HuskyFanPodcast: UW/UO Review, UW/ASU Preview

As for the one commentator that did see the ASU- Stanford game his summary was something like this: Hogan is off, the whole Cardinal team played sloppy, Graham out schemed Shaw, and the Devils primarily scored on turn overs. That is all true, but the offense was good enough to move the ball against the #1 defense to be able to make 4 of 5 field goals. Some of those 3 points are seven on a weaker defense. Stanford is a pretty good team, even if not the same as last year when you consider they have played Washington on the road and won, close with the Irish in South Bend, and should have beat USC at home. In looking at the Dawgs schedule, you have not got it done against Oregon or Stanford, so you can't blow off ASU's defense so freely while using a 2nd string QB. Never saw a mention of the scheme change on the defensive line that is worked well and is going to used in this game? The defense has improved when considering the level of competition the last couple games, at least good enough for wins. Foster is a threat and UCLA, USC, and Stanford keyed on Foster. Lewis actually had a pretty good night running, something that was not touched on either.
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Hey chest and road? Can I change my pick?
 
ASU went with a heavier defensive front line with big Mo Latu. Calhoun, the freshman, was replaced by Longino, among other changes at LB. Overall the play of the entile linebacker core has improved lately and so has fundamentials like tackeling for the entire defense. Brown in the secondary seems to be coming around and showed well against Montgomery. Randal will play on Sunday like Peters and is a very good DB, he did get a conference selection last year and was the PAC 12 defensive player of the week. So, yes I say for a team that had the least returining starters in the PAC 12 there has been a lot of improvement even with playing better teams.
 
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Well, if they suck where does that put the Dawgs that lost to them at home? Sucks is not a word I would use for either program.
 
The problem I had with this podcast is only one of them actually saw the ASU-Stanford game and they spent the majority of the time on Washington, with zero insightful reasearch or information on ASU out side of stats anyone can get. Mainly opinions and egos. Did get volumes on the woes of the Dawgs offense which is dead last in the PAC 12 passing yardage it appears. Does ASU's defense even have to perform at an average level to stop them scoring anyhow? Good stuff for a Devil fan to learn about your team but not ASU. I do agree with Berc being possibly a better choice to counter the issues with Washington's secondary. Graham did say he could use both depending on the situation. I would never say ASU is going to win ten games even with being down one less game than Washington, but Road Dog sure does with your biggest win being Cal? For people that are uber critcial it is a tad too like a homer than I expected from these fellas. As for the sense of entitlement of ASU fans while being underachievers, have you looked at your own program over the last ten years? If you lose on Saturday to ASU you will be 0-20 to the Ducks and Sundevils. I see tons on Don James mentions but most of us have moved on from Frank Kush. The good news to me is, over the next couple years both programs will be contenders. Scout ranks our recruiting class right now #24. Just like Stanford, the stength are ASU's offense to Washington's defense, well make that the defensive line.
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I agree with some of what you say.

I turned on UWTV on Mon to watch Pete's pc and they had a show on with Softy talking about Don James. I'm sick of hearing about it. But Kush was 35 years ago, James 21 and the James era one could say ended in 98 or maybe in 00 as Neuheisel still had players that were recruited by Don James assistants. Even in that post James era UW was competing for conference championships almost every year. And once those recruits were done UW started to go to shit.

ASU has had only 3 top 20 finishes since Kush. Thats a long fucking time. We've really sucked ass for a while but we've been NC contenders in multiple seasons. We've been ranked #1 for 15 weeks. ASU has never been ranked #1. Though the 96 team came very close. ASU was #7 in SRS last year so Graham has done a really good job and we'll see if it will continue. Most of us are really optimistic about Petersen because of a very strong track record and the fact that he will probably retire here. Keep in mind all of us thought ASU could be in the mix for the P12 South when the season started, despite huge questions on defense.

I dont know what more we need to say about ASU from a preview standpoint. Maybe we could have discussed the defense a lot more but there are huge unanswered questions and unknowns there from the matchup perspective. UW could use Shaq and Ross out of the backfield more. Williams might get the start. ASU's defense was really bad until the Stanford game. UW's offense should have scored 2 TDs the first 2 drives against Oregon. It had 28 at the half against Cal. Its a shitty offense but I think they will be able to run the ball a bit and there is no one who can stop John Ross. Shaq adds another dimension.

I know ASU's OL is improved but to say its better than Oregon's is total crap. They don't have two AA type guys who can match Kikaha and Shelton nor do they have a running back like Freeman. Foster hasn't done anything out of the backfield the past three games. I fear the backup more because he will put up yards on UW's secondary. Kelly could be rusty and with rain and wind in the forecast and a very strong front 7 I like our chances on that side of the ball.

UW is 20-4 the last 24 games at home and the backs against the wall, crowd and ASU's emotional high all favor UW.

However, if ASU can keep the pressure off of the QB, not turn the ball over and hold Ross in check, then they will win by 10.

Regarding 10 wins, keep in mind that we have a very easy conference schedule. Colorado, WSU, OSU are very winnable. Throw in a home win over UCLA or ASU and thats 9 wins before a bowl game. Most of us are expecting a rebuilding year next season anyway. So its not like we have excessive expectations at this point.
 
The real issue is that both Phoenix and Seattle should be so much better than Eugene regardless of Nike money. Phoenix HS football is really good now and the population is almost three time that of the Kush Era. ASU actually has a chance with Christian Kirk now, when local five star kids would book to Oregon or the new flavor of the month, UCLA (see Hundley). Graham is the reason.You can bet every year the are 10 to 14 D1 level kids ASU should have a chance with and its changing. Kids in NW are more loyal to Washington but Warren Moon is as much ancient history to them as Danny White. I'm 62 but it was just silly to bring up the metrics to justify Washington's superiority as a program. The Podcat failed to adress the same 500 pound gorilla in the room for Petersen that Graham inherited and it takes time. Ericson and Sark are "players coachers" which means kids that are not bought into the team and a system; which both coaching staffs know will work over time. The questions was raised are the kids working hard enough? No, but in a couple years they will. When Graham was at Tulsa he met with Petersen to share ideas. You can bet both will develop players, teach fundamentials, and gone will be the sloppy plays and bad play calling of the Sark days. I just don't think it translates to ten wins now??? I hate Rich Rod, but I like his comment about film. He was asked if he lookes at teams earlier games and his comment was hardly at all since a team at the end of the season is not even close to what it was in August. ASU is better on defense but could come out and get beat badly. Reading off stats does not always tell the whole story.There is a reason the PAC 12 Blog is calling this the Directionial Bowl. An ASU loss does not change the reality. Eight or nine wins for either team would be good. This is a rebuilding year for ASU. We are ahead of schedule, maybe Petersen is to?
 
ASU's O-line is pretty good and I don't need to compare it to Oregon to win. Center is a huge upgrade with Kelly that is more athletic and bigger than Koebinsky. Westerman sat out his transfer from Auburn. He was a local five star that got homesick and is a road grader. You guys don't do reasearch, which is understandable but those are reason this O-line is much improved. Douglas could play on Sunday. Stanford is still a very good defense as is USC's. Berc had plenty of time to throw against the Trojans who have a solid defensive front and better secondary than Washington. I realize Washington is better up front but your fans equate that with a great defense. Berc burned USC and UCLA throwing while the U or A with Anu could not get it done in Tucson after USC lost Jackson and therer other good DB to injuries.The noodle analogy was just not factual. Kelly can throw a decent ball and is accurate, does not turn it over. Mriotta was #1 in the PAC 12 selection but most don't recognize Kelly was second.
 
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It looked as though against Stanford, the tree wasn't having their best game on either side of the ball. I could see how a Sun Devil would see it that the devils were the overall better team and dominated them.

Stanford just seemed off, but that could have been what ASU was doing with new looks. That game meant everything to the devil's even talked about it preseason. Motivation certainly played a part.

I am not ready to say the ASU's defense is solid after one game facing Hogan and co.

No question ASU can win the game, and have done so eight straight times against the mighty huskies.

 
I looked at the games you have played and will finish with and it looks as bad as Arizona. It is very weak and in the two tests the Dawgs have had you failed, so you still do not know now if this team is any good? That is why ten wins is wow. Everyone thinks UCLA is easy, don't count on it. Apple Cup is a toss up being a rivalry game. Going to Tucson is like this week on the road, tough. For ASU it is the other team that choked, schemed bad, or just did not perform. It's like the Devil's wins against USC and Stanford are meaningless, just luck with a bad defense. I got this in the podcast and from the media on the USC game, but decent teams put average teams away. Stanford and Washington are alike in style and ASU will play the same defensive formation and beating the Trees gives confidence.
 
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ASU's O-line is pretty good and I don't need to compare it to Oregon to win. Center is a huge upgrade with Kelly that is more athletic and bigger than Koebinsky. Westerman sat out his transfer from Auburn. He was a local five star that got homesick and is a road grader. You guys don't do reasearch, which is understandable but those are reason this O-line is much improved. Douglas could play on Sunday. Stanford is still a very good defense as is USC's. Berc had plenty of time to throw against the Trojans who have a solid defensive front and better secondary than Washington. I realize Washington is better up front but your fans equate that with a great defense. Berc burned USC and UCLA throwing while the U or A with Anu could not get it done in Tucson after USC lost Jackson and therer other good DB to injuries.The noodle analogy was just not factual. Kelly can throw a decent ball and is accurate, does not turn it over. Mriotta was #1 in the PAC 12 selection but most don't recognize Kelly was second.
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I actually know a lot about ASU. I know a lot about all the Pac 12 teams besides Colorado, Cal, and Oregon State. Football is one of my only hobbies. I could talk about Jordan Simone, Deantre Lewis, Westerman, Rodney Hood, Ballage, Demario Richard, Calhoun, etc, but it's the Husky Fan Podcast. Thank you for the listen, but it's mostly for Husky Fans, which is why the time spent is dominated to the Huskies. I think it's pretty self explanatory. We don't go to in depth about the opponent other than the key guys/stars.

We hit the main points. You throw the ball very well. Foster is a dual threat RB. Your running game has struggled the past few weeks. Your defense has improved, but it's to be determined if the Stanford game was a mirage or not. The line is 3.5. It's expected to be a close game. The only thing that would surprise me was a blowout either way. Listening to your analysis, you would think ASU was the 2001 Miami Hurricanes.
 
I looked at the games you have played and will finish with and it looks as bad as Arizona. It is very weak and in the two tests the Dawgs have had you failed, so you still do not know now if this team is any good? That is why ten wins is wow. Everyone thinks UCLA is easy, don't count on it. Apple Cup is a toss up being a rivalry game. Going to Tucson is like this week on the road, tough. For ASU it is the other team that choked, schemed bad, or just did not perform. It's like the Devil's wins against USC and Stanford are meaningless, just luck with a bad defense. I got this in the podcast and from the media on the USC game, but decent teams put average teams away. Stanford and Washington are alike in style and ASU will play the same defensive formation and beating the Trees gives confidence.
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Every game is different because its a different matchup. Your defense had one good game against one of the weaker offenses, at home with two weeks to prepare. People were saying how would we stop Cal and we held them to 7 with Danny Shelton and Shaq out that entire drive. Then people thought we could matchup well with Oregon's offense. Every game is going to be different. Oregon loses a few OL and they can't run for shit on a small Arizona defense. They beat MSU by 19 then barely beat WSU. You guys get plungered by UCLA then both go in opposite directions. Its match ups, circumstances and little things. Just because we plungered Cal and Arizona needed a hail mary, does that mean we will handily beat Arizona? No. The circumstances last year for UW going to ASU were terrible and we noted that on last years podcast, all picking ASU to win.

I did do research on the OL. Its a lot better but Douglas is really the only stalwart. We got a few sacks last week and that was with 2 AA type guys Grassu and Fisher lined up against Shelton and Kikaha. You gave up four sacks last week. Whoever the QB is, he will be facing lots of pressure. The key for UW will probably be the LB's who were terrible against UO but great against Cal and good against Stanford. At home, odds are they play well.

If we scored 13 at home at Stanford and 20 against Oregon, its reasonable to think we can score 24-27 against ASU at home. I'd say there is a strong likelihood of scoring 17-27.

You scored 26 against Stanford at home, 10pts aided by turnovers. UW doesn't have as good of a defense but UW does have a better DL and ASU will be playing on the road in a nasty environment, coming off back to back emotional highs. If UW doesn't make any mistakes then they can hold ASU under 24 points. Regarding USC, their defense gets really tired at the end of games. They are really struggling on defense at the end of games.

Now if UW's offense is a dreckfest and ASU's offense doesn't give it away then I could see a 24-14 or 27-17, 26-20 type ASU win.

Regarding the metrics, the pure SRS actually defeats my personal disdain for ASU. They are only 2 spots behind UW. Its championships and major bowl wins where ASU is far behind.

I don't see the objection about 10 wins. We are including a bowl game. So 10-4. We all kind of agreed that 9-4 is realistic or reasonable. Thats beating Colorado, OSU, WSU and taking only 1 of 3 from ASU, UA and UCLA. WSU will be tough but we should have the front 7 to pressure their passing game quite a bit as we did with Cal. If UW had a typical schedule this year we'd be looking at 8 wins. The Hawaii game and easier conference schedule probably adds close to 2 wins. We lose a ton on defense so 2015 is definitely a rebuilding year for us. Unless we finish this year on a roll I'd be thrilled with a top 30 metrics finish next year.

Graham has done an excellent job rebuilding and Petersens rebuild probably won't be as fast. ASU was almost top 25 SRS in 2012 and was #7 last year. They are around 25-30 now in the metrics and have a good chance to finish in the top 20. Thats really outstanding considering the starters lost from last years squad. Also, ASU has not had back to back +500 conference seasons since 96-97. Graham did that his first two years and this looks to be three which has not happened since 80-82. He's done very well so far. The question is if he can make a playoff and how long will he be there. The south is more difficult as you are dealing with USC, UCLA and Arizona. Utah is a pain in the ass some years. Arizona has a lot of talent and both schools need to dominate that state.
 
Reminder that Stanford lost Aziz Shittu last week before ASU game (a really good DL for them) and David Parry, their stud DT got hurt midway through the game. Stanford actually had to play a frosh they were going to redshirt in that game.
 
Reminder that Stanford lost Aziz Shittu last week before ASU game (a really good DL for them) and David Parry, their stud DT got hurt midway through the game. Stanford actually had to play a frosh they were going to redshirt in that game.
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Can we all just agree that Stanford sucks this year?
 
Reminder that Stanford lost Aziz Shittu last week before ASU game (a really good DL for them) and David Parry, their stud DT got hurt midway through the game. Stanford actually had to play a frosh they were going to redshirt in that game.
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Can we all just agree that Stanford sucks this year?
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Simple fact.
Case closed.
End of discussion.
 
Listen, I dig the podcasts. I listen every week, even when your not playing Oregon, and I don't post a ton. But I have to just give you a "calm down" on the Peterson love. For fucks sake, there is so much mad love for a coach who on a regular basic beats:
UT Martin
Air Force
Fresno State
Southern Miss
Utah State
Nevada
BYU
Colorado State
Wyoming
San Diego State
New Mexico

Come one man, I hear the podcasts. You guys are smart yet you gush over his 92-10 record? Jesusthefuck, I could teach a monkey to coach that schedule. You might as well make a "who are the worst teams in college football", and just use Boise State's schedule to fill it out. I don't see his two wins against Oregon and a win here and there against TCU as proof that the guy is this goddly coach.

/rant off

Edit: I will give ya this, he is 10x better then that tool Sark. I was disappointed when he left ya all. We actually have to gameplan to beat ya now.
 
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92-12 but had the #11 SRS ranking for his entire tenure at Boise. That adjusts for SOS and you only get 28 pt max for margin of victory. He did that with only 4 4* recruits his entire tenure. Because of this Petersen gets the benefit of doubt for the first few years.

Good feedback though.
 
Listen, I dig the podcasts. I listen every week, even when your not playing Oregon, and I don't post a ton. But I have to just give you a "calm down" on the Peterson love. For fucks sake, there is so much mad love for a coach who on a regular basic beats:
UT Martin
Air Force
Fresno State
Southern Miss
Utah State
Nevada
BYU
Colorado State
Wyoming
San Diego State
New Mexico

Come one man, I hear the podcasts. You guys are smart yet you gush over his 92-10 record? Jesusthefuck, I could teach a monkey to coach that schedule. You might as well make a "who are the worst teams in college football", and just use Boise State's schedule to fill it out. I don't see his two wins against Oregon and a win here and there against TCU as proof that the guy is this goddly coach.

/rant off

Edit: I will give ya this, he is 10x better then that tool Sark. I was disappointed when he left ya all. We actually have to gameplan to beat ya now.
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I support Petersen but I've questioned him a few times this season. The opening game against Hawaii, the fake punt against Stanford, and his offenses production since Kellen Moore graduated. I think he was a great hire and I'm very happy he is our coach, but I will rip him like any other coach if he doesn't win.
 
If this game is a defensive struggle, UW wins. Anything else is a ASU win.

Troy Williams is not a Pac 12 starter yet. He's still a sub 50% passer and has no down-field accuracy yet. Maybe next year.

I also wish that Miles would not throw to Mickens so much. Mediocre Mickens doesn't deserve so many passes...Pettis is a better WR IMO, at least he can catch. Daniels needs to get 3-5 balls thrown to him a game. Lenius needs to step up and replace Kasen.
 
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