For UConn, there’s no easy fix
Unbeaten Bearcats make quick work of Huskies
East Hartford — There was no mistaking coach Randy Edsall's postgame message.
Don't blame the players for UConn's latest dismal defeat. Blame him. Edsall answered several questions that way.
"What I thought I saw today, and it's my fault, I saw that they lost confidence in themselves and didn't believe in themselves enough to go and just play," Edsall said. "I thought we got punched in the mouth and I didn't think we responded. That's on me."
Edsall also took the blame for UConn being physically manhandled and for not making the proper adjustments in a 49-7 loss to American Athletic Conference foe Cincinnati before 20,322 fans at Rentschler Field.
"We didn't do the things that we needed to do," Edsall said. "That's on me. And we'll get better."
Cincinnati (5-0, 1-0) continues its roll while UConn (1-4, 0-2) is sinking deeper into the abyss.
The disappointing performance is on the heels of a few hints of progress in a 51-21 road loss last weekend at Syracuse.
"Last week we had a couple steps forward," said sophomore safety Tyler
“What I thought I saw today, and it’s my fault, I saw that they lost confidence in themselves and didn’t believe in themselves enough to go and just play.” UCONN COACH RANDY EDSALL
Coyle, who had a game-high 14 tackles. "This week five steps back. It's embarrassing."
The game started off so promising for the Huskies.
UConn quickly cruised down the field and scored an opening drive touchdown for just the second time this season. Senior quarterback David Pindell threw a five-yard touchdown pass to senior Kyle Buss to cap a five-play, 75-yard trip to the end zone. It was Buss' first career TD reception.
The Huskies had their first lead of the season against an FBS team. Reason to be optimistic. Then Cincinnati got the ball and answered with a score. Quarterback Desmond Ridder ran it in from a yard out for the first of five Bearcat rushing touchdowns. And any sliver of optimism disappeared. Cincinnati joined the growing list of foes to shred the young UConn defense, breaking open the game by scoring on its last possession of the second quarter and first three of the third quarter, building a 42-7 advantage. The Bearcats put up 659 yards, including 320 on the ground, on the nation's worst ranked team in total yards. Running back Michael Warren rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
The Huskies barely made the Bearcats work for points at times. Cincinnati needed only 38 seconds and six plays to go 79 yards for a touchdown (Ridder's 15-yard pass to Rashad Medaris) just before half and only 33 seconds and two plays to go 75 yards for a score (Ridder's 38-yard pass to Josiah Deguara) to open the third quarter.
Right before Cincinnati's late second quarter score, tight end Aaron McLean came close to hauling in a game-tying touchdown pass but was ruled out of bounds.
The Huskies never recovered and played like a beaten team in the second half.
"That hurt us," McLean said. "But, either way, we can't let that bring us down like it did today and affect the rest of the game. We've got to keep our heads up and keep playing."
Until the Huskies can consistently stop an opponent, losses will continue to mount. They've allowed at least 49 points in all five games this season.
Outside of the game's first drive, UConn couldn't crack a stingy Cincinnati defense that entered the game ranked first in the conference in total defense, scoring defense and passing defense. The Bearcats took away Pindell's running game. Pindell finished a season-low 22 yards on the ground and went 9-for-23 for 125 yards before before being replaced by Marvin Washington early in the fourth quarter.
"He's the weapon that we have and people aren't going to let him run the football," Edsall said. "I've got to do a better job of finding ways of getting us to be productive in all three phases."
The Bearcats also tightened up the coverage on McLean, who had four catches for a teambest 97 yards but only one reception in the second half.
The Huskies tied a season-low for points and had 266 yards of total offense. Michael Tarbutt missed a 37-yard field goal attempt. They also scored just one touchdown in a 62-7 loss at Boise State on Sept. 8.
Life doesn't get any easier for the Huskies, who play the next two games on the road. They visit Memphis next Saturday.
"The schedule doesn't get any easier," Coyle said. "We've got to come out and prepare well. I feel like coach (Billy) Crocker can't prepare us any better. We've just got to go out and execute." g.keefe@theday.com