The first quarter included a reverse, a true "Wildcat" play (if only because Williams is listed as a WR), a "Wildcat" reverse flea flicker, and even the interception (as bad of a throw as it was. It should have been thrown short to Dixon.) was 18 yards down field on 2nd down. In past years, every one of those plays would very well have been the aforementioned run up the middle. UConn was also 7-15 on 3rd down (5/8 in the 1st half). With past administrations they were lucky to get above 33% in most games.
The 3rd play in the 2nd Qtr. (1st & 10) was a bomb intended for Beals (Ball was in the air about 32 yards down field and toward the opposite sideline.), then the incomplete overthrow to Bloom on 2nd & 10, followed by another 3rd down conversion (Completed pass right at the sticks) that Shirreffs had the tendency to tuck and run in past years. On 3rd and 5 from the 21, Mayala did a quick hitch that took advantage of the corner's aggressiveness. In past years, last year in particular, Shirreffs played as if he was instructed not to throw the ball unless his receiver was wide open by 10 yards. The biggest difference between past administrations (including Edsall 1.0) is the confidence they are showing in the QB.
I noticed most of Newsome's runs were stretch/off tackle or draws. Not through the A gap, as they have for 3 years. Though interestingly enough his longest run of the afternoon was through the Center-Guard gap. The refs missed a offsides on another A-Gap run on the same drive.
Time of possession was almost exactly even for the game, and UConn had the ball 0:40 more than Temple in the second half, but it felt like the Defense was out there forever. That said, It seemed like Crocker got Browned more than Lashlee got Moreheaded. UConn had 3 down linemen on defensive most downs, but showed (if not actually) rush with 1-3 additional players. That is not a tenant of Crocker's 3-3-5, as I understand it.
