BlogsStanford Preview
by John Berkowitz
on Jul 1, 2009 5:25 AM PDT
48 comments
When Washington heads to the Bay area on September 26th most feel the team will have a 1-2 record and be licking its wounds from thumpings at home from LSU, and USC. The Cardinal contest is a must win on the schedule since it gives the Huskies a shot at evening its record before heading back to South Bend to play Notre Dame.
The Cardinal know what it is like to have to crawl out of the cellar. That is exactly what they have been doing ever since coach Jim Harbaugh arrived on the scene three years ago. The Tree fell short of a bowl bid last season by one game. The goal this season is to win 6-7 games and finish the season some place sunny. Most feel that Stanford is a good bet to do that since Harbaugh has recruited exceptionally well since arriving on the scene.
Stanford welcomes back eight starters on offense and seven on defense. Harbaugh has rebuilt the team from the bottom up by recruiting well.
For Stanford to reach the next level they need to start moving the ball more through the air to balance the attack. Tavita Pritchard returns at QB but he may not be able to hold off Andrew Luck who has the better arm. Toby Gerhart returns at RB after piling up 1136 yards last season. He has a great nose for the end zone scoring 15 times last season. Stanford needs more production from a passing attack that ranked 103rd nationally last season and had four more interceptions than touchdowns.
The Tree returns eight starters on a defense that is definitely on the upswing. Linebacker Clinton Snyder has all league potential and is the leader of the defense, but the strength should be up front. Defensive ends Tom Keiser and Erik Lorig are capable of wreaking havoc in the backfield and tackles Brian Bulcke and Ekom Udofia are both upperclassmen. Pat Maynor and Wopamo Osaisai both have graduated so Stanford has some major holes to fill to replace those two standouts.
The Cards need to improve their defensive backfield after giving up over 150 yards in passing per game last season. Safety Bo Mc Nally returns and he is solid but he needs some help back there if the Tree is going to improve on being 9th in Pac 10 pass defense. The Cardinal yielded 18 touchdown passes and picked off just seven in 2008, despite getting plenty of help from a healthy pass rush.
Consensus
If Stanford can get more balance in their offense and develop more consistency in the defensive backfield they should be a bowl team in 2009. Coach Harbaugh knows how to fire up his team to play well. The big question going into fall is at QB. Will Tavita Pritchard hold off Andrew Luck? It is all about improved production throught he air for the Cardinal to take it to the next level in 2009.
Early Prediction
You probably will never see me predict anything less than a Washington victory over Stanford whether it is home or away. If Jake Locker is healthy the Huskies should come away with the win and even their record to 2-2. Washington has more balance on offense and even though the offensive line is in need of a rebuild Locker will make them look better than they are. Washington receivers should have a field day against the porous Tree defensive backfield.
Defensively the Huskies will be improved in 2009. Better conditioned and better coached athletes playing with the right attitude should help the Husky defense improve in 2009. Playing a seemingly one dimensional offensive team like Stanford should be a confidence builder for this group.
I am going with a 28-17 victory for the Huskies on the road in this one.
48 comments | 0 recs
Practice Schedule
by John Berkowitz
on Jun 30, 2009 7:21 PM PDT
4 comments
Mon., Aug. 10 - Practice
Tue., Aug. 11 - Practice
Wed., Aug. 12 - Practice
Thu., Aug. 13 - Practice
Fri., Aug. 14 - Practice
Sat., Aug. 15 - Two-a-Day Practices
Sun., Aug. 16 - Picture Day (no practice)
Mon., Aug. 17 - Two-a-Day Practices
Tue., Aug. 18 - Practice
Wed., Aug. 19 - Two-a-Day Practices
Thu., Aug. 20 - Practice
Fri., Aug. 21 - Two-a-Day Practices
Sat., Aug. 22 - Practice
Sun., Aug. 23 - Off Day
Mon., Aug. 24 - Practice
Tue., Aug. 25 - Two-a-Day Practices
Wed., Aug. 26 - Practice
Thu., Aug. 27 - Two-a-Day Practices
Fri., Aug. 28 - Practice
Sat., Aug. 29 - Practice
Sun., Aug. 30 - Off Day
Mon., Aug. 31 - Practice
Tue., Sept. 1 - Practice
Wed., Sept. 2 - Practice
Thu., Sept. 3- Practice
Fri., Sept. 4 - Practice
4 comments | 0 recs
UW picks up top kicker
by John Berkowitz
on Jun 29, 2009 7:40 PM PDT
13 comments
Alejandro Maldonado has officially verbaled to Washington. This is the second time Maldonado has been in the news with a commitment to Washington but this time the kid has the verbiage down and realizes that a commitment doesn't mean interest....it means that is where he wants to go to school.
Alejandro's coaches think he is the best HS kicker in the country and that is welcome news for Washington in 2010 because they will face a big problem getting the ball through the uprights in 2009.
13 comments | 0 recs
Charles Garcia will not be a Husky
by thecassino
on Jun 29, 2009 1:17 PM PDT
11 comments
Charles Garcia, a JUCO forward did not meet entrance standards and will not be a part of the basketball team next year. As John points out often, getting JUCOs into the UW can be a fickle thing, and unfortunately for Garcia it sounds like he just missed the cut. Wish him all the best in his basketball future.
The upshot of this story is that it gives Romar an extra scholarship to work with this coming offseason (read: Josh Smith), as with the commitment of Desmon Simmons the roster would have been full, Quincy Pondexter being the only departure from next season's team. Though much like JUCO players, scholarships are a fluid thing and tend to change in a heartbeat. Even with the team only having 2 scholarships to give this year, I'd be surprised if Romar didn't get 3 commitments and "make it work".
11 comments | 0 recs
The Monday Morning Wash
by John Berkowitz
on Jun 29, 2009 8:00 AM PDT
17 comments
We've been on vacation this week, heading up to Lake Superior and the Michigan Upper Peninsula. The internet, however, followed us on our jaunt, and fortunately it brings encouraging news for Husky fans.
Leading off, Andru Pulu was the only Husky recruit to play in the Washington state all-star football game this past weekend in Everett. Everyone came away impressed with Pulu's performance at inside linebacker. Check out this report from the Daily Herald:
He finished with seven solo tackles and was the only player on either team to reach double digits in total tackles with 12. He also helped clog the line of scrimmage, which allowed teammates to make tackles, and he even swatted down an East pass in the fourth quarter.
The question remains as to where the 6'3 250 monster is going to play at UW. Does he have the speed to play ILB in the Pac 10? Most recruiting experts projected Pulu at DE, needing a year or two to grow into the position. After his play this past weekend, it's clear why the coaches want to try him first at ILB. GIven UW's depth in the middle this year, expect Pulu to RS in the fall, but things will open up in 2010.
Puppy Chow
Scout.com reports that Spanaway HS's Happy Iona played himself into a UW offer at the rising stars camp held this past weekend on the UW campus. Congratulations to Happy, who has been working very hard in the classroom, getting himself into a position to be academically eligible in 2010.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning coach Charr Gahagan is leaving the UW to head up his own S&C department at North Texas University.
WR Tevin Carter, who verbaled to UW earlier this spring, is apparently now headed to Cal. Given the nature of recruiting, don't read too much into any commit at this time; there is plenty of time for changes before Letter of Intent day next February.
According to Bob Condotta's blog last week, the cost of renovating Husky Stadium has been reduced to $250 million, versus the $350 million originally projected. Construction and material costs are down due to the economic climate, but it is fair to surmise some cutting of luxury features in order to trim nearly 1/3 of the original cost.
Jake Locker's dad has been talking contract with the LA Angels. Though it won't effect his football career, it will tie up his baseball negotiating rights for six years should he sign a contract. An added bonus for the Washington Football program, Locker's professional status in baseball will free up an extra football scholarship. Baseball scouts rave over Locker's potential in the game, as most believe he has the ability to be a dominant, five-tool player in the major leagues along the lines of Torii Hunter and Grady Sizemore.
17 comments | 0 recs
Rivals.com has a great read on UW football, Coach Sark in specific
by BixBeiderbecke
on Jun 25, 2009 7:39 PM PDT
136 comments
Earlier in the year, when I first came over to the UW Dawg Pound- I wrote a bit about my experiences viewing Coach Sark and Coach Holt from a fan's perspective, and giving you all glimpses of them from a personal relationship I've had with them. We bantered about wins/losses for the upcoming UW Huskies season and about what the new coaches will bring to the table once practices start up.
136 comments | 0 recs
Durocher headed to CWU
by John Berkowitz
on Jun 23, 2009 5:59 AM PDT
23 comments
Johnny Durocher is returning to a football stadium near you as QB for the Central Washington Wildcats. Durocher;s career took a detour after he discovered he had a benign brain tumor which was removed. The Mariners gave him a chance as a pitcher and the was progressing nicely until he suffered an arm injury. Then it was back to football working out at the IMG sports camp this spring to try to get some notice from the NFL. Since that didn't materialize he is back for one more season on the collegiate level at his third school.
We all love Johnny and we wish him the best at Central.
23 comments | 0 recs
Huskies make change on the diamond
by John Berkowitz
on Jun 22, 2009 4:06 PM PDT
21 comments
Ken Knutson who has been the baseball coach at Washington the past 17 years will not be returning next season and his association with the University will end on June 30th.
Knutson has provided stability to an undersfunded sports program which lack the facilities to compete with other Pac 10 members. The Husky baseball stadium is still uncompleted almost a decade after construction was started under the campaign for the student athlete.
A 1981 graduate of Washington, Knutson compiled a 584-399-2 overall record as the Huskies' head coach and went 240-189 against Pac-10 opponents. He has the most wins in school history and was named Pac-10 North Division Coach of the Year three times during his tenure. He led Washington to two Pac-10 titles, four division championships and six appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
Washington State returned to the NCAA tournament this past season. Oregon State has won two national championships, and the UW softball team just fisnished winning their first national championship. Perhaps Washington which plans to complete the baseball stadium in the near future plans to ramp up the direction of the program.
21 comments | 0 recs
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
New FanPost
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
Featured Stories
Next Game
Huskies Football Schedule
LSU
|
Sat 09/05 | 7:30 PM PDT |
| Idaho | Sat 09/12 | 4:05 PM PDT |
|
USC
|
Sat 09/19 | 12:30 PM PDT |
| @ Stanford | Sat 09/26 | 4:05 PM PDT |
|
@
Notre Dame
|
Sat 10/03 | 12:30 PM PDT |
| Arizona | Sat 10/10 | 4:05 PM PDT |
|
@
Arizona St.
|
Sat 10/17 | 7:15 PM PDT |
|
Oregon
|
Sat 10/24 | 4:05 PM PDT |
|
@
UCLA
|
Sat 11/07 | 4:05 PM PST |
|
@
Oregon St.
|
Sat 11/14 | 4:05 PM PST |
|
Washington St.
|
Sat 11/28 | 4:05 PM PST |
|
California
|
Sat 12/05 | 4:05 PM PST |
Pacific-10 Conference Standings
(updated 1.1.2009 at 8:34 PM PST)
| Conf | Overall | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
USC Trojans
|
8 | 1 | 12 | 1 |
|
Oregon Ducks
|
7 | 2 | 10 | 3 |
|
Oregon St. Beavers
|
7 | 2 | 9 | 4 |
|
California Golden Bears
|
6 | 3 | 9 | 4 |
| Arizona Wildcats | 5 | 4 | 8 | 5 |
| Stanford Cardinal | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
|
Arizona St. Sun Devils
|
4 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
|
UCLA Bruins
|
3 | 6 | 4 | 8 |
|
Washington St. Cougars
|
1 | 8 | 2 | 11 |
|
Washington Huskies
|
0 | 9 | 0 | 12 |
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
