Bleacher Report - Articles by Ian Peterson

The Washington Huskies Needed This Bye Week To Get Healthy

Ian Peterson — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:06:49 -0500

The Washington Huskies are a beat up team.

There is no question that the lack of depth for the Huskies has led to too much reliance on the teams stars, especially quarterback Jake Locker.

News after this weekend is that Locker is now "questionable" for the UCLA game with a thigh bruise sustained in the Oregon game.

Likewise, starting linebacker E.J. Savannah is out with a broken finger that has been keeping him from full effectiveness.

During the break the coaching staff gave a lot of the starting players the week off, or at least parts of it off to rest up.

The idea was to heal up mentally and physically, the toll of many close encounters seemed to have boiled over in the flat performance in the second half against Oregon.

The second criteria of the break was to give some of the younger guys the looks at different positions the staff needed to see.

Guys like Anthony Boyles, who came into the team with much fanfare and has yet to see the field, is being tried out at cornerback. Likewise, QB backups Ronnie Fouch and Keith Price have been getting all the reps at quarterback.

This may come in handy if indeed Locker has to sit out the UCLA game. Having two weeks of preparation will help Fouch immensely to step in.

With a bowl game still in reach, the UCLA game is an absolute must win, just to make the breathing room that much easier.

Yet, as much as Fouch may be prepared, Locker will certainly be missed greatly if he is out.

Will the Washington Huskies Go To A Bowl This Season?

Ian Peterson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:55:33 -0400

Following a late field goal in the first half of the Oregon game, the Huskies' bowl hopes were still alive and well. By the end of the game, the hopes are now becoming more distant, attainable, but difficult.

A third-quarter collapse allowed Jeremiah Masoli and the Oregon offense to get rolling again. The Huskies ended up losing to their arch-rivals 43 to 19.

That begs the question, with the bowl hopes still alive mathematically, can the Huskies pull together and get there?

The rest of the games look winnable, with the exception of Cal on Dec. 6. Here's how the Huskies matchup in their remaining games.

At UCLA: Winnable

The Bruins are struggling mightily, and provide one of the most salivating matchups for the Huskies. UCLA has a great defense, but can't get anything going on offense. This is the sort of game that the Huskies really can win.

If the Huskies can play a little tighter and avoid turnovers, they can move the ball as well as anyone.

They have a star quarterback in Jake Locker, who can distribute the ball to solid receivers and a really great tight end. Chris Polk has proven to be a great running back to complement Locker, but has some injury problems at the moment.

The offensive struggles of the Bruins could be a great tonic for the Huskies defense. The defense has played better, but still shows a frustrating penchant for breaking at key moments in the game.

The one problem with the UCLA game is that it is on the road, and the Huskies have struggled so far in road tests.

At Oregon State: Push

This game really could go either way, and it will really depend on who get's the breaks, turnovers, stays healthy, etc.

The way Jacquizz Rodgers and Sean Canfield are playing for the Beavers, it looks like they can move the ball extremely well against the Husky defense. Remember that Oregon State has beaten Steve Sarkisian and Nick Holt several times over the last couple years.

This game will be a shootout, and thus it is a push. The Huskies will move the ball well as well. Same as UCLA, this game is on the road, and the Huskies will struggle in the games most likely.

Washington State: Winnable

Let's face it, the Cougars are better, like the Huskies, but are not quite on the same level as the Huskies. Talent-wise the Huskies just are better than the Cougars.

Plus, this is a revenge game for the Huskies, and could be a game the Huskies need to win if they win the two before to get to a bowl. Regardless, the Huskies have only won one of the last four games against the Cougars.

Plus, this game is at home, so it may be a welcome homecoming after two road losses.

California: Loss

This game might be one that the Huskies matchup really well against in the future, but the weight of talent is in Cal's favor.

While Kevin Riley has played hot and cold, Jahvid Best is still one of the best backs in the country, and will gash the Huskies. It will be up to Locker and Co. to put up points to keep up with them.

Another home game and the last game of the season could become an advantage for the Huskies. Again, if the Huskies only need one win it will be interesting to see how far Sarkisian can push them.

At this point, after consecutive losses many Husky fans and others are probably writing off the bowl hopes for the team. It still is completely up in the air, and probably will hinge on the Oregon State game.

Regardless, this season is always going to be a success, even without a bowl. For as bad as they looked last year, to talk of not going to a bowl as failure completely validates the first year of Sarkisian.

Washington-Oregon Defines True Rivalry

Ian Peterson — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:47:03 -0400

What's in a rivalry? Passion, pride, hatred, all of the most extreme emotions are on display in a good rivalry.

USC-ND, Florida-Georgia, Oklahoma-Texas, Ohio State-Michigan, there are some great cross state rivalries out there in college football.

And they are really great entertainment, but they aren't the only good ones out there.

One that flies under the radar, but holds all the intensity of the other, is the Washington-Oregon contest played every year.

It's a newer rivalry, only really coming to the fore since the 1994 game and some of the great contests since then.

In that game, Oregon picked off Damon Huard for a 97-yard score and many on the Oregon side key that as one of the first moments on their current rise to power.

Rick Neuheisal, a coach Oregon fans loved to hate even before he came to Washington—beating Oregon controversially with Colorado—heightened the rivalry even more.

The rivalry is one of the games that both fans and players now circle on their calendar and it has the intensity of some of the best.

Perhaps it comes down to jealousy over Phil Knight's money at Oregon, or maybe it's the shadow of Washington's accomplishments—even though Oregon has won the last five games.

Maybe for Washington fans it comes down to returning things to the status quo, like from 1974 to 1993, when the Huskies only lost three times. Maybe for Oregon it is keeping the rivalry from going back there.

Some of my best friends who are Washington fans tell me that Oregon is their favorite team to beat, even more than beating the Washington State Cougars.

It's absolutely an interesting phenomenon. Talk to any Washington fan and they will tell you how terrible an Oregon Duck fan is, and vice versa for an Oregon fan.

This year's rivalry marks a new chapter, with two rookie head coaches who are new to the rivalry running the two programs.

Steve Sarkisian is in from USC, and Chip Kelly is only in his third year at Oregon from New Hampshire.

Kelly immediately took the rivalry, making some degrading comments about the way the Huskies run their practices. Sarkisian has yet to get into it.

A lot of Husky fans would love to see Sarkisian—in his first year coaching—do what Willingham could never do: beat Oregon.

It would be an amazing year for Sarkisian, in Husky eyes, if he beats USC, Oregon, and WSU all in the same year, even if they don't make a bowl.

The Ducks have the edge in talent, and are probably the safe pick to win. The Huskies have been playing tough and have had a shot in all their games, and they will make this one tough for the Ducks.

One thing you can count on, in spite of the outcome, the spectacle will be in full force.

Washington Huskies Need To Play Mistake Free Football

Ian Peterson — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:52:02 -0400

Washington's win over Arizona last weekend highlighted a potential problem with the Huskies going forward. The team has taken a big step forward in all areas, but more needs to happen if the Huskies want to go to a bowl.

In short, the Huskies need to learn how to play mistake free football. Nothing proved this more than the abysmal third quarter performance against Arizona.

But for the touchdown towards the end of the quarter, the Huskies only mustered -26 yards of offense in two drives.

The opening kick return was fumbled but recovered, and one of the snaps on a punt was fumbled. The punter, Will Mahan, tried a rugby style kick but was tackled where he was and called for an illegal kick which downed the ball 12 yards back.

Coach Steve Sarkisian and company have stressed starting games fast, but have put a new emphasis on starting the second half fast after this last game.

Without that saving touchdown drive at the end of the quarter, that would have signaled the end of the game for the Huskies. The Huskies can be competitive as long as they don't beat themselves.

The same is true of penalties, which the Huskies are averaging almost 60 yards of penalties a game this year.

The staff has the team playing with an intensity and enthusiasm unseen in the last four years, but it is also creating sloppy play. Linemen have been jumping for false starts, lining up off-sides, making silly personal fouls, etc.

The Huskies are in line for their first bowl in a long time, and the future is in their hands. Hard work, discipline, and focus are needed to overcome what are sometimes silly mistakes.

Still, credit Sarkisian for finding ways to win in spite of these things.

Washington Huskies' Steve Sarkisian Is Early Contender for Coach of the Year

Ian Peterson — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:13:43 -0400

It's the halfway point of the season and a good time to start looking at the progress being made by programs around the country.

One of the most surprising statistics is that the Washington Huskies are sitting at 3-3 at the midway point, and look like a good value.

A lot of credit has to go to head coach Steve Sarkisian and the belief he has bred into the program. He brought in an excellent coaching staff and changed the work ethic of the entire conditioning program.

He also brought new offensive schemes and a top-notch defensive coordinator in USC's Nick Holt.

At the end of the day, though, a lot of us wondered if that would be enough to overcome a perception of abysmal talent level. The team had gone 0-12 last year and didn't even look competitive doing it.

A competitive outing against LSU was lauded as a moral victory, but it wasn't until the win against USC that believers were made out of the fans.

The team followed that win with a pitiful performance against Stanford and a heartbreaking overtime loss to Notre Dame.

However, following the wild win against Arizona on Saturday, the Huskies have crawled halfway to a bowl game with winnable games still left on the schedule.

It would be an unprecedented event if Sarkisian steers the Huskies to a bowl game, for reasons that should be painfully obvious.

Jeff Tedford owns the record for turnarounds in the the Pac-10, steering a 1-10 Cal Bears team to a 7-5 record in his first season. Sarkisian would tie that record if he makes it to bowl eligibility at 6-6.

However, Tedford didn't go to a bowl game in his first season, and that is a mark that Sarkisian is sure to be shooting for.

Records like that aside, Sarkisian has done a masterful thing just to pick these players up from last season.

Jake Locker is playing probably the best football of his life, and could be a top-10 draft pick in the next NFL draft. The offense is fifth in the nation in converting third downs. The defense has bent but hasn't broken often, yielding touchdowns only a third of the time in the red zone.

For once in a long while, it's okay to be a Husky fan in Seattle. No more need to hide in shame from the abysmal Saturday performances. Instead of laughing because the only other choice is crying, fans are starting to cheer again.

If there was a Coach of the Year given halfway through, there is no doubt that Sarkisian would be one of the leading contenders.

You just have to look at how the team played last year and how they have played this year for your proof.

The NFL Is Calling Washington Huskies QB Jake Locker

Ian Peterson — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:22:14 -0400

Perusing the top 32 pro prospects for the NFL yields a dazzling list of talented players at top programs around the country.

On name sticks out at No. 6—not because of his name, but because of the school he plays for. ESPN has Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Locker listed at No. 6 overall.

Hard to believe that ranking for a player on a team that has underachieved to such a large degree, indeed for a player many believe has underachieved so far in his career.

Locker has a couple things working towards this ranking: NFL size and speed, NFL strength, and his knowledge of working in a pro-style offense under head coach Steve Sarkisian.

Sarkisian's offense has turned around a player who averaged 47.3 on his passing two years ago—he now averages 57.4.

Let's not forget game-tying and game-winning drives against Notre Dame and USC, respectively.

Locker's prospects have skyrocketed over the last couple months. If you ever watch ESPN pro-prospect coverage with Todd McShay, you will see McShay completely gush about Locker.

It's impressive when you look at the quarterbacks that may come out this year, including the likes of Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow, and Tony Pike, not to mention star junior Jimmy Clausen as well. It is high praise to be mentioned second in that group only to Bradford.

If you are a Husky fan, it has to cause a lot of worry. Looking at the struggles of Tebow and Bradford with injuries, it's hard to argue against taking the money and running.

It would probably benefit Locker in the long run to stay and work longer in the offense, and gain that all important experience. Who can say what will happen?

If Locker does leave, where does that leave the Huskies?

Ronnie Fouch and Keith Price are the only scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, and neither has gotten any experience so far this season. Fouch was less than memorable in his eight starts for the Huskies last season.

Recruit Nick Montana is highly touted, but comes up a little short on the physical side—much like his father—and may need time to grow into the role of a Division I quarterback.

Sarkisian is most likely looking into the possibility of Locker pulling a Mark Sanchez and entering the draft. There is a lot of weight heading in that direction over the last month.

Who knows, though? Locker's commitment has always been above reproach, and he could come back for the good of the team.

He could also take a nosedive in terms of his progress in the second half of the season and prove to the scouts he needs another year.

It will be an interesting saga to watch play out over the next several months.

Double Standards: Concussion Reporting Between Washington and Florida

Ian Peterson — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:40:33 -0400

We all know that a concussion is a serious injury, we all know that Tim Tebow is a star and a media darling, and we all know that the Washington Huskies are still yet to be relevant on the national stage.

How does all this fit together you ask?

There once were two players—one was named Tim Tebow and to sum up his illustrious career, he was a highly recruited quarterback out of high school who has won two national titles and a Heisman trophy, while charming his way into the hearts of America's football fans.

The other player is one most have probably never heard, especially in SEC country. D'Andre Goodwin was a two-star recruit out of California, who was the leading receiver on a dreadful 0-12 Washington team last year.

These players share a bond in that both have received concussions on the field of play.

Tebow's helmet struck the knee of one of his teammates, and he was taken by ambulance to the hospital, camera's zooming in on him in the back of the ambulance.

Goodwin sacrifices his body on the very last play of overtime trying to make a catch to keep the Huskies in it. He gets hit helmet-to-helmet and falls to the ground like a piece of wood.

The last images on the field are of his arms twitching in what looks like severe trauma to his central nervous system. The next image we get? Notre Dame and Jimmy Clausen's big face singing their victory.

No word was mentioned whatsoever that Goodwin got hurt, just that he failed to make a play and the Notre Dame safety did brilliantly to break it up (by giving him a concussion no less).

Thankfully, both players are healthy and on their way back to the field.

The difference is Tebow has gotten wide media attention; Goodwin most assuredly has not.

The story on Tebow is pretty widely known so far. As befitting the defending national champion, the media circus that follows Tim Tebow and Florida is understandable.

In truth, as much as I hate to admit it, people DO want 24/7 status updates on Tebow's availability to play against LSU.

My point through all this is pretty simple, and it really has nothing to do with Tim Tebow, but NBC should be ashamed of themselves for their coverage of Saturday's game between Washington and Notre Dame.

As a Washington fan, I was left hanging about the status of one of our players. Imagine the poor guy's mother, who is sitting here watching Notre Dame players sing instead of knowing if her son even got up.

I don't blame Notre Dame, that was a fun game of football—as hard for us Husky fans to swallow; and I don't blame ESPN for over-hyping Tebow's condition, it's in their interest monetarily to make a spectacle of it.

However, with reports coming out almost constantly about the long-term health hazards of playing football, shouldn't we take a stake in caring about ALL these player injuries?

Especially college players: These guys aren't professionals, and I don't think anyone wants to see them get hurt.

Despite Loss, Washington Huskies Growing As A Team

Ian Peterson — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:31:46 -0400

As much as Notre Dame fans would love to tell me about the legend of Jimmy Clausen and his ability for the comeback victory, Washington lost that football game more than Notre Dame won it.

The Notre Dame goal-line stands were impressive, but Washington had eight tries and really should have punched it through to go ahead 31-22.

Regardless of how the game went, one fact remains in my mind:

Steve Sarkisian is going to make the Washington Huskies into a really good team.

The team is just plain playing better. They are competitive, energetic, and look hungry to play football.

Which you just couldn't say of the team last year. Truly, the team just didn't look that way under Willingham ever.

At 2-3, the record doesn't particularly speak to how much the Huskies have grown up this season compared to last. The only really bad performance was against Stanford last weekend.

The Huskies showed good poise to stay in the game and force overtime. Let's not forget that Washington had their own goal-line stand earlier in the game.

The Huskies got gashed through the air, but kept the run in check pretty well. The Huskies have showed a Jekyll and Hyde defense all season, one game good against the run, the next good against the pass.

What the Huskies really need is an infusion of talent and depth to become more competitive.

The Huskies lost both starting safeties in the game, and it can be disconcerting with little to no depth in the secondary to speak of.

The Huskies do have a good recruiting class coming in this year, so far. It should be helped by the fact that the Huskies are showing well in competitive games.

It could get even better with a much softer part of their schedule coming up. The only ranked opponent coming up is Oregon, which the Huskies play at home. (Cal will not remain ranked at the rate they are playing USC tonight.)

The key for this season is Sarkisian keeping the players from getting disheartened. This Notre Dame loss was a heartbreaker, and the players could get pretty down on themselves.

Beyond that, the team needs to clean up the penalties, and the red-zone offense.

The Huskies gave up 82 yards on 13 penalties, and the aforementioned goal-line stands were a serious problem.

The Huskies have a game-changer in Jake Locker, who should be able to give them some more quality wins through 2009.

Also, look at Chris Polk, he's put up solid games before today, then gashed Notre Dame for 136 yards today. He would have had a touchdown except that it was a 50/50 call that went against him.

If you are a Husky fan, sure the game slipped through the fingers, but the consistent performances put together on the field should make you proud.

They certainly bode well for the team's future.

Washington And Steve Sarkisian At The Crossroads For 2009

Ian Peterson — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:08:27 -0400

For those of you lucky enough (or unlucky for how bad the broadcast was) to see the Washington-Stanford game last Saturday, you got to see Washington lay its first egg of the season.

Coming off the win against USC, it is easy to imagine the optimism that existed in the hearts of Washington players, fans, and coaches. They can downplay it all they want, it existed.

The game proved that Stanford can be a legitimate contender in the Pac-10; that the Washington Huskies still have a long road ahead of them.

This week's game against Notre Dame I think will show us the real 2009 Washington Huskies.

A lot of people seem to think that the Huskies played out of their skins for the USC and LSU games, and that Stanford showed them stalling on the intensity.

I disagree.

Sarkisian is the first to admit that there were tons of mistakes in that game, and that he didn't prepare the team well enough for the game.

This is all barring the fact that Stanford capitalized on one of the glaring weaknesses on this team, defending the power run.

The Stanford game was obviously the worst performance of Sarkisian's short tenure, with the previous weeks performance against USC the best.

The 2009 Huskies exist somewhere between those two polls.

They won't be world-beaters every week, but neither are they going to fold as easily as they did against Stanford.

Sarkisian and his staff are good motivators, and I think the players aren't playing for a lame duck coach like they were last year.

That being said, this Saturday's game is going to show whether the Huskies can pick themselves up from defeat or not. This was something the Willingham staff struggled to do.

Notre Dame has won their last two games and lost the Michigan game by a score or less, so they are going to be a competitive team.

Plus they are just Notre Dame.

So, if the Huskies win, as unlikely as that may seem after the last performance, it could be the makings of a Pete Carroll like team. Win the big games, choke in the small games.

If Notre Dame wins, the performance the Huskies put up will be judged for its merit. How well they play will determine how long of a road it's going to be for the Huskies, and how successful 2009 will be.

A big loss could send the Huskies into a faster downward spiral, a competitive loss could keep the player's spirits up going forward.

The future is wide open at this point.

Washington Huskies' Stay in the Top-25 is Brief

Ian Peterson — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:18:44 -0400

Washington proved yesterday in Palo Alto that the rebuilding on Montlake still has a tough road ahead. The 34-14 loss did not look pretty.

After an upset of No. 3 USC led to the first ranking the Huskies had received in six years, at 24. With it came probably way too much optimism than was deserved.

The loss to Stanford was surprising, not for the result, but for the lack of competitive edge the Huskies showed.

What really hurt, to be honest, was Stanford running the opening kickoff for a touchdown. It was a punch to the mouth the Huskies should have seen coming, and in the end took a lot of wind out of their sails.

Beyond that, the Huskies needed to find an answer to Toby Gerhart, but they didn't.

What yesterday proved was that the Huskies still have work to do to become a more physical football team.

A lot of the game both lines were pushed aside, and Stanford showed a greater propensity to swarm to the football.

Locker played a mediocre game for the Huskies, by the standards set earlier in the season.

His two picks and the fumble loss were not pretty, he only completed about half of his passes for 191 yards.

It was a game where the Huskies just looked like they were in a funk, maybe losing some of their edge after the upset.

The offensive line just could not make any traction against a more determined Stanford defensive line. As a consequence, Chris Polk has still yet to have a true breakout game.

His 75 yards rushing were earned the hard way, and he still is probably the best option at tailback for the Huskies. He has shown a propensity to run hard through the tackles and churn some hard earned yardage.

The player who looks like he is starting to make strides is Justin Glenn, at safety, where a playmaker really needs to show up for the Huskies.

What this game really proved that the hardest part of rebuilding is still the work that is coming up. It's a monumental success to be 2-2 on the season so far, but the team has to learn how to churn out the wins week in and week out.

Plus, there are still some winnable games left on the schedule for the Huskies. There will be some chances this season to prove how much progress is being made.

This team is still young too, so any strides made this year will make for a really intriguing 2010 team.

Washington-Stanford Provides The Litmus Test For Two Emerging Programs

Ian Peterson — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:00:41 -0400

Interestingly enough, for those that have followed these two programs over the last couple years, is that this game has finally gained relevance.

It seems very obtuse to say that after these have been some of the bottom feeders in the Pac-10 over the last couple years.

However, it's also true that it is an important game for each program.

The goals for these programs, realistic goals instead of the fearless optimism of fans, is to get to the promised land of bowl games.

While each program has their marquee win against USC, real winning consistency is still not quite in their grasp.

To get there, each program has to win these kinds of games, the games against the middle of the pack Pac-10 teams.

I would hazard a guess that neither of these teams is going to challenge for a Rose Bowl berth, but based on current play each can challenge for a lesser bowl.

If a bowl comes, it will be games like this that the pundits will say got them to the bowl, despite Washington having beaten USC.

There is a certain amount of grit needed to have success in college football, and this is what I would define as a gritty game.

Stanford is coming on strong under Jim Harbaugh, and show signs of being a really could team over the next couple years.

The best thing they have working in their favor is their youth, but they also play with physicality and intensity that hasn't been seen by the Cardinal in a long time, if ever.

The Huskies, on the other hand, are a team unused to winning and playing physically. They are learning under head coach Steve Sarkisian, but this game will test whether they are on their way.

While the Huskies have looked good in their first three games, they also have played all of the games at home.

Stanford is one of the better places to dip the toes in the road game ocean, because of its pedestrian atmosphere at times, but road games are tough nonetheless.

The Huskies are also dinged up in the receiving corps, but have enough depth that it won't be a problem.

The Husky offense has looked great under quarterback Jake Locker, and should continue to roll.

Locker will continue to complete passes against what should be a much softer secondary than USC or LSU.

Locker's stock is WAY up all across the board, and given his poise should make for good viewing tomorrow.

Chris Polk, who has shown great effort with not nearly enough to show for it, should have more running room against Stanford. Stanford has a good defensive line, but like Locker, its a big difference in talent between them and USC and LSU.

On the Cardinal side, Toby Gerhart, their workhorse running back, is the heart and soul of the team. For the Huskies to win they will need to stuff him.

Andrew Luck, the Cardinal quarterback, is a talented young prospect, but is just that, young. The Huskies can succeed if they can shut down Stanford's run and force the young quarterback to pass.

He has the talent to possibly torch the Husky secondary, but hopefully after a solid game against the Trojans the Huskies are feeling more comfortable in pass defense.

The real game changer that the Huskies need to watch is wide receiver Chris Owusu, who also serves as the teams dangerous kick returner.

The game itself I'm putting at 50-50 for each team. Each has players capable of pulling down the win on Saturday.

In any case, I predict a solid game, and most likely a shootout, with most of the talent in the game residing in the offenses for both teams.

I look forward to seeing if the Stanford Cardinal are the real deal, or if the Huskies can avoid the letdown.

Can Steve Sarkisian Clone Pete Carroll's Success at Washington?

Ian Peterson — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:59:12 -0400

When head coach Steve Sarkisian started his tenure at the University of Washington, he made no bones about copying a lot of the things that the USC Trojans did.

First on the list, opening up practices to the general public. He was trying to lift the death cloud that seem to hang over the program after an 0-12 season.

Second, he raided USC's pantry for quality assistants and support personnel. Nick Holt was the most visible pickup, signing on as the defensive coordinator for Sarkisian.

However, Sarkisian also signed Demetrius Martin, a USC graduate assistant, to be the Huskies' new cornerbacks coach. Jared Blank was signed to be the director of player personnel.

The biggest pickup? Ivan Lewis signed on to run the Huskies strength and conditioning program.

Beyond that, Sarkisian also approached current Trojans defensive coordinator Rocky Seto to be the defensive coordinator and former Trojans offensive graduate assistant Yogi Roth to be quarterbacks coach.

Apparently Sarkisian wanted more from the Trojan cupboard.

Both Seto and Roth turned Sarkisian down. Seto ended up as the defensive coordinator, replacing Holt, and Roth decided to pursue broadcasting.

The Huskies ended up with Holt and current offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier coaching quarterbacks, and that seems to have worked out well considering the play of the defense and quarterback Jake Locker.

Third thing Sarkisian did? He patterned the practice days at Washington like the ones for the Trojans.

Sarkisian has made it clear that he needs to be his own coach, but if you look at the program that is being set up in Washington, it can be hard to see.

To some fans, it may not matter, considering USC is one of the most marquee names in the country. Others may have a problem with such blatant cloning of USC, but they will be few and far between if UW keeps winning.

The question going into the game last Saturday was whether the similarities between the programs now would give them an advantage going forward against USC in particular.

The conventional answer is yes, after seeing the final score of that game.

The question now is whether or not momentum can be built off of this win. So far teams that have knocked off USC the last five years have gone 2-3 the next week.

If Sarkisian wants to distinguish himself from his mentor, he needs to go out and win the small game after the big game. In other words, avoid the letdown.

This win is great food for Sarkisian to feed his recruiting machine on, one which has been churning this season.

To match USC, the great challenge for Pac-10 teams requires getting the athletes. The rest is all just window dressing.

At the end of the day, Sarkisian can copy the administrative design of USC's program all he wants, but without the athletes the success will not come.

While this win is great, it is far from seven straight Pac-10 titles.

But it's a start.

Husky Trails: Washington's David Slays the Trojan Goliath

Ian Peterson — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:52:18 -0400

Who would have thought coming off a winless 2008 season, and only just breaking their record winless streak last week, the Washington Huskies were capable of pulling off the upset of the No. 3 USC Trojans.

No less, the Trojans looked like they could be on their way to something great following their win over Ohio State. They just needed to avoid the big win hangover, unlike last year.

To be honest, many people put the Trojans on upset alert. I did not think it was going to happen at all.

There was a lot made of coaches Steve Sarkisian and Nick Holt and their connections to the Trojans, and how that may help the Huskies beat the Trojans.

In the end, it seems to have played itself out that way.

The Trojans dominated athletically all day long, especially in the trenches. The Trojan offensive and defensive lines dominated the line of scrimmage, looking both faster and stronger than the opposing Huskies.

The Trojans gashed huge holes in the Husky defensive line for tailback Joe McKnight to run through. McKnight finished the game with 100 yards on 11 carries.

At the same time, the speed of the Trojans' defensive line overwhelmed the Husky offensive line, forcing three sacks and stuffing the Washington running game.

Washington was only able to gain 56 yards on the ground.

That being said, the Huskies did some things absolutely right in the game. They won the turnover battle and Locker made all the plays in the passing game.

The Huskies forced two fumbles and an interception to prevent scoring drives by the Trojans.

The defense played with a lot of energy after initially going down hard against a tough Trojan rushing attack.

The player of the game without a doubt was linebacker Donald Butler, who finished with 12 tackles and an interception, while also forcing a fumble. He also solo stuffed Stafon Johnson on a 3rd-and-1 that really changed the game.

At the same time, while getting blitzed all night, Jake Locker looked very sharp all day long, throwing 21-of-35 for 237 yards.

He didn't throw any touchdowns, but he also didn't throw any interceptions, which is an accomplishment considering how much pressure he was under all day.

In any case, the thing that matters most for this Husky team is the score on the scoreboard after the game.

This is a great day for the downtrodden Husky program and a great start for the Steve Sarkisian era at Washington.

Husky Trails: Washington In For a Tough Game Against USC

Ian Peterson — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:16:24 -0400

A lot of talk has been made this week about the game between USC and Washington, especially considering the coordinators of USC are now leading the Huskies.

Add in a healthy dose of intrigue around the health of Matt Barkley, who looks to be out for injury for the game.

With Aaron Corp starting for the USC, plus a heavy knowledge of USC's schemes, many think that USC is vulnerable to a much improved Husky team.

Kirk Herbstreit, of ESPN, even put the Trojans on upset alert.

As much as many fans would like to hope for Herbstreit's prediction to come true, it seems very unlikely.

While there is a heavy knowledge of what USC is going to do because of Steve Sarkisian and Nick Holt, the imbalance of talent is heavily weighted in USC's favor.

Sarkisian has even stated that in these kinds of situations it's easy to get into what is called "paralysis of analysis," or the ability to over-think the encounter.

The Huskies shouldn't do anything to out-think the Trojans, just do what has succeeded for them so far and fix what hasn't.

The Huskies are second in the nation in third down conversions, and can make a real game of it if they continue that trend.

Quarterback Jake Locker, arguably the second best individual player in the conference right now behind Cal running back Jahvid Best, gives the Huskies an excellent chance to stay in every game.

On the flip side, the USC offense is so stacked with talent at running back and wide receiver that it really doesn't matter who is playing quarterback.

The USC offense looked mildly stale in the Ohio State game, and many pundits have seized on this. However, look at that last drive of the game for the Trojans, and you can see the USC machine can still spin up.

Everyone likes to talk about the poise of Matt Barkley in that drive, and that is uncontested, but it was really tailback Joe McKnight that drove the team down the field.

The Husky defense looked spotty at times in the win against Idaho, giving up a lot of yardage in the passing game.

The same in the LSU game, where the Tigers receivers looked almost like they were playing with the Washington secondary players.

Guys like Damian Williams are poised to have big games against the Huskies if play continues like the first two games.

This game is going to go to USC, don't let anyone kid you, but the Huskies will make a game of it on offense.

It's about the only thing the Huskies can do at this point.

So far, though, they seem to do it really well and only look to get better.

Husky Trails: The Washington Husky Offense Is Making Strides

Ian Peterson — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:37:37 -0400

Anyone looking back on the last year of Washington Husky football will tell you that the offense was hopelessly inept at times.

Once Tyrone Willingham was fired, the majority of the candidates for his replacement were offensive minds, and the hiring of Steve Sarkisian shows where the school wants to put its eggs.

So far, in the extremely limited sampling you can get from only two games, the hiring has paid dividends.

The recent statistical rankings, released by the NCAA, place the Huskies 36th in the nation in total offense. They have averaged 436 yards per game, which is much higher than the 263.2 yards they averaged in all of last year.

The Huskies also lead the Pac-10 in passing offense thus far, and are 20th in the nation with 287 yards per game.

This is down to two factors, Locker's growth as a passer and the updated schemes that Sarkisian has implemented.

Tyrone Willingham put way too much emphasis on Locker's running ability, and seemed to have only a limited understanding of how to run a spread scheme.

Sarkisian has instituted the pro-style offense, which is predicated on first the run and then the play-action pass.

The scheme also likes to rely on shorter passes with yards being gained after the catch. This has helped Locker significantly boost his passing percentage, and helped the Huskies move the ball much more effectively.

The Huskies have been able to convert two-thirds of their third downs, at 22-of-33, and have converted both of their fourth downs.

There was some wasted yardage during the LSU game, where they only got field goals. However, they scored touchdowns on their first five drives against Idaho.

The real test is coming this weekend, against USC. The Trojans run the same scheme as the Huskies because of Sarkisian's connection to the Trojans.

The Trojan defense will know what the Huskies will be like on offense, that can be guaranteed.

Let's see of Sarkisian learned enough at USC to pick apart the Trojan defense.

Husky Trails: Washington Ends Slide at 15

Ian Peterson — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:02:40 -0400

Washington finally has a win, after having to wait nearly two calendar years between this one and the last one. Washington beat the Idaho Vandals 42-23 today in Husky Stadium.

During a day of beautiful weather, the Washington offense showed that there are playmakers on the team.

They also showed that the defense is as leaky as ever, giving the Vandals more yardage than the Huskies, 412 to 374.

First with the good news, quarterback Jake Locker looked extremely sharp on the day.

He was 17-of-25 for 253 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 18 yards on the ground with one rushing touchdown.

Chris Polk added 80 yards rushing with a rushing touchdown.

D'andre Goodwin had 83 yards on three catches and looked sharp after being shut down in the LSU game.

The defense, though, was not sharp today, and allowed too many yards against a team who will be nowhere near the talent of next weeks game against USC.

The defense played zone most of the night and gave up a lot of space underneath to the short passing game.

Idaho was able to make a lot of first downs and keep drives alive.

The Husky defense didn't break until the second half, but gave up two soft touchdowns in the second.

There were two sacks that the defense nabbed, but overall they looked rather ineffective.

It will be interesting to see if it was just having the USC offense on the mind or if it was a sign of things to come.

Still, a win is a win, and it's great to end that streak.

Husky Trails: Enthusiasm Contagious for Downtrodden UW Huskies

Ian Peterson — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:53:49 -0400

The Huskies came out of the gate last Saturday firing, outgaining the LSU Tigers in yardage despite losing 31-23.

Many pundits and fans around Seattle and the country proclaimed a successful debut for head coach Steve Sarkisian, and many felt this is a sign the Huskies are back.

Even Jim Moore, the scourge of many Husky fans, claimed that the Huskies looked like a Pac-10 team again, with playmakers abound.

There is no question that the Huskies looked great on Saturday, and will look great again Saturday the 12th against Idaho. The Vandals will have difficulty keeping up with the Dawgs.

That being said, the real test comes Sept. 19 when USC rolls into town.

Pete Carroll, for all his talk about supporting Sarkisian leaving, could still be in the mood to punish someone like Nick Holt for walking out on the Trojans.

The game will be hard fought, but USC will lay the hammer down the way they did against San Jose State.

How the team picks themselves up after that game will be the true test of Sarkisian's coaching ability.

Let's be honest and say that since LSU was such a high-profile opponent, and the trials of last season, it was easy for the Huskies to get up and play.

They will get up and play against Idaho to finally end the losing streak and give Sarkisian his first win in purple and gold.

However, the season is a marathon, and there will inevitably be some disappointment along the way. Let's not forget there was a fair amount of wasted yardage by the Huskies where they didn't score or gave up bad turnovers.

The schedule is easier than it has been in the past couple years, but it is by no means easy.

It will be interesting to see how Sarkisian keeps these players held high in the low points, and how he keeps success from going to their heads after wins.

In any case, it looks to be a more enjoyable season to watch than 2008, regardless of how many loses the Huskies have.

Husky Trails: Huskies Sharper in Sark Debut Despite Loss

Ian Peterson — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:13:00 -0400

There really should be no surprise that LSU won last night's contest and the UW Huskies continued their losing streak. That being said, the 31-23 loss by the Huskies did not leave a bad taste in the mouth at all.

Last night was the debut of new head coach Steve Sarkisian, and the return from injury for quarterback Jake Locker.

Obviously a loss is not ideal, but there are positives to be pulled from the game.

The team looks completely different than it did last year, there is just such a bigger buzz around the Huskies during gametime.

The best example is that after the first score the entire team huddled up on the sideline and started jumping up and down chanting and cheering.

In terms of field performance, the Huskies outgained the LSU Tigers in passing and rushing. Something that you could hardly have said about the Huskies last season.

Locker looked sharp in the game, throwing for 25 of 45 passing with 321 yards and two touchdowns.

He would have looked better but for some throw away balls and some rather horrendous drops as well. The interception was about the worst he looked the whole night passing, which is to be expected.

Running back Chris Polk ran with purpose for 90 yards on 21 carries.

The offensive line looked great, for as many questions as there were going into the season, you really could not ask for much more out of them.

That being said, the running game diminished during the second half, with most of the second half yards coming from Jake Locker.

It's also key to point out that the staff did not use all the running backs, as they had said they would.

Defensively, they played with so much more fire and intensity than they ever did under Tyrone Willingham's staff. They made several impressive stops, in spite of allowing 321 yards and 31 points.

The secondary got a bit tossed around by the LSU receivers, Terence Toliver especially, but they will get better.

There were some heavy hits too, with one massive hit on Jordan Jefferson by Nate Williams springing to mind. Williams shook himself up on the hit.

The front seven did a great job stuffing the middle running, with most of the biggest running plays coming around the outside.

The biggest complaint about the Huskies, and I'm going back and forth on if it is truly a complaint, is that the Huskies basically beat themselves with turnovers and penalties.

There were some bad personal fouls, several substitution infractions, and others on top of the typical offsides, false starts, and what not.

There is certainly a lot of things needed to be cleaned up. The beauty of the game last night was that every play did not feel like it had the potential to blow up in the Huskies face.

They played well, they didn't feel lucky, the way it felt under the Willingham staff.

There is a lot to build on, and a lot to be proud of, in spite of the loss.

Husky Trails: Four Keys For Washington Huskies Against LSU

Ian Peterson — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 11:53:43 -0400

It's gameday everybody! I'm up early watching ESPN just because I feel like it's an early Christmas. Problem is that the UW game isn't until 7:30 tonight PST.

Since it is the gameday, it's time to do a little list on the keys for the Huskies against LSU.

Running the Football

This will be the most important key for the Husky offense tonight. They need to get the running game going for two reasons.

An effective running game will take a lot of pressure off of Jake Locker and the passing game.

With an effective run attack Locker won't feel compelled to take the team on his shoulders. He will have the time to focus on putting that touch that he needs on his passes.

The second reason comes down to controlling the time of possession and keeping the LSU offense off of the field.

The Husky defense is, in a word, not very good. So it is imperative they don't have to do as much during the game to keep them fresh.

It may be a lot to ask with questions still existing on the offensive line for the Huskies. They will most likely get bossed around by the talented LSU defensive line.

It will be up to the running backs, Chris Polk and Johri Fogerson, to make a lot of plays in spite of the offensive line.

Pressure the LSU QB

Jordan Jefferson is coming back for LSU after a highly successful bowl appearance. The Tigers struggled at quarterback last season, but they think they have found the answer.

The addition of true freshman Russell Sheppard also adds an interesting dynamic.

However, this also makes them slightly vulnerable, neither has a ton of game experience so if the Huskies can put some hits on the quarterback's then they could potentially force some turnovers.

Sarkisian has made the turnover margin one of the main focuses for the defense this year.

Unfortunately, the Husky defensive line has not had very much success over the last year in getting to the quarterback or stopping the run, but they will need to step up.

They are returning all their starters and have benefited from an extra year of maturation and conditioning.

With Daniel T'eo-nesheim on the line too, there is always a chance to make an impact.

Don't Give Up the Big Play

The Huskies, over the last two years, have had the worrying tendency to give up deflating big plays. Notice some of the shootouts from two years ago.

Nick Holt will have his hands full in trying to mitigate some of the big play ability that LSU has.

It will come down to guys like EJ Savannah bolstering the run defense. Savannah's return adds a proven tackler and playmaker in an already strong linebacker unit.

The secondary as well needs to make plays on the ball and play their coverages well.

Let Locker Be Locker

As much as Sarkisian wants to install his pro-style offense, he needs to be careful not to stifle the dual threat ability Locker has.

It's a double edge sword, because Locker shouldn't need to run all the time to avoid injury.

However, it's that running ability that gives the Huskies an outside chance in every game, he can make the plays to keep the ball moving.

It will be interesting this year to see how Sarkisian uses Locker, his accuracy has improved over spring and fall.

Sarkisian has wanted to train Locker up to be a more NFL-style quarterback. He has the arm, but has been missing the touch.

It will help the team if he does discover that touch.

Husky Trails: Conditioning the Key for the 2009 Washington Huskies

Ian Peterson — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:37:14 -0400

With the season fast approaching for the Huskies, a lot is being made of the chances the Huskies are going to have for a successful season.

Essentially, the consensus is that the Huskies will make little to no impact on the college football landscape. No upsets on the clocks, only a few wins, and another Pac-10 cellar appearance.

However, the Huskies will be better this year, maybe not in the wins/losses column, but certainly in how competitive the team plays.

Coach Steve Sarkisian stated earlier this week that he did not expect a win against LSU, but did expect them to respect the Huskies after the game.

Bold words for a team who showed up as badly as they did last year.

If the team is going to gain any respect this year, and by conventional logic they will make a better showing of themselves, it comes down to conditioning.

Sarkisian's first priority in coming to UW was getting the conditioning program back on track. The team needed to get leaner and stamina needed to be bred back into the program.

The hiring of head strength coach Ivan Lewis was one of the most underrated assistant hires that Sarkisian made, and it is paying dividends.

The offense line has lost, all told, almost 200 pounds between all the players.

If any of you watched the debacle of the Tyrone Willingham era, you'd know that the team looked sluggish at best, and almost always faded in the fourth quarter as they wore out.

The loss of weight on the offensive line is the biggest news. Last year the line was supposed to be a strength, with experienced and huge offensive linemen.

It became apparent quickly though that no mount of experience could make up for the fact that the line was too big, and couldn't keep up with the faster defensive lines around the conference.

If the 2009 team is going to have any success, it is going to come on the back of having a leaner and more athletic team than it did in the past.

This Saturday is going to be a huge test, against a strong LSU team, but the team is hardly shying away from the challenge. They are enthusiastic to start playing and to put everything that Sark has taught them on the field.

It's going to be an exciting season, there is no doubt.

Husky Trails: The Washington Husky Power Players

Ian Peterson — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:29:19 -0400

With the first game of the season in exactly one week, and excitement building in all corners of the Washington team, I felt it would be great to put together a recap of who will be the big players for UW this season. This will be an interesting season for the Huskies as they break in a new coach and get over the 0-12 season last year. So with no further ado here are some of the bigger players for the Washington Huskies.

Begin Slideshow

Husky Trails: Five Keys to the Washington Huskies' Season

Ian Peterson — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:43:53 -0400

With the season fast approaching, it is easy to get caught up in all the rhetoric that naturally flies around fall camps. The optimism can be contagious.

Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian has done an excellent job at bringing a fresh look to the Huskies. While it remains to be seen what he does on the field, he should be lauded for taking that first step.

If Sarkisian is going to be successful this season, these are going to be the keys.

Running the football

There is no doubt that the Husky running game struggled last year. Not only did the backs themselves struggle, but the offensive line had difficulty creating holes for them.

Frankly, a starter needs to emerge out of the stables. Sarkisian was only able to rotate backs the last couple years because they all were supreme talents.

It just won't work the same here at Washington.

Chris Polk and Johri Fogerson have looked the best in camp so far, but so have Curtis Shaw and Willie Griffin.

Polk is the assumed starter, after all the drama surrounding him becoming starter last year and flopping. He has used this last season as a learning experience and as a chance to get stronger.

It's difficult because the two best runners from last year, David Freeman and Terence Dailey, are both gone from the program. That was the reason that Fogerson moved over to the running back slot from safety.

The Sarkisian offense is run-oriented, so this is piece No. 1 that Sarkisian needs to put into place. Otherwise, the Sarkisian era could begin in disaster.

If the running game can succeed, it will take a massive weight off quarterback Jake Locker's shoulders. This in turn will help him develop into the talent he has the potential to be.

Improved Quarterback Accuracy

Both Jake Locker and Ronnie Fouch need to make great strides in their accuracy. Fouch won't see much of the field if Locker is healthy, but who knows how the season will go?

During spring and most of fall, Locker has looked much improved, a mix of being asked to make easier throws and having more solid receiver play.

The Sarkisian offense is predicated on more intermediate throws with the onus put on the receiver to gain the extra yards.

The offense of the last couple years was run-oriented, with all the passing coming on really long third downs or on big plays.

Drops have been an issue, but with the maturation of the younger receivers, that should diminish.

Sarkisian has targeted an accuracy of 60 percent for Locker and that may be high, but Locker looks well on his way there.

Receivers Need to Score Touchdowns

Last season was remarkably devoid of scoring—as evidenced by the 0-12 record—and the receivers scored very few of the touchdowns.

D'Andre Goodwin, the leading returning receiver for the Pac-10, had only one touchdown catch for the whole of last season.

The whole of the receiving unit? Six total catches.

Essentially, the receiving corps needs to make that next step, either to get open on longer routes or catch tough balls in the end zone.

Washington just needs to score more this season, plain and simple.

Pressure Opposing QBs More

It wasn't until the fifth game of the season that the Huskies recorded a single sack. The defense as a whole was atrocious at run stopping, and opposing quarterbacks had all the time in the world to throw.

It was something on the order of, on average, a 63-percent completion rate by opposing quarterbacks during 2008.

Watching the team was frustrating because you could see them striving to get to the quarterback, but they couldn't quite make it.

Opposing offensive lines just bossed them up and down the field.

The only bright spot has been Daniel T'eo-nesheim, who most likely will make all-Pac-10 honors this season. The guy just has a motor.

EJ Savannah coming back will have a huge impact on stopping the run game. It's up to the rest of the defensive front seven to pick up their game.

Intercept the Ball

The Husky defense only forced seven interceptions, and Husky defenders only broke up 26 passes all year.

The aforementioned 63 percent completion rate by opposing quarterbacks was no joke. They missed basically only when the quarterback couldn't throw the ball well enough, or the receiver couldn't catch it.

The bright spots are that both Nate Williams and Quinton Richardson got a lot of playing time and have looked like they can be special players for the Huskies.

The bad news is that the Huskies still haven't really sorted out the other safety and cornerback slots.

Thus far the leaders are Greg Walker at safety and Justin Glenn at cornerback, but it's really anybody's game.

Sarkisian hired both a safeties coach and a cornerbacks coach this year—as opposed to just one secondary coach—in the hopes of breathing some fire into both positions.

Jeff Mills, the safeties coach, and Demetrius Martin, the cornerbacks coach, have their work cut out for them but have a lot of energy.

We'll see come game time if Sarkisian's hirings have succeeded.

Husky Trails: Greg Walker Is Making That Impact On The Huskies Defense

Ian Peterson — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:24:11 -0400

If you are Nick Holt, the number one priority in getting this Washington defense prepared is nailing down the secondary slots.

Thus far it has been a challenge, through spring and fall. There have only been two players that have put a hold on their positions; Nate Williams controls the strong safety spot and Quinton Richardson has one of the cornerback slots.

As for free safety and the other cornerback slot, it's anybodies game at this point.

That being said, over the past week, redshirt freshman Greg Walker has started to make and impact on that open free safety slot.

He has gotten praise from the coaches for his ability to hit and make plays. He's shown a pair of soft hands in catching interceptions to complement his hitting ability.

He also seems to communicate well with his fellow teammates on the defense, which is a very underrated skill sometimes.

There was a great interview with him on GoHuskies.com the other day that highlighted what I think is a fantastic attribute about him, he sounds very smart.

He knows his strengths and he knows his weaknesses, and most of all, he seems to know his place on the field in Holt's defense.

Taking some of the interviews with players over fall camp, it seems that often times the Willingham staff was not always clear on what players were supposed to do.

Chris Polk was scathing in his attack of the Willingham team, and how it had fractured right down the middle during the 0-12 season.

To have a player like Walker, who know's his job on the field, and communicates well with his fellow players, it shows serious potential for this rebuilding defense.

At the end of the day, there are a million and one reasons why this Sarkisian team is better than any Willingham team. Most of all, it comes down to team chemistry and intensity.

Looking purely at before a ball has even been hiked, Sarkisian's team has got it, Willingham's didn't.

Guys like Greg Walker help this aspect out immensely.

News and Notes

Some good news, Desmond Trufant got over his NCAA Clearinghouse issues and is with the team practicing. It should add even more competition to that cornerback battle.

Practice went short today with limited contact as Sarkisian has stressed that keeping the players fresh is the most important.

Husky Trails: UW Scrimmage Highlights Good Back Play

Ian Peterson — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:32:28 -0400

Tuesday marked the the first scrimmage practice for the Huskies, and while the number one offense saw little of the field, the running backs had a great day.

Several busted off some big runs or some big catches out of the backfield.

Some of the numbers are as follows:

Curtis Shaw: 4-70 with a long of 50

Johri Fogerson: 6-48 with a 48-yard reception

Demetrius Bronson: 6-31

Chris Polk: 4-8 but with a 33-yard reception

Willie Griffin: 3-16

The running back situation is going to be key in the coming year. The progress made at this position will make or break a lot of what Sarkisian is trying to install.

With no clear starter being pushed to the front, it's easy to assume that Sarkisian may employ a committee system like the last couple years at USC.

It doesn't bode well for any single running back to get that star presence, but it may be the only answer.

Locker needs a lot of weight lifted off of his shoulders to really flourish this season.

There has been a lot made of the strides he's been making as a passer, but it will be a difficult task for him if he has to throw on 3rd and 8 rather than 3rd and 3 every time.

Chris Polk has been so highly touted his first two years here, especially in the preseason. Yet, he has fizzled in the actual game situations he's been in.

It would not be a surprise if guys like Curtis Shaw or Willie Griffin make more of an impact over the course of the year than Polk, even if Polk is the starter.

The guy who is making the biggest move is sophomore Johri Fogerson.

The former safety is looking comfortable in his new position, enough so that it is a bit of a wonder why he wasn't playing running back sooner.

The pro-style offense Sarkisian runs relies heavily on the run game, so it is good news when the backs are playing well.

The only caveat I can give is that so far they have only played the Husky defense, which was notoriously atrocious at run stopping the last couple years.

It will be a whole different animal when the Tigers of LSU roll into town.

Let's hope the backs are still up for the challenge.

Husky Trails: Defense Seems To Be Carrying The UW Huskies' Practices

Ian Peterson — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:12:18 -0400

Going into day six of the Washington Huskies fall camp, the trend thus far has been for dominate defensive play.

The way that head coach Steve Sarkisian tailors his practices is by holding a points competition between offense and defense, with a winner chosen each day.

The defense has won three of the first five practices. According to Sarkisian they came close to winning a fourth time but for some last minute heroics by the offense.

It's going to be interesting how this camp translates into the full season. The team as a whole could benefit greatly from the defense being better.

A dynamic threat like Locker benefits by having to not carry as much of the burden as he has in the past. Knowing that each drive doesn't necessarily have to be a scoring drive is important.

The only way the team has come close to winning the last several years has been in shoot-outs because the defense has given up so many points. I point you to the Oregon-UW game in 2007.

The offense, however, needs to pick up the pace. No matter how good the defense, if they are playing the majority of the game they rapidly lose effectiveness.

The defense has earned good praise so far from the head coach. It would seem that hiring Nick Holt as defensive coordinator has paid off so far.

The unit that is mentioned constantly is the linebacker corps.

Donald Butler, Mason Foster, and EJ Savannah have been singled out for praise on multiple occasions.

Savannah claimed in a post season practice the other day that this unit ranks among the best in the country.

While that statement is completely hyperbolic, it attests to the amount of swagger that the team has picked up so far. A swagger that was completely lacking last season.

The secondary, as well, has looked eager to get back to their best. They have made quite a few of breakups and interceptions.

However, they also get picked apart on some of the bigger pass plays, so it's still a give and take in that respect.

The one troubling unit is the defensive line, with only Daniel Te'o-nesheim really ever being singled out for praise in each practice.

The rest of the line seems a bit anonymous so far. Coach Sarkisian even stated in his newest post practice interview that if it was game time tomorrow that true-freshman linemen Semisi Tokolahi, Andru Pulu, and Talia Crichton would play.

I'm thrilled that Sarkisian is seeing such good things out of those guys, but it does not inspire confidence that the line is performing to it's potential.

Also, notice the disaster that was last season to show the dangers of playing so many true freshmen during a season.

It would seem that the defense as a whole, though, is poised to take a step up over the last couple years.

It remains to be seen how much that will affect the wins and losses column.

Husky Trails: James Johnson The Name On The UW Huskies' Tongues

Ian Peterson — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:57:18 -0400

A quick canvas of stories about fall camp will bring up one name for all of them, true freshman wideout James Johnson.

A quick receiver from San Diego who rated as a three star recruit by Rivals, has really caught the attention of the coaches, as well as, the fans and media.

He was recruited by most of the Pac-10 schools and also by San Diego State and Utah, and Sarkisian praised the staff's ability to hold onto him and bring him to Seattle.

He was praised during signing day as probably one of the most marquee players out of a fairly mediocre class, granted the staff only had so long to put it together.

Sarkisian praised the young man for the speed with which he has caught onto the system and tried to make an impact.

Wide receivers coach Jimmie Dougherty claims he is unafraid of the challenge or the spotlight, and that "when the bullets were flying today, he really stepped up."

So far he has shown good bursts of speed and incredibly solid hands. He has shown a propensity for catching passes in the end zone.

Yesterday was the first day that I was able to get out to practice, and to be honest the defense had the offenses number all day long.

Locker threw several interceptions and the defense broke up a lot of passes either through some decent coverage or some hard hits.

However, the highlight of the day was Locker thrown up a little jump ball in the corner of the end zone and Johnson coming down with it one-handed in the end zone.

It brought everyone in the stadium to their feet.

Johnson finished the practice with a good amount of catches and three touchdowns on the day. It's hard to see him as merely a true freshman.

Sarkisian, in a post- practice interview, said that the evaluation period is long but "if we were playing a game Saturday, he would play, that's for sure."

Obviously guys like D'Andre Goodwin and Jermaine Kearse are being groomed as the starters, but Johnson is making a very strong case to challenge for that role as well.

Let's not forget as well that he is only in his first year, so there is plenty of time for him to develop.

It gets hard to say when so much needs work, but it will be a great development for the offense if the receiving corps takes that step up.

Husky Trails: A Clean Start For The UW Huskies

Ian Peterson — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:07:13 -0400

Coming off a season in which the Washington Huskies went 0-12, it is interesting to see in season previews how the past comes back to haunt the Huskies.

In truth, there is more different with this team than there is the same. The players are still the same, but so much has changed.

It's nothing to surprising, considering that there is an whole new face to the program. None of the coaches from the previous regime were kept, even long time coaches like Randy Hart weren't safe.

Coach Steve Sarkisian has replaced that dour silence of Tyrone Willingham with the youthful enthusiasm of a brand new staff.

The effects are starting to show.

For one, there is a huge emphasis being placed on strength and conditioning, with coach Ivan Lewis being credited with creating a leaner and meaner team as a whole.

Bob Condotta actually has an excellent breakdown on the shape that a lot of the kids are in here.

For a second thing, Jake Locker is back, healthy, and looking extremely comfortable learning the pro-style offense.

Sarkisian said in a radio interview several days ago that there is going to be a lot of give and take between the system he wants to run and the talents of Locker as a runner.

It would seem that Sarkisian understands that while he has a system that he likes, the sheer physical tools that Locker possess give a special kind of advantage. ...Assuming of course they are used correctly.

The thing that bodes well is that the offense coaches seem to understand the game to an acute detail.

Coach Doug Nussmeier, the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, is a proven groomer of quarterbacks and shows the direction Sarkisian wants to go with the offense.

Proven quarterback play will be the key to the offense, and it is up to Locker to fulfill that duty. Luckily, he has shown the acumen and the drive to be a force on the football field.

It's up to the supporting cast to help him out now.

Since fall camp is just starting, it will be interesting to see how the lot of this shakes itself out.

News and Notes

Marques Tuiasasopo, the Husky legend himself, has been helping out during fall camp as an assistant strength coach while trying to sort out his NFL future.

I'll try to have more on this as I learn more, as this is great news to have some of the greats coming back to help with practices.

Desmond Trufant, freshman cornerback and brother of Seattle Seahawk Marcus Trufant, had one of the classes he took in high school rejected by the NCAA clearinghouse and will not be able to suit up for the team in practice yet.

Husky Trails: Will the Washington Huskies Defense Have That Fire Back?

Ian Peterson — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:18:16 -0400

If you are a follower of the Washington Huskies and you don't frequent Coach Steve Sarkisian's blog/Website, it would benefit you to jump aboard now.

It's a great source for the behind the scenes information on the Purple and Gold.

This story caught my attention; it shows the cover of the Huskies' new defensive playbook.

The cover more or less speaks for itself on the direction of the new Husky defense under defensive coordinator Nick Holt.

The picture shows snarling Huskies, each with speech bubbles, "Say Who?!" and "Say What?!"

The words are part of a popular player chant, which, according to Seattle Times blogger Bob Condotta, has been forbidden the last couple years.

The story brings up the obvious question of whether fire can be breathed back into a unit that has been completely lifeless the last couple years.

The addition of Nick Holt was an excellent step in the right direction. Watching him in the last set of spring practices was a treat. I was getting pumped up just watching, imagine how it was for the players.

While Holt was the most high profile addition to the staff, some of the other coaches are real high energy and fiery. Defensive line coach Johnny Nansen is one of the loudest guys on the field behind Sarkisian and Holt.

The tradition at a place like Washington has been for good defenses with a lot of fire. It would be a great thing for the fans to get back to that.

In his opening press conference, Sarkisian explicitly stated that's on of the things he wanted to bring back to Husky Stadium.

Steve Emtman, the defensive stalwart of the 1991 National Championship team, stated in an interview that what the current direction of the defense is back to the old ways.

He also said in the interview that his defensive line coach, Randy Hart, now of Notre Dame, coached them to play like animals.

Seeing the new defensive playbook, it's safe to assume that that mentality is back for the Huskies defense.

Let's hope it pays immediate dividends.

News and Notes

Safety Johri Fogerson has moved back to running back, the position he started his college career at. This is to add depth to the position, something I had questioned in my last article, but also throws the safety depth chart a bit out of whack.

This would mean Greg Walker has the lead for the free safety spot to couple with Nate Williams at strong safety. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see Fogerson back at safety if that unit continues to struggle.

Husky Trails: Positions That Need Work in Fall Practice for UW

Ian Peterson — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:54:55 -0400

If you are getting excited these days and you don't know why, do not adjust yourself, it's just the college football season looming large in front of us.

If you are a UW Huskies fan, you have even more to be excited about—there is a new era happening on Montlake.

With fall practices coming up next week, August 10 to be exact, what are the positions that need the most work before the first game against LSU?

Here's the list according to this humble columnist.

Cornerback

I can't stress enough how difficult the job Nick Holt is going to have coaching up this defense to the levels he had at USC. There's promise, but not as much on a nationally-recognized level.

The problem with the cornerback slot is that while sophomore Quinton Richardson has one of the slots locked down, the other has four players listed at starter.

Justin Glenn and Anthony Gobern, two names considered for the other job, are both young and untested. However, the staff must like what they see since they are named in that starter stable.

It may be that the experienced guys on the list, Matt Mosely and Vonzell McDowell Jr., are just playing badly.

It wouldn't be a surprise, since the unit has been so bad over the last couple of years. It will be a huge benefit to have guys with experience at the position.

The next couple of years are going to be interesting, considering that no matter how the secondary plays over the next year, almost all of the guys are coming back next season.

That continuity is going to pay dividends, if not this year, then next year.

In the meantime, this set of practices is going to be essential for figuring out the pecking order at that other cornerback slot. If Holt can't figure it out by September 5, then it could be a long evening for Husky fans.

Running Back

The running back position was extremely erratic last season, and all signs point to it being the same this year if Chris Polk can't lay a stranglehold on the spot.

If he can, great, that is one less worry for the team. If he can't, the depth behind him is sparse because of injuries and academic losses.

Willie Griffin was the second leading rusher last season, and is the current leading rusher following Terence Dailey's exit from the program for academic reasons.

Since he has the gametime experience, it's no surprise he is the co-starter with Polk, who has the raw talent.

Curtis Shaw, the backup, is good, but he also missed all of last season for personal reasons, and the year before that the Willingham staff had him switching between running back and receiver all season.

Demetrius Bronson is a name that keeps coming up from the staff, but keep in mind he is a freshman and could potentially have the same stage fright as Polk did last season.

There are no running backs coming into the program from last season's recruiting class; Steve Sarkisian chose to focus on it for this recruiting class.

Let's hope, as fans, that doesn't come back to bite him.

Center

Through spring, the staff couldn't decide between old hand Ryan Tolar—who is a converted guard—or redshirt freshman Mykenna Ikehara.

With the right side of the line composed of Drew Schaefer and Senio Kelemete—who have yet to play a competitive game of football on the offensive line—getting the center position down is key.

In the end, it will most likely go to Tolar, who has bounced around the line most of his time here. The rationale will be, I assume, that he is the most talented and thus the most likely to fill the gaps in need.

The left side of the line is solid with tackle Cody Habben and guard Ben Ossai coming back. Ossai will most likely nail that spot down, despite reports to the contrary.

The only way that Ossai won't play is if Ikehara lays claim to the center spot and the staff likes Tolar better at the guard spot. Otherwise, there is no reason to keep him off the field.

News and Notes

Quarterback Jake Locker was named to the Davey O'Brien award watchlist today.

Chris Izbicki Is the Next UW Tight End Star

Ian Peterson — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:07:04 -0400

Let's remember that the Huskies used to be one of the great tight end factories in the country, sending many to the NFL. Unsurprisingly this has dropped off considerably in recent years.

It's hard for some people to really recognize that Chris Izbicki could be the next star, since he hasn't really ever seen the field, and many consider Kavario Middleton the star in waiting.

Izbicki, the star recruit out of the 2007 class, is going to have a monster year in 2009.

At times, I loathe to make such definitive statements with so many variables coming off a winless season, but this is something I'm convinced of.

Initially, Izbicki struggled under the old regime, and with off the field legal problems hampering his relationship with Willingham.

However, enter the new staff and the clean slate they brought and it has been a renaissance for the Kirkland, WA product.

During spring, Izbicki's name was constantly on the tongue of the coaching staff, much to the surprise of many. Kavario Middleton is still considered one of the top potential talents on the team, following only maybe Jake Locker.

Izbicki put his nose to the grindstone and churned out enough effort to get named the starter at tight end following the spring game.

He has shown a really good presence on the field, with soft hands and a big frame to help with blocking.

What leads me to predict he will have a big year is coach Steve Sarkisian's preference for the tight end position. A lot of times Izbicki and Middleton will be on the field together, and will also get a lot of balls thrown their way.

Naturally, being on a team that was winless last year and probably won't win a ton of games this year means he probably won't be in contention for national awards. Relatively speaking though, Izbicki is sure to be one of the big names for the Huskies this season.

And frankly, I've said it once and I'll say it again: I can't wait for the season to start.

Find this article and more at Husky Trails.