The Monday Morning Wash
by John Berkowitz on Oct 3, 2011 4:07 AM PDT
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PrintAll is well with the Husky Nation this week. Washington heads off into a well deserved bye week with a 4-1 record. That represents the programs best start since 2006 when the team also went 4-1 to start the season under departed coach Tyrone Willingham.
Disaster struck that team in week six in a loss to Oregon State when starting quarterback Isaiah Stanback suffered a season ending foot injury. The Huskies finished 5-7 on the season and even lost to a Stanford squad which was then described as the worst team in conference history.
Plenty of things have changed since those dark days. The program has developed a core of players that the coaches can build with. The 2011 team is young but each week they play the game with an increased level of proficiency.
The win over Utah is a prime example of that proficiency. The Utes are a good football team that are going to win the majority of the games they play this season. Beating a team like that on the road heading into this bye week is just huge for the program.
Heading into the season most of us felt that if the team could finish over .500 and go to a bowl game it would be a worthy accomplishment in what was considered a rebuilding year. Now most of us are thinking that an 8-4 or 9-3 season could possibly be withing reach.
Perhaps we are all selling ourselves short again. Maybe this is the year that we knock off a Stanford and Oregon, win the inaugural conference championship game, and return to the glory of playing in the Rose Bowl at Pasadena.
If you ask the coaches and players though they will tell you that their complete focus is on Colorado and that they are simply taking it one game at a time. Great teams do that and we saw the glimmer of a great team this past weekend in Salt Lake City.
Quote of the Week
Utah Head Coach Kyle Whittingham - "They ran the ball right down our throat."
Offensive Player of the Game
Chris Polk picked up 189 yards on 29 carries. The bulk of those yards came in the second half when Washington broke a close game open in the third quarter.
Defensive Player of the Game
Cort Dennison led the team with ten tackles and as usual he was all over the field the entire night. The entire defense actually gets major kudo's this week for holding the Utes to only 14 points.
Pac 12 Power Ratings
1. Stanford...The Cards had no problem with UCLA and Andrew Luck is still the favorite to win the Heisman. The cakewalk schedule continues with Colorado visiting the farm this weekend. Somebody is going to knock these guys off eventually. Could it be Washington in week seven?
2. Oregon...The Quackers had the week off. Up next is Cal on Thursday night in Eugene. The Ducks could have a little trouble with the stout Bear defense. Cal goes with four LB's and that might be part of the recipe for slowing the Duck offense down.
3. Washington...Impressive win on the road for the Huskies. Hard to believe they didn't crack the top 25 after a win like that. Up next is a well deserved bye week before facing Colorado at home.
4. Arizona State...The Devils had a tougher than expected time with Oregon State. Up next is Utah in Salt Lake City and I think the Devils are going to have problems with the Utes.
5. Southern California...Arizona lit the Trojan "D" up for 41points in a game that wasn't as close as the score indicated. The Trojans have the week off and I am assuming that they will spend most of their time working on pass defense.
6. California...The Bears had a bye this past week to get ready for the Ducks on Thursday night in Eugene. It will be interesting to see if their defense can slow the Oregon offense down a bit.
7. Utah...The Utes are going to win more games than they lose this season. One of those wins may be coming up this weekend when ASU pays them a visit in Salt Lake.
8. Washington State...Good win on the road for the Cougars. They need to follow it up with another must win against UCLA on the road this week.
9. UCLA...The Bruins were never really in the game against Stanford. Up next are the Cougars at home in a game that should be pretty close. I guess you can call this one the "Hot Seat Bowl" since whoever loses is probably going to end up getting fired at the end of the season.
10. Arizona...The Wildcat defense is terrible but their offense stung the Trojans for 41 points as Nick Foles passed for over 400 yards in a losing effort. Up next is Oregon State on the road and a probably win. On a side note...is anyone else tired of watching Mike Stoops make an ass out of himself on the sidelines each week?
11. Colorado...Tough loss to WSU for the Buff's who played well enough to win. Is Buffing it similar to Couging it? This week they travel to Stanford and the result aren't going to be pretty.
12. Oregon State...The Beavers gave ASU all they could handle and gave their fans some hope that the team will get better as the season progresses. They get Arizona at home this week and if they can play some "D" they just might be able to earn a win. Sean Mannion completed 40 passes in 66 attempts so it looks like he is starting to get comfortable which could be bad news for opponents in October and November.
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FIRST...
…and welcome to BYE week, ladies and gents! Where we get not one but two weeks to lament the wonder of Rick Neuheisel as well as the Huskies’ all-time 4-5-1 record vs the Buffs.
Anyway – on to JB’s power poll. No big disagreements from me. I’d probably have ASU ahead of the Dawgs based on the eyeball test, but they haven’t done anything more than UW has to date. I also think that Oregon is the better of the top two teams, but you can’t argue with the efficiency in which Stanford has dispatched its cupcake-loaded front end of its schedule.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
@chrislandon
ASU
I dropped them a slot for making OSU look competitive…if you look at the stats of that game you begin to see some flaws.
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Oct 3, 2011 6:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Gecko, my book says we are
5-5-1 all time against Colo
Mike Stoops
I also wanted to comment on him. He is an ass. He should have been gone after last season. That said, I think he’s actually showed remarkable restraint given the number of losses against FBS they’ve strung together (is it nine now?). He was definitely cracking last weekend but, I daresay, it could get worse at any moment.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
@chrislandon
Who's Got The Board?
I’ll put $10 on Stoops totally losing his shyte, on 10/29, in Husky Stadium. That is when Mike Stoops finaly & publicaly, becomes the real man we all know him to be, as he gets hauled off in a straight-jacket.
Here’s one to ponder during bye week: Who’s the biggest douche-bag in the PAC, Stoops or Kelly?
by The Dude 4 Real on Oct 3, 2011 6:30 AM PDT up reply actions
Kelly
Stoops just looks like an A-Hole…Kelly is an actual A-Hole…big difference.
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Oct 3, 2011 7:01 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Lane Kiffin!
Lane Kiffin is the guy who hits on your girlfriend in a bar while you’re in the bathroom, ignores her saying she has a boyfriend and goes “hey man, we were just talking, what’s your problem?” when you come back.
by huskies2010 on Oct 3, 2011 7:14 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
3-Legged Stool
Kiffin-Kelly-Stoops …. the 3-legged, PAC12, douche-bag stool
by The Dude 4 Real on Oct 3, 2011 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions
I’m not a fan of Stoops, but, unless I’m missing something (which I may be) he’s just a buffoon. There is reason to think that both Kiffin and Kelly lack integrity. Stoops may belong in the booby hatch, but I’ve never heard of him (allegedly) doing something shady nor dishonest.
Stoops is a stand up guy who is just way too animated on the sidelines.
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Oct 3, 2011 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions
I want Stoops to stick around Arizona
I also want Kiffin to stick around USC, Neuheisel to stick around UCLA and Wulff to be coach for life at WSU.
Kelly at Oregon though – he should be fired. Same with Riley at OSU.
I kind of like Riley at Oregon State . . .
just make sure they are on our schedule in the first three games of the season!
"Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing."
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
I don't like playing OSU in November on the road...
…that being said we should have no problem kicking their ass.
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Oct 3, 2011 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions
He built a solid program in Corvallis and left
Went to the NFL, came back after all his guys were gone and built them back to BCS status. I’d say he’s got a knack.
yep
He may be suffering a really down year, but that’s the reality of coaching in Corvallis – you just don’t have the same level of buffer to survive recruiting misses, unexpected attrition and injury. I’m sure Riley is going to burn through some of his built-up goodwill with fans if this season continues to be a really tough one, but Beaver fans ought to be smart enough to see the big picture.
That said, Riley has to deal with a factor now that he didn’t have to worry about for much of the decade – a resurgent Washington program.
Stoops...
A friend of mine works at the high school where one of the starting defenders at AZ went. He came back to his high school for a visit and said that Stoops is “completely crazy”. I understand this kid didn’t have many other offers, but given another option, why would anyone want to play for this guy?
"Attending WAZZU is great preparation for real life. It teaches you not to expect too much." Don James
by Carne Guisada on Oct 3, 2011 8:24 AM PDT up reply actions
Thanks for the video clip!
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Oct 3, 2011 7:01 AM PDT up reply actions
Polk is a beast!
Bummed I missed this game!
Benno
I heard rumors of a replay on FSN
I haven’t verified that though.
It is supposed to be tonight at 7PM or around there.
On the Root sports website it says the replay is at 7
I’ve confirmed this for Channel 687 Root sports NW on Direct TV. But I couldn’t find it anywhere on Comcast.
That's awesome
Now if someone will find that one of ASJ dragging three guys across the first down marker.
I found it
It was early in the 3rd quarter a couple plays before the Kasen Williams TD.
by bigtrain21 on Oct 3, 2011 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Wow
He is like a giant vs all those small people. No wonder teams were looking at him as a OLineman. It’s like Walter Jones trying to be tackled by DBs!
Benno
Lol! It really does! I'm counting 6 reds needed to finish the job!
with bodies in his wake! Can you imagine? He’s just cutting his teeth! What a weapon…Move the Chains!
I'm going to miss him so much next year
I think we’ll still have a good running game next year as our OL continues to mature, but man – Chris Polk is a beast. Hope he gets some hefty paychecks in the NFL…
I hope you're wrong!
Not likely though… What I find so great about Chris Polk is his completeness…versatility. Also, he had 189 rush yds on 29..and many will remember the one that went for 49 on the 2nd play of the 2nd half…and it was huge in every way..but, many don’t appreciate how he almost guarantees you 3-5 with the slightest hole and regularly does amazing things to sqeeze out extra y.a.c. (that sounds funny when I say it) Imagine when he is fully healed up and polished and fresh! (Keith Price too!) I’m beginning to see things trending up fast! Now handle some success Dawgs and really build up and heal up with the bye!
exactly
It’s not so much the big play runs – those are obviously awesome – it’s that (as you say) he almost always gets you at least 2-3 yards, if not 5-6. That kind of consistency is huge for maintaining drives. Sankey is explosive and the kind of runner that can take a modest opening and bust a long run into the secondary, but can he grind out 3 yards when there’s no hole like Polk can? Not likely. I also don’t see that ability in Callier.
That said, I expect more and better holes to be opened up next season as this OL continues to mature.
to be fair, not many have that ability...
… really – does anybody else in the pac 12 have that ability? Jon Franklin maybe?
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
@chrislandon
The Ute game
was a very pleasant surprise. I expected their D would shut down our run game but after reading Kim G’s post game thoughts on Dawgman, I now understand why we won.
Kudos to the team and coaches. Any place but El Paso is my bowl game mantra:-).
Would love to do the river walk but Pasadena would be special.
Love the video BT.
Could you share?
Could you please paraphrase Kim G thoughts you mentioned above for us non dawgman people.
by lorenzothedog on Oct 3, 2011 6:43 AM PDT up reply actions
also...
…when I looked at how USC did vs. Utah, I became a lot less concerned about this game. Tyler ran well against them, so I figured Polk should do at least as well. And I wasn’t impressed by their offense. I figured as long as we didn’t lose the turnover battle, we should win.
If you were reading the board at Dawgman....
…you would have sworn that we lost the game 31-14.
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Oct 3, 2011 7:02 AM PDT up reply actions
I haven't renewed
Changed credit cards, didn’t update my info and my subscription just lapsed. I’m going to see how long I can hold out subscribing. The hardest part will be missing out on the inside info on recruiting and insights from insiders like AANDY…
Really
There are a ton of great things about Dawgman…chat room on game days is a blast…the recruiting news is second to none…fantastic features and analysis.
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Oct 3, 2011 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions
I'll break soon I'm sure
Missing the recruiting info, MEANDERINGS, thoughts from people like YaleDawg and the play breakdowns from UWfoLife – I’m sure I’ll break down soon and renew.
I love Yale
We sat together in South Bend a couple of years ago.
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Oct 3, 2011 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Ranking
I too think they have earned to be ranked. But also agree with people that say it doesnt matter at this point and might make them hungry. I just want the ranking for my peace of mind.
I'm ok with not being ranked for now...
remember we got ranked a couple years ago after beating USC and then fell off the rankings the following week. Keep on winning this time and we’ll be there to stay!
"Attending WAZZU is great preparation for real life. It teaches you not to expect too much." Don James
by Carne Guisada on Oct 3, 2011 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions
Toss some of the blame on Nebraska for laying an egg against Wisconsin
If the Huskers had won that game, or even looked a bit more respectable, our loss to them would look better. Lesson learned; next time just beat them.
Don’t blame the Huskers. Blame the Huskies or not beating Nebraska when they had the chance. Andkeep in mind that the Huskers didn’t deserve to be ranked as high as they climbed this year, just as those Badgers are the real deal.
We need to cut down a Tree. Whether or not we can do that has no bearing on whether or not we’re ranked save for that not being ranked will make our boys hungrier and more likelty to be overlooked by Stanford.
Being ranked doesn’t mean jack for us. We’re not jockeying for a BCS game. The best we can hope for is the Rose Bowl, and the path follows our Pac-12 record — not the polls.
The good news is that there is no better prize the Rose Bowl.
Bugs is right.
We have to beat either Stanford or Oregon this year if we want respect. I’m ok with that.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
@chrislandon
If we lose to Dux and Trees, but run the table elsewhere?
Respect. That in itself would be a very tall order.
The weird scenario would be Oregon, UW and Stanford all ending up with one conference loss each, all to each other. Say Oregon beats Stanford, UW beats Oregon and Stanford beats UW. The way things are shaking out, and IF Holt’s defense continues to improve, it’s not all that far-fetched to imagine.
If we lose to the dux and trees...
… than we are no better than third in the North and fourth in the overall PAC 12 (if not fifth). Not sure the PAC is worthy of four ranked teams, much less five.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
@chrislandon
great point! rankings are like "sparkles" ...
Yes,they are pretty and they shine…but, also beyond worthless at this point of the season as far as helping us WIN GAMES! Do that (win games) and rankings follow…(as will the recruits) that’s the proper place to put the horses and carts. As far as Nebraska’s concerned? I must admit I had way too much glee watching the Polly-armed qb girl those picks! It was a long overdue exposing of their single gear on offense! We had our chances in spite of the striped blue hairs we were dragging around like a “weekend at bernies” big 10 crew…What I’m so up about is how it “feels” like they’re actually turning those mistakes into a real positive force for radical improvement! “One week at a time”!!!
It also makes for a shiny bullet point
for recruits. The crew will be on the road this week and being able to tell a kid, “we’re in the top 25” is just another feather in the cap. It’s not a deal breaker, but it helps.
the Utah victory will get us ranked
next week, following the bye, we will be ranked. And we are almost deep enough into the season that rankings start to make sense.
Why worry about being ranked?
Being ranked after beating 2 non-AQ teams and 2 bottom-tier Pac teams would not get me excited at all. One could argue that the ranking would only go away once we go into the gauntlet that is Stanford, Oregon, Your Mom (Zona), and USC. If we are ranked after that hell-trail, then let’s talk AP.
Corrections
Not a bad point of view. But, Utah is not “bottom tier”, and Arizona is. Stanford and OR will be were we will be tested. AZ and U.S.C. are both marked as wins on my season forcaste, with the University of Spoiled Children being the tougher game. btw- the real “USC” is in Charleston, S.C.
by The Dude 4 Real on Oct 3, 2011 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Someone has been feeding you disinformation. Even if there were universities in the South, which there are not, they would never be admitted into the SEC, whose charter explicitly prohibits education.
by Bugs Dodger on Oct 3, 2011 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Utah = Bottom Tier?
Not even close to being bottom tier…
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Oct 3, 2011 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions
With that anemic offense
They could very well fall into the bottom third of the PAC. They are clearly above OSU and Colorado, but I’m not convinced they could score enough against an Arizona or WSU to beat them. Time will tell I suppose.
I think it's mostly a matter of the sooner you get ranked, the sooner you can start moving up.
It doesn’t really matter now, but a higher ranking at the end of the year could help get UW into a better bowl game.
by Mind of no mind on Oct 3, 2011 6:55 PM PDT up reply actions
I am perfectly fine with Stoops making a continual ass of himself.
I’ve long believed that Stoops is a .500 coach whose ceiling is an 8-4 season every 4 or 5 years. If they keep him around at Zona it just helps the rest of the Pac. Coaches I don’t want to see fired include Stoops, Wulff, Neuheisel, and Kiffin. With those four in the conference we’re gonna win more than we lose against all of them.
Paul Wulff
I don’t mind the Cougs going 5-7 or even 6-6 and keeping Wulff. He is (at best) an above average coach but is capable of putting together some really crappy teams. The last thing I want is for the Cougs to get their own version of Sark and to become good. That would stress me out.
I don't understand the dis on Wulff.
He took over a crap situation, and he’s making lemonade.
Sark had and has considerably more resources at his disposal. Sark’s further along, and motoring right ahead, but Wulff is still making great progress. I think Wulff IS Wazzu’s version of Sark. Horses for courses, you know? Blue collar coach for a blue collar job.
by Hawnk on Oct 3, 2011 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
we'll see
The perfect scenario is for Pac-12 opponents to have mediocre coaches – ones that are clearly inferior to our staff, but also ones just good enough to avoid being fired and the risk that said program would actually hire a good coach.
Wulff took over a really bad situation, no question. And he’s brought in some talent – Tuel is good, Wilson is real good, Mizell could be good, Buchanon is good – but is he going to turn WSU into a consistently dangerous team to play? Jury is still out on that one…
I'd be happy to see WSU do well and then us beat them
So much more satisfying than just the expected slaughter.
by Edgar for Pres on Oct 3, 2011 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I know it's just smack talk but I can't resist,
It’s been a long time since there has been any expected slaughter in the Apple Cup.
UW is 5-4 in the last nine years with all but one game being decided by a touchdown or less.
"If you want your dreams to come true, don't sleep in."
Mike Stoops
The only coach to lose twice to Ty during his reign/ (rain) at UW
The Huskies… even lost to a [insert school name] squad which was then described as the worst team in conference history.
Sort of sums up every year under Willingham, doesn’t it?
by NeuroDawg on Oct 3, 2011 9:58 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
"which was then described as the worst team in conference history."
This part of that quote was directed at Stanford, not at Washington. That Stanford team was one of the worst teams ever seen on a field in this conference. I was at that game for every play and I remember Stanford looked like they had lost the game before they even took the field and then we just handed it to them and gave them a pat on the back.
That was the "Suddenly Senior" game
Willingham sealed the deal on the demise of his career that day with one of the stupidest, most selfish, and unintentionally totally self destructive acts in history of Husky football.
If he had won that game he likely would have taken the team to a bowl game and received an extension. In retrospect….thank god we lost!
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Oct 4, 2011 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Colorado after the bye week screams trap game.
Coming off a bye, heading in to Stanford at The Farm… The Huskies have every reason to be looking past this game as Colorado has proved completely toothless so far. Need to make sure not to pull an Oregon State and drop the easy game before the torture test.
Colorado is terrible and we are hungry
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Oct 3, 2011 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Hungry people tend to eat their own fist sometimes.
You’re proving my point for me!
by Drew_D on Oct 3, 2011 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I know what you mean
I’m not worried about them at all… which actually makes me kind of worried. On the other hand, Sark has yet to lose to a team they are heavily favored against. The close call against EWU will serve as a sufficient reminder to play hard every game.
Our biggest problem when we play Colorado will be pulling the Buffs off of themselves so that we can land a punch of our own.
Colorado is bad.
their secondary is in complete tatters
I think I read they are down six – SIX! – cornerbacks since the start of the season, and had to play a converted WR and a converted RB against WSU.
Keith Price and the receivers should be licking their chops…
The converted RB, senior Brian Lockridge, had never (ever) played defense before last Saturday.
by Bugs Dodger on Oct 3, 2011 1:04 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Here is an article on Colorado’s CB situation from today’s Denver Post.
And here is your Colorado Fun Fact for Monday: excluding wins over juggernaut Colorado State that were played in “neutral” Denver, the Buffaloes haven’t won on the road since October 27, 2007, when they beat the Red Raiders in Lubbock. That’s twenty straight losses outside of Colorado.
We are not good enough to take anyone lightly...
…but this doesn’t scream “trap” to me. Trap was Hawaii an we got past it
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
@chrislandon
Not worried about the CU Game
I think that Sark will have the Dawgs ready to play after the bye-week. Yes, we have Stanford coming up, but this is a great chance to heal and get players prepared for the Buffs. Beat them, and it will be a nice showdown against Stanford. Another measuring stick on where this team is in the PAC. But lets take care of business first.
Benno
I like that...The Washington Huskies...At Husky Stadium...
“A Decibel Nightmare”.
I want a sound simple win at CO, with no one getting hurt
Oregon is always tough, and Stanford will be a brutal game physically.
Kiffen is going to stick a cattle prod where it counts; he does NOT want to be the SC coach that gets tagged with a THIRD straight loss to Sark. He will get an earful that week . . . and so will the team.
The Pac 12...
It’s not getting any easier (or smaller) anytime soon. The good thing is we’ve got what hopefully is our only “ugly” game out of the way…lesson learned? Got a big road win-challenge (at altitude!) accomplished and off their backs…now, use this bye to heal and coach up some of the weaker links in the chain for the long run stretch of the schedule knowing much more about the guys strengths/weaknesses for the best possible roles for success…the coaches need to do some creative strategies to pull the max. out of a trip “to cut down a tree”..after taking care of the “Buffalo’s” first of course! “If” they get that done…I’ll be swimming in the Kool-aid …(“one week at a time”…)
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