(09-29-2016, 01:43 PM)ColoradoTree link Wrote:While you hate to lose your starting corners (who also happen to be taller than the backups), I'm confident that Murphy and Alexander will do just fine. My concern is depth, since we usually have a good rotation of guys.Â
Interestingly, I am not particularly concerned about depth for this game, but I am concerned about the drop off from Holder and Meeks.
Stanford, as always, plays at the slowest pace in the conference and one of the slowest paces in the country, 58.7 plays per game on offense. However, UW is also playing at a rather slow pace this year, with the second fewest plays per game on offense at 62.8 plays per game. Putting these two teams together, one would expect relatively few plays - presumably making depth less important.
In addition, UW is running on 58+% of its plays. That's no Stanford (65%), but is a pretty high percentage for college football these days. [I think UW is fourth in the conference in % run plays, just behind Oregon and Arizona - but it's a pain to calculate and I might have missed something.]
So, I don't think they'll have to defend a ton of pass plays.
UW does hit some big plays in their passing game. Chico McClatcher leads the Pac-12 in yds/catch at 22.4 and has the most 30+ yard receptions in the conference. John Ross certainly has that capability, though hasn't had so many yet this year.
My guess is we'll see a ton of cushion, concede the short passing game if Browning can take it, then try to tighten up in the red zone. That was the strategy when down CBs last year, and seems like our MO.