Vorel Bringing the Heat

DoogCourics said:

https://twitter.com/Matt_Calkins/status/1181627918629212161

Matt Calkins continuing to bring the heat with Vorel from the Times:



“With Petersen at the helm, the Huskies have lost their past 10 games in which they were behind at the half, and 15 of their past 16. They also have blown four first-half leads in that span, and lost to Oregon last season when the game was tied at the break.”

“These numbers should not detract from Petersen’s Huskies reaching a New Year’s Six game in each of their past three seasons while winning two of the past three Pac-12 title games. And they don’t reflect UW’s ability to hold or expand leads over that stretch, which has been impressive.”

“But those post-half stats do call into question Petersen’s ability to adapt when facing adversity. And right now — the Huskies desperately need to adapt.”

“With defeats against unranked California and Stanford in 2019, though, the Huskies (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) are wounded with the meat of their schedule still in front of them. And if ever there was a time for the Pac-12’s highest-paid coach to earn his money — it’s now.”

“In Pac-12 games not involving Washington, Cal and Stanford are a combined 1-4 this season. But both were able to batter the Huskies up front while taking advantage of a substandard passing game.”

“Aside from the lightning-induced delay during the Cal game, there was nothing particularly fluky about either of these defeats. The Huskies just got beat — in remarkably similar fashion.”





Calkins then brings up the young receivers not playing because they aren’t practicing as well as Petersen would like:


“Think of someone such as former USC quarterback Sam Darnold, who transformed the Trojans as a redshirt freshman when he got a shot in Week 4. Or Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew, who went from second-stringer to NFL offensive rookie of the year candidate after his predecessor went down with an injury.”

“These young receivers are practicing against a defense that knows the playbook. Is it crazy to think they might shine brighter in the play than the dress rehearsal?”




So can Pete figure it out?:


“Last year, after a stunning late-October loss to Cal, the Huskies won four in a row en route to capturing the Pac-12 title. This season, a shot at a conference title seems far more dubious.”

“What’s clear is that this year’s Huskies need to change for the better. The question is whether Petersen can make that happen.”