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The Program & Fanbase Needs to Take a Long Walk for Perspective

TequillaTequilla Member Posts: 19,836

The results of the last 2 games over the prior 3 weeks has led to a proverbial wet fart in church to be let out all over Husky Nation.

I see a lot of opinions back and forth ranging from the conclusion that Fisch isn't the guy to constant criticism over play-calling to the thread here that longs for Kalen DeBoer.

Let's be very clear about DeBoer …

  • DeBoer was NEVER staying here long-term and he viewed this as a stepping stone job
  • His hiring of Sexton AT MINIMUM indicated that he was looking to break the bank on his next contract
  • As @HFNY pointed out, Sexton's coaching roster resides primarily in the SEC … you're fooling yourself if you think DeBoer's hiring of Sexton was coincidental OR if you think St. Nick just randomly decided that he was done at Alabama after the season
  • I had a conversation with someone within the Athletic Department at around this time last year about the program and that person indicated to me at that time that there was concern about getting a contract extension done with DeBoer …
  • This idea that UW low balled DeBoer is also foolish … the original offer PRIOR to UW winning the conference or making the CFP or making it to the Natty was low in hindsight in consideration of what transpired as the year progressed. That said, I have no issue with DeBoer not signing that initial deal and betting on himself or on UW for offering a contract up front that offered security and certainty but could turn into a good deal for them. That's contract negotiation and happens throughout sports on a regular basis.
  • The bigger issue is that there's literally ZERO indication that DeBoer was ever seriously considering signing a contract at UW

The timing of when DeBoer left was absolutely disastrous as it pertained to the 2024 UW roster (and beyond). With the move AFTER the closing of the initial transfer portal period, there was absolutely zero opportunity for UW to properly replace the type of attrition that comes with this type of coaching turnover. The choice to hire Fisch was absolutely the best option that was realistically available at the time (can't wait to hear the additional names that made sense). His work at Arizona allowed him to build a recruiting class that he was able to largely bring with him to UW to replace a chunk of the class that followed DeBoer. He had mixed results bringing in the talent that was at Arizona in large part due to threats and commitments made by large Arizona boosters (you can debate how much UW boosters could or should have stepped up better).

Those that look at this UW roster and think that this was some 8+ win team was fooling themselves. By my count, UW has 14 OL on the roster this year. Of those 14, 8 of them are either RS Freshman or true Freshman that are/should be redshirting. It's a little better on the DL but there's a definite lack of difference making talent there. Big picture, that's not a recipe for success.

So let's talking about play calling for a second … where does a below average OL really show up the most? Short yardage and red zone situations where the field is condensed and the ability to win at the LOS is at its most important. Then add into it that in total the roster has 5 TEs on the roster and that includes 1 that was hurt in the 1st game of the season and hasn't played since, 1 that hasn't played all year due to injury, and a 3rd that hasn't played as a true freshman and is redshirting. Again … that's not great. I can go on … but when you're criticizing the production and the play calling, it's probably a good idea to re-read the above a few times … 14 OL and 8 of them are RS or true freshman and of the 5 TEs only 2 of them are effectively healthy and able to play. Good luck with that …

I'll go into this more in a different thread but as it currently stands 2/3 of the roster next year will be sophomores or younger next year. That's going to translate to a lot of youth and uneven play. It's also going to give plenty of opportunity for the players to define which of them are part of the solution and which of them likely won't make it at this level. That's not a bad thing.

But then again, there are a number of people that want to go put a loose fitting band aid on the problem and dramatically hit the transfer portal this offseason … what does that look like? Where would you target? Are there implications to the development of the young players on your roster that makes up 2/3 of it at present?

Lastly, let's say that UW is 6-2 instead of 4-4 … does that change the future at all? Sure, it makes you feel better today and you could definitely argue that the Wazzu and Rutgers game could (or should) have been easily won. In my opinion, that doesn't change what 2025 looks like. It doesn't change that 2026 is most likely the year where UW makes its way back into the CFP discussion.

This was always going to be a 2-3 year rebuild given the circumstances around the coaching change and the limitations on how this roster was built. No matter what happens over the next 4 games and the 6+ weeks until the early signing period of the 2025 class … that isn't changing. The reality is that what happens with the end of the recruiting season and what we do in the transfer portal is more important than anything that happens over the next 4 games.

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Comments

  • RaceBannonRaceBannon Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 105,422 Founders Club

    Let's not and say we did

  • TequillaTequilla Member Posts: 19,836

    It's a lot easier to just default to blame the Athletic Department and Upper Campus …

    You're a broken record like that

  • RaceBannonRaceBannon Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 105,422 Founders Club

    Your track record of defending them is embarrassing

  • TequillaTequilla Member Posts: 19,836

    Easy to say but it doesn't change the reality of the current situation

    There's plenty of area to be critical and there's plenty of area to question the differing strategies that UW can take to get back to being a CFP type contender

    Ultimately that's the goal is to get back to the level that we were at 12 months ago …

    Whatever quick fix there is to get there is going to cost money and only put a band-aid on some of the underlying fundamental problems

    The reality is that the program has largely been gutted by some poor recruiting outcomes under the Lake and DeBoer eras … the balance of recruiting successes under DeBoer followed him to Alabama

    So you can be like many of the others that only know bitching and moaning …

    I'm far more interested in figuring out the right solution and whatever path to that solution is taken allowing it to have the opportunity to be successful.

  • TequillaTequilla Member Posts: 19,836

    Where have I defended the Athletic Department here?

    Few were as critical of Jen to the point that many thought I was too harsh on her …

    Many claim that Dannen was an ass (he very well may have been) … but I also think that there's a large segment of the Athletic Department that was loyal to Jen and revolted against any kind of change

    When Dannen left and they hired Coug Chun I'd argue that that's the definition of a lazy hire and I'm not sure that I've seen anything yet from Chun that suggests he's any less lazy than Jen was

    I'll believe that UW is committed to playing in the NIL world when it happens …

    I think that when they have the players like they did from 2022 to 2023 they'll pay for it …

    I don't think that they understand that paying for recruiting is akin to a company paying for R&D - some will pan out and some won't

    There's plenty of low hanging fruit to go after …

    But going after what this roster is for this year and trashing Fisch (at this point) ain't the answer

  • digitsdigits Member Posts: 1,510

    "When Dannen left and they hired Coug Chun I'd argue that that's the definition of a lazy hire and I'm not sure that I've seen anything yet from Chun that suggests he's any less lazy than Jen was"

    This.

    Also, let us not forget Cuog Chun thought it was a good idea to hire this guy, which should tell you everything you need to know:

  • Kingdome_UrinalsKingdome_Urinals Member Posts: 2,745

    You where warning about systemic problems last year while UW stacked 15 wins. Fleenor vibes.

    There are ways to win every game.

    Fisch has objectively fucked up this year with weird ass play calls.

    If Indiana can be hot shit this year, so can UW next year.

  • HFNYHFNY Member Posts: 4,754 Standard Supporter

    DeBoer really screwed UW but there's no use in crying over spilled milk. With the 3 returning OL going into the portal soon after DeBoer left, UW returned 0 starters from the 9 positions on the OL / DL from the 2023. How often does that happen?

    What's a known unknown is how the NIL game will change once the $22 million cap comes in next year. Fisch and staff have a few holes in the roster to fill (terrible OL, DL, and LB recruiting for the 2021 and 2022 classes) but the appetite to mimic programs that happen to have a school attached (Ohio State, Oregon, Florida State, etc etc) doesn't seem to be strong.

  • YellowSnowYellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 35,328 Founders Club
  • priapismpriapism Member Posts: 2,070

    Jimmy Lake and Deboner were terrible recruiters. Both contributed to this bad year. Deboner will get fired next year after Bama misses the playoffs again. Deboner belongs in the Big 12.

    I don't like Brennan Carroll's offense. Teams are clogging up the WR routes, because they already know the route that will be run. That's why the passing game is starting to break. Carroll needs to slightly alter the WR routes every game.

    Fisch's special teams are absolutely terrible, this is the most obvious sign of a bad HC. This crap needs to be fixed now.

  • digitsdigits Member Posts: 1,510

    Both are shit as fuck, and I wasn't comparing the two. Reading is hard.

  • CanadawgCanadawg Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 4,591 Swaye's Wigwam

    Hmmmmm did UW Oline not bully meat chickens NFL d lineman? Why is UW winning at home (including this weekend) but looks terrible on the road? Why does every position have good players but they get beat by average Buttgers and Coogs?

    Fisch doesn't have his reads down.

    Oline isn't very good probably but thats the only position that is bottom half of the conference so the idea that Fisch simply can't win with this roster is so soft

  • PostGameOrangeSlicesPostGameOrangeSlices Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 25,864 Swaye's Wigwam

    Fisch built good lines at Arizona in year 3 and the good players got drafted or transfered

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