Can I ask you about the OL and DL play? Seems like the O-line was very disappointing this year. Maea would have helped, but it seems like Bills and Laumea, individually, weren’t as good as we hoped for. Was this due to the center play, bad QB play, defenses stacking the box, or were they simply not as good as we expected them to be? Fano is understandable since he’s a true freshman. Mokofisi was just awful. He should not be a starting lineman for us next year.
As for the DL, the DT’s were a major disappointment. Tafuna isn’t the star player that we expected he would turn into after his freshman season in 2021. As for the DE’s, they were really not good in run containment and setting the edge, at least to my untrained eye. Is it because they are undersized? Van simply doesn’t look like a good DE, and O’Toole was so hyped up as a pass rusher, only to not deliver. He was said to be our best pass rusher, but I don’t think he’s even in the same tier as Elliss and even Fano.
The pass numbers look worse since sack yardage goes against the run game.
It’s not a secret that the passing defense suffered after Fano went down, and then further when Barton did. Of course, that also coincided with playing against the better QB’s in the league. A lot of passes that missed open receivers the first half of the season were finding their mark down the stretch. Not to mention the number of times opposing receivers made plays against great coverage.
First let me say, that I don’t blame him for not telling what he knows because you don’t want to give anything away to Arizona.
Whitt claims he didn’t see what UW did differently in the second half. If nothing was done differently, then UW played a heckuva a lot harder than the Utes in the second half. The difference was night and day.
I am no coach and I do not have access to the game films, but it was obvious to me that UW put more pressure on the left side of our offensive line. Fano and company could not handle this and it led to a number of critical penalties and much more pressure on Barnes.
I believe Whitt knows that some things changed in UW’s defense in the second half, but he certainly does not want to give Arizona any ideas. He and his staff will work on resolving the problem so the Wildcats can’t exploit our weakness.
The first half on Saturday was fun to watch. The second half – not so much.
Go Utes!!!
That play would have never worked even with Fano picking up his guy. Should have rolled BB
Those holding calls on Fano and the phantom OPI on Miki showed us just how much Barnes sucks
6. Situation: 3rd and 5, down 7-0, Oregon 22.
Formation: 10 personnel, 3×1 wide bunch to field, Parks to boundary
Pre-snap: Oregon showing 4-2-5 with 2 high safeties
Parks runs 5 yard dig route, Glover releases to boundary, Vele runs a 12 yard drag, McLain runs a deep in and Simmons runs a 3 yard out, all against tight man coverage. Oregon rushes 5, Based on alignment, Fano has DE, Bills has DT, Mokofisi has DT and Laumea has DE with Failu helping or picking up the backer. Instead Bills and Failu double team DT, Mokofisi takes on 3 guys and Laumea wanders through the tulips.
Immediate pressure from the field forces Barnes to roll to boundary, eliminating Simmons and McLain’s routes. Glover and Parks both end up in the same area and neither move with their QB to help him out. Vele’s route was an option had Barnes not been under duress and he did an excellent job throwing off-balance with a LB in his face to Glover.
Synopsis: This play was counted as a success but that was all Barnes. The blocking broke down but he was able to buy time and find the one open receiver.
4. Situation: 1st and 10, down 21-3, own 39.
Formation: 12 personnel, under center, Tight 3×1 to the field. Vele Jet motion to boundary flat.
Pre-snap: Oregon showing 4-2-5 with 2 high safeties.
Miki stays in to block for play-action. 2 receiver route against man to boundary, zone to field. King runs slant, Parks vertical against double coverage. Play design forces Barnes to turn his back to the LOS to sell run, finally looks downfield at 0:34. First read is Parks where he sees double. King turns vertical against double coverage leaving Vele on the flat who does nothing to help his QB. Fano gets beat while the other four hold their blocks leaving Barnes nothing but to throw it away.
Synopsis: The blocking was decent, Barnes went through his progressions and didn’t make any mistakes. This one was on the play design. Miki never blocked anyone and Glover stopped at the line and stood next to him, also doing nothing. Having one or both of those two release when they weren’t challenged to give Barnes another option may have allowed him to throw it somewhere before Fano got called for the hold. Again, not on Barnes.
Damuni will do a terrific job filling in. Not saying we won’t miss him but we have players. Just like the D’line is dealing with Fano’s absence, the linebackers have the depth.
Our 2022 defense was not great last year and that was with an offense that kept the ball longer than the 2023 offense. Why are we so much better?
We lost an All-American CB.
We lost a starting linebacker.
We lost a starting safety, but I think Vaki is much better than Herbert was on his best day.
We have had numerous injuries; i.e. Pepa, Tafuna, Fillinger. O’Toole, Fano, etc.
We do not have a lot of new players who are contributing. Fano, Battle, and Tao are the most significant newcomers.
Whitt said in August that this would be one of our best defenses and so far he has been right. I still think that the 2019 defense was better. But, honestly, I am surprised how much better we are this year than last. I guess it goes to prove that the more time a player is in this program the better he becomes. Scalley and the D coaches do a great job of developing talent.
