Game Thread: 17 Washington vs 21 USC, 12:30pm, FOX

[RegentDenali]

Much on the line today for both teams. Go Dawgs!!!!

 

[RegentDenali]

Outlook: Last week, Washington beat BYU 45-19 on the road, and USC topped preseason Pac-12 favorite Utah, 30-23. The Trojans are undefeated in conference play with victories over Stanford and Utah. UW dropped its first conference game of the season to Cal.

Matt Fink, who started the season as the No. 3 quarterback, will start for the Trojans. Fink led USC to the win over the Utes after Kedon Slovis was injured on the second play from scrimmage and entered concussion protocol. Slovis, the backup quarterback, took over for JT Daniels after Daniels suffered a season-ending knee injury in USC’s opener.

If Fink has to leave the game for any reason, the Trojans will be forced to turn to Brandon Perdue, a walk-on who came to USC as a quarterback, converted to safety and then returned to quarterback last month. Fink completed 21-of-30 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns against Utah. His main targets are a trio of wide receivers led by Michael Pittman Jr., but more on that later.

“They’re a pass-first offense that does a great job with the run game,” UW head coach Chris Petersen said Thursday. “It’s the biggest challenge that (the secondary has) had and it’s the biggest challenge that a lot of our guys have had. It’s the biggest challenge our d-line has had. We can just go across the board.”

USC averages 33.3 points and 443 yards of total offense per game. It’s allowing 24.0 points and 421.0 yards of total offense. Petersen was quick to praise the Trojans’ defensive line. Freshman Drake Jackson has 3.0 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble this season.

“This is the best d-line, without question, that we’ve seen,” Petersen said. “Cal had some guys to be sure, but talent-wise, those guys are probably the strength of their defense, and it’s interesting that a true freshman is one of the guys that flashes and really shows up.”

The Huskies are coming off their best offensive performance of the season. They finished with 477 yards of total offense against BYU as quarterback Jacob Eason completed 24-of-28 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Sean McGrew rushed for 110 yards on 18 carries while Aaron Fuller caught eight passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. He also returned a punt for a touchdown.

Starting running back Salvon McGrew missed the win over the Cougars with a leg injury. Petersen said he’s “week to week.”

UW players to watch: The offensive line. The line has been a strength for the Huskies all season, but this will be its biggest test yet. Pro Football Focus recently tweeted the pass block grades for all five starters. Right tackle Jared Hilbers had the top grade (86.6) with zero allowed pressures. None of the linemen had a grade lower than 76.

USC players to watch: The wide receivers, mainly Pittman Jr., Tyler Vaughns and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Pittman Jr. has 31 receptions for 437 yards and three touchdowns while Vaughns has 27 catches for 370 yards and two touchdowns. St. Brown has 19 receptions for 207 yards and three touchdowns. All three are averaging more than 10 yards per catch.

Keep an eye on: UW’s secondary. As Petersen mentioned, this will be a tough challenge for the Huskies’ young defensive backs. How they respond will go a long way in determining the outcome.

 

[NU_FTW]

Much on the line today for both teams. Go Dawgs!!!!

LIAR!! the OU TTU game has been on fox!!

 

[tnapucco]

Just wanted to pop in here and let yall know the team that beat USC just lost to Toledo.

Carry on...

 

[craigk217]

Which Toejam team gonna show up?

I'm a wee bit concerned about thissun, if I'm a Husky.

 

[RegentDenali]

LIAR!! the OU TTU game has been on fox!!

How dare you desecrate our game thread with your corny complaints.

 

[NU_FTW]

How dare you desecrate our game thread with your corny complaints.

Ha ha Corny haha You said corny hahaha i see what you did there

 

[WhiteMamba]

 

[WizardHawk]

Nothing for a pass rush. I get not wanting things to get past you, but rush a young QB while at home and make him make mistakes.

 

[romeo212000]

Washington’s secondary is fucking legit.

 

[WhiteMamba]

Nothing for a pass rush. I get not wanting things to get past you, but rush a young QB while at home and make him make mistakes.

I was surprised to see the 3 down lineman with no rushers off the edge to start.

But what do I know, I’m no Coach Pete.

 

[WhiteMamba]

Washington’s secondary is fucking legit.

They get to the ball really quick on completions too.

 

[WhiteMamba]

They don’t give up many YAC

 

[WizardHawk]

I was surprised to see the 3 down lineman with no rushers off the edge to start.

But what do I know, I’m no Coach Pete.

Against the air raid they like running a dime package with 3 DL. So so against the run at best with all the DB's running around, but they don't get burned much deep on it. They do let you dink and dunk which I don't like, but I get it.

 

[WizardHawk]

He's so damned awkward out of the pocket.

 

[RegentDenali]

I was surprised to see the 3 down lineman with no rushers off the edge to start.

But what do I know, I’m no Coach Pete.

They barely rush the ball right now. Defend the pass and force them to take some chances vs those INT hungry DBs.

 

[Chewbaccer]

That last set of downs is the Jacob Eason I remember.

 

[WhiteMamba]

Against the air raid they like running a dime package with 3 DL. So so against the run at best with all the DB's running around, but they don't get burned much deep on it. They do let you dink and dunk which I don't like, but I get it.

They’re coached really well, that goes without saying obviously. They close pretty quick on those underneath routes and finish tackles.

 

[WizardHawk]

lol, that sack was totally on fink.

 

[WizardHawk]

Gotta get 7 out of a possession that starts at the opposing 34 don't you?