Game Week Thread Week 14, 2023, Texas v Washington, College Football Playoff Edition

[tokamak 6391]

SIAP. Big 12 coaches on Texas via The Athletic:

Spoiler

Texas vs. Washington: Big 12 coaches praise Steve Sarkisian, Longhorns’ skill players

Bruce Feldman

Dec 20, 2023

All year long, it’s been said that Texas might not be back, but Texas is different. Well, The Athletic interviewed 11 Big 12 coaches (they were granted anonymity to scout candidly) who have played the Longhorns this year, and their consensus is the Longhorns are indeed back. They were effusive in their praise for head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff as they evaluated how No. 3 Texas stacks up against No. 2 Washington in the Sugar Bowl, a College Football Playoff semifinal.

“It’s the best Texas team I’ve seen in years,” said a Big 12 offensive analyst. “It’s not even close. Outside of the talent, it’s the most disciplined, as well as the toughest. They were always gonna be the most talented, but we always thought we’d be the tougher team and we could get to them mentally.

“I think they’re very disciplined, more so than they’ve ever been. That’s a great compliment to Sark.”

Scouting the defensive tackles: The root of success

Sarkisian has always been an offensive whiz, but the identity of this team is rooted in Texas’s dominant defensive tackles. The Longhorns are No. 4 in the country in run defense, allowing 80.9 yards per game. Two years ago, Texas ranked No. 114.

“You can’t run the ball on them because of their defensive tackles,” said one Big 12 staffer. “You can’t run the ball inside on those guys. Don’t even try it. They change the math on you. (T’Vondre) Sweat is like 360 and can move the way he can? It doesn’t make sense. If you spend two to block him, he’s gonna beat the double team. They have four (defensive tackles) and none of them suck. They haven’t recruited great everywhere, but they’ve recruited great there.

“Oklahoma State wanted to run the ball because that’s what they’re good at, and they couldn’t. K-State kept trying to run it on them because that’s who they are, and they couldn’t.”

Kansas State had at least 138 rushing yards in every other game this season. Against Texas on Nov. 4, the Wildcats gained 30 yards on 29 carries. They’d averaged at least 3.9 yards per carry in every other game but finished at just 1.0 against Texas. In the Big 12 Championship Game, Oklahoma State was held to a season-low 31 rushing yards, and All-American running back Ollie Gordon II, who entered the championship averaging more than 6.5 yards per carry, averaged 2.6 yards on 13 carries.

The 6-foot-4, 362-pound Sweat, a former three-star recruit who has blossomed into a potential first-round NFL prospect, has made 42 tackles with eight TFLs and seven QB hurries. Junior Byron Murphy II is even more disruptive. He’s produced eight TFLs, five sacks and seven QB hurries.

“I can’t imagine two better than (Murphy and Sweat),” said a Big 12 defensive line coach who recruited both and marveled at Sweat’s transformation from a defensive end prospect. “(Sweat) was 249 pounds back then. He was good, a skilled edge guy. He’s always been nimble and agile, but now he’s just so much larger. Murphy plays nasty and with leverage.”

“Sweat is one of the biggest dudes I’ve ever played,” said a long-time Big 12 O-line coach. “(Murphy) is different. He was one of the hardest guys to block we’ve faced. He’s actually more of a problem. I’d rather play against (Sweat) than (Murphy). Texas is so strong up the middle with the defensive tackles and (linebacker Jaylan Ford).”

Ford, a senior, made 119 tackles with 10 TFLs last year. This season, he has 91 tackles, 10.5 TFLs and two interceptions.

“You can tell he’s a smart player,” said the O-line coach. “He is always in the right spot.” Five-star freshman Anthony Hill Jr., a 6-foot-3, 235-pounder former high school sprint champion, has wowed rival coaches. He’s made 63 tackles with 7.5 TFLs and five sacks, two of them against Alabama.

“That kid is a hell of a talent,” said the offensive line coach. “Texas has some real dudes in that front seven.”

Sophomore Ethan Burke has become a productive edge rusher with 8.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks. “He has really come into his own,” said a Big 12 offensive analyst. “They play hard. (Defensive coordinator) Pete (Kwiatkowski) has them disciplined.”

The line coach said he can’t wait to see the matchup between the Texas defensive front and the Washington offensive line.

“I think Washington’s line is frickin’ good,” he said. “(Offensive line coach) Scott Huff does a hell of a job. With Texas, I think you gotta scheme ’em, get ’em moving and get ’em tired. If you go slow, they’re really tough. You gotta go fast to wear ’em out.”

Scouting the secondary: Some issues could arise

Coaches think the Longhorns will have issues in the back end, especially against an explosive Huskies offense featuring quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and three stud wideouts.

“Their secondary is the one thing you can take advantage of,” said a Big 12 staffer.

“I’m not impressed with that secondary,” said a Big 12 defensive backs coach who has seen a lot of the Texas defense on crossover film. “If you can protect up front, you can get yards against these dudes. I do think (freshman) Malik Muhammad (28 tackles, four passes broken up, one INT) will be damn good. He’s physical and very smart.”

“I wouldn’t call their DBs a weak link,” said a Big 12 analyst, “but they can get exposed a little bit.” The coach said Ryan Watts, a senior cornerback, is really long and physical but “handsy and is a little stiff.” Safety Jerrin Thompson is a “leader” who gets everything lined up. But: “The most talented one is Muhammad. We all wanted him.”

Most of the coaches pointed out that Texas really didn’t have to face a bunch of explosive passing attacks. It did face Oklahoma and Dillon Gabriel, and that was the one game it lost.

“Washington throws it downfield better than OU does — and they have a lot better receivers,” said a Big 12 staffer. “ I’m curious to see how those Texas DBs hold up.”

Scouting QB Quinn Ewers: Overhyped?

Four years ago, Quinn Ewers was the highest-rated QB prospect the online recruiting services had ever evaluated. He began his career at Ohio State but was deep on the bench before transferring home to Texas. He had some good moments in 2022, particularly his play in a quarter against Alabama, where he lit up the Tide defense before he left the game with a shoulder injury.

He was inconsistent the rest of that season but had a terrific offseason, got into much better shape and came back more mature. The Texas quarterback has taken a good step forward in 2023. His completion percentage has jumped from 58 percent to 71 percent. He’s thrown 21 TDs and six INTs, but he is a polarizing topic among the coaches who have faced him this year.

“I’m not very high on him,” said a Big 12 defensive backs coach. “He can make every throw, but he’s been overhyped. The pieces around him are very good. Sometimes you watch him and you’re like, ‘Dude, what are you doing?’”

“I don’t think he’s an elite NFL prospect from what I’ve seen,” said a Big 12 staffer. “But for what Texas is doing, I don’t think he has to be. It’s just distributing the ball and not putting it in jeopardy. He plays so calm and cool. I think you can tell when their script ends — maybe it’s 20 plays or whatever. He feels good about it and goes out there and lets it rip. (After that) it seems like his aggression or confidence is gone. Maybe he gets gun-shy or maybe that’s what they tell him. Don’t take unnecessary risks.”

“Kids get hyped and it can be unfair to them. But I think he is a really good player,” said a Big 12 offensive analyst. “Sometimes you have to go through some learning and bumps, but he’s matured and from the outside looking in, I think he’s handled it well.

“He can make some throws with pressure in his face. I think he’s a tough kid who doesn’t get rattled easily. It’s cool to see that kid’s progress. People wanted him to be Pat Mahomes at 18. Pat got better and better and better. That’s a lot to put on an 18-year old.”

“I think, to some degree, he’s overrated,” said a defensive coordinator who played Texas in the first half of the season. “The (Texas) skill makes him. He doesn’t make the skill.”

Scouting the offense: Great skill players behind a great O-line

Texas has a deep, talented collection of receivers. Xavier Worthy leads the Longhorns with 73 catches for 969 yards and five TDs. Georgia transfer Adonai Mitchell is another talented wideout and ranks second with 51 catches for 813 yards and a team-high 10 TDs. Ja’Tavion Sanders, a dynamic tight end, is a matchup nightmare. He averages 16 yards per reception on 39 catches. Jordan Whittington (38 catches for 435 yards) is another player Ewers has much faith in.

“I think the Whittington kid makes them go,” said one Big 12 head coach. “He’s the dirty work guy, and he’s fully bought into his role.”

“The most impressive thing about Texas offensively is the perimeter skill,” said a defensive coordinator who faced UT in the first half of the season. “What makes them a tough out will be that these teams will try to cover them and play their defense as they normally do, but their receivers are close to uncoverable, so it’s best to work to eliminate big perimeter plays and make them work and bog them down. Alabama couldn’t cover them, and if they played again, the Tide still couldn’t.”

“A.D. (Mitchell) is elite athletically,” said a Big 12 staffer. “But I was more scared of Worthy personally because of his speed and elusiveness. (Sanders) is also a matchup nightmare. Those three scare the s— out of you.”

“They have the best receivers we’ve seen in two years,” said a Big 12 defensive analyst. “Those guys are great.”

Texas’ skill group would be even more dangerous if sophomore running back Jonathon Brooks (1,139 rushing yards to go with 25 receptions) wasn’t lost for the rest of the season due to an ACL injury suffered in mid-November.

“Brooks was really good,” said a Big 12 secondary coach. “He was so dynamic, but the guys behind him are also really good.”

CJ Baxter has rushed for 595 yards and went for 117 against Iowa State, which trailed only Texas in run defense in the Big 12. Jaydon Blue ran for 339 yards, including 121 yards against Texas Tech.

It helps that Texas has its best offensive line in more than a decade.

“They look like an SEC West team,” said a Big 12 defensive line coach. “They’re really big and well-coached. They want to pound you in the run game. I know people see the receivers and think of Sark as this guy who loves to take big shots, but the main thing they want to do is pound you.

“You saw it in that first game against Alabama. (Left tackle Kelvin) Banks is the most talented one. He gets his hands on you from a distance and he doesn’t panic.”

Sarkisian’s rep as a play caller is something that most of the coaches brought up. Each said it’s very deserving. Texas does lead the nation in scoring against ranked opponents, averaging 38 points per game. Coaches said Sarkisian has a great feel for knowing how to attack coverages and that he’s very creative, especially with how he uses his players and motions to force defensive movement.

“He has little-to-no tendencies,” said one Big 12 defensive analyst. “If he has one, he breaks it the next week. His in-game adjustments are elite. We played a stack man concept to a route we thought was coming and he had a counter that we had never seen that was something off an And1 mix tape. He’s patient in his play calling as he leans on the run game and perimeter pass game and is very calculated when he takes shots.

“In my opinion, the fact he didn’t get Big 12 Coach of the Year was as big a snub as I’ve seen considering the job he’s done with this team. The sad part is, it’s the coaches that vote on this, so it tells you it’s more about Texas leaving the conference than who is the most deserving coach.”

Who wins: Texas or Washington?

With almost a month to prepare for Washington, coaches expect Sarkisian to be at his creative best to get the Longhorns off to a fast start.

“You know Sark is gonna come out with some s—,” said a Big 12 assistant. “Him starting off games is as good as anybody.”

A Big 12 defensive analyst said that, for as much respect as he has for Sarkisian and for Texas’ talent, he does have some doubt about the Longhorns’ resolve under pressure. “The Big 12 ain’t close to the SEC,” the coach said. “Oklahoma, who I think is just OK, beat ’em. I don’t know how great they’ll be in adverse situations.”

Worth noting: In the past two seasons, Texas is 5-6 in games decided by seven points or less and 5-5 against ranked opponents. Washington is 10-1 in games decided by a touchdown or less and 9-0 vs. Top 25 teams.

 

[thunderlounge 7813]

https://collegefootballplayoff.com/news/2023/5/2/24-25-dates.aspx

 

[jw4381 3069]

I watched last year's game with UW. It was a super close game. Worthy dropped 2 touchdown passes on 2 consecutive plays. No sacks on Penix. 7 point win. Neither of the 2 things mentioned in the last 2 sentences are going to happen this time around. 

I'll be interested to see the chess match between Deboer and Sark. They are both at the top of their historical games.

That being said:

We're going to kick their ass.

If you want to feel some confidence, watch last year's game, and the Tech and OSU games from the end of this year.

UW troll idoits: Bring it bitches.

 

 

[El Squared 1800]

WTF: House money, let your nuts hang! That’s all.

Edited December 21, 2023 by El Squared

[ShowmeyourTDs 1141]

On 12/19/2023 at 11:12 PM, ousux said:

On 12/19/2023 at 10:04 PM, troph said:

I’ll admit. We just finished watching pulp fiction like 30 mins ago. I’m feeling a little bit of the Wolf, Jules pre-divine intervention, and maybe a few others. Not quite Samurai sword Butch or Marcellus with a shot gun though.

Damn, just reminded me I'm running out of time. Pulp Fiction is one of my once a year movies I have stashed on an SSD. 2001 a Space Odyssey, The Fifth Element, Blade Runner directors cut and Apocalypse Now are in there as well but already watched.

Good list, but I will raise you one 13th Warrior.

[Beau Vine 54203]

Quote

Ask rival coaches in the Pac-12 about Washington, and almost all come back to the same larger point about this Huskies team: They just know how to win.

That seems like it would be an obvious point, considering two of the four teams in the College Football Playoff are undefeated and the other two are 12-1. But this vibe goes a little deeper for Kalen DeBoer’s team.

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The nine Pac-12 coaches The Athletic interviewed for this scouting report, who were granted anonymity in exchange for candid opinions, admitted they expected Oregon to beat Washington in their rematch in the Pac-12 Championship Game. And yet, once again, the Huskies found a way to win.

The power of belief, resiliency and complete buy-in is a real thing in sports, especially with college teams.

GO DEEPER

Big 12 coaches on Texas vs. Washington: 'The best Texas team' in years

Scouting the team chemistry: ‘It’s the biggest thing’

“The biggest thing with these guys is that they know how to win,” said one Pac-12 offensive line coach. “Look at how many close games they’ve won. That’s really cool. They keep grinding, believing. Honestly, I thought Oregon would get after them (in the rematch). I was surprised. You gotta give those guys a lot of credit.”

“They’re on a 20-game win streak,” said a Pac-12 wide receivers coach. “We tend to forget that. It wasn’t always pretty, but they found a way to win. It’s hard to win games. That’s a true testament to their culture and the players in that locker room who have ice in their veins.”

Over the past two years, the Huskies are 10-1 in games decided by a touchdown or less and 9-0 vs. Top 25 teams. DeBoer is 11-1 all-time against ranked opponents. Another Pac-12 O-line coach said he was “shocked” when Washington, almost a 10-point underdog, beat Oregon again.

“It felt like those last three or four games they were holding on,” he said. “But then, they went out and whipped Oregon. It takes a lot of balls to win the way they’re winning. There’s something to be said about that. I think (DeBoer) is such a damn good football coach. I would not count those guys out.”

“They just have a special chemistry with all the pieces aligning,” said a Pac-12 defensive analyst. “I think they have this special camaraderie with all the vets on their team who decided to come back for one more year.”

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Scouting the offense: ‘It just keeps humming’

After having the nation’s No. 113 offense in yards per play in 2021, the year before DeBoer took over, Washington improved dramatically last year to No. 10 and led the country in passing. In the offseason, Nick Saban tried to hire offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, who opted to remain in Seattle, and things have kept humming for the Huskies. They’re up to No. 5 in yards per play and again lead the nation in passing. They’re also third in plays of 30 yards or longer with 41.

“They can score on anybody,” said one Pac-12 head coach. “That’s where they’re dangerous. They take a ton of shots downfield.”

“They’re so well-coached and do such a good job with formations and protections,” said a Pac-12 defensive analyst. “It’s very difficult to effectively blitz them. Credit to those coaches for making it so difficult with the way they position their receivers, tight ends and running backs in a non-normal alignment. They shift all over the place pre-snap.

“They’re one of the slowest operations in our conference. If you are bringing pressure, they get to a look that kinda blocks it up. They build those shot opportunities with all their shifts, dummy hard-counts. They get you on your heels because you’re always trying to adjust.”

 

QB Michael Penix Jr. was the Heisman Trophy runner-up. (Joe Nicholson / USA Today)

Scouting Michael Penix Jr.: ‘Ridiculously accurate’

In Michael Penix Jr., Washington has a strong-armed quarterback playing with a lot of confidence. Penix is connecting on 66 percent of his passes, and that’s with a lot of tough downfield throws. His TD-to-INT ratio is 33-to-9.

“It’s really impressive how tight that ball spins coming out of his hand and with all the different throws he can make,” said the defensive analyst. “He takes a lot more downfield throws. He’s as talented a quarterback as I’ve seen with touch on the ball.”

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“He gets it out fast and I thought he was ridiculously accurate down the field,” said a Pac-12 line coach. “It’s like a lot of those throws he makes are indefensible.”

“There’s not a throw he can’t make,” said a Pac-12 receivers coach. “That thing spins, man. It’s nice, light, catchable. Does a good job of buying extra time, sliding around and he has so much trust in his guys.”

It’s also hard to choose which is the better group Penix is working with between the O-line and the receivers. Both are elite and make rival coaches gush.

GO DEEPER

SEC coaches on Bama vs. Michigan: Can the Wolverines score on the Tide D?

Scouting the WRs

In Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk, the Huskies have two 1,000-yard receivers. Odunze, who clocked a 4.34-second 40-yard dash and a 4.19 pro agility shuttle time this offseason, has 81 receptions for 1,428 yards and 13 touchdowns. Polk has 60 catches for 1,000 yards and eight TDs.

But the most dynamic of the Huskies’ big three is Jalen McMillan, who was slowed by a knee injury this season and has 34 catches for 468 yards and three touchdowns. McMillan looked ready to roll by the end of the season, as he led the Huskies in the Pac-12 title game with nine catches for 131 yards. In 2022, he led the team with nine TD grabs and also had 1,098 receiving yards.

McMillan, who has a baseball background, tracks the ball incredibly well. He also has elite short-area quickness. Polk has exceptionally strong hands and makes a lot of plays against double coverage. “He’s their muscle,” said a Pac-12 receivers coach. Odunze is ultra-competitive and is terrific after the catch.

“Rome is very good at contested catches and he is really physical at the top of the route,” said the defensive analyst. “They’re all so good at the battle for the ball. They’re causing DBs to get PIs (pass interference).”

Germie Bernard, a sophomore transfer from Michigan State, is another weapon.

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“They feed off of each other,” said the receivers coach. “Bernard’s playing well too, and he’s good in the return game or they’ll hand it to him and run sweeps. Any of them can beat you. The other thing a lot of people don’t talk enough about is what they do up front. The last two years they have been just as good as anyone.”

Scouting the O-line: ‘Incredibly athletic’

Washington allowed just 11 sacks in 13 games and ranks No. 2 in the FBS, behind only Oregon, in sack rate allowed at 2.2 percent, per TruMedia. Left tackle Troy Fautanu was honored with the Morris Trophy as the Pac-12’s top offensive lineman. At 6 feet 4, 315 pounds, Fautanu is a 400-pound bencher who ran a 5.1 40 and vertical-jumped almost 30 1/2 inches.

“Their O-line is incredibly athletic,” said the defensive analyst. “Fautanu is extremely athletic and plays with tenacity. He has a real edge.” Right tackle Roger Rosengarten, at 6-6, 300 pounds, is also really good and considered a terrific technician. Parker Brailsford, a 6-2, 280-pound redshirt freshman, made second-team All-Pac-12 at center.

A Pac-12 offensive line coach said Fautanu and Rosengarten are the best two tackles in the Pac-12, particularly as it pertains to pass protection, but he did also note that the Huskies will be facing much bigger and better D-lines in the Playoff.

“I don’t think they’ve played a defensive front like what they’re about to see (with Texas),” said the coach. “The best front we have in the Pac-12 was UCLA and then probably Oregon, but they’re not what Texas and Michigan have, or probably what Alabama has.”

Scouting RB Dillon Johnson: ‘He’s become the difference’

The other underrated aspect of the offense is Dillon Johnson, their running back, who is third in the Pac-12 in rushing with 1,113 yards and 14 TDs. In games against ranked opponents, the Mississippi State transfer averaged 108 yards per game.

“They’ve become so much more balanced in the last month,” said one Pac-12 head coach. Johnson has rushed for 683 yards and eight TDs in the past five games.

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“He runs so hard,” said a Pac-12 receivers coach. “He has really good balance. He’s always moving forward, getting four and five yards a pop on first down. To me, he’s become the difference.”

Scouting the defense: ‘Not dominant, but still solid’

The defense, ranked No. 67 in yards per play (up from No. 70 last year), is not what it was the last time Washington made the CFP in the 2016 season, when Vita Vea and Greg Gaines anchored a stout front and Budda Baker led a star-studded secondary.

“It ain’t like they have those freak shows they used to have back there, “ said a Pac-12 offensive line coach. “They’re not dominant on that side of the ball, but they’re still pretty solid. (Bralen Trice) is a really good player. Take away what his stats say (8.5 TFLs, five sacks), he is really disruptive and shows up on tape. He can line up anywhere.”

Trice, a junior, is probably not quite as well known nationally as the other edge player, Zion Tupuola-Fetui (“ZTF”), but he is the player most of the competition worried about more. Trice was named a first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus.

ZTF is 20 pounds lighter, but he’s still a slippery guy to block. He broke out in 2020, making seven TFLs and three forced fumbles in a pandemic-shortened season that was only four games for Washington. This year, he’s made five TFLs and three sacks.

“The ends are really good,” said another Pac-12 O-line coach. “They’re physical and big. They’ll get after you. Their inside guys are just stout. If you just want to take ’em on straight, they can lock on you.”

The leader of the defense is sixth-year former walk-on Edefuan Ulofoshio, who has 83 tackles and six TFLs. He’s missed only nine tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. “He’s super smart and is their quarterback,” said a Pac-12 receivers coach.

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Linebackers Alphonzo Tuputala and Carson Bruener are also very solid. “I think they’re OK at linebacker, better than average … and average in the secondary,” said a Pac-12 head coach.

“If you’re looking for a weakness on the defense, we thought it was their corners,” said a Pac-12 receivers coach. “If your front can protect, they can be had.”

Another Pac-12 receivers coach agreed that the Huskies cornerbacks are where they’re probably most vulnerable, though he did say that he thinks “they’re good around them.”

Washington did allow the most plays of 30 yards or more in the Pac-12 (26), which ranked No. 123 in the country. It’s something Steve Sarkisian, with a strong-armed quarterback and a dangerous group of receivers in his own right, will definitely look to exploit.

GO DEEPER

Big Ten coaches on Michigan vs. Bama: J.J. McCarthy needs 'game of his life'

Who wins: Washington or Texas?

Most of the coaches we spoke to said they could see this one going either way but leaned toward Texas.

“I think Texas will present different problems for them that teams in our league couldn’t,” said a Pac-12 head coach. “Those two inside guys (T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy) are a lot better than any (defensive tackles) in the Pac-12, and I don’t think Washington is particularly strong there.

“They’ll be able to disrupt things for Washington’s offense and a lot of their stuff is shots down the field that are long-developing plays. Penix isn’t going to have time. I also think Sark and his receivers can take advantage of a secondary that we didn’t think was very good at all.”

plain text:

Spoiler

Ask rival coaches in the Pac-12 about Washington, and almost all come back to the same larger point about this Huskies team: They just know how to win.

That seems like it would be an obvious point, considering two of the four teams in the College Football Playoff are undefeated and the other two are 12-1. But this vibe goes a little deeper for Kalen DeBoer’s team.

ADVERTISEMENT

The nine Pac-12 coaches The Athletic interviewed for this scouting report, who were granted anonymity in exchange for candid opinions, admitted they expected Oregon to beat Washington in their rematch in the Pac-12 Championship Game. And yet, once again, the Huskies found a way to win.

The power of belief, resiliency and complete buy-in is a real thing in sports, especially with college teams.

go-deeper
GO DEEPER

Big 12 coaches on Texas vs. Washington: 'The best Texas team' in years

Scouting the team chemistry: ‘It’s the biggest thing’
“The biggest thing with these guys is that they know how to win,” said one Pac-12 offensive line coach. “Look at how many close games they’ve won. That’s really cool. They keep grinding, believing. Honestly, I thought Oregon would get after them (in the rematch). I was surprised. You gotta give those guys a lot of credit.”

“They’re on a 20-game win streak,” said a Pac-12 wide receivers coach. “We tend to forget that. It wasn’t always pretty, but they found a way to win. It’s hard to win games. That’s a true testament to their culture and the players in that locker room who have ice in their veins.”

Over the past two years, the Huskies are 10-1 in games decided by a touchdown or less and 9-0 vs. Top 25 teams. DeBoer is 11-1 all-time against ranked opponents. Another Pac-12 O-line coach said he was “shocked” when Washington, almost a 10-point underdog, beat Oregon again.

“It felt like those last three or four games they were holding on,” he said. “But then, they went out and whipped Oregon. It takes a lot of balls to win the way they’re winning. There’s something to be said about that. I think (DeBoer) is such a damn good football coach. I would not count those guys out.”

“They just have a special chemistry with all the pieces aligning,” said a Pac-12 defensive analyst. “I think they have this special camaraderie with all the vets on their team who decided to come back for one more year.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Scouting the offense: ‘It just keeps humming’
After having the nation’s No. 113 offense in yards per play in 2021, the year before DeBoer took over, Washington improved dramatically last year to No. 10 and led the country in passing. In the offseason, Nick Saban tried to hire offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, who opted to remain in Seattle, and things have kept humming for the Huskies. They’re up to No. 5 in yards per play and again lead the nation in passing. They’re also third in plays of 30 yards or longer with 41.

“They can score on anybody,” said one Pac-12 head coach. “That’s where they’re dangerous. They take a ton of shots downfield.”

“They’re so well-coached and do such a good job with formations and protections,” said a Pac-12 defensive analyst. “It’s very difficult to effectively blitz them. Credit to those coaches for making it so difficult with the way they position their receivers, tight ends and running backs in a non-normal alignment. They shift all over the place pre-snap.

“They’re one of the slowest operations in our conference. If you are bringing pressure, they get to a look that kinda blocks it up. They build those shot opportunities with all their shifts, dummy hard-counts. They get you on your heels because you’re always trying to adjust.”

QB Michael Penix Jr. was the Heisman Trophy runner-up. (Joe Nicholson / USA Today)
Scouting Michael Penix Jr.: ‘Ridiculously accurate’
In Michael Penix Jr., Washington has a strong-armed quarterback playing with a lot of confidence. Penix is connecting on 66 percent of his passes, and that’s with a lot of tough downfield throws. His TD-to-INT ratio is 33-to-9.

“It’s really impressive how tight that ball spins coming out of his hand and with all the different throws he can make,” said the defensive analyst. “He takes a lot more downfield throws. He’s as talented a quarterback as I’ve seen with touch on the ball.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“He gets it out fast and I thought he was ridiculously accurate down the field,” said a Pac-12 line coach. “It’s like a lot of those throws he makes are indefensible.”

“There’s not a throw he can’t make,” said a Pac-12 receivers coach. “That thing spins, man. It’s nice, light, catchable. Does a good job of buying extra time, sliding around and he has so much trust in his guys.”

It’s also hard to choose which is the better group Penix is working with between the O-line and the receivers. Both are elite and make rival coaches gush.

go-deeper
GO DEEPER

SEC coaches on Bama vs. Michigan: Can the Wolverines score on the Tide D?

Scouting the WRs
In Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk, the Huskies have two 1,000-yard receivers. Odunze, who clocked a 4.34-second 40-yard dash and a 4.19 pro agility shuttle time this offseason, has 81 receptions for 1,428 yards and 13 touchdowns. Polk has 60 catches for 1,000 yards and eight TDs.

But the most dynamic of the Huskies’ big three is Jalen McMillan, who was slowed by a knee injury this season and has 34 catches for 468 yards and three touchdowns. McMillan looked ready to roll by the end of the season, as he led the Huskies in the Pac-12 title game with nine catches for 131 yards. In 2022, he led the team with nine TD grabs and also had 1,098 receiving yards.

McMillan, who has a baseball background, tracks the ball incredibly well. He also has elite short-area quickness. Polk has exceptionally strong hands and makes a lot of plays against double coverage. “He’s their muscle,” said a Pac-12 receivers coach. Odunze is ultra-competitive and is terrific after the catch.

“Rome is very good at contested catches and he is really physical at the top of the route,” said the defensive analyst. “They’re all so good at the battle for the ball. They’re causing DBs to get PIs (pass interference).”

Germie Bernard, a sophomore transfer from Michigan State, is another weapon.

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“They feed off of each other,” said the receivers coach. “Bernard’s playing well too, and he’s good in the return game or they’ll hand it to him and run sweeps. Any of them can beat you. The other thing a lot of people don’t talk enough about is what they do up front. The last two years they have been just as good as anyone.”

Scouting the O-line: ‘Incredibly athletic’
Washington allowed just 11 sacks in 13 games and ranks No. 2 in the FBS, behind only Oregon, in sack rate allowed at 2.2 percent, per TruMedia. Left tackle Troy Fautanu was honored with the Morris Trophy as the Pac-12’s top offensive lineman. At 6 feet 4, 315 pounds, Fautanu is a 400-pound bencher who ran a 5.1 40 and vertical-jumped almost 30 1/2 inches.

“Their O-line is incredibly athletic,” said the defensive analyst. “Fautanu is extremely athletic and plays with tenacity. He has a real edge.” Right tackle Roger Rosengarten, at 6-6, 300 pounds, is also really good and considered a terrific technician. Parker Brailsford, a 6-2, 280-pound redshirt freshman, made second-team All-Pac-12 at center.

A Pac-12 offensive line coach said Fautanu and Rosengarten are the best two tackles in the Pac-12, particularly as it pertains to pass protection, but he did also note that the Huskies will be facing much bigger and better D-lines in the Playoff.

“I don’t think they’ve played a defensive front like what they’re about to see (with Texas),” said the coach. “The best front we have in the Pac-12 was UCLA and then probably Oregon, but they’re not what Texas and Michigan have, or probably what Alabama has.”

Scouting RB Dillon Johnson: ‘He’s become the difference’
The other underrated aspect of the offense is Dillon Johnson, their running back, who is third in the Pac-12 in rushing with 1,113 yards and 14 TDs. In games against ranked opponents, the Mississippi State transfer averaged 108 yards per game.

“They’ve become so much more balanced in the last month,” said one Pac-12 head coach. Johnson has rushed for 683 yards and eight TDs in the past five games.

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“He runs so hard,” said a Pac-12 receivers coach. “He has really good balance. He’s always moving forward, getting four and five yards a pop on first down. To me, he’s become the difference.”

Scouting the defense: ‘Not dominant, but still solid’
The defense, ranked No. 67 in yards per play (up from No. 70 last year), is not what it was the last time Washington made the CFP in the 2016 season, when Vita Vea and Greg Gaines anchored a stout front and Budda Baker led a star-studded secondary.

“It ain’t like they have those freak shows they used to have back there, “ said a Pac-12 offensive line coach. “They’re not dominant on that side of the ball, but they’re still pretty solid. (Bralen Trice) is a really good player. Take away what his stats say (8.5 TFLs, five sacks), he is really disruptive and shows up on tape. He can line up anywhere.”

Trice, a junior, is probably not quite as well known nationally as the other edge player, Zion Tupuola-Fetui (“ZTF”), but he is the player most of the competition worried about more. Trice was named a first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus.

ZTF is 20 pounds lighter, but he’s still a slippery guy to block. He broke out in 2020, making seven TFLs and three forced fumbles in a pandemic-shortened season that was only four games for Washington. This year, he’s made five TFLs and three sacks.

“The ends are really good,” said another Pac-12 O-line coach. “They’re physical and big. They’ll get after you. Their inside guys are just stout. If you just want to take ’em on straight, they can lock on you.”

The leader of the defense is sixth-year former walk-on Edefuan Ulofoshio, who has 83 tackles and six TFLs. He’s missed only nine tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. “He’s super smart and is their quarterback,” said a Pac-12 receivers coach.

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Linebackers Alphonzo Tuputala and Carson Bruener are also very solid. “I think they’re OK at linebacker, better than average … and average in the secondary,” said a Pac-12 head coach.

“If you’re looking for a weakness on the defense, we thought it was their corners,” said a Pac-12 receivers coach. “If your front can protect, they can be had.”

Another Pac-12 receivers coach agreed that the Huskies cornerbacks are where they’re probably most vulnerable, though he did say that he thinks “they’re good around them.”

Washington did allow the most plays of 30 yards or more in the Pac-12 (26), which ranked No. 123 in the country. It’s something Steve Sarkisian, with a strong-armed quarterback and a dangerous group of receivers in his own right, will definitely look to exploit.

go-deeper
GO DEEPER

Big Ten coaches on Michigan vs. Bama: J.J. McCarthy needs 'game of his life'

Who wins: Washington or Texas?
Most of the coaches we spoke to said they could see this one going either way but leaned toward Texas.

“I think Texas will present different problems for them that teams in our league couldn’t,” said a Pac-12 head coach. “Those two inside guys (T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy) are a lot better than any (defensive tackles) in the Pac-12, and I don’t think Washington is particularly strong there.

“They’ll be able to disrupt things for Washington’s offense and a lot of their stuff is shots down the field that are long-developing plays. Penix isn’t going to have time. I also think Sark and his receivers can take advantage of a secondary that we didn’t think was very good at all.”

 

[DanTheHorn 4913]

 

[BurntEyes 5956]

On 12/19/2023 at 11:12 PM, ousux said:

On 12/19/2023 at 10:04 PM, troph said:

I’ll admit. We just finished watching pulp fiction like 30 mins ago. I’m feeling a little bit of the Wolf, Jules pre-divine intervention, and maybe a few others. Not quite Samurai sword Butch or Marcellus with a shot gun though.

Damn, just reminded me I'm running out of time. Pulp Fiction is one of my once a year movies I have stashed on an SSD. 2001 a Space Odyssey, The Fifth Element, Blade Runner directors cut and Apocalypse Now are in there as well but already watched.

That is a very good list man! I'd add Road Warrior (original) and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. But... yeah.

[Ignatius 4017]

On 12/20/2023 at 11:05 AM, Jiggy-Z said:

There is no fan momentum

Jesus fuck that’s stupid…

[Pancho 44687]

 

 

[Bevo14 8303]

49 minutes ago, Pancho said:

 

 

[LTtxfan 49141]

Put it on the Texas bulletin board... 🤘

Nation's top offensive line award goes to Washington

Washington's offensive line, led by Scott Huff, win the Joe Moore Award.

DOUG SAMUELS     15 HOURS AGO

The Joe Moore Award, the only award designated for a position group instead of an individual, is heading to a unit in the Pac-12.

“Washington was on the committee’s radar almost immediately due to their rare combination of physicality and athleticism,” Aaron Taylor, CBS college football analyst and co-founder of the Joe Moore Award shared in their official release. Taylor played his college football at Notre Dame under the award's namesake.

 “They got better as the season progressed and consistently stepped up when it mattered. But what seemed to put them over the top was their junk yard dawg demeanor and how they looked to punish and set the tone with their physical style of play. Their level of effort, strain, and physicality is rare for this style of offense, and the voting body seemed to appreciate that.” 

Washington's success up front this year came behind seven different players and four different lineups under offensive line coach Scott Huff, also a finalist four our FootballScoop Offensive Line Coach of the Year, as we announced finalists earlier today.

Michigan's offensive line won the award in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022.

 

[sushihorn 3233]

I don’t think Physicality means what they think it does. They did a good job of pass pro due to positioning and they are mobile but they got stuffed repeated trying to drive block - even by inferior defensive fronts.
 

OSU, WSU and ASU got pressure and even disrupted the outside runs with pulling OL. Alignment and toughness holding the edge are keys to stopping PnP and counter. Texas standard 4 man front is the right alignment against off tackle runs. The DE and Buck LB just need to honor their run responsibility before getting too far upfield. 

[Irish Wrist Watch 1359]

4 hours ago, LTtxfan said:

Put it on the Texas bulletin board... 🤘

Nation's top offensive line award goes to Washington

Washington's offensive line, led by Scott Huff, win the Joe Moore Award.

DOUG SAMUELS     15 HOURS AGO

The Joe Moore Award, the only award designated for a position group instead of an individual, is heading to a unit in the Pac-12.

“Washington was on the committee’s radar almost immediately due to their rare combination of physicality and athleticism,” Aaron Taylor, CBS college football analyst and co-founder of the Joe Moore Award shared in their official release. Taylor played his college football at Notre Dame under the award's namesake.

 “They got better as the season progressed and consistently stepped up when it mattered. But what seemed to put them over the top was their junk yard dawg demeanor and how they looked to punish and set the tone with their physical style of play. Their level of effort, strain, and physicality is rare for this style of offense, and the voting body seemed to appreciate that.” 

Washington's success up front this year came behind seven different players and four different lineups under offensive line coach Scott Huff, also a finalist four our FootballScoop Offensive Line Coach of the Year, as we announced finalists earlier today.

Michigan's offensive line won the award in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022.

 

Hopefully Sark will put a big fat notice on the locker room wall wherein the media talks about how wonderful Wash is.  Let's get these guys "veins in the teeth" fired up

[TheRealRonWeaver? 1258]

Calling it now: Gunnar Helm with 2 TDs including what turns out to be the game winner.

[bejezuz 329]

6 minutes ago, TheRealRonWeaver? said:

Calling it now: Gunnar Helm with 2 TDs including what turns out to be the game winner.

He and JWhitt are going to feast with all the attention on X, AD, and JT.

[Texasborn91 935]

7 hours ago, LTtxfan said:

Put it on the Texas bulletin board... 🤘

Nation's top offensive line award goes to Washington

Washington's offensive line, led by Scott Huff, win the Joe Moore Award.

DOUG SAMUELS     15 HOURS AGO

The Joe Moore Award, the only award designated for a position group instead of an individual, is heading to a unit in the Pac-12.

“Washington was on the committee’s radar almost immediately due to their rare combination of physicality and athleticism,” Aaron Taylor, CBS college football analyst and co-founder of the Joe Moore Award shared in their official release. Taylor played his college football at Notre Dame under the award's namesake.

 “They got better as the season progressed and consistently stepped up when it mattered. But what seemed to put them over the top was their junk yard dawg demeanor and how they looked to punish and set the tone with their physical style of play. Their level of effort, strain, and physicality is rare for this style of offense, and the voting body seemed to appreciate that.” 

Washington's success up front this year came behind seven different players and four different lineups under offensive line coach Scott Huff, also a finalist four our FootballScoop Offensive Line Coach of the Year, as we announced finalists earlier today.

Michigan's offensive line won the award in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022.

 

Heisman runner up, 3 NFL draft picks, and the best offensive line in the country and yet still failed to score an offensive touchdown vs ASU who had the 90th ranked defense in the country. This is going to be a HIGHLY motivated Texas team. 

[Vic Mackey 47006]

.

[Atticus 3973]

Interesting stat

Edited December 22, 2023 by Atticus

[Tex Long 4382]

What all do the list makers consider to be turnovers? We talkin' fumbles and INTs only? Punt/kick blocks? Three(or four)-and-outs? 

[Atticus 3973]

That list is INTs and fumbles lost

[Hank Kingsley 20903]

Only two of those teams actually throw the ball a lot.  Shocking stat. 

 

[6th Street 6390]

On 12/21/2023 at 6:36 PM, Pancho said:

 

 

Texas didn't want to be there

[Had Enough 2076]

Only two of those teams actually throw the ball a lot.  Shocking stat. 
 

If you look inside the numbers, there’s only one team that had 2 picks versus Milroe/Bama.

I think that’s what that indicates.

[Cajun 11705]

3 hours ago, 6th Street said:

Texas didn't want to be there

Now that

we’re basically SECSECSEC, this

seems beyond legit.

[nbmishoid 949]

The real issue to complain about is how  utterly disinteresting the early bowls are.  1 out of 5 last week, 0 for 5 today.  It wasn’t always so, eh?

[troph 24781]

13 minutes ago, nbmishoid said:

The real issue to complain about is how  utterly disinteresting the early bowls are.  1 out of 5 last week, 0 for 5 today.  It wasn’t always so, eh?

bowls used to matter more. there were probably less and the games were celebrations of the season, now with play offs the bowls are kinda stupid. they do get better as Jan 1 approaches but that used to be the main event, interesting match ups over the holidays. now the main event is the playoff so the bowls have lost A LOT of luster.

[BonzoMontreaux 1036]

bowls used to matter more. there were probably less and the games were celebrations of the season, now with play offs the bowls are kinda stupid. they do get better as Jan 1 approaches but that used to be the main event, interesting match ups over the holidays. now the main event is the playoff so the bowls have lost A LOT of luster.

I remember the days when 7-4 or 8-3 was cutting it close to get to a bowl game.

[immamac 42833]

The parity in college football is significantly diminished as well. The top 20 teams are way different than the rest. 

[Nivek 16916]

bowls used to matter more. there were probably less and the games were celebrations of the season, now with play offs the bowls are kinda stupid. they do get better as Jan 1 approaches but that used to be the main event, interesting match ups over the holidays. now the main event is the playoff so the bowls have lost A LOT of luster.

Seems to me there are too many low interest teams playing on the same day and not enough bigger, regionally interesting teams to serve as the main attraction.

[BurntEyes 5956]

2 hours ago, BonzoMontreaux said:

I remember the days when 7-4 or 8-3 was cutting it close to get to a bowl game.

This is a big part of it. Too many bowl games. It's hard to give a fuck about 2 no name .500 teams playing in the Milwaukee Crabs Fest Culligan Shitter Bowl sponsored by Whores-R-Us

Edited December 23, 2023 by BurntEyes

[thunderlounge 7813]

[Dahobbs 17522]

51 minutes ago, BurntEyes said:

This is a big part of it. Too many bowl games. It's hard to give a fuck about 2 no name .500 teams playing in the Milwaukee Crabs Fest Culligan Shitter Bowl sponsored by Whores-R-Us

I mean, I assume whores r Us would have some good half time entertainment. 

[BurntEyes 5956]

13 minutes ago, Dahobbs said:

I mean, I assume whores r Us would have some good half time entertainment. 

With Crabs, no doubt.

[Had Enough 2076]

There used not to be many bowls before Christmas so if you’re dissatisfied with more to watch then you’re doing something wrong. Or maybe do something else.

I’m personally more interested in crappy bowl than meaningful college basketball.

[jettrink 40]

53 minutes ago, Had Enough said:

There used not to be many bowls before Christmas so if you’re dissatisfied with more to watch then you’re doing something wrong. Or maybe do something else.

I’m personally more interested in crappy bowl than meaningful college basketball.

What is this "basketball" you speak of?

[Had Enough 2076]

What is this "basketball" you speak of?

I remember it from my youth. I assume they still play it.

[Herpa Derpa 6123]

The college football season ends in 16 days.

Quit your bitching and enjoy the end of the ride.

[Bill Lumbergh 7171]

On 12/17/2023 at 8:11 PM, TheRoaroftheCrowd said:

Yes, that is a good pick, but the true steakhouse experience is at Canlis… the best in town. 

Interesting.  I loved Canlis, and did have steak when I ate there, but I would definitely consider it an upscale restaurant that serves a good steak vs a "steakhouse."

[ousux 5595]

Ok, help me understand something here..am I correct in assuming the recent portal transfers can practice with their new team but can't participate in Bowl/playoff games? If not then what the flying fuck is the point of opening the portal with games yet to be played in the '23 season?

After doing some Intel on Andrew Mukuba it sure seems like he could help us out against Washington even with less than 2 weeks to prep, am I wrong?

[TrashMaster G 17539]

20 hours ago, Cajun said:

Now that

we’re basically SECSECSEC, this

seems beyond legit.

Worst. Haiku. Ever.

[conVINCEd 21469]

11 minutes ago, ousux said:

Ok, help me understand something here..am I correct in assuming the recent portal transfers can practice with their new team but can't participate in Bowl/playoff games? If not then what the flying fuck is the point of opening the portal with games yet to be played in the '23 season?

After doing some Intel on Andrew Mukuba it sure seems like he could help us out against Washington even with less than 2 weeks to prep, am I wrong?

The academic calendar and football calendar don’t line up.  The portal players need to find a new home before the spring semester starts.

[ousux 5595]

The real issue to complain about is how  utterly disinteresting the early bowls are.  1 out of 5 last week, 0 for 5 today.  It wasn’t always so, eh?

They are only interesting for fans of the two teams playing. Lots of younger players get reps, kinda like a preview of the future. But yeah, other than that even the NY6 bowls are diminished in stature these days.

[ousux 5595]

The academic calendar and football calendar don’t line up.  The portal players need to find a new home before the spring semester starts.

That's fucked up. Seems like if they can physically transfer and work-out/practice with the new team then they should be eligible to play as well. Mukuba is the first Freshman to start at safety for Clemson since the 70's and we need safety help in the worst way next Saturday night.

[pyrohornIII 4814]

Curious what you guys think Strength and Conditioning and depth will play in this game.  Seems like Sark and Co have done a good job keeping a lot of talent in rotation to get guys like Ant Hill and Muhammad playing time and experience.  And then I would have to imagine our summer trainings and games in the heat would increase our guys' stamina?  

One of the coaches in the UW article mentioned playing fast to wear out Sweat and Murphy.  I saw other teams do that this year and we didn't step off a cliff when our 2nd teamers got in to give the starters breathers.  It always seemed that by the end of the game, both our lines had worn the opponents down.  

Does UW have the same caliber depth?

[Had Enough 2076]

Communication is huge at S so that’s a big risk to play even if available.

And talk about chaos. That’d change rhe Portal significantly and keep the have nots down even more.

[thunderlounge 7813]

13 minutes ago, pyrohornIII said:

It always seemed that by the end of the game, both our lines had worn the opponents down.  

Does UW have the same caliber depth?

I’ve noticed and wondered the same thing. We definitely seem to have the depth when we need it. 

[HOOKEM4 5036]

44 minutes ago, ousux said:

48 minutes ago, conVINCEd said:

The academic calendar and football calendar don’t line up.  The portal players need to find a new home before the spring semester starts.

That's fucked up. Seems like if they can physically transfer and work-out/practice with the new team then they should be eligible to play as well. Mukuba is the first Freshman to start at safety for Clemson since the 70's and we need safety help in the worst way next Saturday night.

Ha, imagine the chaos you would see if they could play. No thanks. 

[Had Enough 2076]

Curious what you guys think Strength and Conditioning and depth will play in this game.  Seems like Sark and Co have done a good job keeping a lot of talent in rotation to get guys like Ant Hill and Muhammad playing time and experience.  And then I would have to imagine our summer trainings and games in the heat would increase our guys' stamina?  
One of the coaches in the UW article mentioned playing fast to wear out Sweat and Murphy.  I saw other teams do that this year and we didn't step off a cliff when our 2nd teamers got in to give the starters breathers.  It always seemed that by the end of the game, both our lines had worn the opponents down.  
Does UW have the same caliber depth?

Just based on defensive snap counts, they have 5 on D that don’t come of the field much. Trice and 4 DBs. They rotate elsewhere it seems. Each of those dudes played 72+% of defensive snaps.

Sweat played 53% of snaps and Murphy 46%. In closer games that was around 60 and 50%, respectively from what I recall.

We’ve had more rotation on the back end. We’ve only got 1 defender, Ford, that played over 72% of defensive snaps. I would not think there’s a significant difference in blowouts causing our rotations that much more.

The going fast philosophy is a bit interesting because it seems as though we substitute at the outset of series. I think they’re more likely to have quick strikes than to consistently drive the field. Particularly if we get the aggressive style that many here seem to favor.

[Doc Daneeka 6769]

On 12/21/2023 at 6:36 PM, Pancho said:

 

 

I guess that just means Washington needs to join Alabama, Tech, TCU, and Oklahoma State as teams that will have to make do with memories of winning last season.