Codaxx

I dont think that is correct. College football playoff participants have an additional 5 day window in January..

I think your Ewers comp is solid. Penix is athletic enough to hurt you, if you forget about him. He isnt going to hurt you consistently. Maybe get the one change of pace QB draw or a scramble, but it wont be much more than that.

Very interested in what new sub packages PK comes up with. He has a lot of time and they get a month of practice. Could this be a breakout for a guy like Bledsoe, who maybe the best interior rusher for Texas. Does he install a Dime package? No idea what PK will do, but I am sure there will be some wrinkle we have not seen.

probably reading too much into this, but with Andrews not visiting, I will pencil Smith into the class.

I wouldnt get to fixated on 96th in total pass defense. That number is inflated, due to the Texas rush defense. Texas has seen 464 pass attempts, only 3 teams have seen more in the nation (Liberty, Oregon, and Washington). Yards per attempt Texas is 29th in the country (Washignton 25th). 33rd in passer rating allowed (Washington 30). Those are probably better measures.

Here is a quick breakdown using Pts per Drive (unadjusted) Michigan: 3.61 pts (5th) ..defense: 0.81 pts (1st) Texas: 2.98 pts (14th).. defense 1.45 (13th) Washington: 3.45 pts (6th).. defense 2.03 (45th) Bama: 2.80 pts (25th)... defense 1.64 (19th) https://www.bcftoys.com/2023-ppd/

Which probably means the winner of this game, like most big games, will be the team that can run ball.. all the BS in this thread is mostly about the passing games (mine included), but the bowl game was decided by Washington’s ability to run the ball

I haven’t watched a ton of Washington, but teams have had success bringing second level blitzes up the middle. That is a lot different than bringing a safety down to help vs the run.

I think you need to figure this out in your head first.. Are you mad that Sark dumped Washignton for USC or do you think Sark is a shitty coach. Both things cant be true

Browns fans watched Belichick closely. Michigan State fans watched Saban closely. I am not saying Sark will end up like those, but lets not pretend the 2023 Sark is the same as the 2013 Sark

Keep in mind I think Penix has been in the system for 5-6 years, so he has had a QB at Washington that has run the system longer than 80% of NFL QBs (that estimate is probably low)

Washington throws a lot of quick game and a ton of deep balls. Texas throws a ton of shot passes and more intermediate. Texas has a more developed screen game from my limited viewing. My point was both are pass first, big play offenses. You start to creep up on the short game and the ball will go over your head. Key is to be able to stop the run with honest boxes. If you cant, it is near impossible to stop either offense (barring a bad day from the QB/penalties). You will have to disguise and mix coverages. Both QBs will kill you, if they can just sit back and hit their 1st option.

Texas passes to open up the run. Sark has been quite open about that. Texas is not a team that just runs people over. Red Zone struggles are good evidence of that. Texas is more committed to finishing games with the run, than Washington.

MIchigan has a NFL QB. He was also banged up later in the year. They may lack at WR, but have excellent TEs. Michigan has not needed to throw the ball. McCarthy is completed 74% of his pass for 9.2 yards per with almost a 5 to 1 TD/int ratio.

MIchigan has a NFL QB. He was also banged up later in the year. They may lack at WR, but have excellent TEs. Michigan has not needed to throw the ball. McCarthy is completed 74% of his pass for 9.2 yards per with almost a 5 to 1 TD/int ratio.

Both teams are pass first. They run the ball effectively, because the get advantageous numbers. The key is stopping the run with light to honest boxes. If you have to bring a safety down to help with the run, you are toast.

Washington WR have an amazing catch radius. Odunze is 1 of the best 50/50 ball WRs in the nation and the others are also very good. The key for both defenses is pretty similar. The team that can make the opposing QB uncomfortable will likely win this game. That means getting pressure. Just as important is taking away the #1 option. Both QBs will dice you up, if you let them throw to their #1 option. Make them hold the ball and go through progressions and you have a chance. Both QBs have big arms and can get sloppy with their footwork (throwing off their backfoot).

Offensively, Washington and Texas are very similar. Both are big play offenses. Both are reliant on the passing game. Washington pass game is almost a perfect barbell. They throw a ton short and long.

Washington is elite on offense. They have a NFL QB and 3 NFL Wrs, They have arguably the best set of skill players in the playoffs. The OL isnt a mauling, scary OL like Michigan, but they dont give up sacks. I highly doubt that Texas stops Washington. I would be very happy, if Texas held Washington to 24 pts.

Moneylien is Texas -185 and Washington +150.. Take out the vig and its something like Texas has a 62% chance to win.

Here are the 2 passing defenses Games ATT Comp PCt Yards Yards/Att TD Int Rating Washington 13 521 311 59.7 3421 6.6 22 16 122.64 Texas 13 464 278 59.9 3131 6.7 19 16 123.2 They are almost identical. I would disagree on well rounded. I think Michigan is the most complete team in these playoffs.

Not the greatest write up I have read Harris was in his first season with the Chargers after serving as a defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Georgia Southern in 2022. That year, the Eagles had one of the worst defenses in the FBS, though their roster and talent level was a significant reason why. Harris spent the prior four seasons coaching defensive backs at Washington where his units ranked among the best in the Pac-12. In fact, during the 2021 season, Washington allowed just 1,720 yards passing and six touchdowns through the air — both fewest in the nation — while grabbing 10 interceptions. His Huskies secondary units included first-round NFL Draft choice Trent McDuffie and second-round pick Kyler Gordon among multiple All-Pac-12 first- and second-team selections. While Harris was the secondary coach at Washington, the unit was largely led by former Huskies head coach Jimmy Lake. Therefore, it’s tough to say who deserves credit for its success, though it’s notable the unit regressed following Lake’s departure. https://www.onlygators.com/12/10/2023/florida-football-chargers-assistant-will-harris-set-to-be-hired-as-next-gators-defensive-backs-coach/

There should be a thread and polls for the Surly Awards..

Those are teams with nothing to lose. Texas seemed to make the proper adjustments to the 3 high as the season progressed. Mostly throwing out of power looks. This is the playoffs. You make tweaks and some changes, but completely changing your identity is very risky. I also dont see Washington adapting a strategy designed to slow the game down. That would seem to be counter-productive to their chances to win

3 high safety look that pretty much every Big 12 team tried vs Texas this year. Sard and Ewers are definitely familiar with the look at this pt. I dont know if Washington runs it, but installing a new philosophy in a month for your defense is a bit sketchy.