STORRS – The UConn football team has made a number of its games this season more interesting than they needed to be.
When it has come time to put a finishing drive together and cut into the game clock late, the Huskies struggled again at Buffalo on Saturday, ultimately punting on their first three drives in the fourth quarter and leaving the door open for a game-tying possession with a minute left. It was almost identical to what happened in the overtime loss at Syracuse in Week Two.
“It was exasperating not being able to get first downs when we really needed,” coach Jim Mora said after practice Tuesday. “That was something we talked about after the game is two-minute defense, four-minute offense – you call it four-minute offense even though it might be five or six minutes but it’s just kind of the mindset. We’ve got to grind it out and get some first downs, make them use timeouts, use up clock. We’re usually a lot better at that than we were on Saturday and it’s something that we’re emphasizing that we need to be better at. Because those are critical minutes in a game, they’re kind of those unseen minutes that really affect the game.”
Chris Freeman’s game-winning field goal leads UConn football to first road win, 20-17 at Buffalo
Mora said the Huskies don’t change their offensive plan in those moments.
It is a matter of execution: Completing passes and going down inbounds, running the ball and gaining enough yards to keep moving the chains. Short runs and incomplete passes on Saturday allowed Buffalo to get the ball back with four minutes to go and two timeouts.
“We’re gonna take it always one play at a time. One play we could run the ball for four (yards) and then the next play you never know, it might be going for 60. We’ve just got to take it one play at a time and play our style of football,” said running back Cam Edwards.
“You’re not seeing anything different defensively and you’re really not doing anything different offensively. It’s play-calling and then it’s execution of the plays,” Mora said. “It’s trying to set the defense up with your play-calling and then it’s your players taking the call and doing the best they can to execute it. So it’s all of us. It’s maybe trying to do something that’s unexpected and unpredictable in a situation like that. It’s something that I think over the years here we’ve been pretty good at, but it’s been a little bit of a concern and we need to be better. It’s a little bit of a mental toughness thing as coaches and players, let’s dig down and get this done. So it’s being addressed.”
Fagnano, dual-threat QB?
UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano doesn’t abuse the QB scramble.
But he reminded everyone on Saturday that while his first option is to pass, and pass quickly, he can’t be overlooked outside the pocket. On a tough rushing day against Buffalo’s stout defense, Fagnano led the Huskies with 64 yards on six carries.
“That’s RB1, man,” Edwards said, chuckling. “I mean, Joe is Joe. You never know what you’re really gonna get out of Joe. He’s a guy that doesn’t really talk much, so whenever he talks it’s really surprising. But that boy’s got some wheels. I mean, if he’s got to go, if he’s got to run, he’s gotta run. But as long as he’s making plays, the right plays and everything to help this team win, we’ll be fine.”
Huskies showing smarts, discipline
Mora has seen and coached a lot of football. But one element of UConn’s performance on Saturday was a first.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever coached in a game where the team that I was associated with didn’t have any penalties,” Mora said. “I think that shows that there’s some discipline. It’s hard to do that. But it’s a point of emphasis for us; it always is: Play a clean game, play aggressive, play physical, play violent, get on the edge, but know when to let go, know when to pull back. And our guys have been able to learn how to do that.
“We just talk about playing with great technique, doing your job, being smart, making good decisions. And then that’s the result of it, especially when you have smart players, which we do.”
This week’s emphasis: Complimentary football
UConn goes into every week of practice looking to improve in every area. At this point in the season, sitting at 3-2 with a bye week on the horizon, the team is especially focused on playing complimentary football on Saturday against FIU.
“It’s putting a game together, all three phases playing complimentary football. When we go out and score a touchdown, go out and get a stop. If we break a big return, score. If we get a really good stop, get someone backed up for a nice punt, keep them backed up, force a bad punt, get a good return and score,” Mora said. “Complimentary football: all three phases working in sync. I don’t think we’ve accomplished that yet, at all. So that’s important for us to start to really establish as we get into the later part of the season.”
Health update
Receiver Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman, a transfer from Rice, did not play on Saturday after having surgery Thursday for a meniscus injury, Mora reported Tuesday.
“He’s walking almost without a limp already,” Mora said. “The goal for him is to be back after the bye. Maybe that’s pushing it, but I don’t put it past him. He’s a tough kid. He wants to play.”
Edwards, who went down after taking a helmet to the hip early on Saturday but quickly returned, was “looking fresh” in Tuesday’s practice and will be ready to go. Defensive back Tyrece Mills also returned to practice and defensive lineman Steph Wright was a limited participant and will be monitored as the week goes on.
