ESPN's Rod Gilmore: don't get me wrong: I'm picking LSU to beat Washington this weekend. ... But I believe the Huskies are closer to playing good, physical defense than most realize, and that they have the opportunity to set the tone for the rest of their season on Saturday by playing LSU close. ... Sarkisian hired Justin Wilcox after last season to be his defensive coordinator, and this is his week. ... At first glance, the Huskies' defense was less than awe-inspiring in Week 1 against the San Diego State Aztecs. They gave up 199 yards rushing (5 yards per attempt), had several blown assignments and gave up a few big plays. ... However, when you watch the tape of the game, you notice a young defense playing with emotion and toughness (players like freshmen DL Pio Vatuvei, LB/S Shaq Thompson and LB Travis Feeney stood out in this regard). For example, instead of running around blocks, guys took on blockers and tried to squeeze running lanes. They attacked their run gaps -- sometimes these were the wrong gaps, but those are correctable mistakes. While the statistics against an average opponent like San Diego State are not inspiring, the actual attitude and effort is promising. One can see Wilcox's influence beginning to take hold. The tape shows that the attitude is there, it's just the details and technical items that need work. Wilcox does detail and technique all day. ... Again, I don't think the Huskies will beat LSU in what will be a very challenging road environment, but I believe the defense will surprise with its improvement and toughness.
I expect a lot of complaining after we dust em. Why? We won't have to open up the playbook a lot. Washington's in trouble. The PAC 10 don't want anything to do with the SEC right now. Even USC, I feel, will run into problems with lack of depth this year- IF they have a good season (and I fully expect them to) and end up in a good place at the end.
Going to get a chance to watch the prime night game with Washington. Hate they are putting Georgia vs Missouri on opposite your game. Looks like a two TV Saturday in the SEC.
here are the other WRs listed on their depth chart released for the game: #4 Jaydon Mickens Rivals 4-star, #11 ATH, #142 on the Rivals150 Scout 4-star, #45 WR, offers: Southern Cal, Oregon, Oklahoma State, UCLA, Cal, Arizona State, Arizona, Washington State, etc #8 Kevin Smith Scout 4-star, #23 ATH, #142 on the Scout150 Rivals 4-star, #31 ATH #23 Kendyl Taylor Rivals 3-star, #25 ATH ESPN 3-star, #64 ATH offers: Notre Dame, Michigan State, Stanford, Arizona, Arizona State, Washington State pedigree: his uncle, John Taylor, was a two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver and three-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers and his father, Keith Taylor, played 9 years in the NFL as a DB, including 6 years as a 16-game starter...in 1989 he had 7 INTs (#4 in the NFL) high school: caught 87 passes for 1,132 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior also rushed for 558 yards on only 68 carries #7 Cody Bruns Rivals 3-star, NR Scout 4-star, #38 WR, #233 on the Scout250 high school: #2 all-time in U.S. high school history in career receptions (310) and career receiving yards (5,178) and #1 in the State of Washington history in both ------------------------------- compare them to the LSU CBs manning the CB spot opposite Simon: #28 -- true freshman Jalen Mills Scout 3-star, #34 CB Rivals 3-star, #48 CB offers: LSU, Baylor, UVA, Kansas, Iowa State, Pitt, Houston, etc #32 -- RS freshman Jalen Collins Rivals 4-star, #22 CB, #249 on the Rivals250 Scout 3-star, #98 CB offers: LSU
Meh, we defiantly have Superior coaching in the CB area. The stars have proven to mean all of about nothing to me at this point.
regarding how they lost one of their two co-starters at RB, the one the lost to injury, Callier was a 3-star, while they one we will see, Sankey, was a 4-star #24 Jesse Callier (out with torn ACL in season opener) Rivals 3-star Scout 3-star, #66 RB #25 Bishop Sankey (5'10", 200 lbs) Scout #17 RB, 4-star, #150 on the Scout150 Rivals #19 RB, 4-star, #235 on the Rivals250 Sarkisian thinks Sankey can handle an every-down, 25-carries-a-game load: "I think he can do it without a doubt. Physically he was fine (when) he had 22 carries (last week)," Sarkisian said. "He has big-play potential." for their change-of-pace back, UW will have 5'10"/188-lb speedster Erich Wilson (#20), who was clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.38 seconds. he broke high school school records held by HOFer Lynn Swann, rushing for 2,106 yards and 33 touchdowns on 226 carries as a senior in high school
keep in mind that UW's coach is Steve Sarkisian. he's an elite coach at putting together a potent passing attack. look at all those offenses and 1st Round pick QBs he had at USC. look how Jake Locker and now Keith Price have turned out under him at UW. look how the 2004 Raiders did under him (they threw for 4,019 yards... Kerry Collins threw for 3,495 and Rich Gannon threw for 524). and Sark himself was a great passer in his own right at BYU... as a senior at BYU he led the NCAA in passer rating while throwing for 4,027 yards and 33 TDs, and as a junior he threw for 3,437 yards and 20 TDs
Good points. However, the d line will be the key to success in the secondary this year.. Pressure will be the difference.
