Washington Football team can still end season with ten wins

At two losses, the best season remaining for the Washington football team is ten wins. But ten wins is still within the  grasp

It’s a twelve game season, so simple math dictates the two-loss Washington Football team can still win ten games. But to do so, the team needs to find three things within itself: the honesty to admit that this team is vulnerable, the courage to get back up and compete in spite of that fact, and the resolve to over weaknesses in the remaining two games of this season.

To be honest, the Huskies have not beaten the better teams of the Pac-12.  Arizona State University is 4-3 in the conference, and Stanford is 6-2 in the same conference.  Washington now faces the Utah Utes who is 2-5 in the conference, and cross-state rival Washington State who is in control of the Pac-12 North.   In stark contrast, the Cougars defeated USC (7-1) and Stanford (6-2).

Washington must get tougher

And now, Washington State enjoys a bye week as the Washington Huskies prepare to face the Utah Utes.  Those preparations must be more than simply reloadin the same old plays and going out with “try it again, fellas!”.

It was clear in both the Arizona State and Stanford games that the opponents had game planned specifically for the Washington Huskies.  Arizona State used their speed on defense and a slow methodical offense to stymie the Huskies.  It was so effective, that despite a superior running game, the Huskies threw the ball 30 times.

Defense is strong, but thin

Against Stanford, the problem of abandoning the run continued.  The time of possession battle was completely lopsided in Stanford’s favor. That translated into 15 more offensive plays for the Cardinals, and that meant 60 percent of the game fell upon the weakened Huskies defense.

There is no shame upon the Washington defense.  That defense remains the best in the Pac-12, and the ranks have been decimated by injuries to key cornerbacks.  So knowing this, the team did not alter their plans at all.

Why not run Gaskin?

And there is the rub.  Coach Petersen’s staff, in two games this season, did not have the answers. In both games, running back Myles Gaskin rushed for over 5.0 yards per carry. While Stanford handed the ball to a noticeably limping Bryce Love 30 times, Gaskin carried the ball 18 times against Stanford, and merely 14 times against Arizona State.

After each game, Coach Petersen admits that the team needs to find a way to get running back Salvon Ahmed the ball more. While I completely agree, I saw numerous occasions for the team to do exactly that.

Of course, the offense play caller did not see the same thing.

First two drives truly Washington Football

In the first drive, the one shrouded from Huskies fans due to the NASCAR truck pile up, the first two offensive plays of the game were an 11 yard pass complete to Salvon Ahmed, followed by a four yard run by Salvon Ahmed. Two rushes by Myles Gaskin moved the chains.

Autzen Zoo

Afte that first down, quarterback Jake Browning hit wide receiver Aaron Fuller for 11 yards. Another 16 yard burst by Gaskin got a first down at the Stanford 29 yard line. Browning found Dante Pettis at the 19 for another first down. The next play was to Fuller once more for 7 yards. The next three plays had Gaskin carrying the ball for the first score of the game.

The second possession once more found Browning to Fuller, one a 32 yard strike paired up with a 15 yard penalty against Stanford. And once more, the drive ended with a touchdown run by Myles Gaskin.

Game changed on one play?

But the third possession of the game, and the momentum changer, ended in a loss of possession due to downs. With third and one at the Stanford 18, the team committed a false start. The ensuing run got the ball at fourth and one at Stanford’s 18. But Gaskin could not get the final yard to move the chains.

From that point on, the team seemed to have no answers on offense. Four punts and a turnover on a Gaskin fumble later, the Huskies fell behind 30-14 from a lead of 14-7. To get to ten wins, the team must understand what happened in that period of time.  Looking at the play calls, the defense simply adjusted to what worked against them in the first half, and the Huskies found themselves paralyzed.

Plenty of talent to win two

The Washington football team has a two game season now. No NCAA playoffs, no Pac-12 championships, just two games, so how can the team change the momentum?  There is no more round tuits left. You know, the plays or players who ought to get the ball more when the coaches get “a round tuit”.  That time is now.  The team must get Ahmed into the backfield for 10 or more touches at a minimum for each of the last two games.

Secondly, the team must modify the passing game.  Defenders are keying on Dante Pettis initially, and whoever gets hot early.  The Huskies must be prepared to go to a different receiver in the second half of the game, and emphasize some high percentage routes to take the pressure off  both Browning and the running game.  Play action plays do both.  Use that to the teams advantage.

And last and most importantly, STOP BEING SO PREDICTABLE.  In both losses, you could see the victorious opponent almost know the play offensively and defensively about to occur for the Huskies. Toss in a new wrinkle to make the other team second guess. Do that just a couple times, and the game landscape changes.

Next: Washington football team falls to Stanford, then falls to 16

It’s no longer a question of who have the Washington Huskies defeated. The only question remaining in this season is who will the Washington Huskies beat? If that answer is not the Utah Utes and the Washington State Cougars, the team will fall short of its potential.