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How Washington Shut Down Our O and What Shawgren Must Gameplan For - Printable Version

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How Washington Shut Down Our O and What Shawgren Must Gameplan For - AncientCityIndian - 07-30-2017

https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/10/5/13148210/washington-stanford-game-2016-defense

I`m no expert on game planning an O but I do think even the unwashed can figure out you defeat this D by getting your TE`s open early and often and accurately connecting with them.  The other thing you do is give your QB time to hit the deep WR routes and challenge the Husky deep safety to force them out of an 8 man box so they cannot abort your running game from the side in back of the blockers with the other safety before the RB hits the hole.

Washington`s front 7 will be just as tough this year but the secondary has a bunch of newbies whose inexperience may be exploited.  Burns was just too inexperienced and too inaccurate to take what the Husky D gave last year but in his defense he did not have much time.  Our OL guys played pretty poorly.  They must play superbly.  In addition, our play calling was not something to be remembered fondly for the ages.

This year we have two exceptional tight ends and a QB who can get the ball there in a hurry with some accuracy.  This is a game where a St. Brown and A-W can make a difference downfield while Irwin can catch that 12 yard pass all day in play action.  I hate to even suggest this given our QB injury situation but running our backs into the flat could really open up the middle for some Luck or Hogan  like QB keepers IF our OL blocks the middle of Husky D when those DE/OLB combo players go into the flat to cover the backs.

I have said for years that Chris Peterson is the best coach in college football on all the boards I post on and he did nothing last year to change my opinion.  My friend Jim Sochor always had high praise for him before he passed and after he left UC Davis.  Last year, he game planned well on both sides of the ball.  I hope we are better prepared this year.

Re: How Washington Shut Down Our O and What Shawgren Must Gameplan For - johnnyo53 - 07-30-2017

AGREE ON PETERSEN.  INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS. I WILL THINK ON IT AWHILE AND RESPOND MORE DEFINITIVELY.  BUT LAST YEAR, WE LOST THE BATTLE IN THE TRENCHES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL, AND EVERYTHING UNRAVELED OR WAS EXPOSED FROM THERE...

Re: How Washington Shut Down Our O and What Shawgren Must Gameplan For - Goose - 07-30-2017

(07-30-2017, 08:55 PM)johnnyo53 link Wrote:BUT LAST YEAR, WE LOST THE BATTLE IN THE TRENCHES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL, AND EVERYTHING UNRAVELED OR WAS EXPOSED FROM THERE...
I really think that is the whole story. You can "game plan" all you want, but if you can't block anybody, it doesn't matter.

Re: How Washington Shut Down Our O and What Shawgren Must Gameplan For - Spiny_Norman - 07-30-2017

AT Hall said in the USA Today interview that he could not hear Burns' calls at the line.  I'm rather surprised that the team seemed unprepared for the crowd noise.  That may have contributed to the anemic offensive performance.

Re: How Washington Shut Down Our O and What Shawgren Must Gameplan For - OutsiderFan - 07-31-2017

(07-30-2017, 09:31 PM)Spiny_Norman link Wrote:AT Hall said in the USA Today interview that he could not hear Burns' calls at the line.  I'm rather surprised that the team seemed unprepared for the crowd noise.  That may have contributed to the anemic offensive performance.

No team that wins in a loud stadium goes into a game relying on hearing the QB at the LOS.  But regardless, Stanford's OTs proved all year long that they were below mediocre, so I'm not letting Hall off the hook for not being able to hear.  The following week, they played at home, in near silence, and got similarly blown up by the Cougs.

Re: How Washington Shut Down Our O and What Shawgren Must Gameplan For - 81alum - 07-31-2017

Thank you for that link!  I found it fascinating.  A great way for longtime fans but non-experts like me to learn more about the strategy behind the game. 

If Peterson is as good as we think, then isn't it very unlikely that he will use the same defensive strategy again?  He will know that McCaffrey is gone and that we have outstanding Tight ends.  And he will know that his secondary is not as strong. 

Re: How Washington Shut Down Our O and What Shawgren Must Gameplan For - AncientCityIndian - 07-31-2017

Of course, Peterson and any great coach will game plan for what he expects his opponent to do.  Stanford, however, is a power running, run first team that will not easily change its stripes.  Shaw will always point to missed assignments as the number one reason for poor performance.  There were ways to defeat the Husky D and expect similar dances by each dancing partner when we play them in a few months.  Let us just hope that our O line plays impeccably and our short passing game will force them out of the 8 man front.

I expect both to happen and that we will avenge our loss.  What I have not discussed is the other side of the ball.  Healthy cornerbacks and reduced Husky TOS should greatly reduce Washington`s scoring.  Peterson should have been thrown in jail for the child abuse that he heaped upon our inexperienced and less talented 2nd team CB`s as Ross and Pettis and others just were dominant and ran free.  A little pressure on Browning and some success against their O line (which dominated us last year) would be helpful since his quick release is legendary and his receivers just got open so quickly last year.  Expect Lance to bring pressure early and often from different directions to keep Browning from being comfortable all the time.  He is known for a few errant tosses now and then when he feels pressure coming at him as Alabama brought.

Re: How Washington Shut Down Our O and What Shawgren Must Gameplan For - Hulk01 - 07-31-2017

Browning's touch and accuracy make him as lethal as Darnold in a clean pocket. But his arm isn't strong, his feet aren't quick, and he's not a skilled improviser.  You can beat him if you can get to him.  And maybe only if you can get to him.

Re: How Washington Shut Down Our O and What Shawgren Must Gameplan For - BostonCard - 07-31-2017

(07-30-2017, 08:55 PM)johnnyo53 link Wrote:AGREE ON PETERSEN.  INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS. I WILL THINK ON IT AWHILE AND RESPOND MORE DEFINITIVELY.  BUT LAST YEAR, WE LOST THE BATTLE IN THE TRENCHES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL, AND EVERYTHING UNRAVELED OR WAS EXPOSED FROM THERE...

Yeah.  I don't think even Andrew Luck would have been able to win with the blocking we got against UW (just look at him in Indi).  Burns' inexperience exacerbated the situation, but the problem was our complete inability to block the Husky pass-rush.

BC

Re: How Washington Shut Down Our O and What Shawgren Must Gameplan For - Goose - 07-31-2017

(07-31-2017, 09:27 AM)Boston Card link Wrote:Yeah.  I don't think even Andrew Luck would have been able to win with the blocking we got against UW (just look at him in Indi).
Very good point. Totally agree.
Quote:Burns' inexperience exacerbated the situation, but the problem was our complete inability to block the Husky pass-rush.

BC
I disagree in focus, if not substance, with this statement. The problem was our complete inability to block for the running game. Even with "good" pass blocking, Stanford's passing game is, of itself, not going to scare anybody much. We WANT you to put 8 in the box, and give up the passes to the tight ends and wide receivers in single coverage. We WANT you to NEED 8 in the box to have any chance of stopping our running game. That is where our passing game will kill you. It also makes pass blocking a bit easier because the opponent can't just try to crash on every play. They must maintain contain, play the run, and only then try to get to the QB. If we accomplish this, it is a "brobdingnagian"  advantage to our passing game. Now, I agree our pass blocking sucked, but if we are in the position of relying on our wide receivers and Burns (or Chryst, for that matter) to win the game in the air, we are in lots of trouble. Stanford football history is replete with great QBs with good receivers and not much of a running game. That produced lots of 6-5 seasons. To be "elite", you have to be competent at both.
Browning is successful, IMHO, mostly because of Gaskin. Ross also helped a lot, because when you have corners playing 10 yards off, it is hard to stop the short passes, but Gaskin is the threat that slows the pass rush and makes the LBs stay at home. That "cleans up" the pocket quite a lot all by itself.

Re: How Washington Shut Down Our O and What Shawgren Must Gameplan For - Goose - 07-31-2017

(07-31-2017, 08:00 AM)AncientCityIndian link Wrote:Of course, Peterson and any great coach will game plan for what he expects his opponent to do.  Stanford, however, is a power running, run first team that will not easily change its stripes.  Shaw will always point to missed assignments as the number one reason for poor performance.  There were ways to defeat the Husky D and expect similar dances by each dancing partner when we play them in a few months.
Totally agree. We are what we are, they are what they are, strength against strength.
Quote: Let us just hope that our O line plays impeccably and our short passing game will force them out of the 8 man front.
I hope that our running game is so effective that Washington HAS to play 8 in the box. Then, we kill them in the air with passes to very open guys. If they can handle our run game without at least walking up a safety, that is bad news.
Quote:
I expect both to happen and that we will avenge our loss.  What I have not discussed is the other side of the ball.  Healthy cornerbacks and reduced Husky TOS should greatly reduce Washington`s scoring.  Peterson should have been thrown in jail for the child abuse that he heaped upon our inexperienced and less talented 2nd team CB`s as Ross and Pettis and others just were dominant and ran free.  A little pressure on Browning and some success against their O line (which dominated us last year) would be helpful since his quick release is legendary and his receivers just got open so quickly last year.  Expect Lance to bring pressure early and often from different directions to keep Browning from being comfortable all the time.  He is known for a few errant tosses now and then when he feels pressure coming at him as Alabama brought.
Could be, I hope so, but I don't expect that. Peterson is going to run right at us and make us stop them. I think WE may end up with 8 in the box. But, the good news is that our corners are good enough to play their wide receivers man-to-man. Without Ross to take the top off, they aren't the same team. I think we can stop them, and that will put Browning in the position he was in against Troy last year. That didn't end well for Washington, and last year they had Ross. This year they don't. Their receiving corps is still good, but Pettis + Ross >> Pettis.

Re: How Washington Shut Down Our O and What Shawgren Must Gameplan For - Hulk01 - 07-31-2017

Washington averaged only 1.8 sacks per game away from the noise at Husky Stadium.  Playing on our home field with a more experienced offensive line will help.Â