End of Football Season in NW?

The Washington State Cougars began the last weekend of this current football season here in the state of Washington. The Cougars lost the first game of the three teams on Thursday night 42-17. The biggest surprise was that Luke Falk wasn’t going to play in his last game with the Cougars because of an injury. The Cougars pretty well kept it under rap that he wasn’t going to play. I am sure it disappointed most if not all the Cougar faithful. On the positive side if there is one anyway the Cougars at least were looking toward the future of next season. I guess you could say there was an audition for the spot.

I am not sure whether the Cougars would have won the game anyway with Falk in as quarterback. The next time we see Falk will be in a NFL game. Whose uniform and when that will be is anyone’s guess. The thought is that he will likely be a late first round pick at the earliest. This means he likely will start his career on the bench unless an injury happens to the starting quarterback. At the end of the first round means that the team drafting him already has a quarterback in place unless a bad team decides to move up in the draft. It would be nice to see him in a Seahawk uniform but that likely won’t happen because the Seahawks have other needs more pressing and he would not be taken early to back up Russell Wilson. The Seahawks the earliest spot they would draft a quarterback be in the third round if then and Falk won’t be around unless his injury is serious enough that teams decide to pass on him to lower rounds.

The Cougars offense was OK at times in the game however the defense couldn’t stop Michigan State most of the game. The Spartans offense was able to run and pass the ball frequently. The reason this happened is anyone’s guess because the Cougars defense improved over the season unlike past years. It is possible the loss to the Huskies in the Apple Cup had the Cougars defense lose confidence as well.

Speaking of the Washington Huskies they take on Pen State on Saturday afternoon down in Arizona. I find it hard to know how this game will go. I think that either team can win the game so it could be close or one of the teams could blow the other out too. All I know is that I am looking forward to the game. If nothing else it should be exciting. It will be important that the Huskies are able to run the ball with authority. I don’t know anything about Pen State so I can’t say how good they are at stopping the run or not. One thing I do know they won’t have a chance if the Huskies are able to run. Also I know that the Huskies have a really good defense and they are usually prepared to play in bowl games. Chris Peterson is like Don James he is able to get his team ready for a game that will be played in a month and that is why I am looking forward to it as well.

The third game on the weekend will take place on Sunday between the Arizona Cardinals and the Seahawks in Seattle. The Seahawks will need to win the game and the Atlanta Falcons lose to the Carolina Panthers. Both games will be playing at the same time so we won’t know until later in the day.

I have mixed feelings about this game. It would be nice if the Seahawks could make the playoffs however how far will they go if they do make it in. With poor rushing game things don’t look very promising. I know that many Seahawk fans would like to see them in the playoffs however reality is that they likely won’t go far so my thought would be that the season ends on Sunday and they get ready for next season to go toward another good run for the playoffs. The earlier they can start making off-season decisions on who will stay and those who go the better. The Seahawks will have to decide whether to bring in a running back and changes to the offensive line. They will likely make changes on the defensive side as well however it likely because of injuries. The goal is to make and win the Super Bowl but I don’t think this will happen unless Russell Wilson is able to make some magic. I can see that happening in maybe one or two playoff games but all the way to the Super Bowl asking a bit much don’t you think.

This weekend could be the end of the football season in Washington State so then look at college basketball in the Huskies, Cougars and Gonzaga before the Mariners have spring training in six weeks. Still look forward to see whether the Mariners will pick up any more help in the starting rotation. Regardless what happens it will be an interesting spring and summer heading into next season for the Seahawks. Right now though let’s root the Huskies and the Seahawks onto victory. Go teams!