Countdown to kickoff (It's Game Day People !)

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://www.uwdawgpound.com/2016/8/27/12676898/day-7-trap-game
Day 7 - Trap Game
When will the Huskies be put to the test when they least expect it?

Rutgers Scarlet Knights
September 3rd, Husky Stadium
There's quite a bit riding on this game. The Huskies have pretty much won the "Off-Season Championship" and have the weight of massive expectations on their still-young shoulders. The not-off-base hype that the defense has been generating all summer has set the bar quite high in terms of how they open their season. Media, pundits, and many fans are expecting nothing less than a lights-out defensive performance against a Rutgers team coming off a 4-win season with a brand new head coach.

On the other side of the ball, the offense must be eager to prove that they've grown and can be counted on to not only be efficient and control the clock, but score when they need points. Jake Browning's freshman season provided a lot of optimism for the team's growth under his leadership, and many would like to see him toss at least a couple of TDs against Rutgers.

I have no doubt Chris Petersen knows how to get his team focused on the right things, but the lofty expectations and pressure to come out looking like a championship team in week 1 make this a game the Huskies would be wise not to sleep on, even for a second.

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://www.espn.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/102876/10-burning-questions-for-the-2016-pac-12-season
10 burning questions for the 2016 PAC-12 season

7. Is Washington ready for prime time?

Yes. Any team with the Pac-12’s best defense is a threat to do damage in the league. This year, Washington gets to add veteran pieces on offense into the mix. Quarterback Jake Browning isn’t a freshman anymore, and neither isMyles Gaskin, who was actually one of the top running backs in the country in the back half of 2015. Combine those two pieces with four returning offensive linemen, and it’s clear that the Huskies are a well-balanced team that’s ready for a relatively manageable schedule. -- Lombardi

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://www.uwdawgpound.com/2016/8/2...ankings-pre-season-oregon-stanford-washington
PAC-12 Football Roundup and Power Rankings: Pre-Season

3. Washington 0-0/0-0 (last poll: 5)
Last Result: Washington 44 v Southern Miss 31

The Huskies close out fall camp in as good shape healthwise as any other team in the PAC-12. That’s the good news. The bad news is that expectations are sky-high after an offseason of absurd hype (remember, I told you it was going to get crazy). Regardless of where you fall on the whole “is UW too hyped” debate, one can hardly argue that UW lacks the credentials to be ranked this high in a preseason power ranking. Their defense is an elite unit, they return one of just four starting PAC-12 QBs, their sophomore RB is a star by any measure, and they are graced by the return of the explosive John Ross. Oh, and there is the whole Chris-Petersen-is-a-god thing. While it sucks to not have the “sneak up on them” thing going on, the time is now for UW.

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://www.scout.com/college/washington/story/1700291-dawgman-com-s-pre-season-picks
Dawgman.com's Pre-Season Picks

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://www.bendbulletin.com/sports/4576227-151/washington-hopes-this-is-the-season-it-returns
Washington hopes this is the season it returns to prominence

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://nypost.com/2016/08/27/the-posts-college-football-top-25-no-1-just-keeps-reloading/
The Post’s college football Top 25: No. 1 just keeps reloading

12. Washington
The Huskies are young, but on the verge of breaking through. In addition to bringing back the top-scoring defense in the Pac-12 last season (18.8 points), Washington’s offense should improve behind sophomore quarterback Jake Browning, running back Myles Gaskin and wide receiver John Ross, who was injured all of last season. Year 3 of the Chris Petersen era could result in the school’s first season with double-digit wins in 16 years.

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://sports.mynorthwest.com/17865...es-strength-on-d-need-for-progess-on-offense/
Chris Petersen on Huskies’ strength on D, need for progress on offense


http://sports.mynorthwest.com/177108/brock-huard-is-high-on-the-no-11-husky-football-team/
Brock Huard’s five takeaways on the 14th-ranked Husky football team

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ollege-football-preseason-top-25-poll/page/11
Bleacher Report's Official 2016 College Football Preseason Top 25 Poll

17. Washington Huskies

Poll points: 146

2015 record: 7-6

2016 opener: Sept. 3 vs. Rutgers

At no point last season was Washington ranked in Bleacher Report's Top 25, landing a single vote midway through the year after winning at USC, but never again after that. Yet after winning their final three games of 2015 by an average of 31 points, the Huskies went into the offseason with a ton of momentum that continued to grow over the summer.

How much was Washington and its still-young offense—led by sophomore quarterback Jake Browning and sophomore running back Myles Gaskin—being discussed? Coach Chris Petersen has equated it to a current trend sweeping the world.

"We have as much hype as the new Pokemon game that no one knows anything about but thinks it's really cool," Petersen said at Pac-12 media days, per CoachingSearch.com. "That's us."

Will Washington be able to “catch 'em all?” For historical reference, it hasn't won more than nine games since 2000.

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/i...t_a_glance_10_things_to_know_about_rut.html#0

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://www.columbian.com/news/2016/aug/29/huskies-prep-for-season-of-lofty-expectations/
Huskies prep for season of lofty expectations
Different feel for UW’s opener after last two seasons

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/...-huskies-football-team-will-justify-the-hype/
Are the UW Huskies getting too much preseason respect?

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...otball-team-as-contender-or-pretender/page/13
Rating Each Top 25 College Football Team as Contender or Pretender

14. Washington

In two seasons at Washington, Chris Petersen has yet to live up to the lofty expectations that came with his hiring and the 92-12 record he compiled in eight seasons at Boise State. Washington is 15-12 under his guidance and had to win its last two games last fall just to sneak into a bowl game. But this looks like the year everything could change.

The Huskies return 17 starters, led by a strong offensive core that includes sophomore quarterback Jake Browning (2,955 yards, 16 touchdowns, 10 interceptions) and tailback Myles Gaskin, one of the nation’s top young backs following a 1,302-yard, 14-touchdown freshman campaign.

And the Pac-12’s top defense in 2015 returns eight starters, keyed by a secondary that has talented junior safety Budda Baker and All-Pac-12 cornerback Sidney Jones. Stanford and Southern California come to Seattle, while the Huskies must travel to Utah, Oregon and Washington State. They should, at the very least, challenge for a Pac-12 North title and a 10-win campaign.

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/...kwiatkowski-has-a-new-concern-for-uw-defense/
Coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski has a new concern for UW defense

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2016/08/30/pac-12-football-2016-bowl-projections/
PAC-12 football: 2016 bowl projections

Rose Bowl: Washington
Comment: Winner of the North, victor in the conference title game but denied a semifinal berth because of multiple losses.

 

[jerseyjustin]

The Hunt vs. The Pursuit

Two slogans enter, one will win (and still remain cheesy)

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/college/pac-12/university-of-washington/article98967677.html
Previewing PAC-12 football: Stanford, UCLA at the top


WASHINGTON HUSKIES

Coach: Chris Petersen, third year.

2015: 7-6 overall, 4-5 Pac-12

Starters returning: 16 (9 offense, 7 defense).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Budda Baker, FS, 5-10, 192, jr. — The backbone of UW’s defense, Baker was named first-team All-Pac-12 last season after finishing with 49 tackles and two interceptions. He can play anywhere in the secondary.

Jake Browning, QB, 6-2, 209, so. — Won UW’s starting QB job as a true freshman last season, then threw for 2,955 yards, 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 12 games.

Azeem Victor, LB, 6-3, 230, jr. — Led the Huskies’ stout defense last season with 95 tackles, including 9.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown.

Myles Gaskin, RB, 5-10, 195, so. — Was a revelation last season as a freshman, rushing for 1,302 yards and 14 touchdowns and averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

Sidney Jones, CB, 6-0, 181, jr. — First-team All-Pac-12 selection last season after leading the team with four interceptions, 14 passes defended, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

THE SKINNY

The Huskies are a trendy pick to win the Pac-12 this season, and while their offense is still something of a work in progress, it’s their defense that earns those headlines. They return seven defensive starters from a group that led the league in scoring defense, and their secondary is one of the deepest and most talented in the country. If Browning and the young offense continue to improve, it is reasonable to think this could be one of the Huskies’ best seasons in recent memory.

 

[RUforester72]

Hey Dawg:



[pfftt]

Go RU!!!!


And Go Ducks!!!!!!!!!

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

Hey Dawg:



[pfftt]

Go RU!!!!


And Go Ducks!!!!!!!!!

Go Yucks? Those are fightin words! :boxing:

 

[Extra Point]

Go Yucks? Those are fightin words! :boxing:

Non of us are rooting for the Ducks unless they are playing Penn State.

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

 

[JQRU91]

Slap me silly. I just realized this is the same thread and Dawg's only been changing the number in the title every day. :oops:

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

Slap me silly. I just realized this is the same thread and Dawg's only been changing the number in the title every day. :oops:

:joy:

 

[JQRU91]

:joy:

I wasn't paying that close attention to the thread, but kept wondering how the replies filled up so fast each day. Then I finally noticed the date on the first post. :weary:

 

[ho26rus]

:joy:

Are you really this desperate to be noticed?

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

Are you really this desperate to be noticed?

Explain that post and then we can take this discussion further.

 

[RUsince52]

Definitely a step ahead of us on parking. Looks like ALL the boats are in the blue lot with nice spacing too.

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

 

[AreYouNUTS]

gers.

I have no doubt Chris Petersen knows how to get his team focused on the right things, but the lofty expectations and pressure to come out looking like a championship team in week 1 make this a game the Huskies would be wise not to sleep on, even for a second.

Petersen is my #1 concern here. I can't recall his teams ever not being "prepared" - though I may be wrong - and would think a loss on Saturday wouldn't be due to not being ready. He's also the reason I've been so damn concerned about our LB situation.

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

Petersen is my #1 concern here. I can't recall his teams ever not being "prepared" - though I may be wrong - and would think a loss on Saturday wouldn't be due to not being ready. He's also the reason I've been so damn concerned about our LB situation.

I see a close game. I'm going with Washington taking it by a score of 27 - 13 .. and I hope I'm right because I put down a C-note on Rutgers when the spread was at 24.

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://www.uwdawgpound.com/2016/9/1/12737556/myles-gaskin-washington-huskies-football-profile
Rutgers Better Hope They Can Stop Washington's Myles Gaskin
Washington’s sophomore running back may be the biggest reason why the Huskies’ offense takes the next step in 2016.

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://www.pacifictakes.com/2016/9/1/12725514/the-husky-hype-highway
The Husky Hype Highway
Episode 1 - Rutgers vs. UW

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/...ing-with-keishawn-bierria-on-husky-headlines/
Podcast: Previewing UW vs. Rutgers, talking with Keishawn Bierria on ‘Husky Headlines’

 

[jlariv9]

I really feel that your team is going to lose dawg...seriously. I know you feel it too.