Dein erstes Forum » check.Alabama: Hurts and the Tide got the passing

SEATTLE -- Chris Petersen is at the front of the pack thats wondering whether Washington is really the No. 8 team in the country.Talk to me (after) Game 6, and then maybe well have another conversation, Petersen said this week. I didnt even know that until you told me. Thats how important it is to me. Our fans are really important so however we can play good football to inspire them is awesome. But its way too early to be talking about that (rankings) stuff.While Petersen would rather the rankings -- and the expectations that come with them -- would disappear, Washington is again a Top 10 program headed into Saturdays matchup with Idaho.The No. 8 ranking for the Huskies (1-0) is their highest since 2001 when they also reached No. 8 in the polls before losing at Oregon State. And this week marks the first of what is expected to be two glorified scrimmages for the Huskies prior to the start of Pac-12 play. After hosting Idaho, the Huskies play Portland State before opening the conference season at Arizona.That means the ranking isnt likely to change over the next couple of weeks and the hype surrounding the Huskies is only going to grow.Idaho (1-0) is beginning a two-week stretch of playing schools from its neighboring state. The Vandals will make the eight-mile trip to Pullman next week to face Washington State.They have all the ingredients you need to have a good football team, Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. Theyve got fast receivers, good quarterback, good running back, they do a good job up front on the offensive line ... and then defensively theyre good at all three levels.Here are other things to watch as the Vandals and Huskies meet for the first time since 2009:GASKIN GOING: If there was anything disappointing about the Huskies opener, it was the problems Washington had getting the run going. It became a moot point because of how well the rest of the offense played, but the Huskies managed just 91 yards rushing. Myles Gaskin, coming off a 1,302-yard season last year, was limited to 57 yards on 15 carries.Most frustrating for Washington was the inability to get the run going in the third quarter when the Huskies had a 34-3 lead.The 91 yards rushing were the fewest in the previous 10 games and just the fourth time under Petersen that Washington was held under 100 yards.If people are going to load up and bring those safeties downhill and try and stop the run, then hopefully we can throw the ball a little bit over their heads, Petersen said. Its a cat-and-mouse game. But I think we can run the ball better.PICK UP THE PASSING: Idahos Matt Linehan was the most accurate passer in the Sun Belt Conference last season, completing 63 percent of his attempts.You wouldnt know that from the Vandals opener. Linehan was just 8 of 22 passing for 128 yards and an interception against Montana State, well off his average of more than 270 yards per game last season.EXCITING PUNTING: Fans will be watching one of the best punters in the country when Idahos Austin Rehkow is on the field. And given how good Washingtons defense is, Rehkow should have more than a few opportunities to show off his leg. Rehkow is on preseason watch lists for the Ray Guy and Lou Groza awards. He made 23 of 27 field goal attempts last season and averaged 45.7 yards per punt. Rehkow made both of his field goal attempts in the opener against Montana State.He needs to have a great day. Ideally we would like them to have no returns, Petrino said.Last week, Washingtons John Ross returned a kickoff for a touchdown and Dante Pettis returned a punt for a score.VANDAL REUNION: Petersen knows the Idaho program quite well. He was unbeaten in six games against Idaho while coaching at Boise State. But the series ended on a sour note after Boise State moved to the Mountain West. The two schools have not played since 2010.You always enjoy your rivalry games, Petersen said. And certainly when it was at Boise that was a big one. Swell Bottle Wood ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. Marble Water Bottle Cheap . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. http://www.swellbottlesale.com/swell-travelers-sale.html . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. Swell Bottle Wood Collection . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. Swell Bottle Cheap . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama coach Nick Saban held a film session with Jalen Hurts this week to point out a few things to his young quarterback.Hurts was clearly paying attention.The freshman passed for career highs of 347 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 100 yards in less than three quarters in No. 1 Alabamas 51-3 rout of Mississippi State on Saturday. It put on display the potential of a passing game that had lately seemed the closest thing to a weakness for the Crimson Tide.The freshman quarterbacks prolific performance also wiped out any concerns that the Tide (10-0, 7-0 Southeastern Conference, No. 1 CFP) would have a letdown after a bruising win at No. 19 LSU. Instead, Hurts turned in his best game and the defense denied Mississippi State (4-6, 2-4) the end zone on nine trips across midfield.Its one of the things weve been wanting to do is try to develop some confidence in the passing game, and obviously he was able to do that very well today, Saban said. He got the ball to some of our playmakers down the field and they had opportunities to make big plays.Hurts is the first Alabama player to have 300 yards passing and 100 yards rushing in the same game, and he was flirting with both those milestones by halftime.The Bulldogs had been riding high after an upset of No. 10 Texas A&M, but didnt muster a threat in this one.Hurts completed 28 of 37 passes and rushed for a fifth touchdown before being replaced by Cooper Bateman late in the third quarter. The big performance was marred by an interception and fumble, but the Tides dominating defense made sure the miscues didnt matter too much.In practice, hell sling it, Alabama guard Ross Piersbacher said. Its fun to see him do that in a game. I think thats big for his confidence.ArDarius Stewart was the biggest beneficiary of the passing revival, scoring three touchdowns. Stewart gained 156 yards on eight catches, including a 67-yard sprint onn a jet sweep.ddddddddddddMississippi States Nick Fitzgerald couldnt solve Alabamas defense after two huge games. He completed 10 of 33 passes for 145 with an interception. Fitzgerald was also held to 15 rushing yards after topping 900 total yards combined against Texas A&M and Samford.We had five dropped passes in the first half, Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen said. Thats not good when youre playing a great defense. Its not good when youre playing a bad defense, but when youre playing a great defense you cannot do those things.Alabama outgained the Bulldogs 615-274 in total yards and has won nine straight meetings.THE TAKEAWAYMississippi State: The Bulldogs couldnt finish off drives, including the two started in Alabama territory, or offer a strong follow-up to last weeks upset. Fitzgerald and star receiver Fred Ross (three catches, 23 yards) were held in check.Alabama: Hurts and the Tide got the passing game going against the leagues worst pass defense. Hurts hadnt reached 200 yards passing in the previous three games, but might have emerged from this one with a shot at some Heisman Trophy votes. The defense went seven straight quarters without allowing a point.TURNING 40Saban joined Ohio States Woody Hayes and Florida States Bobby Bowden in a tie for the most wins with a top-ranked team by any coach. Hes 40-5, matching Bowden. Hayes went 40-4-1 with No. 1 teams.POLL IMPLICATIONSAlabama should hold firm as the clear leader in the playoff and AP rankings .RUNNING HURTSHurts joined Steadman Shealy in 1979 as the only Alabama quarterbacks to rush for 700-plus yards in a season. He has 735 yards, 56 shy of Shealys record.UP NEXTMississippi St.: hosts Arkansas needing to win its final two games to become bowl eligible.Alabama: hosts FCS team Chattanooga in an Iron Bowl tuneup. ' ' '