Not included in this list of Nat. Championship contenders

[Michael K.]

I was just reminding everyone that Texas didn't have their 'entire' team in the bowl game. Us [University of Washington] did have our entire team for the bowl game.
-And the game was close-

I just don't remember it that way at all. And usually I am the one being overly worried and freaking out. We lead 13 to 3 at the half, and I recall being a bit upset because it seems we left points on the board. I just looked at the recap...we went 74 yards before the half and settled for three. Maybe that is what I remember? At one point in the second half it was 27 to 10. The first time that Texas got the ball needing only one score to tie was with 30 seconds left. Sorry, maybe you remember that game being close, I do not.

[Captain 97]

Keep in mind that this last year in the bowl game we only beat Texas by 7. And they had their #1 & #2 running backs out (to train for the draft). I'd say that if Texas would have had their 1 & 2 running backs playing we would not have won that game.

And those two backs are not on the team this year. They had 8 seniors starting on their defense last year that won't be back.
We return just about every impact player that was on the squad last year other than Kirkland.

I was just reminding everyone that Texas didn't have their 'entire' team in the bowl game. Us [University of Washington] did have our entire team for the bowl game.
-And the game was close-

It really wasn't close though. We were up 27-10 with less than 10 minutes left in the game and they kicked a garbage time field goal with 1:40 left to pull within 7. The game was never in doubt for the entire second half. Even if it was close, What does that have to do with how the teams are ranked this year?

[Michael K.]

Agree Cap. Like I said, the first time in the second half the Longhorns got the ball with a chance to score a TD to tie was with 30 seconds left. And I think the defense will be better this uear

[Walla Walla Dawg II]

UW allowed 127.5 yards rushing per game last year.
But Texas with their premier back(s) out for the bowl game had no impact.
Right.

Rushing affects time of possession.
Rushing affects how fresh the defense can be.
But Texas with their premier back(s) out for the bowl game had no impact.
Right.

Texas only had 51 yards of rushing.
I believe that had to do with their premier backs being out for the draft.

As for how close the game was......
I was never in doubt, but Texas was starting to figure it out the 2nd half.

The question was, are we better than Texas?
I guess the answer is; With their premier back out, yes.

Screenshot 2023-06-28 163309.jpg (102.7 KiB) Viewed 647 times

[Michael K.]

And ASU beats us while we were missing like 75% of our Defensive Backfield and we got torched. Teams miss players. Sark knew he was without his number one back and I really felt like he made zero adjustment for that. Seemed to me he thought we just couldn't stop them, regardless.

No one is debating that the #1 back was out, my debate was your statement that we barely beat them. That game never felt in doubt, to me. You are of course entitled to your opinion.

[Walla Walla Dawg II]

I too never felt the game was in doubt...but it was certainly closer than a snoozer. If they would have hit us with the passing game that they did in the 2nd half, we would have been in trouble.

As for our game against ASU....yeah, it was a bummer with a lot of our D missing. But attrition is part of the game. Having people sit out because they are "training" for the draft is absurd. That is no more than a child not wanting to eat the spinach that we prepared.

Just seeing the difference in the rushing stats.......there was a huge impact on the game because their running backs sat out.
-But you are allowed to have your own opinion as well-

[Michael K.]

I understand that sitting out is different than injured, but playing short handed is playing short handed. The reason the player isn’t on the field doesn’t change that the player isn’t on the field. That was my point.

It’s funny, I have always said it was our game against USC that cost Sark his job there. Just like while he was here, he had a dominate running game, and couldn’t stand it. Had to keep trying to make his QB he MVP, and we beat them. Sark was out not much longer. Then? He sticks with the run game too long against us when our defense struggles so much against the pass? Odd.

[D-train]

Huskies ranked 21st. F-ing joke

https://www.si.com/fannation/college/cf ... 023-season

[Walla Walla Dawg II]

Huskies ranked 21st. F-ing joke

https://www.si.com/fannation/college/cf ... 023-season

USC at is is a joke as well.
They lost their top 3 receivers,
And their defense sucked, and isn't going to get better.

[Captain 97]

I am confused about these "personnel holes" they feel we have on Defense. The only impact player we lost is Martin. I see no reason why this defense should be any worse than last year.