Category Archives: Uncategorized

by | February 11, 2014 · 9:16 pm

Who are these Dawgs? Offense

Andrew did a nice job recapping the defenders in the Huskies 2014 recruiting yesterday.  I’ll be honest: he got the more interesting of the two groups.  Between Budda, Kaleb McGary and all those defensive backs, there’s a lot of talent and potential on the defensive side of the class.

The offense has plenty of intrigue as well, though.  It’s short on elite recruits, but there are plenty of guys who should contribute and could really blossom.  Under-the-radar recruits are and will be a theme of Petersen’s recruiting.  That’s true for everywhere outside of USC and Alabama, but Petersen provides more confidence these sleepers will turn into contributors, given his track record at Boise State.  We’ll have to wait and see if he has the same success at UW, but this coaching staff turned a lot of lightly regarded recruits into very good players at BSU.

I’ll keep the same format as Andrew, with a quick blurb and the likelihood they’ll play as true freshman.  Barring massive injuries, I expect fewer offensive players to play early.  There just aren’t many major impact guys, and the offensive depth is as good as it’s been in years.  Let’s do this!

QB K.J. Carta-Samuels – It didn’t appear Sarkisian was planning to take a QB in this class, but Petersen wasted no time finding one. His first target, Jaylen Greene, was committed to UW for less than a week before Sarkisian stole him away to USC. It ended up working to UW’s advantage when KJCS became available after Vanderbilt, to whom he had committed long ago, underwent a coaching change of it’s own.  QBs usually commit early, with most of the top guys committed before they ever start their senior seasons.  Getting a four-star, extremely talented guy like KJCS this late was huge and lucky.

Carta-Samuels is a big guy with a big arm. He’s a bit of a project, as his high school didn’t run an advanced offensive system, but he should have plenty of time to improve before he might be needed.  He’s the fourth 4* QB on the roster, and while competition will be tight over the next few years, he could easily be the starter down the road.  Should Cyler Miles find himself suspended or off the team after his recent legal troubles, or if someone else transfers, this signing could end up being huge in 2015 or ’16.  Chance he plays as a true freshman: 2% (barring injury, there’s nearly no chance he plays)

RB Jomon Dotson – Running back might be the place where the coaching change hurt the most.  Sark was in on a couple of the top guys in the country in Joe Mixon and Demario Richard, but Pete was left scrambling a bit.  Dotson isn’t a bad pick-up, but he’s not likely to challenge for time right away.  He’s listed as 6′ 165 lb., so he’ll obviously need to bulk up significantly if that weight is accurate.  What he does bring is true breakaway speed, a dimension the current Husky backs lack.  Even with Sankey’s early departure, the Dawgs have a lot of backs, so don’t expect to see Dotson for a year or two, unless they want his speed on special teams. Chance he plays as a true freshman: 20%

WR Dante Pettis – Pettis might be the most likely to surprise right away.  He’s the cousin of former BSU star Austin, and a lot of people consider him one of the more underrated recruits in the west.  He’s not huge at 6′, but he’s big enough to play outside and is an excellent all-around athlete.  He could play defense if needed, but there’re thin numbers at receiver too, especially if Stringfellow finds himself off the team.  Pettis could fill a roll similar to what Kevin Smith had last year, and he could do it quickly. Chance he plays as a true freshman: 70%

WR/TE Brayden Lenius – Lenius is one of those guys who gives reason to think he could become a star, but given the distance he must go to get there, it’s more likely he won’t.  In his case, the positives start with the fact that he’s 6′ 5″.  Add in good hands and solid speed, and his limited football experience, and the hope is that he can become a major threat on the outside, or at TE should he bulk up significantly.  I wouldn’t bet on it, because Pac-12 football is hard, but he’s worth watching for, and if everything comes together, he could become one of the better receivers in the conference.  Chance he plays as a true freshman: 35%

TE Drew Sample – Sample is a local guy, from Newport High, who had been committed to BSU but flipped almost immediately upon receiving an offer from Petersen at UW.  He’s a fairly traditional tight end, known more for his blocking than receiving, but he has good size and solid athleticism.  I don’t know how the new offense will use the TE, so it’s hard to say a ton more.  Sample does fill a bit of a hole as a blocking-oriented TE, so it’s possible he could see the field early, but more likely he will redshirt to gain some muscle. Chance he plays as a true freshman: 40%

OT Matt James – As long as McGary stays on defense, James appears to be the gem of this offensive line class.  He has good size, and the athleticism and footwork to potentially stay at tackle, where the Dawgs will need bodies soon.  James, from Coeur d’Alene, was one of three UW commits Sark had from Idaho. Strangely, once UW hired a coach from Idaho, that number dropped to one, with Sark taking one to USC and the other eventually switching to BSU.  In my opinion, the Huskies kept the right one in James, given their needs and James’ upside. People who know much more about the offensive line than I do think he could be a star. Chance he plays as a true freshman: 5%

OL John Turner – Turner isn’t highly rated (the same could be said of the next two guys, as well), but that doesn’t always mean a lot on the line.  It’s a hard position to scout and project.  Turner’s recruitment seemed to pick up late in the cycle, and Cal, among others, was on him toward signing day.  Some people seem to like him a lot.  I honestly can’t say.  Sark and Petersen both wanted him, so that’s enough for me at the moment.  He could potentially play RT or guard. Chance he plays as a true freshman: 1% (these next three will all be 1%, but they’re essentially guaranteed to redshirt.  A new staff presents enough questions that I’m not confident enough to claim any absolutes.)

OL Jesse Sosebee – I feel a little bad, but I have almost nothing to say about Jesse.  It’s nothing personal, Jesse!  If you somehow read this and want to do an interview, I’d love to hear more. He’s just a guy that didn’t get a ton of coverage, he’s not highly ranked, and the O line doesn’t lend itself to highlight reels.  Most I’ve seen think he’ll be a guard. Chance he plays as a true freshman: 1%

OL Devin Burleson – Devin’s a really big boy, at 6’7″ (or more) and at least 260 lbs. He’s another who’s new to football in the last couple of years, and he’s been more of a basketball player before this year.  That has some excited, as the basketball footwork is a good sign for an offensive lineman.  He’s like Lenius as a bit of a physical freak with a long way to go to be a star.  As I said before, usually these kind of guys never quite hit their potential, but sometimes they do.  Burleson is certainly worth taking a shot on, and I personally won’t be at all surprised if he’s starting at tackle in a few years. Chance he plays as a true freshman: 1%

K/P/Boss Tristan Vizcaino – Vizcaino seems to be capable of doing pretty much anything related to kicking the football. He has a shot to be Travis Coons 2.0, as he could take over at punter, kicker or kick-offs, or some combination thereof.  He even spurned the Cougars to be a Dawg.  Way to go!  The UW specialist spots are really up for grabs, post-Coons.  K Cameron Van Winkle just underwent back surgery, and there’s a chance he might not make it back.  P Korey Durkee struggled for a few games as a true freshman in 2012, and hasn’t seen the field since.  Hopefully, they return to health/kicking proficiency, but Vizcaino could be a huge signing, and a busy man come fall. Chance he plays as a true freshman: 95%

So there it is. Recruiting for 2015 is already rolling along, by the way, but we’ll wait a while before we get into that.  As always, leave any thoughts or comments below.  We’d love to hear from you. Go Dawgs!

-Matthew

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | January 28, 2014 · 10:28 pm

UW Recruiting Update

Signing day for college football is a week away, so it’s time for  an update on the 2014UW recruiting class. Normally, we write quite a bit about recruiting, but it’s been hard to get a handle on the class this year, mostly due to the turmoil created by the coaching change.

No area is impacted more immediately and significantly by a coaching change than recruiting.  Despite what they say, most players commit in large part to the coaching staff, so a change in coaches means lots of changes in the recruiting class.  The Huskies only had seven commits before the change, and only two of them still remain committed to the Huskies, with one just decommitting tonight and another still undecided.  Major changes like this are the norm in these transition years and are just one of the reasons these classes tend to be lackluster.

I don’t know if lackluster is an accurate description for this Husky class, however.  It’s certainly not spectacular, but after a slow start, Petersen and company reeled in over a dozen recruits this month.  They’re a solid bunch that should fill holes in the depth and provide some solid starters down the road.  There are few if any obvious stars, but those are the hardest ones to get any time. It’s even harder in this case, since the staff is largely recruiting players they were after at BSU, and BSU just didn’t have the wherewithal to land many guys who are clearly elite.  Still, this is a good group that looks much better than the last few coaching change classes.  Put simply, it’s a better class than I expected, but probably not as good as the staff will need in the future to win the Pac-12.

Current Commitments

After an unfortunate decommit from TE Chase Blakley tonight (to BSU, strangely enough), the class currently sits at 16.  It’s unclear how many the coaches will take, but there’s scholarship room for 22 right now, and they might take a full 25, expecting more transfers before the fall.  As I said, the class looks solid but not incredible.  It’s heavy on defensive backs, the one roster group clearly short on numbers, and the rest of the positions are distributed pretty evenly.

The highest rated player is QB K.J. Carta-Samuels, who the Huskies landed after he was the victim of a coaching change himself. A longtime commit to Vanderbilt, he opened up his recruitment when James Franklin left for Penn State, and the Huskies were the lucky recipients.  He’s another big, athletic QB with a good arm, and gives UW an impressive stable of young QBs and some insurance should one decide to transfer.

After KJCS, it’s hard to pick another standout right now. Sydney Jones, who committed last night, is drawing a lot of excitement as a big athlete who could play CB, safety or even WR. Offensive tackle Matt James is one of the few Sarkisian holdovers and projects to be a solid starter at a thin position. A trio of safeties, Darren Gardenhire, Jojo MacIntosh and Lavon Washington, all look good and could compete for immediate playing time, although it’s possible one or more might show up at safety instead.  There are a number of other notable current commits, but we’ll talk about them when they actually sign.

Who’s Left?

At the top of the board are two Washington state standouts: Budda Baker and Kaleb McGary. Budda, a Bellevue High safety who could also play some offense, already endeared himself to Husky fans by dropping his Oregon commitment, claiming he couldn’t imagine living in Eugene for four years.  He’s now choosing between UW and UCLA, and no one really has any clue what he’s going to decide.  He’s a major impact player who could start immediately for the Huskies.

McGary, from Fife, is a huge athlete at 6′ 8″ 280 lbs who will likely play DE, or possibly OT or TE.  He’s a bit of a project, albeit a highly rated one who looks like he could grow into a star.  He’s looking at Oregon State and Wisconsin along with UW. While he grew up a Husky, he’s said he’s more of a country guy and might choose a smaller town over Seattle.

They’re in on a number of other guys as well.  DE Jaylen Johnson is a big DE who was committed to BSU with Petersen.  Most expect him to switch to UW soon, although these things are never a guarantee.  RB/LB Kalen Ballage is an ASU commit who visited last weekend.  He’s an incredible athlete and would be a major steal.  CB Naijiel Hale, son of the late rapper Nate Dogg, is visiting this weekend, although it seems a longshot he’ll become a Husky at this point.  S/LB Drew Lewis, another local boy, was a longtime Husky commit, but is waiting to see if USC will make a late offer before he decides.

There aren’t any more glaring holes to be filled on the roster, so I imagine the staff will look to fill the rest of the class with the best players they can get.  Another WR would be nice, and maybe a linebacker and D tackle.  The fun part of a new coaching staff is that new names pop up every day.  Don’t be surprised if something major happens in the next week.

Signing day is on Wednesday February 5th, and we’ll be back then, if not before.  If you’re looking for more updates, leave a question in the comments, or follow http://www.uwdawgpound.com and dawgman.com.

Go Huskies!

-Matthew

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , ,

by | December 11, 2013 · 2:11 pm

New Mariners! Lots of Them!

The Mariners have become the center of the baseball news universe.  Some of the news is bad (see Andrew’s post below), but most of it is quite good.  This is going to be a fairly quick recap of the M’s moves so far, with a look at what else they might have in store.  I would expect more moves within the next week, so I’ll have a more comprehensive look at the 2014 Mariners once the dust settles.

Additions

As I write this, there are three new Mariners.  The big one is 2B Robinson Cano.  He reportedly agreed to a 10 year $240 million deal last week, and will likely be announced in Seattle on Friday or so.  A week later, I am still in a bit of shock that Cano is a Mariner.  He is the best second baseman in baseball, and has been the centerpiece of the Yankees’ offense for the last five years plus.  That he will likely play out the remainder of his career in Seattle is a testament to money, both as the deciding factor for most player and the amount of it the Mariners have to spend if they’re so inclined.

Cano supplants Nick Franklin and/or Dustin Ackley (trade chips, but not sure to be moved).  As much as one might like those two guys, Cano is a massive, massive upgrade.  He’s the first major line-up threat Seattle has had in years.  His offensive game is reminiscent of Edgar’s, and he plays Gold Glove caliber defense.  It’s likely the last 3-4 years of the contract will be a drawback, but I’m not especially worried.  The immediate benefits are huge, and it’s likely baseball’s changing economics will render the dollar amounts less shocking by 2020 or so.  This is a stunning addition, unlike anything the Mariners have ever done.

Today, two separate deals brought DH/1B/maybe outfielders.  The first was a free agent deal for former Brewer Corey Hart.   Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , ,

by | November 27, 2013 · 11:27 pm

Apple Cup Predictions

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the frustrations of sports.  Seattle teams lose much more than they win, and it can get frustrating.  Some level of aggravation is normal, as it would be with any interest when it goes poorly.  It can be easy to let it get out of hand and take over one’s life, though, and that seems a shame.

Sometimes we need to step back and remember that sports themselves are great.  For every frustration, there’s the simple fact that sports are fun and exciting and entertaining. Is there anything better than sitting at Husky Stadium or Century Link or Safeco on a clear day?  Seattle is blessed with professional and major college teams, and whether they’re good or not, not everywhere is so lucky.

I hope the Huskies win Friday, and I hope the Seahawks make the Super Bowl this year.  I really hope the Mariners are good again in my lifetime.  Even if they’re not, I’m thankful I get to go to Husky games with my dad and brother and sister.  I’m thankful for the countless memories and hours of enjoyment sports have brought me.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and thanks for reading.

Joe

The Apple Cup is a rivalry game. Rivalry games, as they say, you can throw the records out the window, they don’t matter.  I am usually lukewarm about that assertion, because usually records do matter, and do reflect reality.  Your record is who you are. In the case of this year Apple Cup, I agree, records don’t matter. In the sense that WSU isn’t as good as theirs indicates, and UW is better than theirs indicates.

I have had an ongoing discussion with the other good guys regarding how opposite these two schools conference schedules have been. In a nutshell, WSU has had all their tougher opponents at home, UW, conversely, on the road (the exception being Oregon for both schools).  WSU has had the fortunate circumstances of not playing UCLA, getting Lane Kiffin’s USC team early, and catching a sleeping Arizona a week before senior day.  UW played Stanford, ASU and UCLA all on the road.  The point of all this is to say that I believe WSU’s 6-5 record is a bit of a mirage, aided by favorable conference scheduling and timing.  Conversely I believe UW’s 7-4 record is misleading as well.  I maintain if UW had WSU’s conf schedule, the Huskies would probably be at 9 wins already. They are that good of a football team.  And I think it will show Friday.

WSU will throw exclusively and be buoyed by a stingy defense, but in the end the Dawgs have two huge factors in their favor: Husky Stadium and revenge.  In sports, home field and a desire to get back at a rival almost always leads to victory.  It will Friday.  Watch for UW to establish a running game early no matter what, and watch for one of UW’s WRs to have a 100+ yd game (Stringfellow). WSU’s inability to run will lead to multiple Halliday interceptions that will kill WSU drives.  Late 3rd qtr the Dawgs will start to break WSU’s will with the run game.  Cougs go back home empty handed.

UW 38 – WSU 19

Matthew

Andrew’s written before about how my predictions always seem to go wrong.  I’ve done pretty well picking games this year, but if I make a proclamation in game, the opposite generally happens.  So, I’m a little hesitant to say this, but I have a really hard time seeing the Huskies losing this game.  The Cougars are better than last year, but I don’t think they’re very good.  I think UW, when focused and clicking, is a pretty dominating team.  Plus, they’re playing at home, which is generally all the difference they need against middling opponents.

I’m curious to see whether last week’s blowout win will function as the proverbial light bulb going on for this team.  Sometimes guys just need to see what can happen when they come out and play exactly as hard and as smart as they can.  Hopefully the dominating results  from that effort will give them confidence and motivate them to prepare and play like they did last week in the games and seasons to come.

As for the Apple Cup, I could see a close game, but I could also see the Huskies coming out hot again, reeling off a couple of scores and cruising to a big win.  Connor Halliday might be the difference between a close game and a blowout.  He can be very good at quarterback, and then he can be absolutely horrible at the flip of a switch.  The Huskies need to get some pressure early, hit a couple of passes over the top, and let Bishop carve up the Cougar defense.  I don’t think Black Friday will hold any good deals for WSU.

UW 45 – WSU 27

Andrew

After the beatdown the Huskies gave the Beavers last Saturday night, Husky fans are truly feeling good about the team for the first time since they were 4-0.  These good feelings should continue on Friday afternoon.  WSU has improved and will no doubt be ready to play.  They have rode a beneficial schedule to bowl eligibility but they are a better team than the one that the Huskies lost to last year.  The difference this year is that the Huskies will probably show up to the 4th quarter.  This Husky team is angry and ready to prove that last year was a mirage.  If the Huskies jump ahead early this game could get ugly, but, since it’s the Apple Cup, I expect this one to stay close throughout.

UW 35 – WSU 24

Dan

A bit late to get my prediction in, but here’s my quick take.

It’s impossible to know if the Huskies will be clicking tomorrow like they did last week. If they play well, there is no doubt in my mind the Dawgs will roll. I’m biased, sure, but I really believe the Huskies are a much better team than the Cougars. But again, we can’t know which UW team will show up and if Wazzu is the better team for 60 minutes tomorrow, they can absolutely win, and have major bragging rights in what would be their 6th apple cup in the last 10. The Pac 12 has been tough to predict, and rivalry games often surprise too, so anything can happen. If I were betting, I think the Huskies will win comfortably because I don’t see Sankey and the UW offense being contained, nor do I see the Cougs’ one dimensional offense having it’s way against the home team’s D. Expect an inspired, revenge seeking performance by the mighty men who where purple and gold. Go Dawgs!

UW 41 – WSU 24

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , ,

by | November 23, 2013 · 11:37 am

UW vs. OSU Predictions

The Huskies’ season is down to three games.  It’s been a frustrating season.  Most would agree this year’s team is Sarkisian’s best yet, but through deficits in talent or focus or coaching or who knows what, they still can’t quite take the step of beating the great teams, especially on the road.

Today is the 2013 Huskies last chance to prove something.  They could lose today and win the last two and still have made some progress, but nine wins, with one being a solid road win, would feel much better.  I don’t think Sark will be fired no matter what, but a 9-4 season has to be considered a success and would give some good momentum to next year, when nearly everyone but Keith Price (and maybe Bishop Sankey) will be back.

The Huskies’ situation isn’t as dire as many have made it sound.  Their talent still isn’t quite what it needs to be, and they clearly haven’t had the lightbulb come on as to how they have to prepare and focus.  The discipline is lacking, as seen both in penalties and lack of execution.  Both the team and coaching staff have to continue to grow this offseason.  A win today could provide the boost of confidence that might push this team over the edge.

Dan

I like the Huskies on paper, and I think they are the better team in this matchup. However, it’s getting hard to ignore the road numbers. In Sark’s tenure, the Huskies are 7-20 on the road, having only beat USC, Cal (2x), WSU, Utah, Colorado, and Illinois. Of that batch, only USC was a decent team, that win being the only road victory against a ranked team under Sark. So you could argue that the matchup comparisons mean little today, because until the Huskies prove they can beat decent teams on the road, there will be major doubts. That said, penalties and turnovers seem to derail the Dawgs on the road, so minimizing those should go a long way to getting a win. And of course, Keith’s injury status looms large today. The defense will need to show up as a startling trend is developing, which is that when facing good teams, UW has given up an average of 42 points this year (Stanford, Oregon, ASU, UCLA). That all will need to change and it just may today, but I won’t count on it.

Benny’s Beavers  34 – Harry’s Huskies 24

Joe

UW rolls into Corvallis in a do or die situation.  The vultures are circling in Seattle around Coach Sark and his future; warranted or
not, it’s a reality.  The Huskies lead all FBS schools in penalty yards which has cost them games (the actual *validity* of many of the
more untimely penalties are up for debate…, but I digress).  The undisciplined fashion they play with has got to stop.  Now.  If not,
they are staring a 6-6 season square in the face, which may cost this coaching staff it’s jobs (again, warranted or not).  Sometimes do or die games are needed to quickly and effectively focus a team on the issues at hand.  Lose a game in Sept or Oct and “there’s always next week”.  Lose a game in late November and you’re talking about a good or bad bowl and job security.  It’s when the cream rises to the top. This is why I feel UW will win.  I haven’t felt this way lately, especially last week vs UCLA.  This week is different.  The Beavers are struggling in similar ways as UW is, but I believe UW is the more desperate team here.  There’s more on the line.  A program defining 9-4 season is still, remarkably, a possibility if they win out with a bowl.  Lose this game and you then have to host a possible bowl eligible WSU in the Apple Cup and we all know how those games go. There really is no tomorrow for UW.  The road woes must end, and I think they will.

UW 34 – OSU 30

Matthew

I don’t really have any idea how this game will go.  It seems impossible to predict without knowing if Keith Price will play.  If Cyler Miles starts, it could be a drastically different game plan.  There are just a lot of unknowns here, including how good OSU really is.  This is a game that might depend on Bishop Sankey and the defense.  Brandin Cooks is one of the scarier players in the league, but if the Huskies can blanket him somewhat and get a little pressure on Sean Mannion, they can stop the Beavers.  Regardless of who’s at quarterback, I think the Huskies will win this game if they can avoid the mistakes that so often plague them, most recently in the first quarter at UCLA.  I have no idea if today is the day they make that jump, but I’m trying to be optimistic this year, so I’m going to say the Dawgs pull this one out.

UW 38 – OSU 27

Andrew

After last week, the Huskies don’t really give me any good reason to pick them this week.  As usual, it felt like the Dawgs were just a few plays away last Friday night but they couldn’t overcome their mistakes.  This week seems like a matchup that is a lot the same.  I think the Huskies are the more talented team this week and may be better overall, just like last week.  While Oregon State has some nice pieces, I like how are offense matches up against them and our defense’s strength matches up against their offense’s strength.  But, it’s a conference road game against a pretty good team.  While the knock on Sark not being able to beat teams on the road may be a little bit overblown this year (his road losses have come to teams with a combined record of 24-6), this game still feels like more of the same to me.  I think it will be close, but until the Huskies show me they can win these types of games I don’t think I’ll be picking them.

Huskies 34 – Beavers 38

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

by | November 22, 2013 · 4:53 pm

Pac-12 Picks – Week 13

Hello everybody!  I’m headed out the door, so this will be a quick post.  This is a pretty interesting week of football.  The 12:30 games could be the best slate as we have Oregon heading to Arizona and Utah at WSU.  Oregon should handle Arizona but those teams have a history of playing some close games down there.  Utah at Wazzu has bowl implications on the line.  UCLA playing ASU in the Rose Bowl is probably the game of the week and will go a long way in deciding the Pac-12 South champion.  Here are our picks:

Oregon at Arizona – 12:30 P.M.
The Good Guys:  Oregon

Utah at WSU – 12:30 P.M.
Dan, Joe, Matthew:  WSU
Andrew:  Utah

Cal at Stanford – 1 P.M.
The Good Guys:  Stanford

Arizona State at UCLA – 4 P.M.
The Good Guys:  ASU

USC at Colorado – 6:30 P.M.
The Good Guys:  USC

Standings (Matthew actually picked ASU last week, instead of what I had posted.  He corrected it in the comments):  

Dan 64-14 (.821)
Matthew 63-15 (.808)
Andrew 63-15 (.808)
Joe 59-19 (.756)
Tyler (Commenter) 48-12 (.800)

That’s it for this week!  Have a good weekend.

Andrew

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

by | November 19, 2013 · 11:04 pm

UW Recruiting Update

The current Huskies have been frustrating to follow of late, so I’m here to give an update on the future Dawgs.  Recruiting is starting to pick up as high school seasons end.  While the Huskies have nine current commits and dozens more scholarships offered, much of the coaches’ work will come in the next two and a half months before signing day in February.  December and January will be filled with official visits by prospective Huskies.

To give some info for those who don’t follow recruiting closely, the NCAA allows schools to take 25 new players per year.  Teams get around this by having players enroll early or late, but most classes won’t go over 27 or so at the very most.  Schools are also limited by only being allowed 85 scholarship players per season.  This is where the Huskies are facing some trouble.  Due to a small senior class this year, the Huskies are expected to only take 15-20 players.  It’s no big deal and happens to every school once in a while, but it does effect the coaches’ strategies and the types of players they’re after.

I’m mainly going to run through the current commits in this post.  It’s still pretty early to talk much about others.  There’s no guarantee these nine will even sign with UW come February.  Nothing is binding until then, and several of the current commits have visited or plan to also visit other schools.  All that said, here are the current guys.

  • WR Rashead Johnson – Johnson committed well over a year ago, and while he’s taking some visits, most expect him to be a Dawg.  He’s in the Mickens, Ross mold, speedy and hard to bring down.  Very well-regarded, and a guy who could at least challenge for playing time early.
  • WR Erik Brown – Brown’s a bit bigger.  Think Jermaine Kearse, maybe.  He’s a funny one, because his high school team is fairly bad and he hasn’t put up the numbers one would expect from the 18th ranked receiver in the country.  Brown has impressed in camps and could really blossom with better QB play.  He’s also taking trips and seems like a possibility to go elsewhere.
  • TE Chase Blakley – An excellent receiving TE prospect from Coeur D’Alene, Blakley sounds like a poor man’s ASJ: not as big or athletic, but who is?  That’s no knock, as Blakley’s one of the top TE’s in the country and could play early and often at UW.
  • OT Matt James – Blakley’s teammate, James is currently the Huskies’ lone OL commit and a guy who should grow into a solid tackle.  He purportedly has good athleticism and just needs to get bigger and better.
  • DE Don Hill – UW’s third Idaho recruit, Hill unfortunately suffered an Achilles injury that’s wiped out his season.  When healthy, Hill is a guy who figures to man the rush end spot.  He’s a bit under the radar, but he has the length and athleticism UW is seeking.
  • DT Natrell Curtis – A big man out of Arizona, Curtis could also play OG, but he seems like a good bet to replace Danny Shelton at nose tackle eventually.  Some recruiting guys think he might never become a Husky due to a combination of grades and family issues, but that’s speculation at this point.  If he makes it to Seattle, he could be a cornerstone of this class.
  • LB/S Drew Lewis – A local boy, Lewis plays safety in high school but will likely be a linebacker at UW.  He fits the mold  of linebackers UW is after, as a lanky guy who can run and cover.
  • S Lavon Washington – I don’t really know much about Washington, but he’s a sleeper who’s raised his standing quite a bit over the season.  It seems to be required for the UW to take a guy named Washington every season or two.
  • CB Jonathan Lockett – Growing up, it seemed like CB was always a trouble spot for UW, but that has changed dramatically since coach Keith Heyward came aboard.  Lockett could be another star.  It’s good to see the Huskies getting at least one potentially elite CB prospect each year, and Lockett keeps that tradition going.

This is a good group but lacks any surefire stars.  They are drawing interest from a lot of guys still, so there’s little to worry about yet.  Expect at least a couple more OL, a DL or two, a running back, and a DB or two.  They might hold steady with receivers, but they’re actually a little low on guys at that spot, so don’t be surprised by 1-3 more guys there.  While numbers are tight, the Dawgs are recruiting plenty of guys for whom they would clear space if they needed to. Something can always be done to make room for the right guys.  Unless something changes, this class will not include a QB.

Surprisingly, the Huskies have received more commits recently for the 2015 class than for 2014.  Last weekend, DL Jacob Daniel from California committed, which is huge if it sticks.  He’s the top D lineman on the west coast for his class.  Tonight, Marysville Pilchuck RB Austin Joyner pulled the trigger.  He’s the top running back in state and a monster pick-up.  The 2015 class is loaded in Washington, particularly at RB and OL. Joyner is one of three top RBs in state, along with O’Dea’s Myles Gaskin and Federal Way’s Chico McClatcher, all of whom are high on the Dawgs.  OT Trey Adams from Wenatchee has already committed as well.  He’s one of three top OTs to already have UW offers.  There are plenty of players at other positions who could be major players in college as well.  February 2015 is a long way away, but UW is off to a great start.

That’s all for now.  I’ll check back in a month or two, when rumors are flying and there are a few more commits to discuss.  The most important thing for recruiting is for UW to keep winning.  Three wins to finish out the season would go a long way toward a strong finish for this recruting class. Go Dawgs!

-Matthew

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as ,

by | November 15, 2013 · 4:50 pm

The Mariners Offseason I’m Hoping For-blueprint to a realistic, and successful winter

There are 3 things I am a complete sucker for in sports, and each are a bit irrational. First, the NFL Draft, man I love that. Second, the high school state football tournament. I still write up a bracket and project the whole thing. And finally, MLB hot stove rumors. This time of year is a gold mind for hot stove rumblings, bloggers playing general manager, and ridiculous trade ideas are littered on twitter. And yet, I can’t keep away from it, I love it all. It is in this vein that I’d like to construct a Mariners offseason plan, though in a way that I hope is not redundant to what you’ve seen. I should also point out that I will do my best to put forth a somewhat realistic plan, meaning, you won’t see Robinson Cano, a trade for Cliff Lee, or any free agent who clearly wants to play for a contender. There are many offseason plans circulating online that offer up fantasy plans, if that’s what you’re looking for. (cough…Lookout Landing…cough)

What To Fix

–          Offensive Production

–          Outfield Defense

–          Middle of the Rotation

–          Back End of Bullpen

–          Middle Infield Depth

How to Do It

Acquire 1 top tier free agent; 2 trades that obtain MLB talent; 2 middle tier free agents; 2 low cost signings; and 2 minor league deals with invites to spring training

–          at least 2 starting outfielders

–          starting pitcher who can be plugged in at 3 or 4 in the rotation

–          established set up or closer

–          backup infielder that can fill in at 2nd, SS, or 3rd base

–          backup catcher

Considerations

–          Projected payroll of $90-95 million

–          The Untouchables are Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, and Kyle Seager

The $92 Million Plan

Sign 1 top tier free agent, the candidates-
C-Brian McCann, Jarrod Saltalamacchia; SP-Masahiro Tanaka, Matt Garza, Ricky Nolasco, Ubaldo Jimenez, Ervin Santana; OF-Jacoby Ellsbury, Shin-Soo Choo, Curtis Granderson; 1B/DH-Mike Napoli
The move-
Sign OF-Jacoby Ellsbury to 7 year, $140 million contract

2 trades that obtain MLB talent, the candidates-
CF-Matt Kemp, Dexter Fowler, Peter Bourjos; DH-Billy Butler; C-Matt Weiters; 2B-Brandon Phillips, Daniel Murphy; SP-Rick Porcello; RF-Matt Joyce
The moves-
Trade Nick Franklin to Detroit for Rick Porcello
Trade Yoervis Medina and $ to Oakland for SS/2B-Eric Sogard

Sign 2 middle tier free agents, the candidates-
C-Carlos Ruiz; SP-Scott Feldman, A.J. Burnett, Bronson Arroyo, Scott Kazmir, Josh Johnson, Jason Hammel, Paul Maholm, Jason Vargas, Phil Hughes, Bartolo Colon, Dan Haren; RP-Joe Nathan, Grant Balfour, Brian Wilson, Joaquin Benoit, Fernando Rodney; OF-Nelson Cruz, Carlos Beltran, Chris Young, Jhonny Peralta, David Murphy; 1B-Corey Hart; SS-Stephen Drew; 1B/DH-Kendrys Morales
The moves-
Sign 1B/DH-Kendrys Morales to 3 year, $33 million contract
Sign Chris Young to 2 year, $12 million contract

2 low cost signings, the candidates-
SP-Scott Baker, Chris Capuano, Roberto Hernandez, Ryan Vogelsong, Barry Zito, Edinson Volquez, Ted Lilly, Gavin Floyd; RP-Joba Chamberlain, Chris Perez, Edward Mujica, LaTroy Hawkins, Matt Thornton, Jose Veras, Oliver Perez, Jesse Crain; SS/2B-Ramon Santiago, Clint Barmes, Brendan Ryan, Willie Bloomquist, Mark Ellis, Alexi Casilla, 2B/3B-Ryan Roberts, Placido Polanco; C-A.J. Pierzynski, John Buck, Kurt Suzuki; 2B/OF-Kelly Johnson; 1B-James Loney, Justin Morenau, 1B/3B-Mark Reynolds, Kevin Youkilis, Michael Young, Juan Uribe; 2B/OF-Skip Schumaker; OF-Nate McLouth, Franklin Gutierrez, Rajai Davis, Reed Johnson; OF/DH-Raul Ibanez, Delmon Young, Jason Kubel, Luke Scott
The moves-
Sign Franklin Gutierrez to 1 year, $2 million contract w/ incentives
Sign Kurt Suzuki to 1 year, $2 million contract

2 minor league deals with invite to spring training, the candidates-
Too many to list!
The moves-
RP-Joel Hanrahan, SP-Colby Lewis
2014 M's

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized