Dawg Day Afternoon: The 2011 Huskies and What They Have to Do to Improve
Many Washington Husky faithful consider their 2010-2011 campaign a huge success, a campaign that culminated in a win over a very good and steadily rising powerhouse program in Nebraska.
Despite this big win in their first bowl game in a few years, there are still many ways that this Husky team can improve. They finished a meager 6-6 during the regular season and were lucky to squeak into the Holiday Bowl.
Here is a list of 10 things the Huskies need to accomplish this next season to get over the mediocre hurdle and rise into PAC-12 dominance based on if they will accomplish these goals or not.
10. Replacing Mason Foster
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There's no denying it, Mason Foster was a force to be reckoned with. Though not a highly recruited player out of high school, Foster quickly ascended to become one of the premier linebackers in the nation. His football IQ and tackle abilities have garnered him high draft status and have also left the Huskies with a big hole in their defense.
While the Huskies did have an OK year on defense, there were clearly some issues in defending the run game as well as the passing game. Losing Foster only accentuates a run-stopping problem the Huskies have faced over these past few years.
Chance of Replacement/Improvement: 5-10% chance. I suggest such a low number not only because it is always hard to replace a player like Foster, but because the Huskies don't have another stand-out linebacker who can provide the intimidation that Foster did. Yes, Jamaal Kearse is a very good linebacker as well, but with the loss of Foster, his talents will start to dwindle as teams will focus on him more in the rushing attack. However, the Huskies have quite a few freshmen who will look to make an impact in the linebacking corps during their sophomore campaign. Don't be too surprised if Sark is able to develop one of these players into the next great Husky.
9. Put Nebraska Down Again
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As mentioned in the opening slide, the win over Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl finally gave Washington faithful something to cheer for, and they will hopefully be able to cheer even more after a trip to Lincoln, Nebraska on September 17, 2011.
If the Huskies are able to pull of a win here, they will likely be looking at 3-0 and a steadily rising confidence in the way they can play football. Not only will this win put them into the top-25, but it will give them a swagger heading into Pac-12 conference play, where they have no easy road to the top.
Chances of this Happening: 20-30%. I give this a pretty high probability in contrast to most people's point-of-views because of the fact that the Huskies know they can beat a very good Nebraska team. They are coming off a great finish last season and Sarkisian will only make his young team better through offseason workouts and subsequently spring practice. The biggest issues the Huskies will run into here is whether they have established a quarterback for the coming year and if he is able to handle the intimidation of Lincoln Memorial Stadium, one of the toughest places to play in all of college football.
8. Husky Stadium Keeping It Rocking
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Back in the day when Washington was a perennial football power, Husky Stadium was rocking. In fact, it has the loudest noise ever recorded in college football (unofficial recording) at 137dB; the threshold of pain is 120dB...
Being an opposing team's fan who has been to Husky stadium recently, that place can definitely still get loud and distract opposing teams. The only way to get around it is to score fast, and pull ahead early, otherwise Husky stadium could swallow you up.
Chance of this Happening: 70-80%. This high probability comes along with the reinvigorated Husky nation. They trust in Sarkisian and believe their team can achieve new heights in the near future, and will rock Husky stadium for every home game. This will be great to see and create an atmosphere that has lacked in Seattle for quite awhile.
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7. Improve Road Record
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Though the Huskies have improved in recent years, one of the main things they have to work on in order to rise to the top of the PAC-12 is to win their road games. Although they went a respectable 3-3 on the road this year, they could have beat an Arizona team who highly underperformed this past year.
This task will prove even more important in this next year as the Huskies face one of the toughest road schedules in the nation. They play at Nebraska, at Utah, at USC, and at Stanford, all teams which will most likely be in the preseason top-25. If they are able to navigate through this gauntlet of teams, Washington will be all that much closer to a BCS bowl once again.
Chances of this Happening: 10-20%. Though improving, Washington still does not have the firepower to take over a road stadium, especially like that of Nebraska and USC, where both teams will be looking to avenge losses from the previous years. Stanford will also prove difficult to beat as Heisman hopeful Andrew Luck will continue to assert why he is the top QB in the nation.
6. Reclaim Northwest Dominance
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For many years, the Huskies were the dominant team in the Pacific Northwest. They must reclaim that dominance against Northwest teams in order to both gain more recruiting attention as well as prestige for the program as a whole. In order to do this, they have to have better records against Oregon State, Oregon, and Washington State (although dominance over the Cougars has recently continued).
If the Huskies are to ever hoist the Pac-12 North title, they will have to prove they can beat these four teams in their area, and beat them soundly.
Chances of this Occurring: 60-70%. While the Huskies may not go unbeaten in the Northwest this next year, I believe they have a chance of at least going 2-1 against neighbors. Washington State is, well, Washington State, and Oregon State will have to deal with the loss of Jaquizz Rogers, which will give the Huskies an opportunity to pull off a victory in Corvallis.
5. Pluck the Ducks
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In association with the theme in the last slide, the Huskies must be able to beat the Ducks after seven long seasons of being humiliated by their rivals. If they can beat the Ducks this year at Husky Stadium, then the program will really start buzzing again. With Oregon likely to be at least in the top-15 during the Husky-Duck matchup on November 5, 2011, a win over Oregon could stabilize Washington as a legitimate threat to the PAC-12 conference title.
Chance of this Happening: 20-30%. While the Huskies have held Oregon close on numerous occasions in Husky Stadium (and this is why I give them a fighting chance), the Ducks' offensive scheme along with a Husky defense, which is still developing, will lead the Ducks to an 8th straight victory over the Huskies. However, if the Huskies are able to come in with a good enough record and jump on the board early, the Husky Stadium intimidation factor may be able to set-in and cool the high flying Duck offense. Great game in store for next year.
4. Improve Wide Receiving Corps
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Many believed that Jake Locker was going to bring the Huskies back to the promised land, and he just might have if he had a better receiving corps. No matter how good a quarterback and running back are, they are nothing without standout or at least reliable receivers, something the Huskies have lacked for quite a few years now. The Huskies need to start developing their receiving corps better or start to run a different offensive scheme (bubble screens please) in order to actually legitimize the threat of a passing attack.
Chance of this Happening: 10-15%. While the Huskies do have a reliable receiver in Jermaine Kearse, the other players on their receiving corps just don't stand out to many people. This will be made all that much harder because of the quarterback question as well as lack of depth on their receiving charts.
3. Trust in the Sark
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Steve Sarkisian is arguably one of the best coaches in the PAC-12 and is also one of the most underrated coaches in the nation. Washington fans have come to adore him and the new passion that he is going to bring to the team.
Sarkisian helped to bring a USC offense to become one of the best in the history of college football, and is starting to administer his policies in the direction of making Washington a football powerhouse again.
Chances of this Happening: 100%. Husky nation has taken hold of Sarkisian and they will not be letting go of such a good coach anytime soon. Since he came to the program, he has been nothing but beneficial and the Husky faithful will continue to devote their passion and allegiance to him as he brings the Huskies back into the national spotlight.
2. Give Chris Polk the Ball, and Then Do It Some More
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One of the best kept secrets in the entire nation is Chris Polk. Once recruited by USC, Polk came to Washington to follow Sarkisian, and this has proved beneficial for him. Polk is an explosive runner with great cut-back ability and RB vision.
When he is given the ball, he not only finds the right holes, but even after he is hit, he keeps pushing forward for every single yard that he can get. This is a player who will never give up and will help any team to diversify their offensive attack.
Chances of this Happening: 100%. With a new quarterback and an iffy receiving corps, Chris Polk will be the anchor of this Husky offense that will look to improve upon a successful 2010 campaign. He will be the leader of this offense and will be the piece from which all else revolves around. In utilizing his running abilities, opponents will key on Polk which will allow a young quarterback the ability to have a little more pressure taken off of his back as the passing attack will be opened up because of this dynamic back.
1. Get over Locker, and Find a New QB
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The most important thing that the Huskies can do in order to improve this next season is to get over Jake Locker. Yes, he is a very talented quarterback who will most likely be an NFL starter in the near future who came from UW, but honestly, he did not do much for the Huskies over his career. Though he was plagued by injuries and only had one winning season with the Huskies (and needed a bowl win in order to do so), Washington fans still idolize this man like he is a God. Yes, Locker has raw football talent, but it did not work in your system and you must move on and find a new quarterback.
The possible options for Washington at quarterback this next year are either Keith Price, who started a few games while Locker has been hurt, or Nick Montana, son of Joe Montana who has been avidly hyped up around the Pacific northwest.
Chances of this Happening: 40-50%. While most Husky fans are investing in the future of the program, there is a big split on who they believe should replace Locker. While Price does offer part of the legs and mobility that Locker offered, it was clear that inaccuracy with both Price and Locker would be a problem, and so some argue that Montana should succeed a Husky God. However, Montana has done nothing to prove himself in college football yet and many are criticizing him for being good just because people see him as Joe Montana's son. The Huskies need to decide on a QB of the future soon in order to benefit their offense most, and this may prove difficult with a heated QB competition in the near future.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
