Yes the Washington Huskies were ranked last week. And yes, they did beat number 3 (at the time) USC at home.
But let's be honest, they were winless last year, and then beat an overrated team at home, without their starting quarterback. Not to mention that this past week, while being ranked, they got dominated by Stanford, who is also nothing to be impressed by despite Toby Gerhart.
So we find ourselves looking at another game this week, in which Notre Dame should be able to beat an inferior team. Yes Notre Dame has some injuries, most notably Jimmy Clausen and Michael Floyd (who was jumping up and down a little too much for my liking during the Purdue game). But finally, FINALLY, Golden Tate showed everyone the unstoppable playmaker he is this year, and willed us to victory.
But let's be honest, they were winless last year, and then beat an overrated team at home, without their starting quarterback. Not to mention that this past week, while being ranked, they got dominated by Stanford, who is also nothing to be impressed by despite Toby Gerhart.
So we find ourselves looking at another game this week, in which Notre Dame should be able to beat an inferior team. Yes Notre Dame has some injuries, most notably Jimmy Clausen and Michael Floyd (who was jumping up and down a little too much for my liking during the Purdue game). But finally, FINALLY, Golden Tate showed everyone the unstoppable playmaker he is this year, and willed us to victory.
With Tate able to do apparently everything on the field I feel that Notre Dame should be fine in terms of making plays. Especially with backup qb Dayne Crist getting some time last week with Clausen hobbled. The defense is going to be what we need to step up. Look, Washington ranks 82nd in the nation in yards allowed per game and 74th in points allowed per game with 25.3. Notre Dame should be able to move the ball on them and score.
What Notre Dame has to do is worry about Jake Locker, who is Washington's best player by far, and his injury last year would lend some insight into a winless season. But having faced dual threat quarterbacks already in Michigan's Tate Forcier and Nevada's Colin Kapernick, they should at least have an idea on what to do.
Locker is the reason that Washington can win this game, but it is the reason they should be in it if they are. The Huskies are yet another team that ND should beat, now we have to see whether or not Charlie and his staff can make a should-be-win turn into another unnecessary nailbiter, and further put his job security into question.
