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Priorities for 2017
Comments
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Sometimes it's interesting how when you say some things off the cuff and emotionally charged how when you look at things later, with a different perspective, and perhaps some information that you hadn't considered previously, you see some things differently.RoadDawg55 said:After the ASU game, Tequilla said it was inexcusable and that Smith needed to be fired. Now, he's on here defending why dropping back 60+ times was okay. But how is @Tequilla the exact same as @Auburndawg?
During and immediately after the game, there was no question that I was frustrated. I wasn't particularly happy with the execution during the game and I probably threw more of that on Petersen/Smith as a result. We had 557 yards of total offense and only 17 points. You've got to work really hard to be that inept. The two big things that really frustrated me after the game was putting the game all on Browning and the WRs (since we hadn't proved at that point that those guys could win a game for us) and that we allowed Gaskin to be taken out of the game. It's really the Gaskin issue that bothered me the most.
After looking at the stats of the game in more detail and understanding what ASU did throughout the season, the decision to focus on the passing game seems a little more understandable. And while it may not have seemed like it at the time, it does seem like Browning grew some from his failures in that game. Ultimately, it's why the difference between 7-6 and 8-5 or even 9-4 may not have mattered too much last year because so much of the year was about developing players and getting them the experience necessary.
Where I'd really challenge Smith in the aftermath of that game would be in finding more ways to get Gaskin the ball and handle ASU's pressure through the RB screen game and some swing routes. Now, what I don't know is how comfortable Gaskin is with some of those types of situations (i.e. the swing route) but I do think that they needed to find a few more ways to get him the ball and ideally in positions where he could have been isolated in space. I'd have to go look at the game log again but I seem to recall that there were some 2nd and short, 3rd and short, etc. opportunities where Smith called for pass plays versus run plays. For as much as forcing Browning to grow during a game can be stated, putting the OL in a position where they need to execute also was room for growth. Going jumbo a few times would actually have mitigated the traditional ASU blitz package and allowed the OL to be able to go more hat on hat instead of trying to feel like they were getting overrun like they were for large chunks of the day. But there were definitely some opportunities to be more dictated in our formation to get players in easier to execute situations. That's a giant criticism of Smith and general and why I'm still not sold on him as OC.
Regarding Smith, I do recognize some of the limitations that he has had to work with over the last couple of years. The production the last half of the season obviously was much better ... although the execution at times lacking (and also a product of some of the player limitations). He still has to prove that he's not a complete fucktard and I think there's a very good reason why Petersen only gave him a 1 year extension whereas everybody else got 2 years.
On the whole though, I was generally pleased with the growth of the team and players last year. I do see a strong foundation that has been laid for the 2016 season and beyond. I do think that there were times that we took some lumps that could have been avoidable. But on the other hand, some of the best ways to learn is to get smacked in the face a few times. When I look at the program as a whole at this point, the only real question marks that I have are Smith, whether we'll ever be able to develop/recruit WRs, and some AD related issues. Other than that, it's really hard for me to find much to criticize. After the last 15 years, while I'm not going to be happy until these items get proved to me, I'm also not going to go jump off of the Aurora Bridge. There's a lot of programs right now that have it a lot worse than we do. -
Football just isn't this fucking complex. Petermen and SMiff would love you to think it is. But it isn't.
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Tequilla said:
Sometimes it's interesting how when you say some things off the cuff and emotionally charged how when you look at things later, with a different perspective, and perhaps some information that you hadn't considered previously, you see some things differently.RoadDawg55 said:After the ASU game, Tequilla said it was inexcusable and that Smith needed to be fired. Now, he's on here defending why dropping back 60+ times was okay. But how is @Tequilla the exact same as @Auburndawg?
During and immediately after the game, there was no question that I was frustrated. I wasn't particularly happy with the execution during the game and I probably threw more of that on Petersen/Smith as a result. We had 557 yards of total offense and only 17 points. You've got to work really hard to be that inept. The two big things that really frustrated me after the game was putting the game all on Browning and the WRs (since we hadn't proved at that point that those guys could win a game for us) and that we allowed Gaskin to be taken out of the game. It's really the Gaskin issue that bothered me the most.
After looking at the stats of the game in more detail and understanding what ASU did throughout the season, the decision to focus on the passing game seems a little more understandable. And while it may not have seemed like it at the time, it does seem like Browning grew some from his failures in that game. Ultimately, it's why the difference between 7-6 and 8-5 or even 9-4 may not have mattered too much last year because so much of the year was about developing players and getting them the experience necessary.
Where I'd really challenge Smith in the aftermath of that game would be in finding more ways to get Gaskin the ball and handle ASU's pressure through the RB screen game and some swing routes. Now, what I don't know is how comfortable Gaskin is with some of those types of situations (i.e. the swing route) but I do think that they needed to find a few more ways to get him the ball and ideally in positions where he could have been isolated in space. I'd have to go look at the game log again but I seem to recall that there were some 2nd and short, 3rd and short, etc. opportunities where Smith called for pass plays versus run plays. For as much as forcing Browning to grow during a game can be stated, putting the OL in a position where they need to execute also was room for growth. Going jumbo a few times would actually have mitigated the traditional ASU blitz package and allowed the OL to be able to go more hat on hat instead of trying to feel like they were getting overrun like they were for large chunks of the day. But there were definitely some opportunities to be more dictated in our formation to get players in easier to execute situations. That's a giant criticism of Smith and general and why I'm still not sold on him as OC.
Regarding Smith, I do recognize some of the limitations that he has had to work with over the last couple of years. The production the last half of the season obviously was much better ... although the execution at times lacking (and also a product of some of the player limitations). He still has to prove that he's not a complete fucktard and I think there's a very good reason why Petersen only gave him a 1 year extension whereas everybody else got 2 years.
On the whole though, I was generally pleased with the growth of the team and players last year. I do see a strong foundation that has been laid for the 2016 season and beyond. I do think that there were times that we took some lumps that could have been avoidable. But on the other hand, some of the best ways to learn is to get smacked in the face a few times. When I look at the program as a whole at this point, the only real question marks that I have are Smith, whether we'll ever be able to develop/recruit WRs, and some AD related issues. Other than that, it's really hard for me to find much to criticize. After the last 15 years, while I'm not going to be happy until these items get proved to me, I'm also not going to go jump off of the Aurora Bridge. There's a lot of programs right now that have it a lot worse than we do. -
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Beat Oregon is 2016 top priority
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HUSKYFANATIC said:
Beat OregonWatch Taylor Rapp decepitate Gabe Marks in the Apple Cup is 2016 top priority -
UW didn't run the ball enough with Shaq in 2014 and lost to Graham because of it. They were pounding his soft pussy every time, even when ASU loaded the box. No reason to think it would have been any different in 2015 with Gaskin in there, imo.
A dropped pass is a run for 0 yards where you didn't physically punish/wear out the defense at the point of attack. Passing the ball the majority of the time let ASU's defense off the hook. Pretty simple.
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HUSKYFANATIC said:
Beat Oregon in 2016 nothing else matters
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Coog logic. But we gained all the yards!HuskyInAZ said:Not sure who was at the ASU game, but I was there, and is was clear UW had wide open receivers deep consistently (due to ASU stacking the box). Either Browning missed (most often) or our WRs didn't make plays.
The ASU game had everything to do with missed opportunities in the 1st half and turnovers. Anytime you turn the ball over 4 times and your defense doesn't get any, there's a 95% chance you lose. It had very little to do with Gaskin's touches. For fuck's sake, we gained nearly 550 yards.
Regardless, Fuck Babushka !!! Right? -
What more do you want?doogsinparadise said:
Coog logic. But we gained all the yards!HuskyInAZ said:Not sure who was at the ASU game, but I was there, and is was clear UW had wide open receivers deep consistently (due to ASU stacking the box). Either Browning missed (most often) or our WRs didn't make plays.
The ASU game had everything to do with missed opportunities in the 1st half and turnovers. Anytime you turn the ball over 4 times and your defense doesn't get any, there's a 95% chance you lose. It had very little to do with Gaskin's touches. For fuck's sake, we gained nearly 550 yards.
Regardless, Fuck Babushka !!! Right?
