[CTcard]

My frustration with the article is the premise that all of a sudden UW is the program to beat.  Sorry it was one year, it was mainly because of their defense, and much of that talent is now entering the draft.  Can Peterson reload? Sure, but he hasn't done it as this level yet so why give him more credit than Shaw who has?

I have no problem with the general premise that the defending champion is the team to beat until it has proven that it is not.

It is worth looking at UW a little more closely.

By my own count, UW loses the following starters from their CFP game:
Offense = Ross (WR), Elderenkamp (LG)
Defense = Baker (S), Qualls (DT), King (CB), Jones (CB).
I believe that they are also getting Azeem Victor back from injury.

That is somewhat similar to Stanford in being not a lot of quantity lost, but some very top quality. I don't know UW well enough to understand their prospects for replacing these guys. I would note that as far as the public scouting services rankings go, UW has recruited less well under Petersen than they did under Sarkisian. I suspect UW folks would say that is because Petersen has a better and more independent eye for talent.

[CTcard]

My frustration with the article is the premise that all of a sudden UW is the program to beat.  Sorry it was one year, it was mainly because of their defense, and much of that talent is now entering the draft.  Can Peterson reload? Sure, but he hasn't done it as this level yet so why give him more credit than Shaw who has?

I have no problem with the general premise that the defending champion is the team to beat until it has proven that it is not.

It is worth looking at UW a little more closely.

By my own count, UW loses the following starters from their CFP game:
Offense = Ross (WR), Elderenkamp (LG)
Defense = Baker (S), Qualls (DT), King (CB), Jones (CB).
I believe that they are also getting Azeem Victor back from injury.

That is somewhat similar to Stanford in being not a lot of quantity lost, but some very top quality. I don't know UW well enough to understand their prospects for replacing these guys. I would note that as far as the public scouting services rankings go, UW has recruited less well under Petersen than they did under Sarkisian. I suspect UW folks would say that is because Petersen has a better and more independent eye for talent.