The Monday Morning Wash - Deja Vu All Over Again!
by John Berkowitz on Oct 4, 2010 6:58 AM PDT
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PrintHusky coach Steve Sarkisian called Saturday's win over USC "Deja Vu" all over again. For the second consecutive season, the Huskies knocked off the nationally ranked Trojans with a last second field goal.
This win was quite possibly even more satisfying, as it broke a three-year UW losing streak on the road and was a major boost coming off a terrible loss to Nebraska.
Entering the game, memories of an 0-12 season still fresh in their mind, many Husky fans had lost confidence in the team. Far from a finished product, two dominating wins at the end of last season masked the problems Washington will continue to have as they rebuild.
Jake Locker, coming off his worst performance in purple and gold, came through with his finest career performance against the Trojans. Credit Sark with revamping the play calling during the bye week, gearing toward what Jake does best: working out of a mobile pocket. The Trojans had no answer for the Washington offense.
Defensively, this wasn't a satisfying game, though Washington kept the Trojans out of the end zone in the fourth quarter when it mattered most. With the exception of Alameda Ta'amu, the defensive line was dominated the entire game. The players we have right now up front simply are not up to the task physically when playing against a quality offensive line like USC. The Trojans may be struggling as a team, but their OL is still as good as any in the country.
Tackling remains a huge problem for the defense. The kids aren't wrapping up when they attempt to make a tackle, resulting, in Husky defenders bouncing like pinballs all evening. Some fans are questioning Coach Holt's defensive schemes, but I believe it is more about players neglecting fundamentals than schemes. One either executes or not, no matter what the scheme is.
Despite their challenges Saturday, the Huskies stand at 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference entering a home game against ASU this week. No game left of the schedule is a gimme, but the mistake-prone Sun Devils are a team Washington ought to beat.
All the goals this team set going into this season are still attainable. The confidence that comes from beating a team like USC on the road could be the tonic that propels this team forward and to a bowl game this season.
There is a lot of football left to be played and the 2010 Huskies are just starting to find themselves.
Pac 10 Power Ratings
1. Oregon...The Ducks fell behind 21-3 early but their overall team speed got them back in the game and led them to victory over the Tree's. The Duck "D" shut down Stanford in the second half. 28 straight unanswerd points by the Quackers in the second half. Up Next: At WSU
2. Arizona...The Wildcats took the week off and moved up a spot in our standings due to the Stanford loss. Are they better than Stanford? I don't think so but that will be decided at a later date. Up Next: OSU
3. Stanford...Tough loss for Jim Harbaugh and his crew who were shut out in the second half by the Ducks. The Cards are a good team but they don't have the speed and depth to keep up with Oregon. Up Next: USC
4. Oregon State...Some redemption at home after two road losses against top ten teams. Jaquizz Rodgers led the Beavers on the ground who benefited from better QB play from Ryan Katz. The Beavers performance wasn't perfect but it was a big win. Up Next: At Arizona
5. Washington...The Huskies and Jake Locker were given up for dead two weeks ago. A win on the road in Los Angeles keeps UW in the bowl picture. The Huskies can't afford to have a hangover next weekend. Up Next ASU
6. USC...This could be the loss that is the catalyst that makes this team unravel over the course of the season. No national championship and no bowl game. Why was Matt Barkley so placid on the sidelines? Up Next: At Stanford
7. California...The Bears had a week off after a disappointing last second loss on the road to Arizona. Up Next: UCLA
8. Arizona State...The Sun Devils are improved but turnovers and penalties are keeping them out of the win column. Up Next: At Washington
9. UCLA...Why do I drop a 3-2 team to the basement after a third consecutive win? The Bruins are pretty one dimensional on offense and the Cougars exposed their secondary. The Bruins will struggle to get three more wins which would qualify them for a bowl game. Up Next : At Cal
10. Washington State...WSU fans finally got to see a competitive conference game involving the Cougars. They also got to see another reason why Paul Wulff should be replaced at the end of the year. Up Next: Oregon
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I do believe there will not be a letdown for ASU after the big win over USC
because of the way we lost last year at ASU. I will make the same statement for UCLA when they play here on thursday night. This team and staff are showing improvement, and I stand by my comments after the Neb game, the trend is upward and improvement. Dawgs by 14 despite Dennis pulling out all the stops for us.
We need to win the next two games
That ASU loss last season was a joke. Same thing for UCLA. Those are definitely two teams we need to beat this season if we plan on going bowling.
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Oct 4, 2010 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions
While we have quite a few talented players...
we also have significant weaknesses. We won a tough game on the road and that is big. The problem is that we need consistency. Winning one game is one thing; putting a win streak is quite another.
While I haven’t said much about it this season, up until the SC game I’ve felt that the play calling didn’t put Jake and the skill players in a position to use their greatest talents. The challenge this week is for the players to learn to bring it two games in a row, and for the coaches to consider our opponent and create a new plan that takes advantage of assets in a different way.
They can do it; they just need realize the need and be realistic.
The game plan was nice.
It wasn’t as much a dramatic change as it was taking advantage of what USC was giving the Dawgs, though. Other than Syracuse, USC was the first team that didn’t 1) Spy on Locker all game, and 2) Didn’t play to take the edge away. USC played about as vanilla on defense as they could’ve. They were counting solely on being physically superior, and the offensive line made sure that that wasn’t the case.
Eric Kohler is going to be a really, really, good football player. His first two starts have been against two NFL-caliber draft picks at defenisve tackle, and he’s more than held his own. He looks like he belongs on the field right now, as opposed to being the best option in a bad situation.
Jermaine Kearse needs to get over the dropsies. 6 blatant ones, in 4 games. Kind of like bad free throw shooting, it’s the sort of thing that can infect an entire team. He’s too good to lose his concentration the way he has.
Locker played his best game as a Husky. He was accurate all game. He only threw one truly “bad” pass, and it wasn’t a force into coverage, he simply missed a wide-open receiver. His footwork on the run was great all game.
I think it’s time for Potoa’e to get the start. The Dawgs can’t count on Elisara’s health, and Thompson isn’t big enough to play tackle. If Potoa’e has the conditioning to play the snaps, it’s going to pay off this year to let him take his lumps.
I counted two truly bad passes.
An errant pass on a post route in the red zone where it didn’t come close to the WR, and a bad pass to Kearse on the rollout where it landed in front of Kearse’s feet.
Golden!
by Carl Shinyama on Oct 4, 2010 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions
I tend to think he had a bad grip on the low pass to Kearse
that ball came out like a wounded duck, I think less accuracy problems and more play breakdown problems.
On the first...
I’m not sure if the receiver and QB were on the same page with the route.
The second one you mention is exactly the one I’m talking about. I agree with B Money above, there was something wrong with that pass. I thought it was his feet instead of his grip, but either way….
You could almost add in the little wheel route to Polk near the endzone – Locker was half way between floating it in and letting Polk run under it, or sticking it in Polk’s chest (appeared Polk expected the latter). That one should’ve been six
Even if we say the first was on Locker, that’s still a damn good game.
Yes, I agree, you could add that pass to Polk.
And yes, Locker played a helluva game on Saturday. Now it’s time to see if he can continue this. I want to see him be good most of the time, rather than great some of the time.
Golden!
by Carl Shinyama on Oct 4, 2010 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions
couple of thoughts on Sundodger's post
1. Locker had more than one really bad pass
2. The Tampa 2 by definition pressures the edges
3. I wonder what Carl saw on replay, but I have a feeling that there was more spying going on than what you saw. I say this cuz I don’t recall the safeties playing very low. If they weren’t, I would guess that they were taking the MLB’s zone while he was shadowing Jake. I admit I wasn’t watching that closely, so that is a guess
4. College recievers drop balls. Aguilar has traditionally been worst offender. JK’s have been frustrating.
5. The DL is what it is. We need to bend on D and try to create TO’s whenever possible. We are going to win by being more efficient on O and outgunning teams. Let Potoae rotate in based on situations so that he can establish base skills without being overwhelmed or dominated.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
by Gekko Mojo on Oct 4, 2010 4:37 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Sundodger was right.
There was a lot less spying (and zone contain) against USC than what the Huskies saw in their previous three games.
Golden!
by Carl Shinyama on Oct 4, 2010 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions
was their MLB playing deep CF on Jake's rollout pass plays?
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
by Gekko Mojo on Oct 4, 2010 4:43 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I had no idea we were in a pissing match until this post.
When you take the time for an argumentative point-by-point response, but offer next to nothing of in terms of substance, it’s pretty obvious that you’re arguing with me as opposed to anything I’ve got to say.
Just so I know, what started it?
1. Okay, tell me about some.
2. By definition? Not true. Watch the game again, and watch how the outside linebackers and ends play. Compare that to BYU and Nebraska.
3. You “have a feeling” based on the position of the safeties? You seem to think the Tampa 2 is played in only one way. Really, it’s just a base 4-3 with a badass pass coverage middle linebacker.
Here’s a hint, man. I’ve watched the game multiple times. USC rarely spied. Fact.
4. Don’t disagree.
5. No, the d-line obviously isn’t what it is, which is why the coaches have moved Thompson inside, and tried just about everybody at end. Yours is a sound strategy for Potoa’e, as is mine. It’s a matter of opinion. We’ll see what happens.
i didnt realize we were arguing. i thought we were discussing.
Easy on the caffeine my friend.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
by Gekko Mojo on Oct 4, 2010 10:30 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm fine with debate and disagreement.
But guesses and one-line responses to the contrary don’t count as discussion. After your tirade directed toward Brian of Cougcenter, I thought you’d know that….
I was on my mobile phone ... and I don't recall anything that was a guess.
I also don’t recall any tirade towards Brian. I remember Brian calling me “wrong” with no backup and me calling him out on it, but I don’t recall a tirade. Now, get back to work on that panty knot.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
From your own post
I wonder what Carl saw on replay, but I have a feeling that there was more spying going on than what you saw. I say this cuz I don’t recall the safeties playing very low. If they weren’t, I would guess that they were taking the MLB’s zone while he was shadowing Jake. I admit I wasn’t watching that closely, so that is a guess
Sound familiar?
I remember Brian calling me "wrong" with no backup and me calling him out on it
Here, hold this mirror for me…
Now, get back to work on that panty knot.
Good stuff. Both barrels.
The last word is yours if you want it.
Potoa'e
May as well be starting him IMO. If he doesn’t have the stamina to play 60 snaps, rotate Tokolahi in to spell him. Potoa’e offers a lot more potential than Elisara at this point, and his redshirt is burned. He’s played well enough in spurts that I’m not that concerned about him getting mentally worn down. Physically, he’s carrying a little bit of extra weight but he’s also got a ton of good bulk and muscle – he’s probably in the top 90th percentile of true freshmen interior linemen in terms of physical build. He’s not as developed as he could be, but he’s in far better shape than Lagafuaiana, or Tokolahi last year, or Ta’amu before that.
Speaking of $C meltdowns
What was up with Kiffin not calling any of his 3 timeouts to try and preserve some time for his offense? Maybe he is trying to emulate Les Miles with his mad clock management skills…
KU fans-how I hate thee!
kiffin and timeouts
I bet he was thinking back to BYU 2008 and the potential to ice the kicker and block the kick as opposed to conceding the FG and trying to score again with a minute to go. The calculus wasn’t bad until Jacke converted that 3rd down on the scramble
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
by Gekko Mojo on Oct 4, 2010 4:16 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
JAKE
Some people just don’t get it. Like the proverbial mule you have to keep pounding them over and over.
The Huskies are in a five year rebuilding process.
Any win is great but for old time faithful Huskies beating SUC two years in a row makes two successful seasons.
Next year is also a rebuilding year with freshman QBs. Please give us full out Husky fans a break and accept what you are getting which is above and beyond any reasonable expectations.
From the Tacoma News Tribune a tribute to Jake:
We have some challenges to overcome.
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Oct 4, 2010 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions
you pound Mules?
That’s no way to talk about Old Ducker’s wife.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
by Gekko Mojo on Oct 4, 2010 4:28 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Some fans are questioning Coach Holt’s defensive schemes, but I believe it is more about players neglecting fundamentals than schemes. One either executes or not, no matter what the scheme is.
Amen and Amen. Nothing exemplifies this better than Quinton Richardson’s failed sack.
I agree
Rewatched game on computer espn3.com noted all the poor tackling from all our players even the announcers mentioned huskies poor tackling. Is there a stat for number of missed tackles? It would be interesting to see where huskies would rank.
by lorenzothedog on Oct 4, 2010 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions
it's still coaching
I would agree that I’m not sure how much of our issue is schemes, but the poor technique still comes back to coaching. This staff needs to find a way to get these players to execute better and use proper fundamentals.
its also young guys not sure what to do
Consider the physics of a tackle. If a player is waiting to take a blow from a blocker or a running back, he has to be really strong in order to absorb the blow and wrap. Players who react and are unsure take too many blows and lack the strength to compensate. Players who get a head of steam and beat the runner, blocker to “the spot” (envisioned point of impact) have a better chance of disrupting the other guys momentum and a better chance to wrap and hold.
Generally, I don’t think this is an effort issue. I think its an experience issue that results in hesitation as they think about where they are supposed to go and, accordingly, a disadvantage at point of impact, especially for the less physically developed young guys.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
by Gekko Mojo on Oct 4, 2010 4:25 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
pad level
Interior line play is all about leverage, and the first, best thing you can do is get your pad level lower than the guy across from you. While that’s partly physical, it’s also mostly effort and how you’ve been coached.
yeah - i obviously was talking about our LBs and Safeties...
… But, obviously, our lineman’s ability to shed blocks and disrupt runner/blocker momentum creates huge advantage for the tackler
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
by Gekko Mojo on Oct 4, 2010 4:41 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I completely agree.
And I’d add that guys that are playing tentative are the ones least likely to do the fundamental things correct.
Agree that tackling and fundamentals would help greatly
but Holt’s schemes do have issues. Not to beat a dead horse, but we don’t disguise anything, there is no shifting, no movement to confuse the offense, and you can see a blitz coming from a mile away.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
2nd quarter, there was a quite a few disguised plays. Perhaps more, but I'd have to double-check to confirm.
Golden!
by Carl Shinyama on Oct 4, 2010 4:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I think you're right
Pretty sure Lear is overstating how vanilla our schemes have been. I think it’s been lack of execution as much as anything else that’s hurt our defense.
I'm not the only one who sees it.
Huard and Bellotti spent a descent amount of time saying the same thing.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
I don't recall that
I remember hearing them talk about how we were stacking the box with 8 or 9 guys and still not slowing down the Trojan running game.
I agree that our defense doesn’t do shifts and motion and fakes and feints most of the time, but they do it some of the time, more than you’re implying.
It pretty dang rare to see . . .
our linebackers sneak up to the line, showing blitz, and then fall back into coverage.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Play Calling Key
Nice work on the blog. I agree wholeheartedly that the key to Jake’s redemption came right at the beginning with a variety of plays designed to spread the defense and give Jake room. Wish we could have done that intra-game against Nebraska.
Go Dawgs and goblawgs.com
"Ding!Ding!Ding!
That’s what a I’ve been saying for weeks….(and a brother of mine who knows almost nothing about football too) It was obvious at BYU…It is simply a function of the learning curve of the new car smell coaching staff apparently? I"m encouraged that Sark has the ability and more importantly…the humility to learn on the fly under criticism from the damaged faithful! He needs to stay fresh and creative in his approach to the play calling each week while figuring out how to balance all the hats he’s trying to wear…Funda-mentals!
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