Perception vs Reality - 1st Quarter

[BostonOrange]

I keep reading how Marrone and Hackett basically gave away the quarter by stubbornly running the ball when all we needed to do was throw it. The data simply doesn't support that. On the first drive we fumbled the handoff on the 2nd play. The last drive we started at our own 4 and played conservatively. The middle two drives were mostly passes. The reason had little to do with the playcalling. Here are the actual offensive plays:

Drive One:
Bailey runs for 4 on first play, fumbles handoff on 2nd play
Drive Two:

1st and 10 at SYR 11​

Ryan Nassib pass complete to Jarrod West for 7 yards to the Syrac 18.​

0​

7​

2nd and 3 at SYR 18​

Jerome Smith rush for 2 yards to the Syrac 20.​

3rd and 1 at SYR 20​

Jerome Smith rush for 2 yards to the Syrac 22 for a 1ST down.​

1st and 10 at SYR 22​

Ryan Nassib pass incomplete to Team, broken up by Dwayne Gratz.​

2nd and 10 at SYR 22​

Ryan Nassib pass complete to David Stevens for 15 yards to the Syrac 37 for a 1ST down.​

1st and 10 at SYR 37​

Ryan Nassib pass incomplete to Dorian Graham, broken up by Jory Johnson.​

2nd and 10 at SYR 37​

Antwon Bailey rush for 3 yards to the Syrac 40.​

3rd and 7 at SYR 40​

Ryan Nassib pass incomplete to Nick Provo.​

Drive 3:​

1st and 10 at SYR 20​

Ryan Nassib sacked by Ted Jennings for a loss of 1 yard to the Syrac 19.​

0​

7​

2nd and 11 at SYR 19​

Dorian Graham rush for 15 yards to the Syrac 34 for a 1ST down.​

1st and 10 at SYR 34​

Ryan Nassib pass intercepted by Jerome Junior at the UConn 47, returned for 12 yards to the Syrac 41.​

1st and 10 at SYR 34​

Drive 4:​

1st and 10 at SYR 4​

Antwon Bailey rush for 1 yard to the Syrac 5.​

0​

7​

2nd and 9 at SYR 5​

Antwon Bailey rush for 2 yards to the Syrac 7.​

3rd and 7 at SYR 7​

Steve Rene rush for no gain to the Syrac 7.​

 

[SoBristol]

Don't confuse the issue with actual data.
It is easy to criticize play-calling (with the hindsight of knowing what was tried and didn't work). An end-around to Graham is a great play; except for the time it got stopped. Pass calls are terrific, except when Nassib overthrows the receiver or the receiver drops a pass he should have caught -- and so on.
I think this game turned on some basic facts. UConn had a second QB who could run -- was probably the second best runner on the field; and the first best was their RF running back. UConn got Spruill blocked most of the time; didn't look like our OL was getting to UConn's linebackers.