Before we get into the keys to a Husky win this week in Eugene, let’s first get a few things straight:
This game will be at the perfect time of day on ABC (part of ESPN) and one thing you won’t see is one of their reporters on the sideline setting three cupcakes on the ground for Oregon’s non-conference schedule.
Or should I say cream puffs.
Remember the mocking that UW received because of their “cupcake” non-conference schedule? Oregon’s non-conference schedule opponents (combined) are now 3-14 for the season. You know…the powerhouses of Bowling Green (1-5), Portland State (2-4) and San Jose State (0-5)…thank God for Portland State, eh?
The reason we won’t see any bakery items on the sidelines at Autzen on Saturday is because ABC/ESPN are too busy spending the money they get from NIKE in order to promote the Oregon Ducks football program.
Yes, I said it. And furthermore…
Oregon — who had a bye before Washington — and who’s only played one road game for the entire season — should be healthy. The only injury is Phil Knight’s tongue from paper cuts as he licks envelopes to send money to ABC/ESPN.
So, now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, let’s look at the keys to the game:
WHEN OREGON IS ON OFFENSE
When playing a good team (and Oregon is a good team) led by Justin Herbert, who’s supposed to be the top quarterback for next year’s draft, teams usually have a hard time with prep because they don’t have that type of guy on the scout team. Herbert is 6-6, 240 and has a strong arm.
Oh wait, Washington has a guy like on the scout team.
He’s 6-6, a biscuit away from 245, and arguably was one of three guys in the country with the biggest arm (to paraphrase Hugh Millen). He’s just as big and strong as Justin Herbert, if not more. That’s right, bring on Jacob Eason to help the defense prepare for Herbert.
Another key (when Oregon is on offense) is to slow their running game down. You don’t want to see big-chunk running plays. They do have a big O-line and love running the ball.
Mario Cristobal loves to expose his quarterback, meaning – on the RPO sometimes Herbert will fake the handoff and/or the pass and then bootleg around the left side of the offensive line. Don James always said that if you’re going to expose the QB, then the defense has to punish him.
Would love to see Jimmy Lake use Jojo McIntosh, or even Taylor Rapp to be a spy when Oregon calls that play — and you know they will.
That’s when the defense needs to put big time, legal licks on Herbert’s throwing arm and knock him out of the game. Yes, I said that too.
Honestly, if you’re going to expose your QB, then you should keep hitting him and hitting him until he leaves the game. Nothing dirty, nothing illegal, just hard, bone-crushing hits to this right shoulder.
Also, watch the running backs out of the backield for screens and misdirections and any other gadget plays they might try.
Lake should talk to Byron Murphy and Jordan Miller about really manning up. He needs to challenge his DB’s — and Murphy should be on their leading receiver, Dillan I-want-to-say-we’re-Husky-hunting-and-we’re-coming-after-them Mitchell.
Then man-up the whole game. Take away the YAC — what they like to do is throw a lot of crossing patterns and get into space, and so UW needs to take that away and make Herbert throw deep against man coverage — and let the best man win.
The advantage that Washington has is their defensive backs; Byron Murphy — first-round hopeful going up against a guy like Mitchell. My money is on Murphy.
WHEN WASHINGTON IS ON OFFENSE
The Huskies need to run the ball just enough.
You know Oregon will load the box, but you still have to run the ball. Throw over the top — meaning — Oregon’s DB’s are okay, but they’re not elite.
Stanford ate them up when they started throwing the ball.
The OL needs to pick up the blitz. Oregon’s defense wants to get at Jake Browning and they’ll be so geeked up that they will be like those zombies in World War Z trying to climb the wall into Jerusalem.
The Huskies need to use that aggression against them.
Washington can throw on Oregon if Jake gets the time. That’s a fact. But he needs to get time and the O-line needs to play their best game this season.
Those first ten minutes of the game you just know Oregon will be sky-high. Two weeks of hearing pent up quacking about the past two years, blah blah blah. Washington has to match that intensity — and then play ball.
Finally – Wahsington needs to win the turnover battle. Oregon will come out prepared to play their A game, and Washington needs to play theirs.
And if you look at the strength of schedule, Washington’s A game is much better than Oregon’s.
Oh, and if you don’t believe me about the NIKE money machine — check out Exhibit A:
