Washington Huskies Football: 9 Items on the Summer 'To-Do' List
The Washington Huskies had success last year, ending their season with a Holiday Bowl victory over an impressive Nebraska Cornhuskers team. The Huskies, however, had to win their last three games of the season just to secure a spot in a bowl game.
If they want similar success this year, they can't stumble out of the gate again. Here are nine things the players and coaching staff should be working on if they want to be ready for Week 1.
9. Name a Punter
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Punter Will Mahan was the starter for 2009 and the beginning of 2010 before he tore his ACL.
Kiel Rasp replaced him and went on to set a school record for average yards per punt. The job appears to be Rasp's at the moment, but this might just be the closest position battle going into the summer.
The Huskies will be comfortable at punter with either option, and it's clearly not the most important thing going on this summer, but it is still an interesting battle to keep your eye on.
8. Find Consistent Kick Returners
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The kick return game has been anything but dynamic the last couple of years for the Huskies. They certainly have the weapons this year to turn that around, however.
The only question is, who will take over those duties?
Jesse Callier and Devin Aguilar both have some experience. Sophomores Kevin Smith and Sean Parker also have the talent to return kicks. And don't forget about incoming freshman Kasen Williams. All of those guys could do damage on special teams, and hopefully things will become a little more clear this summer.
7. Establish an Offensive Identity
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The Huskies will be implementing a new starter at quarterback this year, and he will need running back Chris Polk to relieve some of the pressure.
Washington oftentimes had trouble establishing a consistent game plan last year. They need to figure out who they are on offense and how much they will rely on Polk, and then they need to stick with it throughout the year.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
6. Find a Consistent 3rd Receiver
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Seniors Jermaine Kearse and Devin Aguilar are the clear top two options at receiver, but if they are going to have real success in the passing game, they will need a legitimate threat coming out of the slot.
James Johnson looked like a future No. 1 two years ago but only recorded one catch last year.
Senior Cody Bruns could be a nice veteran option, but he doesn't quite display as much natural talent as some of the other guys.
Sophomore Kevin Smith and redshirt freshman DiAndre Campbell both had good springs according to Husky blogger Bob Condotta.
The true sleeper is ultra-athletic freshman Kasen Williams. You have to figure he'll be on the field as a starter sooner rather than later, but he is listed in Kearse's spot. So the question will be where he fits in.
No matter who steps up as a third receiving threat this season, it would be nice if they established themselves early this summer.
5. Find a Way to Get Kasen Williams on the Field
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Even if Williams doesn't establish himself as the consistent third receiver, Washington needs to think of creative ways to get him on the field.
This kid is seriously gifted. All he did this year was win state in the high jump, the long jump and set a state record in the triple jump on his way to being nominated for National Athlete of the Year.
Use him for screen passes. Use him for reverses. Use him for kick returns. It doesn't really matter how, just play with the options this summer and be ready to take advantage of his talents come game time.
Picture from seattletimes.com
4. Find Some Talent at Linebacker
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The UW's linebacking corps was seriously talented last year behind Cort Dennison, Mason Foster and Victor Aiyewa. Foster and Aiyewa graduated, however, and now it's just Dennison and a bunch of other guys.
Linebacker—besides Dennison's spot—is probably the position that is most up for grabs.
According to Condotta, the picture is certainly still very murky. Whoever is thrown into the starting lineup will have little to no experience, and it is vital that the coaching staff finds some type of clarity—and soon.
One of the more intriguing options is going to a 5-2 line, which leaves Dennison and only one other true linebacker on the field. The Huskies have a bevy of talent on the defensive line, and this formation might prove a little more effective.
3. Develop Austin Seferian-Jenkins
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The Huskies have seen their share of disappointment at tight end in the last few years. Cough, Kavario Middleton, cough.
In addition to wanting to break recent trends, the Huskies might want a consistent tight end simply because Keith Price will often need some type of safety valve.
Either way, Seferian-Jenkins is the projected starter. He is still a bit raw but has showed some amazing pass-catching ability during the spring game.
Receiving coach Jimmie Dougherty should spend a little extra attention to Seferian-Jenkins this summer.
He and Williams are probably the most important receiving projects—if you can call them that—on the team.
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2. Scout
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With the addition of Utah and Colorado to the Pac-12, the UW will need to be even more prepared coming into the season. The Huskies don't get either of these teams until early October, but they will have to do their homework this summer, nonetheless.
The Huskies also have Hawaii and Nebraska for their second and third games, and while the coaching staff is probably getting pretty familiar with Nebraska, Hawaii could very well be a trap game. Sarkisian and company will have to be ready.
1. Exude Confidence in Keith Price
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There was tons of speculation over whether Keith Price or Nick Montana would gain the starting quarterback duties, and now that Price has won the job, there has to be lots of pressure.
The battle is far from over, and Price's position as starter is far from safe. He needs to have success early and often if he wants to feel safe, and that is a lot to ask from a college sophomore.
Not that they haven't done this already, but Sarkisian and the rest of the coaching staff need to continue to display confidence in the young man. They need to keep the pressure off him. If they do that, chances are a lot better that he'll come out guns blazin'.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
