Most of the clips online purporting to demonstrate why our pass defense struggled just show Penix being Penix and making incredible throws against decent to good coverage. But there were critical plays that were over before they started that any average offense would have easily exploited. Take UW's critical 4th quarter drive after we pulled to within 6 and absolutely needed a stop; a score by them - any score - probably means the game is over. On 2nd and 11, we give up an easy pitch and catch with our corner way off in bail coverage on the fucking TE (who motioned outside just before the snap, which is what Rod B was talking about in the postgame). Then on 3rd and 2, on a must stop play, we again roll with soft zone coverage. There's a small chance 23 year old me could have made that throw. Maybe Burke was supposed to drop in a zone, but that would have left the flat for the back wide open.
This is the shit that's maddening. I'm not upset we got beat on these plays. It's how we got beat. Pussy ass shit in a do or die situation. Upgrading personnel alone won't fix this.