Washington Blog
September 4, 2009
Seattle Braces for Purple & Gold Explosion
By Kim Keep
The latest national TV game Saturday night finds the LSU Tigers roaring into Husky Stadium to take on Washington and the debut of head coach Steve Sarkisian. The word has gotten out that this Husky regime has a different attitude, including the pre-game. Fans will hear a 20-minute warning wail from the famous Husky Stadium siren in order to get their butts into their seats and welcome their team properly. Those who straggle in after the kickoff should be severely admonished.
At the start of game week, UW released the depth chart with some surprising changes this late in camp. The offensive line was shuffled again with walk-on player Greg Christine getting a starting nod on the left side and other experienced linemen moving back to their original slots. The coaching staff was experimenting with a setup geared for their pro-style offense but obviously wasn’t clicking. Look for a very basic offensive attack to start the season with emphasis on rushing and short passes. QB Jake Locker has been encouraged to stay in the pocket longer before tuck-and-run, but he must beware his backside if LSU chooses to blitz his leftside and claw him, or at least contain him from running upfield. This kid can flat run though, so look for a fair amount of option runs called. It is critical for the Huskies to develop their running game to have a chance. RB Chris Polk will be asked to hit the hole quickly and other backs will get plenty of carries as well. A couple of freshmen will step into receiver roles also to help out and give the team some badly needed playmaker ability.
Defensively, the Husky players have described the hitting in camp as “serious”. DC Holt will have these guys pumped up and flying around Saturday. The D-line has some minor injuries but should be okay, while the linebacker corp is deep and talented. The return of E J Savannah solidifies the LB’s as THE strength of the 09 Huskies. They must contain the Tiger rush attack and make tackles before they get into the open field where LSU’s speed could destroy them. Speed is also a concern at the defensive backfield, particularly at cornerback. The corners are very young and must guard against getting beat deep, should LSU try play-action pass. True frosh Desmond Trufant came to camp late but has caught up fast to claim a co-starting corner spot. FS Jason Wells had not yet returned from injury so soph Johri Fogerson will have to shine. The Husky defense was horrible vs the run last season and figures to be much improved, while the pass defense was average but allowed too many critical big plays. Sark has avowed that this team is on a mission for more takeaways. This defense will fun to watch.
LSU coach Les Miles preaches a balanced offensive attack, but you can bet they will establish the run first second & third. QB Jefferson is slowly improving his throwing and leadership skills, but questions still exist if he can avoid the bad interception. RB Charles Scott is small but explosive and will test the Husky line repeatedly looking for a home run. If the Dawgs don’t wrap him up, look out. Again, the play-action deep pass is a possibility. Many are predicting a high scoring game with LSU favored from 14-17 points. Personally, I feel that both defenses are ahead of the offenses at this time, with ball-control the order of the day. Locker has been asked to trust his teammates and not feel he has to carry the team, but until they step up they will be conservative. Likewise, LSU is not likely to turn Jefferson loose until he gets more comfortable. The forecast is showers and 60’s, and some would like to say that rainy conditions are a Husky home advantage, but the Tigers are very familiar with adverse conditions, maybe more so. After all, when was the last hurricane that hit Seattle? Miles has joked about the long trip and rest for his team, but do not fear. LSU made the long trip to Tempe a few years ago and was just fine.
I foresee a low-scoring contest, few turnovers, close match, maybe decided near the end of regulation by a long play. The Huskies will be improved and looking up, but LSU will prevail 17-10.
July 28, 2009
Huskies primed for Rose Bowl run
By: Kim Keep
Now that I have your attention, let’s get real. Of course, nobody expects UW to win the Pac-10, much less secure any kind of bowl berth. But the Huskies WILL BE IMPROVED in all things football this season. After all, there’s no nowhere to go but up from 0-12, but the amount of improvement may be surprising to some.
New HC Steve Sarkisian has injected enthusiasm across the board for this program, from players and fans to alumni, boosters, and media. He brought with him a top flight DC in Nick Holt from USC and also the experience of working under Pete Carroll. The big question is how much “Sark” can gain head-coaching experience and translate that into wins.
The team is essentially the same that Ty Willingham had last season and quit on him mid-season. It’s also the same team that almost beat BYU (losing in bizarre fashion) and played many opponents close in the first half only to fold in the second. This edition of the Huskies still needs to learn how to win, and it may not be until mid-October before they get their diploma.
Another large question is health. Can the Dawgs avoid the injury bugs of previous years? QB Jake Locker needs a complete season for the Dawgs to have success. A freak broken thumb against Stanford doomed what little chance they had for a respectable season. The spring game results made headlines for his 16 of 18 accuracy, but that was vs the second-team defense and all were short tosses. Add to that, he was “sacked” four times in the game. He will need a really big fall camp to get ready for LSU.
RB update: After Phi’s preview was sent to press, two more Huskies were declared academically ineligible for 2009. RB’s Brandon Johnson & David Freeman combined for 346 net yards last season. Leading rusher Terrance Dailey (338 yds) was dismissed in the spring, so the returning stable of ball toters is very thin. Chris Polk looked OK in the spring, less tentative than the two games in 2008 before he hurt his shoulder.
Hopefully CP will learn to hit the hole quicker, and with Curtis Shaw, can take some pressure off Locker.
At this point, everyone knows the talent level is not up to the James era, but the returning personnel are competitive with the middle of the Pac. They should be favored over Idaho, and four conference foes could be beatable, assuming they get through September with few injuries and a feeling of competition. Most prognosticators have UW next to last in the Pac-10 race. I could see them finish ahead of not only WSU but also UCLA and Arizona State. Arizona at home in Seattle on October 10th could be THE game to get the Huskies howling again.