Anything is possible. I think this game will be a lot closer than what Vegas has it. I'm thinking Washington will end up anywhere from +10 to +13 next Saturday.
Seattle Times: Huskies’ beefy defensive line will leave little room for opponents to run
- Thread starter brodo
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I'll be pissed if Washington's offense chokes .. then I'll be pissed. That's Washington's Achilles heel atm and the Washington OC isn't big among UW fans. He called some flat out horrible games last season and he's on thin ice.
Some people don't realize it usually takes a new coach 3 - 4 years to get the recruiting pipeline full with his players. There's exceptions to the cause ... Tom Herman in Houston last season was one of them.
Our goal this year is to get to 6 wins and a bowl game. Anything after that is gravy.
Over the last 11 seasons (2005-2015) We've only missed a bowl game twice. 2010 (due to the impact Eric Legrand's injury had on the team) and 2015 (resulted in Flood's firing). Out of those 9 bowl games, we won all of them but 3 (2 of those losses coming under Flood because he was incompetent).
Until recently we had a tradition here of getting to and winning bowl games annually. It'd be nice to get back to that this year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Rutgers_Scarlet_Knights_football_seasons
Over the last 11 seasons (2005-2015) We've only missed a bowl game twice. 2010 (due to the impact Eric Legrand's injury had on the team) and 2015 (resulted in Flood's firing). Out of those 9 bowl games, we won all of them but 3 (2 of those losses coming under Flood because he was incompetent).
Until recently we had a tradition here of getting to and winning bowl games annually. It'd be nice to get back to that this year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Rutgers_Scarlet_Knights_football_seasons
Going bowling is a biggy. 15 extra practices along with TV exposure for future recruiting.
Yeah our OL hasn't played nasty and took over a game in quite some time. We saw spurts of it in 2014, especially in the 4th quarter vs. Michigan and vs. North Carolina in the bowl game and look at the outcome there. With likely three 5th year players and one 4th year starter in Dorian who is playing his best football I think we are going to go up there and run the ball with physicality. UW will make adjustments and force our QB to beat them although it won't be as easy to do as it was in the past since we (finally) won't be playing offense in a phone booth. Defensively our inexperienced back 7 won't be tested nearly as much as it was against Washington State who had a very good QB and athletes at WR coming out the ying-yang. Depth will be of concern. Can we effectively roll 8 to 9 DL in to try and slow down their stud back? I'm also worried about our kicking game. I think the 4-TD spread is too high but Vegas always knows something so I'm concerned.
For the Washington fans, who were the biggest graduation losses from last season and are there any guys out with injuries next week?
This is an excellent thread with great analysis. I think RU will be able to run on Washington's defense and will have some success stopping the run with RU's experienced DL. Expect a few big run plays for UW though because of RU's inexpienced LB's and their solid RB. I think final score 24-20 RU but it will be a great game that can go either way.
On defense I'm guess the both DE. On offense they loss a few guys who were statistical leaders like the #1, #2 and #4 leading receivers. One was WR (Jaydon Mickens-Oakland Raiders), another TE (Joshua Perkins-Detroit Lions) and the last one was a RB (Dwayne Washington-Atlanta Falcons). Add the 7th and 8th leading receivers to the list too. One graduated (Marvin Hall-Oakland Raiders) and the other (Isaiah Renfro) quit the team for personal reasons. I keep saying QB Jake Browning has fewer targets to throw to this year. We complain about Laviano not having Carroo, which situation would you rather have UW or our?
Both teams have dozens of questions that need to be answered, but the experts don't bother to look in depth on either team. They go on what they recall from each program over the years. UW has a history of being a good program, so the opinion is it's only a matter of time before they return to their position. Rutgers has an image problem they can't shake because the experts love to talk about it every opportunity. The best example I can think of for Rutgers is the ESPN B1G blog. The Rutgers preview is written as if the write copied it from some fan site and passed it off as his own. Meanwhile, Wisconsin and several of the other B1G programs gets detail breakdowns with videos.
Travis Feeney (LB) was a big time loss. He's with the Steelers now. Corey Littleton (LB) is with the Raiders. Those two led the team in tackles. Washington also lost a solid DE in Taniela Tupou who's now with the Seahawks. Those are the three biggest losses for Washington on defense. On the offensive side the ball, Washington lost two of it's three starting WR's due to graduation and both now play in the NFL. Dwayne Washington (RB) now plays for the Lions as rookie free agent.
The only player Washington lost this year due to injury is Constantine (LB) who broke his ankle last week and is out for the season. He was a 3rd stringer but he was a senior and he had experience. UW also lost a 2nd string WR this summer who quit football due to severe depression. He's been on a couple of talk shows including ESPN a few times talking about it.
I'm hearing Darrell Daniels may be better than Perkins at TE.
Huskies lost some people to graduation but have two receivers with great speed and potential returning from injury. There are also 2 or 3 freshmen who may play. In sum, the replacements are believed to be more talented than those that left. They won't have trouble passing the ball IF the Oline can give Browning time.
One player who hasn't been mentioned yet (I don't think) is Azeem Victor, one of the two inside linebackers. He is probably the real key in UW stopping the run. A huge hitter, he is also a real deterrent to receivers on short crossing routes. A first or second round NFL talent if he decides to leave (JR). He missed the fourth quarter of the USC game and the first half of Oregon due to a targeting penalty. UW gave up most of the running yards they allowed those two teams with him off the field.
Victor is a beast and the most dominating figure on UW's defense imo... UW could suffer losing Budda Baker but not Victor. What sucks is the odds of him sticking around for his senior year are about slim to none. LB's like him don't grow on trees.
Also all the experts follow the "Big Name" coaches and Washington gets all the love with their HC and Ash is a young pup and has yet to prove he is worthy, right there along with the name Rutgers puts us as a Big underdog.
the surprise was BTH analysis saying, "the cupboard was not bare when Ash took over" and "this is a very, very talented team"
Having followed RU for over a half of a century the morose mind set of many fans come to expect failure I.e. this is the mind set that permeates the Rutgers community both fans and players.
coach Ash gets it and can change the players mind set ( a few balls bouncing Rutgers way in this game could be the spark that lights the fire)
I know Ole RU fan talk but college kid respond to emotion, which is why college ball is so much more exciting to watch then the Pros.
Expect a good game hard fought on both sides and yes it may boil down to better coaching on game day. Their HC has a good record on that Ash is a BLANK slate
but our OC knows how to put up points
27 points or more will be needed to win this game just saying
If true that Washington O has struggles as no love for OC's play calling, this could be a tipping point as there is a full year of game film on him. and our OC ran Houston's O we are in a different type of spread and wrinkles can be our blessing
Hahaha! You're right, you got us Dawg. You guys have better hype videos. Truth is you don't. Anyone can try to pump people up with lame highlights and dumb overplayed songs like that Seven Nation Army crap, which every student section in America bounces to at some point during their home games. OR, you can get 'em with REAL genuine emotion, like this phuckin' masterpiece, put out by our athletic dept. in the offseason. Now THIS generates real authentic hype. Makes me wanna gear up TONIGHT for Dear Old Rutgers:
But you're right, our hype videos suck. Whatever you say chief.
:boxing:
Lose the rap / hip hop crap in those vids and you'll be just fine. btw I like that one. No rap. :)
Keep in mind most of the "rap" stuff are fan-made vids. ;)
All Washington has atm is fan made vids because the UW sports dept. is being a bunch of cheap pricks.
