Washington-Oregon: Huskies Get Barn Whipped by Ducks

(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

"They destroyed us on special teams," said head coach Steve Sarkisian.

It was more than just the special teams. The Huskies got beat in all phases of the game including coaching. Also, another game of questionable game calling calling on both sides of the line scrimmage.

This kind of game is what you expect to see in the first game of the year for a new head coach at a BCS school, not in the eighth game of the year.

Jake Locker was absolutely horrible in his play against the Ducks. He only ran three times for nine yards, was sacked four times and rushed for a negative 16 yards. Locker was 20-for-40 for 234 yards, no touchdowns and two drive killing interceptions.

Numerous times Locker could of have taken off running with the field wide open but decided to throw into coverage. Locker is a big play type of player, but it seems like Sarkisian might have taken it out of him.

On the transgression of Locker, Sarkisian said, "That's a natural concern. This is a very fine line that we are operating on with him in that we are trying to change a guy's game, the complexion of his game, and I knew it wasn't going to happen over night, and obviously he had some early success, as we did. And we're going to have our growing pains. That goes without saying. And not just Jake but as a football program, we are going to have growing pains, and this is one of them. The challenge for us and for Jake is to learn from these games and learn from this style of play and where is the happy medium? Where can he take the running style he had previously and where can he fit it in this scheme that we're running so that it flows. And the challenge is on me as well to call things that allow him to play within a system but also utilizing some of his strengths.''

With this coming week being a bye for Washington, Steve Sarkisian and Nick Holt need to get there proverbial heads on straight and refocus where the the Washington Huskies are going.

In assessing the rest of the season, Sarkisian said, "We've got to assess what we are doing schematically and from a personnel standpoint, and it's going to be great to have a bye. We are obviously a pretty nicked-up football team right now so the bye couldn't come at a better time to hopefully get our guys back fresh, get our minds fresh, and go into this last quarter of the season with a vengeance and finish strong.''

In Husky Nation, they understand about the growing pains, but to be totally embarrassed and blown out by your most hated rival on your home field, is a hard pill to swallow.

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