Can Washington Football’s proficient offense score after the struggle against Arizona State University? It had better. That tough D cannot do much better
The first part of any NCAA football season is the non-conference games. Smaller programs schedule big school opponents for the revenue. Big schools take on smaller school programs to tune up the team and fill in their schedule. But that early part of the season is behind the Washington Football team. Washington cleared that part of the schedule without incident.
3-0
The second part of the schedule entered more familiar opponents. The Washington Football team faced at Colorado, at Oregon State, and home to face California. Once more, the Huskies dominated the games. Strong defense complimented efficient offense. At no point did any game feel in peril. Even during the slow starts. Each game seemed completely in control.
6-0
Some like it hot, Huskies do not
But the seventh game proved to be very unlucky following Friday the 13th for this Washington team. Arizona State University proved once more to have the Huskies number, the 11th time in 12 games. But let’s drive a couple points home. Arizona State took full advantage of home field (temperatures remained in the mid 80’s) and a bye week (ASU looked rested and well coached to befuddle the visiting Huskies).
And Arizona State guessed right. The Sun Devils did not blitz, but focused defensively on sending four and keeping seven back. Washington receivers struggled for separation. Washington’s offensive line struggled in protection.
Abandoned the run needlessly
The result? The prolific Washington offense held to just seven points. The running game was held to 91 yards. But Gaskin rushed just 14 times. Lavon Coleman and Salvon Ahmed for seven more rushes. Remove QB Jake Browning‘s 10 rushes for -24 yards and the running backs rushed for 21 attempts for 115 yards. That’s an average of 5.5 yards per carry.
Here is Myles Gaskin highlights against Colorado:
Why attempt 30 passes when the running backs are THAT good? If the coaches do not believe in the running game, check the stats. If the coaches do not want to run, then play spread offenses , throw the ball, and pray. This ignores the holding penalty which called back a long touchdown run by Salvon Ahmed. Ahmed only carried the ball two more times.
21 attempts 115 yards 5.5 YPC
The best play of the game negated by penalty, never to surface again? Washington offensive brain trusts must be better at recognizing the defensive strategy. Then, adjust the offensive game plan to defeat that strategy. The Washington Football team has the talent to dominate in either a run or pass feature offense.
Defense cannot do it all
The second point is that the defense played strong the entire game. A score of 13 points under the opponent is a winnable game. A very winnable game. Despite the blip on offensive chicanery, the defense has been bedrock dependable.
The goal of the defense is to get the ball back to the offense or score. While Coach Petersen cited that mission for the defense, he also praised their effort. Now with starting cornerback Jordan Miller out for the season, and with cornerback Byron Murphy still injured, the team must tap junior defensive back Jomon Dotson now. Coach Petersen sounded optimistic mention Dotson, claiming his special teams play warrants the promotion. This is the cornerback who holds the 68 yard pick-six against Montana.
Offense needs to help out the defense too
The team continues to get strong play from the front seven. The defense leads the Pac-12 scoring defense by ten points and 50 yards over the second placed teams. It is a tough defense that can change the momentum of a game.
But the defense cannot be expected to change the momentum of each game. Not in the games remaining in the schedule.
Guys, IMPROVE THAT TIME OF POSSESSION
Now, I will not argue that if a team loses the time of possession in a game, they are the inferior team. Fast strike offense and opportunistic defenses can lopside a game on the scoreboard, but the game clock tells the opposite story.
The challenge is that it happens each game. In physical games like the loss to ASU, that wears on the defense. And it keeps the opponent defense fresh. That became all too clear at the end of the game when Washington’s defense needed a stop and couldn’t contain the ASU offense.
Run the ball more, keep the offense on the field. Wear down that defense. So far, games have come too easily. The rest of the schedule will be dawgfights. The Huskies have the beef to up their game. Now the team must prove it has the willpower to do so.
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The time to rethink offensive strategy is now
With teams like Stanford, Washington State, Oregon, Utah, and UCLA remaining, there are no more “gimme” games. Either the strategy improves or those games will be very disappointing. The disappointing fact is that the Washington offense is far better than the results at Arizona State University.
Next: ASU stops Washington QB Browning TD streak at 20
There are plenty of persons who fell asleep at the wheel. Calling them out now fixes nothing. Relying exclusively on Jake Browning and Dante Pettis is simply too predictable. Hoping for the defense to get a pick-six to win a game is foolish planning. The Washington Football team is very talented. But there are certainly some things this team can do better. In fact, there are some things this team can do better than other teams.
Emphasizing those strengths is not a retreat. Its an advance.