Washington Football the morning after

The morning after. What happened? The Washington Football coaches and team must answer that question with deeds

To err is human, to forgive divine. But the path to success is not never falling down, but in rising even stronger. That is what must now happen for the Washington Football team.  It’s Monday, October 16. Just 41 hours distance from the game in which the Washington Huskies never got on track, never seemed to have their heads in the game, never seemed to understand the consequences of failure.

Now, on this morning after, they certainly do understand.  And it hurts.

Ranking tumbles for Pac-12

Well, both the AP and the USA/Coaches poll agree on the ranking for the Washington Football team again.  Washington is now ranked 12th in both. In both polls, USC (11/10) is the highest Pac-12 school.  Washington State (15/18) and Stanford (22/22) round out the Pac-12 teams in the nation’s top 25.

Washington must face Standford and Washington State in the regular season before there can be any Pac-12 championship talk. What once appeared to be very winnable games are now back in the category of “maybe wins”.

Well timed bye week

Fans can be thankful, however, that the loss came before the bye week. How so? Two weeks of discomfort coupled with two weeks to prepare for the next game is a pretty good script for a recovery.

The Washington Football team is battered and bruised. The team has already lost wide receiver Chico McClatcher for the season. Now you can add the outstanding cornerback Jordan Miller to that list.   Left tackle Trey Adams was also injured in that contest. He is a standout offensive lineman for the Huskies, and his health status could play a significant part of how the team finishes out the season.

Defending that defense, but offense was offensive

So far this season, the defense has done their part.  The defense has surrendered 74 points TOTAL in seven games. That’s strong enough to win the Pac-12 folks.  And until Friday night’s game against Arizona State, the Washington offense the offense had averaged 43 points per game.  Arizona State, the defense which held no team under 30 points for 11 games, suddenly sprang to life at the expense of Washington.

Seven points late in the game is all Washington could muster.

The offense never looked alive.  The offense only managed 14 first downs and only possessed the ball for 25 out of 60 possible minutes.  With that offensive line, a veteran quarterback, three talented running backs, how does this continue to be an issue week in and week out?

It finally stung the Huskies. Big time, on national television.  Now, the Washington offensive brain trust must figure out a way to reverse that nonsense before UCLA arrives.  They cannot continue to place so much of the burden on the defense.

UCLA game shaping up to be rebound for Huskies

The UCLA game already appears to be going in favor of Washington in terms of scheduling. After more than half a season of starting games late, the Washington Football team sees daylight in the scheduling of their games.

Literally. A day game.

That’s a huge scheduling win for Washington. And perhaps a sign at changing fortunes.

Coach Petersen and his staff are only human.  They will lose a game or two. But expect this team to learn from it.  As we work to update the injury status of key players, you can bet Petersen and the crew are working overtime to set this train to the Pac-12 championship back on it’s tracks.

Related Story: Any Washington Huskies fans up for FanSided’s Fan of the Year?

Tough sledding for this Husky team

Nobody expected this team to win every game. But you can bet few expected Arizona State University to be the team to knock off Washington. But they’ve done in 11 out of the past 12 times. They seem to have Washington’s number.

Right now, the only number Washington must focus on is 28. As in, October 28, the date of their next game. Thankfully, this one is home and after a bye week.  So far my predictions from months ago appear to be rather close, including my concerns over facing Arizona State in the desert heat.

Next: Desert Storm Arizona State University 13 Washington 7

The Washington Football team has got to fix the kicking game. They must also practice defending the red zone. And finally, the offense must improve it’s ball control  and time of possession.

It’s the morning after a tough weekend. But the team is not broken yet, just bruised. Now, the team must climb a narrower, steeper path back to the top.  Still, it is a new morning. And the daylight you see is real. It’s the same daylight you will see at the next game against UCLA.