Saturday.

If you ask Bob Diaco, the vast improvements in Tim Boyle’s play was enough to get excited for a meaningful game this week at Memphis.

Meaningful for the Memphis Tigers, that is.

While the Tigers are in the midst of an AAC title race, the Huskies are facing the possibility of consecutive three-win seasons with two games left in the year.

Boyle, a sophomore, started his first game of the season but it didn’t end as he wanted it to. He completed 13-of-21 passes for 70 yards, but it was what we couldn’t see on the field that Diaco highlighted in his weekly press conference.

“Number one, I’d say sights and sounds to begin with,” Diaco said on Tuesday. “Where you guys wouldn’t have seen it necessarily or heard it, you would’ve had to be on the sideline with him. This guy sounded like an owner, he didn’t sound like a hired worker and he didn’t sound like someone who was just kind of casually involved. This guy sounded like an owner and that’s awesome.”

Diaco continued to say that we would like Boyle to start this Saturday, but preparation is needed before game day. The first-year coach also gave insight of what kind of offense he would like to implement in the near future.

“I would like to run the kind of offense where we’re a heavy run team with shifts, treys and motions and everything I’ve said in the past when I got the job,” Diaco added in his press conference. “When I first got the job I stood here and said the kind of offense I want to watch. We’re attacking them down the field and the quarterback is on the move with move-the-pocket passing and a lot of tailback screens. But we just couldn’t do it yet. We’re going to, but the guys need a lot more work.”

By only committing one offensive penalty in Saturday’s game, Diaco complimented the mechanics of the offense under Boyle. It’s clear that preparations for next year are already underway, and it’s not only the tactical planning that is getting a headstart.

“Just the mechanical production and maybe even the confidence, I’m not sure if you could see it where you were sitting, but as the game wore on he got better,” Diaco said about his sophomore quarterback. “The stepping into throws, the throws and stepping into pressure and making throws, and sliding away from pressure and making throws. That was fun to watch. His best football is out in front of him, and way out in front of him. He’s not even scratched the surface.”

The reality is that Diaco believes in Boyle for next season. At first glance at Boyle’s start, there is more zip on the ball as it leaves his hand compared to Whitmer’s. However, the familiarity of the offense is unmatched in Whitmer’s favor, as he has been with the team for much longer. Even if Boyle starts the upcoming road game at Memphis, It wouldn’t be surprising for Whitmer to get the nod in the final game of the season at home against SMU.