The 2016 Washington Huskies Football Team surprised the PAC-12 conference last season. Despite the success, the 2017 Washington Huskies must do these five steps to repeat at PAC-12 champs
The University of Washington Huskies Football team has both positives and negatives. With the ascension to the select club of NCAA teams who found success in 2016, the Washington Huskies have earned the respect of all NCAA college football teams’ respect. But that means, they are all gunning for the team this year. And so, the Washington Huskies must adapt, plot, and strategize a new trail to arrive at a familiar point – as PAC-12 Champions.
Now that the 2017 Football schedule has been available for some time, we’ve had an opportunity to decipher that blend of timing, projections, and luck. And so, this team has a steeper trail this year, but certainly one that can be navigated with the existing roster talent.
More from Football
- Pro Husky Shaq Thompson out for season with leg injury
- Washington Huskies begin conference play against Cal in Week 4
- Jack Westover is a breakout star for the Washington Huskies
- Washington football: Negatives and Positives in win over Michigan State
- Huskies offense slices through the Spartans in 41-7 win
Coach Petersen Master Strategist
Do not underestimate Head Coach Chris Petersen. He is a strategist. He doesn’t just build his team around available talent. His forte is building around his vision of what it takes to win. That vision proved to be sound in the 2016 football season. That same approach is what is propelling the Washington Huskies Football team into the 2017 season.
Coach Peterson has a plan. But what is it? He’d be foolish indeed to tell the world now. But you can bet we can estimate some steps needed to repeat as the PAC-12 Conference Champs.
And so, here are the five things the Washington Huskies must do to repeat as PAC-12 champions.
STEP ONE: Washington Huskies must restock the defensive backfield
The Washington Huskies defensive backfield was incredibly productive in 2016. In fact, the team was so productive that the team lost three defensive backs to the NFL via the 2017 NFL Draft. Adding wide receiver John Ross to the mix, four Washington Huskies were picked in the first two rounds. That’s quite an accomplishment.
But if you think the Washington Huskies defensive backfield will be vulnerable in 2017, think again. That corps is coached by none other than Jimmy Lake. And while this is a group of players who will seem rather inexperienced to outsiders, to Coach Lake, they are simply players whose time to shine has come.
Proud Lake
"“At corner, we have guys — and this is what you want when you’re building a program — you have guys waiting in the wings ready to take over,” Lake said. “We’ll definitely be on the younger side on the outside, but we have guys who have played college football before and now it’s their time to shine.”"
The team will be anchored at safety by returning starter JoJo McIntosh. Taylor Rapp is like the successor for Budda Baker’s vacated spot. But both players will face stiff competition from Ezekiel Turner and Trevor Walker. They will even be taken to task by incoming freshman 4-star safety Brandon McKinney.
Cornerback Key
You can bet that all PAC-12 quarterbacks are already planning to test the mettle of the Washington Huskies cornerbacks this season. But you can also bet that Lake is ready. You see, he’s been down this road before.
More from The Husky Haul
- Pro Husky Shaq Thompson out for season with leg injury
- Washington Huskies begin conference play against Cal in Week 4
- Jack Westover is a breakout star for the Washington Huskies
- Washington football: Negatives and Positives in win over Michigan State
- Huskies offense slices through the Spartans in 41-7 win
Thanks to the Washington Huskies two-deep system, Lake has players who are already familiar with schemes, players, and plays. That can make all the difference this season. The odds-on favorite to start at one cornerback position is junior Jordan Miller.
New Faces
But the team will have great competition from returning players Austin Joyner, Byron Murphy and Jomon Dotson. The ranks will be reinforced with three new freshman defensive backs in the form of 4-star CB Elijah Molden and 4-star CB Keith Taylor.
With so many new faces all competing for two spots, how can Coach Lake develop his players in time?
"“The things that I learned from 2014, and the things I guess I’ve always done, whether it’s an [NFL] rookie or a freshman,” Lake said, “you’ve got to have a lot of extra meetings with them, you’ve got to have your arm around them at all times. Everything is a learning experience and you have to support them and be right there for them.”- Coach Lake as told to ESPN Staff Writer Chantel Jennings"
Based upon the history at defensive backfield, you can bet Coach Lake will have his players ready to go.
STEP TWO: Quarterback Jake Browning must pass over 3500 yards this season
Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Browning must pass for over 3500 yards this season. Yes, that’s in complete understanding that he is recovering from shoulder surgery. But this is not as much of a stretch goal as you might think.
Autzen Zoo
You see, we covered the timeline of his shoulder injury, which is reported to have occurred during the November 19, 2016 game against Arizona State. So the 2016 statistics already incorporate a starting quarterback with an injured throwing shoulder.
In spite of these facts, Browning hurled the ball 391 times for 243 completions, 3,430 yards, and 43 touchdowns. So now, is it such a stretch?
New WR Coach Matt Lubick
Well that will all fall to new wide receivers coach Matt Lubick, who has taken over for former wide receiver coach Bush Hamden. Hamden, you recall, was hired by the Atlanta Falcons as their quarterback coach.
Lubbick has already made his presence felt in the recruitment of three solid wide receivers for 2018.
You Should Also Read: 4-Star WR Austin Osborne Commits to UW Husky Recruiting Class 2018
More Related Reading: 4-star WR Marquis Spiker Commits To Washington Huskies Recruiting Class of 2018
You Should Also Read: Washington Huskies Recruiting 2018 Soft Hands WR Devin Culp
Now the task will be to see if he can maintain the excellence at receiving the Washington Huskies have come to expect.
New Targets
The key will be to identify appropriate targets. Based on his steady improvement, WR Dante Pettis appears poised to crack the thousand yards receiver this season. He’ll be joined by RB/WR Chico McClatcher in the slot and 6-foot-5 tight end Drew Sample.
But Petersen keeps a steady flow of fresh blood coming, and you’ll love what he’s brought this season.
2017 Incoming Class Has Talent
The recruiting class of 2017 adds wide receivers Ty Jones, Alex Cook, and Terrell Bynum, as well as tight ends Hunter Bryant and Cade Otton. The team even enjoys the returning Jacob Kizer, who gray-shirted due to a back injury.
With so much talent newly arriving, do not be surprised if a freshman earns significant playing time in the team’s passing game.
STEP THREE: Washington Huskies must have two 1000 yard rushers.
While the Huskies passing game can help win the PAC-12 title, the team cannot abandon the running game. Of course, that means the team will tap the running services of Miles Gaskin once more.
FanSided
In the 2016 season, Gaskin was clearly the workhorse, rushing for 237 of the teams total 529 rushes. But his 29 rushes for 159 yards in the victory over Colorado for the PAC-12 championship clearly set him as the flag bearer for this years offense.
Split the Load
But that performance also allowed the Alabama Crimson Tide to key on him at the line of scrimmage. Held to 10 rushes for 34 yards, that made the Washington Huskies virtually a one dimensional offense.
You might expect the team to rush running back Lavon Coleman more this year, but he has had trouble seeing action in spring training. But I say keep an eye on 6-foot-0 running back Salvon Ahmed. While Ahmed’s 185 pound frame is ideal at several offensive and defensive positions, he can start almost immediately at running back.
And if he does, he will push Gaskin for the rushing yards leader of the team.
STEP FOUR: Washington must win on the road against Stanford November 10
It’s hard to place a “must win” label on a football game months before the season begins, but that November 10, 2017 matchup AT Stanford casts an awfully large shadow over the Washington Huskies season.
With the First Pick
The Huskies do not face USC this season, and close out the season with four out of five games at home. The only road trip? The November 10 game at Stanford University.
Revenge Is Dish Best Served At Home
The Stanford Cardinals will look to avenge last season’s loss to the Huskies, and what better time to do it as the Huskies begin to look ahead to what could be a dynamic PAC-12 showdown with USC in the PAC-12 Championship game?
The game smells of “trap”.
But Coach Petersen will be vigilant of the circumstances. The team gets a bye week after seven consecutive games, and finish off the season with just five games to play. As noted earlier, four of those games are home. Defeat Stanford on the road, and this team will be considered one of the teams to beat in the NCAA playoffs.
STEP FIVE: Washington defense must crack the NCAA top 10.
The PAC-12 conference has some very good teams. But Washington was clearly the cream of the crop. The team led the conference in offense, and was a nationally ranked defense at number 12.
But the team needs to do better this year.
Complacency is a sure-fire way to fail in NCAA football competition. The only path to victory is to continue to out-improve all other teams. This team will face Washington State’s passing attack. They will also need to Oregon’s multi-faceted running attack. Finally, the team will need to endure Stanford University’s balanced offense.
The only way to do that is to get better.
Vita Lost Huskies!
Thankfully, the Husky defense is led by returning defensive standout Vita Vae. As cited above, the team will need to restock the ranks in the defensive backfield. However, this is a solid team. defensively.
The Washington Huskies had a defense that is very capable of winning in post season. If JoJo Mathis remains healthy last year, the Huskies would likely be the defending NCAA champs. But that sample of post season has focused the entire team this off-season. They now know that to compete at the national level, all aspects of the team must be optimized.
RELATED STORY: ESPN projects USC, not UW, as team to beat in PAC-12
By the time the season starts on September 1, 2017 at Rutger’s University, you can bet the entire team will be at peak performance.