Grading The Game

The coaches called a defense that defended out routes to the sidelines because they thought ASU was going to try and get in field goal position. However, Nate Williams was suppose to stay in the middle of the field to protect deep. Instead he picked up a WR way too early and didn’t see MCGaha running a go route. Had he just stayed in the middle and back peddled he would have had plenty of time to get over and make a play on the ball.

Bottom line: Wrong D was called – should have beeen in prevent (you wont here me say that often) & Nate bit on a rout too early.

it’s called the “prevent defense” because it prevents you from winning. After a very good pressure on the AZ QB with sacks, knockdowns, defelctions all game long on the last play of the game, unbelievably, they went to a three man rush with 20 seconds left. Even the announcer picked it up immediately.
With eight defensive backs where were they? Not in the game that is for sure.
I remeber this happening many years ago when Oregon State came to Husky Stadium a 35 point underdog and an OS wide reciever went down the sidelines untouched, nobody near him, to pull off the huge upset.

Not blaming the ND losss on the coaches but the play calling was questionable at the goal line.

Tough to not pick apart the play calling and clock management in the ASU game. That without a doubt killed the teams chances. Same thing on the defensive alignment set up on the last play.

get no sympathy from me. Unlike players who are playing live against other, great athletes, the coaches get paid big bucks to just walk the sidelines (stay behind that line Mr, Holt!) and have made some decisions that are so bad that it is begging for second guessing and mature criticisms. When getting paid so F’ing much, the buck certainly stops with the coaches.

…the WHOLE team is to blame! At some point the players need to step up and take some responsibility.

I stick with the B Plus….the last interception really doesn’t count…it was an up for grabs toss at the end of the game from 60 yards out. The pressure was pretty thick. You throw any other QB back there and he gets sacked 10 times.

on the WA sideline. Learning as they go maybe that’s why they lead the league in 15 yard penalties. Jumping up and down may get it in their minds but they need to get their minds in the game. Advice: stay in the coaching area, stay off the field unless there is a timeout. Don’t throw a low percentage long pass when you only need five yards to stay in the game and win the game.
This was as delating a (coaching) loss as I have ever experienced in 50 years as a Husky fan. SO SAD!!! So senseless. Didn’t need to happen.

Jake played his ass off! How about the rest of the team?

The benefits of that 3rd and 1 play are you make a good gain, but still are out of FG range. Bad decision, the odds were much better in our favor of going to OT (even) vs long pass play that we will still be out of FG range. We got greedy and got burned. If you have a much better team you can get greedy and get away with it. We are not at that point.

It was a completely indefensible play call. With the game tied, the ball on their own 10, 1:17 left and all 3 TO’s remaining while ASU had just 1, Sark had two choices for that possession – play hurry-up offense and try to get the team into FG range, or run the ball to kill the clock and take the game into OT.

After the first two plays, with no TO’s called and the clock down to ~30 seconds and a 3rd and 1 play, to call a pass in that situation was STUPID beyond belief. Sark had already made the decision to run the clock out by running Polk twice and not calling any TO’s. In that situation, you call your best short-yardage play to get the 1st down and run the clock out. Personally, I think he should’ve gone into a spread formation and run the QB draw, or a play-action bootleg to get Locker on the move. Calling a pass there was indefensible.

It’s why, as bad as that subsequent defensive breakdown was, I put most of the coaching blame on Sark for his play call – ASU never should’ve had the ball back before the end of regulation.

3. Steve Sarkisian is still learning how to be a head coach. He’s a rookie and has made some rookie mistakes.

We are paying him a lot of money for an OJT (on the job training) situation.

He needs some strong lessons in clock management

I agree, and also agree with T9O below. It has to be hard to be prepared for some of the odd ways our games have ended. With his salary, yes, Sark should be, but I still feel he’s the right guy for the job. It sucks being so close to a win and see it fall out of grasp due to a mistake but we’re at least on the way back to wins. It’s kind of nice having a coach with too much confidence even if I have to put up with moments like these.

I like being able to complain about why we didn’t win rather than wondering how we just lost so badly. The wins will come.

on Holt…

… I’m starting to become concerned about him.

Welcome to the club. I’m not ready to hand out a verdict yet – I need to see how the team progresses next year – but I see some things to be concerned about. To be fair, I also see things to be excited about. But I’m starting to think he may have some major flaws.

I’m really not worried about Holt becoming Baer, I am worried that he is going to make some of the very same mistakes that Baer made. I’m really hoping he learns faster than Baer did. I really like what Holt did with the defense in the 4th quarter, I saw some blitzes, even a corner blitz, why we waited so long to do that is beyond me. I’m worried that Holt is using Baer’s basic scheme: not enough talent, so let’s make it really simple, really bland, so we don’t make mistakes, which does not work, prevent defense (all game long) does not work. It’s too easy on the offense, shoot we made Sullivan look like an All American.

I disagree with your assessment that our defense is vastly improved. Yes, we are giving up less points, but some of that is do to our improved offense having longer drives. Time of Possesion is killing us, our defense is letting the other team control the game. We are giving up way too many yards, we need to get our offense on the field more often, and with better field position. I really like the attitude and energy that Holt has brought to the defense, but IMO his schemes have big flaws and we won’t be successful unless he adds variety to our defense, keep the opposing offense guessing.

…we are definitely better defensively than last season. You can throw all of the stats out that you want but the redzone defensive success and increase in production in taking the ball away helps to win football games.

First, I think UW matches up unusually well against Oregon. Your main weakness (your sceondary) only has one real threat to contain (Ed Dickson). Masoli/Costa (whoever plays at QB) will have a hard time throwing it downfield. I think Oregon will use a lot of bubble screens and short out routes to try and get the WRs one on one with your DB’s

I didn’t see you mention LaMichael James. Let me tell you, this guy is for real. He has speed, quickness and the ability to pick up a couple extra yards after every hit. If UW has a hard time tackling, LMJ is going to have a huge day.

If UW is going to win this game, it is going to come down to ball control and fundamentals. UW has to tackle, has to take care of the ball, has to run and control the clock and have very few mistakes on O, D or ST’s.

Personally, I think it is going to be one hell of a game, and I haven’t been this excited for a game all year!!!!! Good luck to all.

In all honesty I am excited to see how our new look D stacks up against a good QB like Locker. Our D has been OUTSTANDING the last 3 games (and pretty much all year, when the O and special teams don’t put them in crap situations). I think Locker is going to provide a good litmus test for their ability. If I was UW, my main concern would be your O-line. If they can provide Locker time, he should be able to find guys with against a beat up secondary.

If he has to run much, our D is REALLLLLLLLLY fast and he’ll have a hard time picking up big chunks with his feet.

That was my first inclination, but I think Sark had it right – first priority was making sure ASU didn’t get the ball back. If you go aggressive in your play-calling right off the bat, you risk giving the ball back to ASU with enough time on the clock to beat you.

Especially considering we started on our own 10 yard line.