The doog is getting into my blood and I want to set a realistic goal going into the season. I'm certainly not enthused about the amount of turnover, but that doesn't means it's time to rollover and everyone overlooks how much turnover is happening at almost every progrum. Right now it's really about coaching and doing it right in the portal.
So I think 10 wins is a realistic goal and I don't think Jedd is gone with that amount of success in year one. Here's how:
Absolutely can't lose any of these games = 4-0
Weber State, Eastern Michigan, Cuog , Northwestern
Lose any of these games and the season might be over. We haven't lost at home/in Seattle since 2021. Getting to 17 straight at home will feel good. Don't let Northwestern become our Cal in the B10.
Win two of these = 6-1
at Rutgers, Michigan, at Iowa
This might be the hardest section. Going across the entire country to play fighting Schiano's on a Friday the week before a huge game is tough. Do they still have the hot tub? Michigan in Husky Stadium could be beatable if you can find some ways to score against the star-led defense and depending on how they are at QB. Following up Michigan at Iowa is dangerous. Imagine last year's ASU game, but a long ways away against a much better coached team with some talent.
Don't lose to Indiana = 7-1
Will they be greased because we stole ol Penix?
Win at home = 9-3
USC, at Penn State, UCLA, at Oregon
Hosting the LA schools in November is nice. There's a good chance Riley sucks and USC is in meltdown mode at this point. These aren't the USC teams of old that even if they underachieve are loaded with NFL guys. Other than how cursed the progrum is against UCLA, there's no reason to think UW can't beat them in mid-November in Seattle.
No one gives us a chance to win at Penn State or Oregon. Fine. But here's the deal. If you can get to 7-1, maybe even 6-2, you go into Penn State still with playoff hopes and leave it all out on the field. Same with Oregon, you go in there 9-2 there's a lot to play for. The media and Vegas incels basically spot that progrum 14 points in the rivalry now until proven otherwise so the currently line of like 19 is probably accurate and UW is a punch away from winning that game. I won't pick the win though.
Win some bowl game = 10-3
Win in San Antonio or like Vegas. Party and start hyping up for 2025 kids.
Comments
That is the upside. Three things have to happen first though:
Fisch needs to continue to be the coach that we think he is. He is and will.
OL needs to surprise and stay relatively healthy. Not unrealistic.
Belichick needs to be, this year, who Fisch thinks he can be. I like what I see.
Not guaranteed, but not a pipe dream, either.
IMO, the road games at Rutgers and Iowa are the keys to the season. If they win both of those the team can get to 10. I think the travel is going to be tough. If we beat Michigan at home I don't feel great about following that up on the road a week later at Iowa. The game at Penn State feels like a guaranteed loss.
I don't see enough difference makers who can make one big play to change a close game. Maybe someone emerges - or Coleman could be the workhorse who controls entire games if the OL is adequate.
I think you guys get it. This team has some serious talent and a lot of unproven potential that can go either way. Our coaching staff is good, and they stand a chance to get the team gelled and playing loose. 8+ wins rather easily with a couple heartbreak losses.
I'm not scared of Iowa. Their starting QB went 8/24 for 20 passing yards and 1 INT in a scrimmage this fall.
I don't think that game is one to be scared of. More like Iowa becomes UW's new ASU.
Corn is the new sand
Cuog is such a yard stick game for this program. That would be such a devastating L. The only cope would be if Dickert somehow runs the table afterwards, and the odds of that are low.
UW needs to gel as a team and win that game by two scores.
Tough to imagine more than 8 wins.
They seriously return a large portion of their 2023 defense. It is not a gimmie on the road. But, yeah, their offense is more likely to finish last in the B1G than it is to finish where they have been projected (approximately middle of the B1G). It is actually possible that B1G fans are even more delusional than SEC fans are. I said possible. EWIWBI.
I just assume Ferentz having to ditch his kid will mean a better offense.
I'd wait a week and see how we? look before planning too far ahead.
Yeah. That is the first step to having a better offense. We will see.
I shall not doog but this is the way.
Please God it be the Vegas, Holiday, or LA bowl. Fuck going back to Texas again.
blasphemy
We were just in the Alamo and the Sun is shit. Cotton Bowl would be a Go.
Houston is a shit hole.
We enjoyed our little piece of heaven between Waco and Austin.
The brewery district the next day with the great weather was fun, considering the situation.
Gameday it was get fucked up at your hotel and walk straight to the stadium. Shittiest atmosphere for such a huge game.
Their offense last year was pre-historic.
I'm convinced Michigan is a W, and they might be really mid if their coaching staff doesn't exceed expectations for them. Returning the fewest starters since 2020 LSU that completely collapsed under a mid staff.
The D tackles can be schemed around if they don't have much else. Even Kenneth Grant is admitting in their training camp interview that they don't have the depth they had last year.