FOOTBALL

Some Burning Questions About Washington

I had some questions about Washington so I asked Mark Schafer of UW Dawg Pound website four burning questions:

Question: Why has Washington struggled since the win over Oregon?

Answer: I think it’s been because of injury, first and foremost. The offensive line, wide receivers and Michael Penix have been banged up since the Oregon game. With the O-Line, it’s chiefly Julius Buelow at tackle who has been out and who has caused the personnel to shift in his absence. I think defenses are sensing that and are sending pressure up the middle and getting Penix off schedule. Speaking of Michael Penix, he has been battling with the flu bug these past few weeks, and maybe some core issues. It was really evident during the Arizona State game, where he didn’t have the same zip on his throws that he did to start the year. It was also evident during the first half of the Stanford game, but he seemed to get back in rhythm in the second half.

But don’t think the defense should be spared of the blame either. They’ve given up more big plays to unexpected sources, and they’ve been undisciplined, racking up the penalty yardage. The pass rush has also been performing far below expectations, hardly getting to the quarterback and completing sacks. I don’t know what the fix is, but given that it’s year 2, I’m running out of patience for this defensive staff.

Q: How has USC transfer Ralen Goforth played this season?

A: Ralen Goforth, as you know, is a hard hitting, flying linebacker. He has been credited with 27 tackles which is fourth among active linebackers on the Huskies. He’s a good rotational piece and he is the exact type of linebacker that this 4-2-5 scheme demands. To answer your question, he knows what his role is and he fills it well, so he’s played well for the Huskies!

Q: Do you think Jen Cohen would go after Kalen DeBoer if Lincoln Riley left USC?

A: I think that given their relationship, a call would certainly go out. However, I have my doubts as to whether Deboer would accept. Firstly, the new UW AD (Troy Dannen) was hired with great input from Deboer (or one would think, considering Dannen’s previous success with the football program at Tulane) so Dannen will do everything in his power to keep him around. Second, his daughter has committed to play softball at UW, so that’s sure to be a powerful lure to keep him in Seattle. Third, considering the LA market and the previous places Deboer has been, he doesn’t seem like the kind of coach who would be comfortable with the microscope on him, as the LA media tends to do. Money talks though, USC certainly has a loud voice in that regard, and anything can happen, but I see the odds of Deboer leaving UW as very slim.

Q: How has Michael Penix played since the Oregon game?

A: Michael Penix has been off since the Oregon game, but I remain encouraged that he will return to his old self soon. He showed flashes of that in the Stanford game, especially in the second half, but in the Arizona State game, he didn’t look like an elite quarterback at all. As I said in the first question, the line shoulders at least some of the blame as the blitzes coming up the middle haven’t been picked up well at all these past few weeks. Thankfully, earlier this week, Michael Penix said that he was back to 100%. The Huskies will need him if they’re to win in LA.

30 thoughts on “Some Burning Questions About Washington”

  1. Wow!….. Wolfie actually names his source regarding the answered questions. I guess the voices in his head went dormant for now. How lucky can we be?

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    1. Well, the guy gets 1/2 of football, the offense,
      and now all he has to do is learn the other half
      (and throw in a little special teams play as well)

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      1. For ‘Ol Mule Shoe being a supposed “offensive guru” why didn’t he put more of an emphasis on recruiting more offensive linemen to protect the Heisman Trophy winning QB?

        Yeah Caleb Williams won the Heisman, but that had more to do with his natural born talent, football I.Q. and being really good at improvising. Most of the big plays last year and this year were due to Caleb scrambling around keeping the play alive and finding WR’s downfield. A lot of the crap Riley draws up/calls is rarely carried out.

        Riley’s success has come off of broken plays, thanks to Caleb Williams.

        TE Deuce Robinson actually surprised me, that kid can flat out play and should be on the field all the time. He can catch, has good speed, he blocks, he’s a 6’ 5″ nightmare mismatch for opposing defenses and yet his talent is being wasted as he watches from the sideline. When Maria “Hands Of Stone” Williams is getting more time and touches than Robinson, something is definitely wrong.

        An actual offensive guru would have found a way to give Marshawn Lloyd 20-25 carries a game, that guy is a helluva RB, another really good player having his talent wasted.

        Liked by 2 people

  3. So Wash is fed up with its defense in Year 2 of its new coach,
    which sounds familiar

    Bob Knight: “When my time is up on earth I wish to be buried upside down so my critics can kiss my ass,” and after his infamous “chair throwing,” I saw his Indiana fans clapping enthusistically.
    If you are a winner in sports there will always be fans who love you

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    1. Or a winner in other roles.

      I can think of one who was a winner and had us all doing better than we are now. But a lot of people didn’t like him. That’s why the entire world is going to shit and we may not survive it.

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      3. OK, CAPTAIN OBVIOUS ………BUT YOU DON’T VOTE IN ELECTIONS BUT FEEL INCLINED TO CALL OUT THE WINNER….TOOO FUNNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        there you have it folks, the blog dunce

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  5. Frankly, I’m not sure Mason Cobb is much of an upgrade over Ralen Goforth. Shane Lee is not. Gentry makes some plays but is inconsistent and Raesjon Davis is still waiting for his chance. Maybe the transfer portal isn’t the cure-all it was thought to be. Or maybe we need a coaching transfer portal.

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    1. One of many reasons we won’t be at the game, but will be on campus earlier for Homecoming activities.

      Schools usually like to schedule a creampuff for homecomings. Not so this year.

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      1. You lying cheapskate!…..just like you lied about being a season ticket holder the past two years. Gabby needs to give you a good ass whipping

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      3. of an old limp-dick who lives in a run-down single-wide?……toooo funnnny!!!!!!!!!!!

        You still have yet to address the lies you told for two years regarding the season ticket issue……it explains why you never talked about the drone….you were actually drinking fake top shelf in your man-cave….aka the outhouse

        it’s pretty pathetic when you lie about being at the game but mock people for supporting the football team…..you need a good ass whipping ……pussy boy

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      5. making what shit up?…..so you claim to be at two different places at the same time?….please explain

        So Cal
        OCTOBER 29, 2023 AT 10:26 PM
        That’s why I laughed 2-3 weeks ago at the ticket office for not caring if long time season ticket holders let our tickets go the past year or two, because we didn’t care for all of the changes. Previously, we had stuck through thick & thin because we enjoyed knowing our seatmates, watching their families grow and getting old with each other.

        (poor grammar also)

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      6. LOL! In the Village Idiot’s mind anything she has trouble comprehending is “poor grammar”.

        Don’t even bother calling hers out anymore because she’ll argue she’s right even when she’s wrong. (Just as yesterday or the day before when she pluralized the Bidens as “Biden’s”. LMAO

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    2. go fuck yourself, you racist SACK OF SHIT………Mr 1970s needs a good ass whipping….wipe the drool, it’s a bad look

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