We didn't play poorly last week, and had a chance to win that game. That's good karma in my book so I am going to do this again. THis isn't meant to be strictly a positive thread, but it will have a positive slant. I will try to give my honest opinion here regarding how I think we can stack up based off of rewatching the baylor rice game and having seen them in their previous performance.
First, I always thought this was going to be the toughest of the three games for us to win. Not just because of baylor's explosivness. Which is obvious to all, but because it is very difficult to sustain a very high emotional level for three consecutive weeks. And that's not just in the game, but with preparation and the travel as well. Especially if you've had any degree of success and people begin to pat you on the back, which is still happening event though we lost to tcu.
I still think our guys will fight hard. And they won't come out flat. But the attention to detail that is required to beat a team like baylor is significantly higher than most and momentary lapses that result in penalties, turnovers, dropped passes and missed assignments can find you down by a lot and in a hurry especially when baylor is lazer sharp which I think they will be this weekend since we are their first real test.
The last time we had to sustain this high level of focus and emotional and mental strength for three weeks in a row if I can recall was that 08 run of texas, ok state, and ou. And I even think we had a bye week before ou which believe me did not turn out to be a good thing. WE all know how that ended up.
I do not think this is going to be the same thing. The teams and scenarios are very different. But it's worth noting to get a grasp of the challenge these guys are going to have.
AS far as the breakdown and keys go I will say this.
we have to try to slow down the baylor run game and that's probably without a safety in the box. If we do it will allow us to force them into longer drives (they still will have explosive plays) which baylor will eventually help us out on. The will commit stupid penalties, miss on some throws, and probably give us a turn over or two. If we can do this and manage to not help them out with penalites, as well as get some pressure take some shots at Russell (no one has gotten pressure on that qb yet this year) then we will have multiple chances to win this game like last week that I believe we can take advantage of because...
Their defense should be easier for us to shread than tcu's was if we don't kill ourselves and show up.
Their d line is decent and certainly more talented than what we faced last week, but not overpowering. Rice wasn't constantly struggling with baylor's front. The front did make some plays. But overall when the rice qb dropped back to throw and baylor wasn't sending heat he had plenty of time. their run game wasn't bad either. Our o line should be able to handle these guys.
The overall talent will be slightly better than tcu's on d, although they do have some more experience. two things will negate this advantage they have over tcu though.
1. Their scheme is going to probably be the easiest we have seen yet this year. they don't disguise particularly well. When they play base they still give up big plays. And as has been the case with phil bennet defense's ever since I have watched him. His only answer is to blitz and play man coverage behind it. This is what happened against rice who did not have the athletes to really make them pay. We however will. This is going to be such a change from last week that I really think our guys are going to enjoy the easy looks they get this week. Eventually baylor will shift back and forth from base to blitz in predictable fashion allowing Washington and our WR's to make big plays in the run and pass game.
2. baylor does not have the bell cows at the LB level our at Safety like I have seen in previous years. And they have had some good ones. Frankly the guys they have playing behind that front are good players, but not great. smu torched them, lamar torched them, rice hit some plays on them. I will be shocked if we can't.
A couple of key notes:
The rice game got out of hand really due to a turnover and some untimely penalties that forced them into 2nd and 3rd and longs. We need to continue our clean play in these areas because it will be a huge advantage this week.
Nothing we don't already know, but even against rice the10, 15 yard penalties againt baylor were flying. From standing over and taunting players. to mauling receivers in the back end which they were called for. expect lots of penalties that will extend drives for us.
WE really need to come out in full force and be loud and rowdy to try to create a home environment this week to support our boys. this is a big game and I think they can use all they lift we can give them. Based on our fan's previous showings in Arlington I don't think this will be a problem.
Bottom line: This should be another shootout. We need to try to slow down that running game and keep things in front of us as much as possible and tackle great. They will still hit on big plays, but eventually they will kill themselves and give us opportunities to win the game.
If we can do that, and just make routine plays on o, then we will have a great chance to win. But we will need all the focus of the previous two weeks. minus a few critical mistakes and lapses that we had against tcu.
First, I always thought this was going to be the toughest of the three games for us to win. Not just because of baylor's explosivness. Which is obvious to all, but because it is very difficult to sustain a very high emotional level for three consecutive weeks. And that's not just in the game, but with preparation and the travel as well. Especially if you've had any degree of success and people begin to pat you on the back, which is still happening event though we lost to tcu.
I still think our guys will fight hard. And they won't come out flat. But the attention to detail that is required to beat a team like baylor is significantly higher than most and momentary lapses that result in penalties, turnovers, dropped passes and missed assignments can find you down by a lot and in a hurry especially when baylor is lazer sharp which I think they will be this weekend since we are their first real test.
The last time we had to sustain this high level of focus and emotional and mental strength for three weeks in a row if I can recall was that 08 run of texas, ok state, and ou. And I even think we had a bye week before ou which believe me did not turn out to be a good thing. WE all know how that ended up.
I do not think this is going to be the same thing. The teams and scenarios are very different. But it's worth noting to get a grasp of the challenge these guys are going to have.
AS far as the breakdown and keys go I will say this.
we have to try to slow down the baylor run game and that's probably without a safety in the box. If we do it will allow us to force them into longer drives (they still will have explosive plays) which baylor will eventually help us out on. The will commit stupid penalties, miss on some throws, and probably give us a turn over or two. If we can do this and manage to not help them out with penalites, as well as get some pressure take some shots at Russell (no one has gotten pressure on that qb yet this year) then we will have multiple chances to win this game like last week that I believe we can take advantage of because...
Their defense should be easier for us to shread than tcu's was if we don't kill ourselves and show up.
Their d line is decent and certainly more talented than what we faced last week, but not overpowering. Rice wasn't constantly struggling with baylor's front. The front did make some plays. But overall when the rice qb dropped back to throw and baylor wasn't sending heat he had plenty of time. their run game wasn't bad either. Our o line should be able to handle these guys.
The overall talent will be slightly better than tcu's on d, although they do have some more experience. two things will negate this advantage they have over tcu though.
1. Their scheme is going to probably be the easiest we have seen yet this year. they don't disguise particularly well. When they play base they still give up big plays. And as has been the case with phil bennet defense's ever since I have watched him. His only answer is to blitz and play man coverage behind it. This is what happened against rice who did not have the athletes to really make them pay. We however will. This is going to be such a change from last week that I really think our guys are going to enjoy the easy looks they get this week. Eventually baylor will shift back and forth from base to blitz in predictable fashion allowing Washington and our WR's to make big plays in the run and pass game.
2. baylor does not have the bell cows at the LB level our at Safety like I have seen in previous years. And they have had some good ones. Frankly the guys they have playing behind that front are good players, but not great. smu torched them, lamar torched them, rice hit some plays on them. I will be shocked if we can't.
A couple of key notes:
The rice game got out of hand really due to a turnover and some untimely penalties that forced them into 2nd and 3rd and longs. We need to continue our clean play in these areas because it will be a huge advantage this week.
Nothing we don't already know, but even against rice the10, 15 yard penalties againt baylor were flying. From standing over and taunting players. to mauling receivers in the back end which they were called for. expect lots of penalties that will extend drives for us.
WE really need to come out in full force and be loud and rowdy to try to create a home environment this week to support our boys. this is a big game and I think they can use all they lift we can give them. Based on our fan's previous showings in Arlington I don't think this will be a problem.
Bottom line: This should be another shootout. We need to try to slow down that running game and keep things in front of us as much as possible and tackle great. They will still hit on big plays, but eventually they will kill themselves and give us opportunities to win the game.
If we can do that, and just make routine plays on o, then we will have a great chance to win. But we will need all the focus of the previous two weeks. minus a few critical mistakes and lapses that we had against tcu.
