It's a discussion I have had with just about everyone I have talked football with the last two weeks. This goes back to UConn being ranked sixth in the preseason media poll that had me scratching my head (not at the placement, but the universal agreement at the place). If Rutgers can lose it's top two receivers and QBs, if West Virginia can lose a Pat White, and if Cincinnati can lose 10 starters at defense and still win, why can't UConn?
Because of recruiting rankings? Didn't we already dismiss that last year? You have to give me something else than a rivals or scout star rating. Honest to god, something a little more meaningful.
The discussion goes something like this. This isn't any one person, but more of a conglomerate of thought.
Silver: Why can't they win?
Colleague: I think they can, but they won't.
Silver: Why are they not the fourth best team in the league?
Colleague: I don't know.
Silver: How can Cincinnati win it when they lost 10 starters on defense?
Colleague: Brian Kelly is a great coach.
Silver: Why is USF so highly regarded?
Colleague: They have a lot of talent.
Silver: And they have put it together when?
It becomes a circular argument.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think UConn is going to win the Big East. But, if they did it wouldn't surprise me a bit. It would shock others.
I wrote the book on UConn's deficiencies, so don't call me a dreamer either. I have railed against the passing game since the day I came on this beat three years ago. The special teams is also mistake prone, especially on the road (just had a nightmare looking at last season's losses) and the margin of error is still small.
We know the arguments against UConn, but are their unknowns anymore daunting than Cincinnati's or Rutgers'?
Is it that hard to imagine UConn going undefeated at home and 1-2 on the road for a 5-2 record in the Big East? No one in the Big East visiting East Hartford is going to be a prohibitive favorite. This is how they won a share of the title in 2007.
I think this team is superior talent-wise to the 2007 team and has more depth of talent than the 2008 team, even with those 4 high draft picks. A 2-2 home record isn't going to happen unless it's a disaster at home. They are too talented for that.
Am I missing something here? Without a doubt the passing game is going to be better (how can it be worse?) and the offensive line is terrific with several future NFL players on it. Running back isn't an issue, they have an explosive back in Jordan Todman and a former second team All-Conference player as his backup.
Defense has a potential to be great. Inexperienced at DE, but Lindsey Witten is due for a big year. Tackles are solid.
I can easily draw a 5-2 record up for the Huskies. And, in this transition year in the Big East, anyone a favorite to win six?
Is it as Randy Edsall said in Newport -- "Maybe some people think what we have done is a fluke?"
Perhaps so. But, if this is a fluke, why have they put seven players in the NFL the last two years as well as a player like Julius Williams who is likely to stick this year as an UDFA (not even including Dahna Deleston and Keith Gray, who also have a better than even shot to stick).
If UConn wins the big East Randy Edsall will be praised for being a great coach for winning with no talent and then promptly have three guys drafted in April.
Which is it? Is the talent suspect or the coach suspect?
Or, are the observations suspect?
4 comments:
I think UConn, West Virginia and USF are the three teams that can win. Rutgers has no QB or WRs, Pitt lost their best/only player and Cincy lost its whole defense.
It amazes me the lack of respect UConn is getting locally and nationally. The defense, especially up front, should be really good. The running game shouldn't drop too much. And they may have rediscovered the forward pass.
If they beat UNC, I say the sky's the limit.
It is totally a circular argument. Let's say UConn goes 6-1 and goes to the Orange or Sugar... you know the media will just say that it's a sign that the league is weak again.
UConn is at another transition stage. If you asked UConn fans ten years ago if we could be where we are now, a lot of them would have thought it would be unrealistic to project us getting multiple players drafted and going to three bowl games within 10 years. So we're ahead of schedule, but not quite at the threshold of getting "respect" from the football media outside of the state. The bar to get that respect is much higher though (IMHO), we have to beat some marquis names out of conference and win a league championship outright before the ESPN types (Robert Smith! *cough *cough*) and the media that do the preseason BE rankings think of UConn as heavyweights each preseason.
It will help having names like Michigan and Tennessee on the schedule; South Florida seems to have gotten a decent ammount of mileage from beating Auburn in a harried game. And if we do win the conference, winning a BCS bowl game that wouldn't hurt either.
Ken - I think beating a ranked UNC team will get us respect. Obviously, beating Notre Dame would be good for respect, especially if the Irish are improved.
I will agree that the UConn's nonconference schedule has been on the soft side. No complaints, the program is growing, but I like the idea of playing 1-2 real teams in the nonconference. Beating up a 5-7 Virginia team is alright but not what UConn needs to breakthrough on a national level.
UConn's non-conference schedule this year is tough for the level of program they are.
At Ohio is no gimmie, and they also are at Baylor and at Notre Dame. The big BCS home game is a Top 25 team.
The narrative is already set gents. Whomever is the Big East champion will be discounted regardless of actual performance and talent.
Here is what will happen. If a team goes undefeated, the Big East team will be criticized for being in a bad league. If they fight it out and beat each other up, it will be proof that the league is no good.
All you can do is win.
Post a Comment