Seems like people forgot about last season quickly. I fully believe we will see progress simply by the fact that we seem to now have a competent coaching staff and our best defensive player back. With that said, this team is throwing 3 linebackers with ZERO experience out there, a secondary that is still feeling the effects of last year, a mediocre QB at best and scary depth. That and the whole travel across the country to play a team with some serious potential and a coach with a great resume.
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Mark Schlabach of ESPN just put up a post spring "way too early" top 25 with Washington at #17. Yes, these things are ridiculous and never right at the end of the season. However, if the actual preseason polls have Washington that high it's only good for RU. Beating a ranked opponent is always great and losing to one somehow doesn't suck as much as losing to an unranked team from a perception standpoint.
Agreed. Here's what Schlabach had to say about the huskies:
http://espn.go.com/college-football...-tigers-move-post-spring-way-too-early-top-25
Post-spring outlook: After losing six games in each of coach Chris Petersen's first two seasons in Seattle, the Huskies look more than ready to make a move in the Pac-12 North. Sophomore quarterback Jake Browning spent the spring trying to improve his deep balls, and he was helped by the return of speedster John Ross III, who missed the 2015 season with a torn ACL in his left knee. The offensive line, which surrendered 34 sacks last season, also is getting somewhat of a makeover, with Coleman Shelton moving from right guard to center. Of course, Washington's Rose Bowl hopes are riding on its defense, which led the Pac-12 in scoring defense (18.8 points per game) in 2015.
Ross III is an absolute weapon. Ross III, in 2014, had 7 TD's averaging 75 yards PER TD on the season. Yes, yes, they DID "lose their top 2 WR's" however here's what those 2 guys did:
- combined for 1200 yards
- combined for 5 TD's.
Our top guy did 800+ yards and 10 TD's so can we PLEASE stop bringing this up? Thanks!
Seems like a fair number to this outsider.
Washington is supposed to be pretty good this year and they have the best defense in the Pac-12, plus it's on the road and Husky Stadium is notoriously one of the toughest places to play in the country. Plus you have a brand new coach (not just new at your school, but never been a HC before, anywhere). It seems reasonable to expect a few kinks will need to be worked out early on. And there is also the fact that RU was just a bad football team last year.
I don't gamble, but if I was forced to pick a side here, I would take UW and lay the points.
Washington is supposed to be pretty good this year and they have the best defense in the Pac-12, plus it's on the road and Husky Stadium is notoriously one of the toughest places to play in the country. Plus you have a brand new coach (not just new at your school, but never been a HC before, anywhere). It seems reasonable to expect a few kinks will need to be worked out early on. And there is also the fact that RU was just a bad football team last year.
I don't gamble, but if I was forced to pick a side here, I would take UW and lay the points.
Doesn't the old Boise coach work in Washington now? Alaska Guy, on the main rival boards, is always gushing about them. Ash gets out of that game with a W, it could set you up for a nice run. I was messing in other thread, but I am actually interested in who will be the better first year coach.....Ash or Durkin.
Personally, it would be cool if those 2 plus Franklin can hang around a few yrs. Should make this division the best in CFB if so.
More positive press for Washington: https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/05/11/college-why-washington-is-a-dark-horse-playoff-contender-in-2016/
A quote from that article:
A quote from that article:
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