I am a doog watching Gameday

Tequilla said:

This is a narrative that I find interesting and 100% in play …

Browning really never had to win the job as he was the tallest midget in the room for a lack of a better way of saying it … his only real competition was Magna Carta and when we got a glimpse of him playing during Browning's freshman year at Stanford there was never any proof to suggest that he was a better option than Browning. Then we recruited Bridge-Gadd who every single time I saw him in practice looked like shit even though he should have looked better. Then last year the QB brought in was Haener who at least last year as a true freshman never looked like he was ready to play when I saw him.

This is realistically the first time that UW has had a QB on the roster that could play in place of Browning and the expectation that the team wouldn't go materially backwards. In fact, at least to some there's a realistic shot that Haener may be an upgrade.

Then you get the dynamic in place where you look at the roster and where the talent is. The last 2 recruiting classes has seen this program materially level up. The class that we're expecting to sign in 2019 is further leveling up. The alphas that had been in the program in previous classes are now largely out of the program. What remains is largely a lot of guys that are more leading by example types. Specifically on offense, Browning aside, you have Myles who is a lead by example guy, Trey who is injured, and Kaleb who is probably the most vocal leader on the offense from an upperclass standpoint. You've got guys like Jaxson Kirkland beating out more established players. On defense, you have some upperclass talent with guys like Gaines, Jaylen, Tevis, and the secondary. The defense isn't where the problem is ... it's on offense.

So what it comes down to me is two-fold. You have a defense that is doing their job but has been hung out to drive by Browning in most losses. The ASU game last year wasn't really on the defense. While I've called out the defense for the Auburn game this year giving up the TD at the end, the reality is giving up 21 points to Auburn is perfectly acceptable. There were some issues against Stanford last year (including injuries) but also really hurt by the fact that for the better part of a quarter and a half Browning's offense gave the defense NOTHING to work with. Go back to 2016 and the defensive performance against Alabama was definitely good enough to win and same with USC. In the 29 games since the start of the 2016 season, the defense has given up 30 or more points only 3 times with a high of only 35. In the way that college football is today, that's perfectly acceptable (in comparison over that time period, Alabama has given up 3 games of 30+ and Clemson 5 times).


So yes, Browning's at a crossroads moment today and depending on the outcome today Petersen's on the hot seat staring at it as early as tomorrow. Whether fairly or unfairly, as a QB you are a leader of a team. As a leader, a fundamental is that you can't ask of others what you don't do yourself. Browning's propensity to underwhelm in these spots makes it difficult to impossible for him to hold his teammates accountable and can easily lead to dissention if he tries as it's hypocritical as fuck. In a sport where the spirit of competition comes on each play, your teammates know quickly if you can't deliver results. So the question for Browning is simple ... can he deliver results or is he just the guy that talks a good game and delivers the bare minimum but when pressed with stretch assignments and goals starts looking around for people to take the fall for him?

Can’t believe I read all that fluff

TLDR: the program has leveled up with players and is also recruiting players with higher expectations for everyone especially the QB. They preach impatience for lack of excellence, also have the luxury to exercise that impatience. It’s in jakes hands to decide what’s next.