First.....
Thorough mid-season report:
ARROW UP
IRWIN - Gets the "start" last night, a nice package of plays and a target.
RECTOR - Out of the dog house. Shaw tried to get him a score late in front of his hometown school but Hogan did not accommodate. Helping out on punt return. Good signs.
MARTINEZ - Swallowed up at times last night in the run game, but the lifeblood of the defense never comes out.
CMAC - He'll be in NYC to watch Fournette receive the Heisman. Although a couple returns for 6 in the kick game could make things interesting. Maybe Akina can put him at CB?
WHITFIELD - You know when a friend (hulk) tells you about a movie(Whitfield) and says how great it is? Just kind of expecting more. This is probably his ceiling as he could not push Olugbode off the field last year. Nonetheless, never leaves the field.
OWUSU - No encore from last Thursday, but targeted on 3 different types of routes last night resulting in separation down the field but a misfire from 8, underneath crossing route that was a dropped and an impressive YAC on a screen. Physical blocker also helps out on KO return.
SHITTU - Towels on in the front and back, arm sleeves, wrist bands - he's a WR trapped in a DL body, but doing everything and more that he has been asked of so far.
SCHULTZ - I don't think any of us saw how physical of a blocker he would become in his second year. Affording Hooper the opportunity to do his thing. Most underrated player on that side of the ball.
HOLDER - Has locked down the RCB spot as he never came off the field until the last drive at 3:00. But if he keeps biting on that slant things could change.
STALLWORTH - His role as a glorified OL gives the other WR's a nice breather.
PEREZ - The only sub Hansen feels comfortable playing when game isn't in doubt, which to be quite honest is an ARROW DOWN for OKEREKE.
SCARLETT - C'mon Brennan, ONLY 8 more games to go!!
HOOPER - I love Hoop. Let me get that out of the way. But their is a higher level in him that hasn't been reached.
LOVE - Great weapon that Shaw has been able to implement. This is NOT a "KELSEY" package either. Sometimes it's hard to tell if Love is a bigger weapon as a decoy or with the ball in his hands. Again, props to Shaw/Bloom.
HARRIS - Has locked down arguably the hardest position on the field and has played at a high level vs inexperienced QB's. Get your rest this week my man.
WRIGHT - Really thriving in his role of 3RD down, 2:00 and short yardage. Has helped ease the blow of losing Patrick.
MEEKS - Two weeks in a row at NB1. Nice job in coverage against inexperienced QB's and a more physical tackler than earlier. HUGE week looming for him.
SANDERS - Not a great matchup for him last night. But still getting more than a handful of carries throughout.
LLOYD - Stayed on the field all night - even after he was trucked by a true frosh that was less 25-30 lbs.
ALFIERI - Has replaced Anderson without a time-share from Tyler. Solid job but he is still an OLB3 at this point.
TYLER - When you are only one of two subs it gets an ARROW UP. Not a ton of action but flashed a little and gives a nice breather to the other two.
KALAMBAYI - Best OLB and best ST player. Humble. Unassuming.
MARX - Solid job with inside running game and was finally given an opportunity to touch the football. Was also a primary target near the goal line off play-action that UW defended very well.
PALMA - Still getting the big end of the time-share opposite Blake.
MURPHY/GARNETT/SHULER/CASPERS/TUCKER - Their strengths are really being taken advantage of. Durable and athletic.
BRIGHT - Ogre1 always does a solid job in this role.
DAVIDSON - Contributing about a dozen snaps per game in the elephant package.
FANAIKA - Small, but important role as a lead blocker in short yardage.
AUSTIN - RG on short yardage as he replaces Shuler.
TABOADA - Oh, what to do with you, Greg?
CAJUSTE - I'm sure he was expecting bigger numbers when he decided to return. Still a solid college weapon.
S. THOMAS - The most underrated player on this side of the ball. So young and still so solid. Durable.
ARROW DOWN
SIMMONS - Reid and Edwards inserted late for last series as 2 stayed on the side.
T. THOMAS - NB1 for a game has not returned and did not get inserted late as Alexander and Murphy took the field.
ALEXANDER - Doing a nice job on teams but not part of NB save 1 game.
JORDAN - Nothing last night after seeing the field and even being targeted earlier.
OKEREKE - getting on the field on teams is a decent sign but still not in ILB rotation.
REID - OK, I hate myself a little for this. He is a true frosh. But he has seen significant time at S before and the play there by others has not been , well, stellar?
MURPHY - From time-share to starter to last series of the game.
PIPPENS - Younger players see field late at CB
LOHN - Hart choosing to ride the 3 studs for an entire game.
JONES - Replaced Blake vs UCLA but did not see field late as Hansen sent out Okereke and Perez. And Davis is coming.
TABOADA - Oh, what to do with you, Greg?
The real offenses are coming up! Oregon (11), WSU (14), Cal (16), ND (17). Hold on!!
- Anderson and Davis did not play but were in uniform. Cotton, Franklin, Buncom and Watkins did not dress.
- I have not been one of Shaw's greatest supporters, but last night continued what has been a very impressive offensive efficiency display. He and Bloom have the OL on the move in both the run and pass game. They are constantly pulling. The creativity to insert Caspers to center on shorts have benefitted. They go unbalanced a handful of times each game. The game plan last night to go with a heavy dose of screens was brilliant. SIX (6) different players caught a variation of a screen play.
- Taboada was on the field for 3 plays last night. The 2 passing plays resulted in a 22 yrd catch for Schultz and an 18 yrd catch of his own. The trend continues. But it's hard to complain he should be on the field more because of the efficiency of the offense.
- Lance and Co. used TWO (2) subs on defense last night - Tyler and Perez - until the last drive by UW with 3:00 left. Their remarkable luck in facing inexperienced QB's in 6 of the 7 games runs out next week in Pullman.
Thorough mid-season report:
ARROW UP
IRWIN - Gets the "start" last night, a nice package of plays and a target.
RECTOR - Out of the dog house. Shaw tried to get him a score late in front of his hometown school but Hogan did not accommodate. Helping out on punt return. Good signs.
MARTINEZ - Swallowed up at times last night in the run game, but the lifeblood of the defense never comes out.
CMAC - He'll be in NYC to watch Fournette receive the Heisman. Although a couple returns for 6 in the kick game could make things interesting. Maybe Akina can put him at CB?
WHITFIELD - You know when a friend (hulk) tells you about a movie(Whitfield) and says how great it is? Just kind of expecting more. This is probably his ceiling as he could not push Olugbode off the field last year. Nonetheless, never leaves the field.
OWUSU - No encore from last Thursday, but targeted on 3 different types of routes last night resulting in separation down the field but a misfire from 8, underneath crossing route that was a dropped and an impressive YAC on a screen. Physical blocker also helps out on KO return.
SHITTU - Towels on in the front and back, arm sleeves, wrist bands - he's a WR trapped in a DL body, but doing everything and more that he has been asked of so far.
SCHULTZ - I don't think any of us saw how physical of a blocker he would become in his second year. Affording Hooper the opportunity to do his thing. Most underrated player on that side of the ball.
HOLDER - Has locked down the RCB spot as he never came off the field until the last drive at 3:00. But if he keeps biting on that slant things could change.
STALLWORTH - His role as a glorified OL gives the other WR's a nice breather.
PEREZ - The only sub Hansen feels comfortable playing when game isn't in doubt, which to be quite honest is an ARROW DOWN for OKEREKE.
SCARLETT - C'mon Brennan, ONLY 8 more games to go!!
HOOPER - I love Hoop. Let me get that out of the way. But their is a higher level in him that hasn't been reached.
LOVE - Great weapon that Shaw has been able to implement. This is NOT a "KELSEY" package either. Sometimes it's hard to tell if Love is a bigger weapon as a decoy or with the ball in his hands. Again, props to Shaw/Bloom.
HARRIS - Has locked down arguably the hardest position on the field and has played at a high level vs inexperienced QB's. Get your rest this week my man.
WRIGHT - Really thriving in his role of 3RD down, 2:00 and short yardage. Has helped ease the blow of losing Patrick.
MEEKS - Two weeks in a row at NB1. Nice job in coverage against inexperienced QB's and a more physical tackler than earlier. HUGE week looming for him.
SANDERS - Not a great matchup for him last night. But still getting more than a handful of carries throughout.
LLOYD - Stayed on the field all night - even after he was trucked by a true frosh that was less 25-30 lbs.
ALFIERI - Has replaced Anderson without a time-share from Tyler. Solid job but he is still an OLB3 at this point.
TYLER - When you are only one of two subs it gets an ARROW UP. Not a ton of action but flashed a little and gives a nice breather to the other two.
KALAMBAYI - Best OLB and best ST player. Humble. Unassuming.
MARX - Solid job with inside running game and was finally given an opportunity to touch the football. Was also a primary target near the goal line off play-action that UW defended very well.
PALMA - Still getting the big end of the time-share opposite Blake.
MURPHY/GARNETT/SHULER/CASPERS/TUCKER - Their strengths are really being taken advantage of. Durable and athletic.
BRIGHT - Ogre1 always does a solid job in this role.
DAVIDSON - Contributing about a dozen snaps per game in the elephant package.
FANAIKA - Small, but important role as a lead blocker in short yardage.
AUSTIN - RG on short yardage as he replaces Shuler.
TABOADA - Oh, what to do with you, Greg?
CAJUSTE - I'm sure he was expecting bigger numbers when he decided to return. Still a solid college weapon.
S. THOMAS - The most underrated player on this side of the ball. So young and still so solid. Durable.
ARROW DOWN
SIMMONS - Reid and Edwards inserted late for last series as 2 stayed on the side.
T. THOMAS - NB1 for a game has not returned and did not get inserted late as Alexander and Murphy took the field.
ALEXANDER - Doing a nice job on teams but not part of NB save 1 game.
JORDAN - Nothing last night after seeing the field and even being targeted earlier.
OKEREKE - getting on the field on teams is a decent sign but still not in ILB rotation.
REID - OK, I hate myself a little for this. He is a true frosh. But he has seen significant time at S before and the play there by others has not been , well, stellar?
MURPHY - From time-share to starter to last series of the game.
PIPPENS - Younger players see field late at CB
LOHN - Hart choosing to ride the 3 studs for an entire game.
JONES - Replaced Blake vs UCLA but did not see field late as Hansen sent out Okereke and Perez. And Davis is coming.
TABOADA - Oh, what to do with you, Greg?
The real offenses are coming up! Oregon (11), WSU (14), Cal (16), ND (17). Hold on!!
