Nov 10, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Keith Price (17) and head coach Steve Sarkisian during the 2nd half against the Utah Utes at CenturyLink Field. Washington defeated Utah 34-15. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Editor’s note: With the spring game tomorrow, you can catch up with the rest of Paul’s countdown series here – No. 5: The Young Guns; No. 4: Wide Receivers No. 3: Shaq Thompson; No. 2: Offensive Line

Keith Price

Talk about a boomerang effect. Two years ago, we were wondering what we had at the quarterback position now that Jake Locker had moved on to the NFL. Would it be Keith Price taking over, or would Nick Montana live up to the hype? KP17 quickly put an end to the debate during the spring, emerging as the clear-cut starter ahead of Montana.

In 2011, Price turned in one of the most efficient seasons in UW history. He threw for 3063 yards, 33 touchdowns and completed 67 percent of his passes. His Alamo Bowl performance against Baylor and RGIII bordered on insanity – he accounted for seven (!) scores and if not for a porous defense, would have singlehandedly led UW to a second consecutive bowl victory over a nationally ranked Big XII team.

Going in to the 2012 season, Price was getting dark horse Heisman mentions. He had two NFL caliber weapons to throw to in Kasen Williams and Austin Seferian-Jenkins and according to his coaching staff he was bigger and stronger than he had been at any point in 2011.

Naturally, Price regressed. His inconsistent play was baffling for Husky fans. Where was the sound decision making he showed in 2012? Why was he holding on to the ball so long? All of the frustration and aggravation was compounded in the Apple Cup when Price, up 18 against WSU in the second half, couldn’t sustain a drive or momentum and allowed WSU to come back and force overtime. In overtime, Price cost the Huskies a chance at points by throwing, perhaps, the most inexcusable interception of his career. That ended the game and gave the Cougars the Apple Cup win.

I still get nauseous thinking about that game. The beautiful thing is that that was last year. It’s over.

Price is now a redshirt senior, entering his fifth year in the program and once again finds himself at a crossroads. Fans, media and coaches alike are asking the same questions of Price that they were in the spring of 2011. Who is Keith Price? Which version of him will show up? We know he can play; we’ve seen him pick apart top ranked teams with surgeon like precision. But we’ve also seen him look lost under center.

There are no excuses for Price this year. He has a 1,400-yard rusher returning in Bishop Sankey. He has an offensive line that has seven different players with starting experience and (in theory, at least) should be very solid. He has a stable of wide receivers with all the talent in the world. Pending the resolution of ASJ’s legal woes, Price will have a tight end to throw to who will be a top-10 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. There is no reason for him not to return to his 2011 form.

If he struggles, there are three young quarterbacks that could all step in and make KP17 an afterthought. If his own competitive nature and desire to improve doesn’t motivate him, then maybe some healthy competition will.

I am dying for Price to have a great year; watching him play in 2011 was a joy, and he is the type of guy that players and fans naturally rally around. If he can’t get it together, I feel like Coach Sark will be quick with the hook, and get one of those young kids onto the field.

Whatever happens – I can’t wait. I am fired up for Husky football. See you all on Saturday. Go Dawgs, and bow down.

For the first time since 2003, there is an absurd amount of talent and depth at the quarterback position. If you recall, the 2003 Huskies had a senior QB in Cody Pickett, who had a record setting season in 2002 under center, but behind him stood two nationally renowned recruits in Isaiah Stanback and Casey Paus.

When Pickett began to struggle that year, the Husky faithful began to clamor for Paus and with good reason. Casey Paus was a consensus five star recruit from Michigan who was all set to continue the lineage of great UW quarterbacks over the past twelve years (Brunell, Hobert, Huard, Huard, Tuiasosopo and Pickett). Unfortunately, we all know how the Casey Paus saga actually turned out (ahem, 1-10 in 2004), but I digress.

The point is that there was an embarrassment of riches at the QB position in 2003, but that dried up very quickly. From Pickett, it went to Paus, then to the triumvirate of Stanback, Carl Bonnell and Johnny DuRocher, and then to Jake Locker. There was talent there, but not depth. Locker’s backup for three years two years was Ronnie Fouch. Yikes.

Fast forward to 2013. The incumbent Keith Price (who I will get to later this week) is a two-year starter who is now entering his fifth year in the program. He had a record setting 2011 campaign and took steps backward in 2012. While he struggled in 2012, the only legitimate backup for him was Derrick Brown, so there was not much an option to make a change. That won’t be the case in 2013.

Jan. 3, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; West quarterback (5) Jeff Lindquist throws a pass in the first half against the East during the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl high school football game at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Now there are three highly rated quarterbacks behind Price. Jeff Lindquist, Cyler Miles and Troy Williams represent a stable of young gun slingers that will most certainly put pressure on Price to regain his 2011 form. Lindquist and Miles both redshirted last year, while Williams enrolled in school for winter quarter so that he’d be eligible for spring football.

All three have different skill sets and all three could emerge as Price’s backup when the season starts. Lindquist is the local kid with a rocket arm. He was a Semper Fi All-American and turned down Stanford to stay at home.

Miles actually travelled with the team in 2013 – he was an Army All American and won a state title. He is the quintessential Sarkisian QB – smart decisions, quick release and athletic enough to move around the pocket and extend plays.

Williams adds another level of intrigue here – ideally, it would make sense to redshirt a true freshman when you have such depth at a position, but what if that kid is so good that you simply have to get him on the field? Williams is a dual threat who has won at every level and turned down offers from Auburn, Florida, Wisconsin and a host of others to come to Montlake.

I realize that the chances are good that at least one of these guys will go the way of Casey Paus and fizzle, but Sarkisian has a history of grooming great QBs. There is so much raw ability in those three young men and, to this point, the casual Husky fan has not been able to see them up close.

Is Lindquist as fast as they say, even though he’s 6’3” and 230 pounds? Is Cyler Miles that much of a calming presence in the huddle? Is Troy Williams really good enough to compete right now for a job? We’ll get a look at all three of them for the first time this Saturday.

Josh Perkins and Willis Wilson were on the Husky Football roster. Then they weren’t. Now they’re back on it. Many figured that when they were initially dismissed that it may have just been a big time college program doing what big time college programs have to do to reach the upper echelon of competitiveness in terms of player turnover. With a big recruiting class coming in and not a lot of seniors on the roster, players are going to have to move on in one way or another.

Perkins and Wilson didn’t really make sense in that respect though. For one, Wilson isn’t occupying a scholarship as a walk-on, so dismissing him wouldn’t have helped the team from a numbers standpoint. He’s also getting reps in practice due to the injury to Deontae Cooper and the lack of depth at the RB position, so he’s a player who definitely has value for this team.

Perkins, also, is a player who has value in that he’s transitioning from WR to more of a hybrid WR/TE player. He may not get a ton of playing time this season, but down the road the Huskies may run into a problem at the TE position with all 3 true TE’s being sophomores (and, as of yet, 0 TE commits in the 2013 class). Perkins may be relied upon to bridge that gap.

That the players were reinstated and the matter is being dealt with “internally” suggests perhaps a few things. One, this might have been a warning shot from coach Steve Sarkisian about behavior that will not be tolerated. Whatever happened clearly was not something that the coaching staff would ever like to see, and maybe the plan all along was to give Wilson and Perkins a bit of a scare, while at the same time sending a message to the other players on the roster. Or perhaps the leaders of the team, guys like Drew Schaefer, Keith Price and Desmond Trufant, met with the coaches and came to an agreement on bringing them back. This scenario would suggest a healthy amount of trust in the older players, and a good relationship between the leaders and the coaches: both very good things.

Whatever the reason, don’t be too happy for Perkins and Wilson: having things “taken care of internally” means that those two guys probably had one of the most grueling workouts of their lives pretty recently. And maybe that’s not a bad thing.

via Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

Yesterday, John Breech of CBSSports.com wrote a post about 3 Washington players who need to shine.  And, he kind of duffed it. The premise is simple: one offensive, defensive and special teams player who need to have big seasons for the Huskies to have a big season. So of course for offense and defense, Breech chooses two captains, two players who went to Pac-12 Media Day with Steve Sarkisian, two upperclassmen on everybody’s radar: Keith Price and Desmond Trufant.

Now, I don’t disagree with either choice but it just seems really lazy to pick those two guys. A quarterback needing to have a good season for his team to be successful? Not exactly breaking new ground there. As for Desmond Trufant, he’s been anywhere from serviceable to really good over the past three seasons, and the defense hasn’t mirrored his play.

So without further ado, here are my 3 Washington players who need to shine.

Offense: LT Micah Hatchie

Assuming Hatchie wins the starting left tackle job as is expected, he may well be the key to making the offense go. It’s pretty much a given that Keith Price is going to have a good season considering what he did last season, Sark’s history with quarterbacks, and what Price did in his healthiest appearance against Baylor. And that’s one of the biggest keys to Price’s season: keeping him at his healthiest so that he isn’t limited. That’s not happening without solid play at the tackle postions, especially on the blind side.

The other thing that Hatchie will have to do to to make the offense hum is to open holes in the running game. With the talent Washington has at running back, the real question mark is whether or not there will be holes available for Jesse Callier and Bishop Sankey to run through. Hatchie being dependable in run blocking will keep the ball moving forward, and prevent defenses from focusing on defending the pass.

Defense: DE Hau’oli Jamora

The Huskies defenses the last couple of years have had good players in the secondary (Sean Parker, Desmond Trufant), at linebacker (Mason Foster) and defensive tackle (Alameda Ta’amu), and the results have been pretty underwhelming. The position that hasn’t had a standout player manning it in that span has been defensive end. Washington hasn’t had a (healthy) standout defensive end who can do it all since Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, and Jamora could end up being much better than UW’s all time sacks leader.

Breech props up Trufant because of the prolific passing offenses in the Pac-12, but I’d go the other way and say that the best way to defeat those passing attacks is with a sound pass rush. With Jamora on one side and Josh Shirley coming from the other, opposing quarterbacks will not have the luxury they’ve had in recent years of dropping back and waiting until their receivers pop open. If the defense can force passing situations, they should be able to get off the field more often than than in the past.

Special Teams: PK Travis Coons

Alright, I’ll give you that one, Breech.

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When highly touted recruits enter a program, the natural inclination often is to overlook the current players on the roster. When the Huskies signed Nick Montana, most assumed he was the heir apparent to Jake Locker. When Locker was briefly injured against USC, Keith Price came in for a play and threw a touchdown pass. All according to plan. Wouldn’t want to burn Montana’s redshirt season for one play, right?

Then the competition for the job the following offseason came and went, and the depth chart stayed as it was: Keith Price ahead of Nick Montana. Montana watched from the sidelines as Price broke UW passing records, and when Montana got his chances he did not look good. And here the program is, returning one of the top QB’s in the country, while his former backup is no longer with the team.

This season, the backup quarterback position is undergoing a similar battle. Derrick Brown has a year in the program, and two hotshot young QB’s have come in behind him — Jeff Lindquist and Cyler Miles — and the assumption is that it’s just a matter of time until the incoming freshmen overtake him. Likewise, at RB there is a battle to replace Chris Polk between Jesse Callier and Bishop Sankey, and though Callier has been around longer and we’ve seen more from him, many expect that the job will ultimately be Sankey’s.

It’s no certainty that the older players will beat out the younger players any more than the younger players will win the jobs, but it’s folly to assume one or the other. Whoever wins these jobs will do so based on talent and skill, not how many stars the recruiting services gave them, and definitely not based on age. Yes, it’s definitely more intriguing to have a young player atop the depth chart, knowing that he’s coming back for another season or two and the position is secure for the foreseeable future, but it’s more intriguing to have the best players playing or ready to play.

The beauty of this is that there are these kinds of legitimate battles happening all over the field. That’s something that hasn’t been the case in quite a while, and is a testament to Steve Sarkisian and the job his staff has done in recruiting. Just remember that guys like Derrick Brown were given a scholarship because the coaches thought he could play. He’s not going to roll over and let the younger players overtake him without a fight. Either way though, it sure seems like the program is in good hands.

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The Pac-12 has some really talented quarterbacks at the top, some average ones in the middle, and then there are the situations where I could run quarterback and there would still be success. That’s saying something.

12. UCLA- Brett Hundley, Kevin Prince, Richard Brehaut

Truth be told, it doesn’t really matter which of the three win the job. None of them are that great, and that is why they are in this mess of a three way quarterback battle. It is rare to find a team that has three exceptional quarterbacks and they have to “pick” one. Usually, when there is a clear winner, he reveals himself pretty quick. This is not the case. By the end of the season, we may have even seen all three of these quarterbacks start at one time or another.

California Golden Bears quarterback Zach Maynard (US PRESSWIRE)

11. Arizona State- Mike Bercovici or Michael Eubank

Eubank is the more physically gifted of the two but Bercovici may be the most ready. I think in the end Eubank wins this battle and reminds people of a faster Osweiler. He is big, strong, and likes to move around. But he is not nearly elite, yet.

10. California- Zach Maynard

Maynard is so inconsistent, Cal fans can’t be mad at me for having him so low. He will hit a receiver on a dime once, then the next throw is in the ground or sailing over the head of his target. He has the ability to be talented and his receivers, especially Keenan Allen, are special. They will make him look better than he actually is.

9. Colorado- Jordan Webb or Connor Wood

Webb is a transfer from Kansas with experience under his belt and Wood is from Texas. In the end, it will probably be Webb because he only has two years left and already has experience. Webb isn’t going to “wow” anyone but he can hold his own in the Buffalo offense.

8. Oregon State- Sean Mannion

By now, we all know Mannion. He is an average quarterback on a team that seems to consistently under-achieve or over-achieve depending on who you are. This year Mannion should be slightly better but don’t look for him to be elite in the Pac-12.

7. Stanford- Brett Nottingham

Nottingham is my guess right now and looks to be the favorite to replace Andrew Luck. The offensive system will center around the running game but Nottingham has good ability to manage the game. There isn’t a lot to pull from, but reports are that he will be a pretty good QB for the Cardinal.

6. Oregon- Bryan Bennett or Marcus Mariota

This is a system. It won’t matter which one wins the job and in the future, Chip Kelly may figure out how to have his worst player do it so he can save his athletes for other positions. They are ranked high because it is a system that works. They score lots of points, but it is more about the play calling and knowing how to run the system more than actually being an elite quarterback.

5. Arizona- Matt Scott

Rich Rodriquez is excited to have Scott on his newly inherited team as Scott fits into the spread offense. He was red-shirted last year for his senior year and now he comes in ready to start in his fifth year. Scott ran the spread offense in High School where he quickly became one of the better “athlete” recruits. He should be able to put up big numbers for the Wildcats.

Washington State Cougars quarterback Jeff Tuel (10). Mandatory Credit: James Snook-US PRESSWIRE

4. Washington State- Jeff Tuel

The Cougars have had a trio of quarterbacks make their mark over at WSU. There have been surprises come out of Pullman and out of that depth chart. Tuel is still the best on the team, and if he can stay healthy should put up huge amounts of numbers in the Mike Leach offense.

3. Utah- Jordan Wynn

Wynn should have a good year. Last year, he was in the conversation as one of the best quarterbacks in the Pac-12 but a shoulder injury pushed him to the sidelines. This year he is once again poised and ready to be one of the better quarterbacks in this conference. His shoulder seems to be completely healed and according to reports out of Utah, he has a lot of confidence to have a big year.

2. Washington- Keith Price

Price already has his name in the Heisman race because of his breakout year last season. If he continues to put up numbers and shine like he did in 2011-2012, then he will cement his name in that race.

1. USC- Matt Barkley

If you are reading this post and don’t know his name already, I am surprised you made it this far. He is elite. He could find himself as the Heisman winner, top pick in the NFL draft, and even holding the National Championship trophy. This is a big, big, season for Barkley.

Would you pick Marcus Lattimore? Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-US PRESSWIRE

The Penn State situation, where any player can freely transfer to another university with no repercussions, can play immediately, and can be recruited by another coach, leads rise to the question: If you could have only one free transfer, from any school, who would you want?

It got me thinking about who I would pick for the Huskies? That led me to a few different things to consider; do I simply pick a player off the Heisman list, the player most likely to go first in the NFL draft, a player that would help a weaker unit, or an impact player that can make plays all over the offensive side of the ball?

Heisman Hopefuls

The 2012 Heisman hopeful list put out by the Heismanpundit.com has 18 players on it.

Tavon Austin, Sr., AP, West Virginia

Montee Ball, Sr., RB, Wisconsin

Matt Barkley, Sr., QB, USC

Tajh Boyd, Jr., QB, Clemson

Tyler Bray, Jr., QB, Tennessee

Knile Davis, Jr., RB, Arkansas

James Franklin, Jr., QB, Missouri

Landry Jones, Sr., QB, Oklahoma

Collin Klein, Sr., QB, Kansas State

Marcus Lattimore, Jr., RB, South Carolina

Aaron Murray, Jr., QB, Georgia

Keith Price, Jr., QB, Washington

Denard Robinson, Sr., QB, Michigan

Geno Smith, Sr., QB, West Virginia

De’Anthony Thomas, So., RB, Oregon

Sammy Watkins, So, WR, Clemson

Tyler Wilson, Sr., QB, Arkansas

Cierre Wood, Sr., RB, Notre Dame

First off, it is great to see Price on that list and thus you may as well eliminate any QB as the free transfer. Then there is guys like Montee Ball or Marcus Lattimore, who would be a huge boost for the Huskies, but if you only get to pick one would you pick a running-back? Same goes for a wide-receiver.

First Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft

Let’s be real, this is probably Matt Barkley or Tyler Bray. The quarterback position is simply too valuable in the NFL and unless a beast emerges on either the defensive or offensive line, it will almost always go to a QB.

Thus, we arrive at the same dilemma; it would be foolish to waste that free transfer on a QB with Price being certainly capable of running the show. However, maybe you feel differently, you can vote at the bottom.

Husky Biggest Need

The Huskies have a few needs that could be addressed, for example, depth on the line. Therefore, do you grab a guy like Chris Faulk a big offensive tackle from LSU who is regarded as one of the best at his position? OR do you consider the bigger need not a unit that needs depth but talent like at the corner-back position.

The best corner-back in the game is generally regarded as David Amerson from North Carolina State. However, getting a guy like Tyrann Mathieu is better when it comes to a player that can make plays on both sides of the ball. Do you grab one of those guys? That would make it so Desmond Trufant would move to guarding the second best wide-receivers on most teams, freeing up some of that responsibility.

Impact Player

There are a few impact players that already reside on the Husky offensive like Kasen Williams and Austin Seferian-Jenkins. But can you really have too many impact players?

Mathieu who we listed above is one of those, Robert Woods and Keenan Allen are a couple more that many consider as high impact guys especially on the offensive side of the ball.

My Selection

That gives a pretty solid list of players to pick from, but I think if all is said and done I would pick someone that would change the course of games on the defensive side of the ball and in kick returns; Tyrann Mathieu.

Your Vote

July 24, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Steve Sarkisian (left), quarterback Keith Price (center), and corner back Michael Clay talk to the media during PAC-12 Media Day at Universal Studios Hollywood. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

The Pac-12 Media Day was yesterday and a lot of great things came out of it from many of the coaches. Each coach had their own nuggets that they dropped and many interesting topics, questions, concerns, and ideas were expressed yesterday by both coaches, players, and the media.

Here are five things that we learned (or re-learned) about UW at Pac-12 Media Day:

1. UW Projects to Only Start Four Seniors

This is a staggering number when you think about it. The majority of teams not only in the conference but in the nation are hoping to have primarily a junior and senior starting base. The Huskies are pushing for a sophomore and junior starting team.

2. The Defense is A Lot Better

Coach Steve Sarkisian states that the defense has had a “great spring and has been giving our offense fits”. He is impressed with the progression of the defense and what Justin Wilcox, Tosh Lupoi, Peter Sirmon, and Keith Heyward have already done to improve that.

The idea that the defense was giving the “offense fits” is either an alarming statement in the negative way for the offense. Or it shows how far a new scheme and coaching staff has helped improve the level of play on the defensive side of the ball. I believe it is the latter.

Coach Sark also takes the time to ask Desmond Trufant a question (because he hadn’t had one yet) about the defense, Trufant’s response is this:

The defense is looking good. Spring ball went great, obviously in the beginning we had to learn it so there was some mistakes but once we stopped thinking we were playing and competing.

3. Tosh Lupoi wasn’t hired to poach Cal’s recruits.

Coach Sark spoke to the fact that many said that Coach Lupoi was hired simply to steal big name Cal recruits like Shaq Thompson. Sark said that was not the case and they hired Lupoi for his ability to recruit and coach in the long-term. They wouldn’t hire someone just for the short term it is for the long-term too.

4. Keith Price Said He Is Improving

Price talks about how he is still learning to get better in the game. He speaks to the fact that last season was only his first year as the quarterback. He wants to continue to improve. He specifically talks about recognizing defenses, changing protections, and helping the team into manageable situations/plays.

5. Coach Sark Talks About ‘Hybrid Defense’

Hau’oli Jamora, Andrew Hudson, and Josh Shirley is impressive depth at the defensive end position. Coach Sark told the media that the plan is to use them all in different schemes. The team won’t be exactly type-cast into one type of a defense. He says, “That’s kudos to Justin Wilcox, putting the guys in the best position to be successful when he’s on the field, and like I said, I thought our defense had a tremendous spring, and hopefully, that’s a sign of things to come.”

Jan. 3, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; West quarterback (5) Jeff Lindquist against the East during the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl high school football game at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Roy Newton, a Mercer Island High School Spanish teacher and one of the track coaches, knows Jeff Lindquist well.

When asked about Lindquist’s relationship with Mercer Island students and athletes, what Newton described was someone of integrity, intelligence, above-average athletic ability, and with a natural gift for leadership.

“He is so well-liked and respected by the other students,” said Newton.  “He doesn’t just hang with the jocks but spends time with friends from various school classes, and kids with whom he goes to church…in fact they sing songs together.  He’s smart, cerebral, a good student.  He works hard.  He works hard at everything.  And he’s always ready to help someone else, even an underclassman he doesn’t really know.  So he’s a popular kid, gifted in all respects but, from my vantage point, still exercises genuine humility.  He’s the type of kid who makes teaching and coaching enjoyable.”

Lindquist is an incoming, 6’ 3” 230 lb., four-star-rated quarterback who, in the competition with redshirt freshman Derrick Brown and incoming freshman Cyler Miles, has all the tangibles and intangibles to potentially move into the No. 2 spot behind starter Keith Price.  Hopefully that won’t suddenly become a crucially important spot this season…but it could.

When both Miles and Lindquist committed to Washington, recruiting pundits considered it a coup because both could have gone to just about any university they wanted.  So why Washington?  Football aside, weighing academic reputation, campus characteristics, relative location by the lake and the city, etc., obviously Washington is not a bad place to go to college.

gohuskies.com head-shot of Derrick Brown

Considering football directly, the football program is again on the rise with a large, loyal fan base and a storied history in a dominant conference.  More specifically, the school has a history of great QBs from Don Heinrich to Jake Locker, and a head coach with a reputation 1) as being among the best, young head coaches in the country (the primary reason Washington Defensive Coordinator Justin Wilcox gave for coming to Washington) and 2) for putting QBs into the NFL.

Lindquist wanted to “stay home” and had good reason to.  How will he fare in the three-way competition behind Price?

“He has that intangible characteristic,” said Newton, “that makes other kids want to follow him; he just sticks out as being ‘the man.’  You watch him.  He unites and galvanizes teammates.”

gohuskies.com head-shot of Keith Price

Character aside (never a good idea), how naturally talented is Lindquist?

“People are surprised at how fast he is, considering how big he is,” said Newton.  “He competes in various events wherever he’s needed – the long jump and 4 X 400 meter relay [50.5-seconds relay split], for example.  Interestingly, before a race, he’ll shake everyone’s hand and wish them well – no one else [on any team anywhere] does that.  At the same time, he’s very competitive.  I think he has his teammates’ ‘back’ in that regard; he wants to win because he wants Mercer Island to win.  And I can understand that – winning as an individual is rewarding but winning as a team is ultimately more satisfying.  And the other guys are with him; he’s the leader.”

How fast is Lindquist?

When shown the 2009 Arizona run by Jake Locker, Newton, who does not follow Husky football closely, smilingly exclaimed, “Whoa!  No, [Jeff’s] not that fast!”

Comparisons with Locker have already occurred but, when it comes to foot speed, Locker has a unique gift.  And Cyler Miles is faster than Lindquist.  And bigger.

Lindquist, on the other hand, has depended more on his arm, and has worked repetitively on his velocity, accuracy and timing, while improving his field vision and ability to read defenses.

Cyler Miles Running Track (image courtesy of colorado track xc)

And, of course, Lindquist has been studying Washington schemes and plays.  When fall practice starts, with his maturity and intellectual acumen, he could be a sophomore in freshman’s clothing.  The plan is that Keith Price will play every down, and Jeff Lindquist and Cyler Miles will redshirt.  But if Price, God forbid, is seriously injured, and there are still football games to win, Coach Steve Sarkisian’s philosophy consistently has been that, regardless of year-in-school or past experience, the best players play.  Jeff Lindquist will approach fall practices with the understanding that, if his mind and arm eventually earn the No. 2 position, his services could be needed sooner than hoped for.

“With Jeff, if that happens,” said Newton, “he’ll be ready.”

Nov 26, 2011; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Keith Price (17) throws a pass during the 2nd half against the Washington State Cougars at CenturyLink Field. Washington defeated Washington State 38-21. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

EA Sports has officially released NCAA 13 and video gamers from all over the world have secured a copy. The NCAA games are a fun and relaxing way to unwind from your day but they are also a fun way to look into the simulation “crystal ball”.

In June, the ratings were leaked on youtube and I wrote a piece on what the Huskies were rated. Last season, we used NCAA 12 to break down Nick Montana’s first start. The simulation is something that I am intrigued by and love to look at because it is essentially speculation from a computer. It is the computer’s way of trying to determine what will happen in real-life. It isn’t always right but it also isn’t always wrong.

It crunches the data, adds in the “human factor” the best it can, and comes out with what it thinks will happen.

And we now have our first look into the NCAA 13 simulation this season from Adam Kramer, made notable off of Keggs and Eggs but now writes for Bleacher Report. It is a crazy way to look at the entire season and see what his computer came up with for the results of the 2012-2013 football season.

In his simulation the Heisman winner went to D’Anthony Thomas but the runner-up went to none other than Husky QB, Keith Price. He threw for 2,988 yards had 27 throwing touchdowns, 11 rushing touchdowns on 330 rushing yards, and only had four interceptions.

That’s a pretty good season for Price. In fact, that is an amazing season for Price.

In Pac-12 rankings; Washington (10-4) finished third behind USC (11-2) and Utah (12-2). The bottom of the Pac-12 was Arizona, Oregon State, Washington State, and Colorado. All finishing with a 3-9 record. Oregon (the rival) finished sixth at 9-4.

Washington played in the Rose Bowl against Wisconsin and lost 46-32.

END OF SIMULATION.

Washington Huskies head coach Steve Sarkisian (right) celebrates with quarterback Keith Price (left) after defeating the California Golden Bears at Husky Stadium. Washington defeated California 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

There is no doubt in my mind that  Coach Steve Sarkisian is doing a magnificent job convincing talent to come to Washington. Since 2009 he has changed the culture at UW not just in terms of wins and losses but has helped maximize the talent on the roster and bring in new talent.

There will be some that disagree because in the last two years, talent that LIVES  in Washington has decided to play elsewhere. Players like Zach Banner and Josh Garnett who were not only the top players in the state last year but also among the top players in the country. Both decided to play for other programs.

This year, Coach Sark has lost 5-star QB Max Browne to USC, 4-star OLB Myles Jack to UCLA, and 4-star OLB Danny Mattingly to Notre Dame. Those were the three most talented players in Washington State.

That being said, Coach Sark is bringing in talent by the truck-load from California. He has also been able to steal kids from places like Texas, Oregon, and Hawaii.

Let’s look at his recruiting classes since he came to UW: (all rankings are taken from Scout.com)

2009

• The class was ranked 66th in the country.
• This was the lowest ranking in the Pac-10. UCLA was ranked the highest at 5th.
• The class featured 11 3-star players.
• Top players to come out of this class were Keith Price, Desmond Trufant, and James Johnson.

2010

• The class was ranked 11th in the country.
• 3rd in the Pac-10 behind USC and UCLA.
• It had nine 4-stars (two in the top 100) and 16 3-stars.
• Top players to come out of this class were Sean Parker, Erik Kohler, and Josh Shirley. There are still many in this class that are waiting to be seen if they turn out great or not. Example: Sione Potoa’e.

2011

• The class was ranked 22nd in the country.
• It was 4th in the Pac-12 behind USC, Oregon, and California.
• This classed featured the first two 5-stars in Coach Sark’s tenure. It also had three 4-stars and 15 3-stars.
• Austin Seferian Jenkins and Kasen Williams are the top of this class (they were the two 5-stars). They will be more in the future to really come out of this class but it is too young to really know yet.

2012

• The class was ranked 22nd in the country (again).
• It was 5th in the Pac-12 with Stanford, UCLA, Oregon, and USC ahead of the Huskies.
• The class features one 5-star, three 4-stars, and 15 3-stars.
• This class hasn’t even played a down of college football so there is no telling who the top-performers will be but the top ranked players are Shaquille Thompson, Jeff Lindquist, and Cyler Miles.

2013

• The current recruiting class is ranked 13th in the country (could change by the day, up or down).
• It is currently ranked 2nd in the Pac-12 behind USC.
• The class has currently six 4-stars and eight 3-stars (these are not the final rankings).
• Any of the 4-stars could be mentioned but early returns show that Troy Williams (QB) may be extremely elite.

It was just last night that Coach Sark and company was able to convince the number one linebacker in the country to come visit.

While much of Sark’s recruiting classes still need to be tested. Rankings alone show that now Washington is competing with the best in the nation and the Pac-12 and able to haul in talent. The climate has changed for UW football.

Nick Montana's career as UW starting QB lasted just one game. Mandatory Credit: Jim Z. Rider-US PRESSWIRE

When Keith Price does eventually move on to the NFL, the question in this game of survival at quarterback is who will stay at Montlake for the duration and who will go the way of Ronnie Fouch and Nick Montana? Because only one quarterback can play at a time, there is often a matter of luck involved in whether you will get a chance to play. Will the QB ahead of you get injured? Will the QB ahead of you leave early for the NFL? Will a new coach reopen the QB competition and give you the chance the previous coach didn’t? Do you have other skills that makes you useful to the team?

Let’s examine each of the backup QB’s and address whether some of these factors could improve their chances of getting on the field and/or needing to transfer.

When Derrick Brown committed to UW, many people also heard about his talent as a punter. Some people speculated that maybe he might find his niche there, while being the backup QB to Keith Price. Some fans even fantasized about the idea of having a true QB back there punting who could keep defenses guessing on every punt (especially those near mid-field) that instead there would be a pass for a touchdown or a run for a first down. But, the Huskies have since brought in punter Korey Durkee from Gig Harbor for 2012 and kicker Cameron Van Winkle from Mount Si has committed for 2013 (who is apparently a very good punter as well). Thus, Brown’s opportunities for that spot seem greatly diminished, barring injury.

As I mentioned in Part I of the series, Cyler Miles is a dual-threat quarterback with a tremendous ability to run or throw. These skills could make him useful as a true freshman both on special teams and on offense. If he were on the field at the same time as Keith Price, he could be useful on reverses or out wide as a receiver, who could also throw downfield. He might also be used in the Wildcat formation. Miles might be able to follow in the footsteps of Isaiah Stanback and Eric Bjornsen, who were both recruited as QB’s to UW, but ultimately found jobs in the NFL as a wide receiver and tight end respectively. Often when these athletic dual-threat QB’s are being recruited, they really desire to play QB, even when the coaches see them being more effective at another position instead. Sometimes these athletes narrow their college choices based on which coach promises to keep them at the QB position, while others base their decisions more on the qualities of the program or location rather than the position projections. What Steve Sarkisian will choose to do with Miles is pure speculation at this point. But, if he has as much talent and athleticism as the reports say, he may find his route to the next level is actually at another position instead.

Jeff Lindquist is projected as more of a true pro-style QB. While Sarkisian has shown an ability to be somewhat flexible in working his offense to the skill set of the players he has, he has stated multiple times that what he would prefer from a quarterback is a tradition pro-style QB with an accurate and strong arm. Lindquist’s running ability is more limited than Miles, but he may fit Sarkisian’s offensive schemes better. If he is truly as good as most think he will be, he seems to be the heir apparent to take over the starting role from Keith Price. It seems unlikely, especially if he redshirts in 2012, that Lindquist would lose his chance to start and have to transfer when the time comes.

Who will stand on the sideline with Coach Sarkisian? Mandatory Credit: Jim Z. Rider-US PRESSWIRE

Then there is 2013 recruit Troy Williams. Steve Sarkisian knew that he didn’t have to sign a QB for this class, since he has three freshman already in the fold already. So, he had the option of being more selective in his recruiting. He only targeted some of the top QB’s in the nation. Sarkisian did lose Skyline’s Max Browne to USC (#1 QB in the nation) and Salt Lake City’s Cooper Bateman committed to Alabama after Doug Nussmeier left Montlake for Tuscaloosa. But, both were not huge surprises given the depth UW has at that position and the better opportunities those two have to play immediately at the other two schools.

Steve Sarkisian then decided to just focus his attention on one other QB, that of Narbonne, CA in Troy Williams. Ranked the #14 QB in the nation by Scout, Williams, like Price, is a little small for an NFL level QB being on 6’0″ and 168 lbs. But, Williams has an extremely accurate arm. And, also like Cyler Miles, is a dual-threat, with great mobility. Thus, even if he has to wait a little while to earn his starting role, he could find time on the field in other capacities.

Looking at this potential logjam at the QB position, the Huskies certainly have the good problem of a quantity of riches. But, it seems really unlikely that four QBs all within two years of each other will all be able to fit in and would be willing to wait their turn. Quarterbacks rated 4-star and in the Top 20 in the country are not going to a university to sit on the bench and hold a clipboard. So, while all of them will have the confidence that they can win the competition, not all of them will be able to do so. At some point, one or more of them will want to get their chance to shine and if it is not at UW, it’ll be somewhere.

Those who have the ability to contribute in other ways may be willing to stick it out. With the talent that Cyler Miles and Troy Williams bring, it seems like they will find a role in Sarkisian’s system, even if they are not starting QB’s to begin with. So, when examining who would be most likely to transfer, it comes to talented, but more limited QB’s like Derrick Brown and Jeff Lindquist. If Lindquist does redshirt in 2012, it will certainly limit his transfer options, and Brown has already done so. Often QB’s in this situation transfer to FCS or Division II schools because they do not have to sit out an addition year and can play right away. But, doesn’t it seem unlikely that a player ranked #8 in the country like Lindquist could end up at a Portland State or Central Washington?

Derrick Brown on the other hand was ranked #46 in the nation by Scout and was stated as having some issues with accuracy, despite his good footwork and mobility. To me, he would seem the most likely odd-man out. But, the key to this decision for him and the others is whether Keith Price were to enter the NFL draft after 2012 or return for the 2013 season. If Keith Price entered the NFL draft after this season, then there will be a wide-open free-for-all QB competition between Brown, Lindquist, Miles, and Williams for the starting role in 2013. In that scenario, I could imagine all four of them sticking around trying to win that competition, because players at this level have enough confidence to believe they can. Although, if after spring camp (Troy Williams says he will graduate early so he can be in spring ball next year), one of them ends up far down the depth chart, they may choose to transfer in during the summer.

But, if Price decides to stay for 2013, then the decision by one of them to transfer could come sooner because they would see yet another year sitting on the bench for sure. I hate to see someone leave UW, but the QB position is a very difficult situation when you have too many talented quarterbacks on the roster. But, it certainly is a good problem for Husky fans and coach Steve Sarkisian to have!

Of course, there is one other scenario that is just as plausible as anything else I wrote on here. All five of the quarterbacks on the roster may love Seattle and the University of Washington so much that they are willing to stick it out and be proud of being Huskies no matter what happens with their spot on the depth chart. It’ll certainly be interesting to see how this competition develops…

Washington Huskies quarterback Keith Price (17) passes against the Southern California Trojans. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

In January of this year, Nick Montana transferred out of the University of Washington after one redshirt season and after serving as Keith Price’s backup last year, earning one disastrous start against Oregon State when Price was injured. A recruit with so much promise left so early because he saw a sophomore Keith Price in front of him on the depth chart and realized he might be sitting on the bench for the next two years before only getting his chance to be the starter in his final season of eligibility. Because he had already used up his redshirt season, Montana would have to sit out another year if he transferred to another FBS school. So, Montana decided to transfer to Mount San Antonio College in California, where after playing one season there, he could transfer to a school where he has a chance to earn the starting role for his final two seasons of NCAA eligibility.

So is the life as a college quarterback, where under normal circumstances there is only one player in that position on field at one time and if you are not the starter, you will not play. No other position, other than walk-on kicker or punter, is that situation so particularly true. Most FBS schools attempt to recruit one scholarship quarterback per year and usually have four QB’s on scholarship at any one time. Most teams try to have their quarterbacks staggered, so that when the starters graduate or get injured, there is a veteran backup ready to take over. In addition, you usually want your freshmen redshirting so they can learn the system while not using one of their years of eligibility.

A similar thing happened with Ronnie Fouch. He sat behind Jake Locker, until Locker’s broken thumb. Then, he started most of the disasterous 2008 season before returning to the bench for Locker’s junior season. Fouch then transferred to FCS Indiana State following the 2009 season upon recognition he would again sit on the bench again after Jake Locker announced he was not entering the NFL draft that year. Had Fouch stayed at UW, he would still have had to compete with Keith Price in his final season of eligibility for the starting job.

At many schools who properly stagger their QBs, the quarterbacks work their way into the starting role, often starting for two years at a time. In fact, if you look at the long and illustrious history of quarterbacks at UW, most of them started two years before heading to the NFL. But, what ultimately happens when a young (freshman or sophomore) QB earn the starting role, as Keith Price did as a sophomore, is that everyone under them realizes they will have a long wait and they may never even get the chance to start a college football game. Will the same thing happen to one of the potentially five QB’s on the Husky roster next year that happened to Montana did this past winter?

Going into the 2012 season, the Huskies will have four scholarship quarterbacks. Keith Price is a redshirt junior. Derrick Brown is a redshirt freshman. Jeff Lindquist and Cyler Miles will be true freshmen. The assumption most people make is that Derrick Brown will be the primary backup to Price this year, given that he has already used his redshirt and has more experience in Steve Sarkisian’s system than the two incoming freshmen. But, most people also believe that highly touted Jeff Lindquist (4-stars and #8 in the nation by Scout) is likely the heir apparent to the starting job when Keith Price eventually leaves for the NFL. Looking ahead, it would make sense that Steve Sarkisian would try and save Lindquist’s eligibility by redshirting him in 2012. But, if Lindquist is far-and-away a better backup than Derrick Brown in the fall and Price were to suffer an injury early enough in the season, Sarkisian could potentially decide to put him in if he felt it was giving the team the best shot at a successful season.

Jeff Lindquist during the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl high school football game. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Then there is dynamic and athletic Cyler Miles. While local folks talk about Lindquist, the Colorado product was also rated 4-stars and ended up deciding between UW and USC. That’s some heady company and he would not have had a USC offer unless he could really play. It is certainly conceivable that Miles could beat out both Brown and Lindquist for the backup job. What is also conceivable is that Miles is probably less likely than Lindquist to redshirt because of his incredible athleticism. He is a dual-threat QB who could give Sarkisian some incredible play-calling options on the field if he were inserted as a WR or tailback on certain plays. He could be used in the “Wildcat” formation or slotted out wide, with defenses needing to respect his ability to catch, run, or throw. He could also be very useful on special teams, possibly even returning punts or kicks. Also, if he played next year and Lindquist redshirted, it would stagger the QB’s in terms of eligibility a bit better than they are currently.

If this scenario does indeed occur, with Brown as the primary backup, Miles used on special teams and special situations on offense, and Lindquist redshirts, then there would appear to be stability at the QB spot for the next year. The bigger question is what happens in 2013. There is the question about whether Keith Price will still be in Seattle when highly touted Troy Williams arrives in Montlake from Narbonne, CA. If Keith Price stays at UW for his final season, then the Huskies would potentially have five QB’s under scholarship at the same time. That is a lot. While Price’s record-breaking season last year (despite injuries) had people talking NFL, there is no guarantee that even another season like that would get him into the high rounds of the NFL draft. NFL scouts have worried about his size (a little short and skinny for most of their tastes) and his apparent proclivity for injury. He may need to put together two successful and injury free seasons to convince NFL teams to take a chance on him, despite his proven on-field success.

If Price were to leave after 2012, then there would certainly be a wide-open battle for the starting spot between Brown, Lindquist, and Miles, with the winner of the spot potentially being the starter in Montlake for the next 2-3 seasons (barring injury). But, the two losers of that battle would certainly need to start thinking about their options. Are they willing to stand on the sidelines with a clipboard for the rest of their career? If Price stays for 2013, then the problem is exacerbated even further with the arrival of Troy Williams. That log jam would make it unlikely that all four players would be willing to wait it out for the long term. The question is, who would be most likely to transfer? Obviously this is a matter of pure speculation. But, speculation is one thing I am quite good at. So, in Part II, I’ll examine the possibilities and come up with what I think is the most likely scenario.

Sep 17, 2011; Lincoln, NE, USA; Washington Huskies receiver James Johnson (3) catches a touchdown pass against Nebraska Cornhuskers defender Austin Cassidy (8) during the second half at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 51-38. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-US PRESSWIRE

With the departure of Devin Aguilar and Jermaine Kearse, preseason pundits suggest there will be a drop-off at wide-receiver and that, consequently, Keith Price’s second year as a starter will not be equal to his first.
There will be no drop-off at wide-receiver.

Kasen Williams is still Kasen Williams; after a year’s experience, perhaps more so. Washington again has a healthy James Johnson who played considerably as a freshman but has been hampered by injuries since. Redshirt freshman Jamaal Jones played surprisingly well during spring ball. Kevin Smith, at 6’ 0” and 210 lbs., transforms into a tailback after catching the ball. And Cody Bruns has displayed great hands and route running since he arrived at Washington.

Williams is the preseason pick to win post-season accolades, stepping into Kearse’s role, and is the receiver that will generate the most interest – from both Husky fans and opposing secondaries. Apart from Williams, any of the other receivers mentioned above could break-out this fall.

There are two additional receivers, however, who could actually get fans excited – even though neither has yet to play a down.

Jon Nielson is the offensive coordinator for Gahr High School in Cerritos, Ca. and, having played QB in the NFL for seven years (teammates included Kevin Gogan, Napoleon Kaufman, Lincoln Kennedy and several other former Huskies), he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to wide receivers.

Two years ago, Gahr High School led the state of California in passing offense. The top receivers for Gahr were Josh Perkins, now a redshirt freshman at Washington, and Dwayne Washington, an incoming Husky freshman this fall.

“He’s actually taller, probably closer to 6’ 4”,” Nielson said about Josh Perkins, listed at 6’ 3” and 217 lbs. “And he’s the closest thing I’ve seen to Randy Moss [6’ 4” 210 lbs.] when the ball is in the air. His ability to adjust to the football is the best I’ve ever coached.”

Nielson emphasized that Perkins is an excellent combination of size, speed (22.19 second 200 meters), athleticism, desire and character. Video of Perkins also shows toughness, with Perkins having no reservations about really nailing a defensive back when blocking. As might be said of Kasen Williams, Perkins could be considered a football player first and a receiver second. The word “tough” applies to both players. And, of course, toughness wins football games. The combination of toughness, size, speed and Randy Moss-type catching ability will make it difficult to keep redshirt freshman Perkins off the field. That Perkins did well in spring ball came as no surprise to Nielson. “Just throw it to Josh; he’ll catch it.”

Dwayne Washington?

“He’s something special,” was Nielson’s initial description of 6’ 2” 210 lb. Washington, an incoming freshman. Nielson expects Washington to play right away, at least on special teams, but probably also on offense because of Washington’s explosiveness, size and violent style of play. Watching video of Washington shows a receiver with great hands who invariably gets yards after contact. “When he runs with the ball after catching it,” Nielson said, “he’s like [Minnesota Vikings running back] Adrian Peterson. He’s a violent runner.”

When asked if Washington’s purported 4.4+ 40 time was accurate, Nielson responded with, “He’s actually faster.” It was then that Nielson volunteered the comment, “If he were a car in a parking lot, he’d be a Porsche.”
Baring injury, Nielson expects Washington to show Husky coaches the “Wow” factor early on, and summed up Washington by saying, “Dwayne is the most explosive player I’ve coached in high school.”

Is it likely that two guys who haven’t played a down can come in and make a difference? No, it’s not likely. If Dwayne Washington brings the same toughness as Randy M…, er, Josh Perkins, however, the Huskies may have a repeat of Timu/Fuimaono – two unheralded, young guys from the same high school starting at the same position.

As always, it comes down to desire. When I first saw John Timu and Princeton Fuimaono, they were with a bunch of other recruits at a Husky basketball game. The other recruits were joking and talking, socializing like normal teenagers.

Timu and Fuimaono sat together in the middle of the row and, expressionless, said nothing to anyone, looking out at the basketball floor with a unique intensity. What I saw was “the eye of the tiger.” At the time, I thought to myself: those two guys are tough.

I haven’t studied Perkins and Washington up close but Jon Nielson has, and Nielson believes both young men, although they have yet to play a down, bring a level of toughness which, together with their size and talent, translates into the potential to 1) have an impact as early as their freshman year, as well as 2) become seasoned NFL veterans like Nielson.

So, between the returning veterans and the talented new guys, no worries, Keith.

November 12, 2011; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Washington Huskies cornerback Desmond Trufant (6) defends against Southern California Trojans wide receiver Robert Woods (2) during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

Keith Price is considered to be the Husky’s best player since the departure of Chris Polk and Alameda Ta’amu to the NFL. He is the most important and he is also the most talented. However, who is the second best player on the team? That seems to be up for debate.

I started to think about this topic a couple of days ago when EA Sports had NCAA 13 ratings leaked. They had Price rated at a 94 overall and second listed was safety Sean Parker at 93.

Is Parker the second best player on the team?

Don’t get me wrong, he is really talented and may very well be, but there are others that could have been given that second best postion and I wouldn’t have batted an eye.

Let’s take a look at my candidates and then you can vote:

Sean Parker

He is a stud that roams the field, with speed and force. He forces fumbles and collects interceptions. He is literally in on almost every tackle, in every play. He is fast, aggressive, and he plays hard. Definitely, a good candidate for second best player on the Husky team.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins

He is only a Sophomore but is already being called a star. As a Freshman he had 41 catches for 538 yards and 6 touchdowns. He is an elite target down the field and one of Price’s favorite weapons.

Kasen Williams

Also, only a Sophomore but is incredibly talented. Showed flashes of brillance last season and expected to be the best receiver on the Husky team next season. He had 36 catches with 427 yards and 6 touchdowns as a Freshman.

Drew Schaefer

Is the best lineman for the Huskies coming in as a Junior. He is going to be tested a lot this season as he was last. He is strong and aggressive. He will hold up a pocket or make a big block on a screen play.

Desmond Trufant

Has been inconsistent but is the best cornerback for the Huskies. He is also the only Senior on this list. He comes up big in big games and was often forced to play on an island because of the struggles of other cornerbacks last year.

Who do you think is the Husky’s second best player?