When will Washington linebacker Azeem Victor dominate again?
By Bret Stuter
The Washington Football team is winning. The defense is solid. But in two weeks, Washington linebacker Azeem Victor stands at four tackles. When will he dominate again?
Washington football team‘s linebacker Azeem Victor is not the reason why the Huskies are losing games. That’s because the team is not losing games. And so, there is no question whether the Washington Football team is a good team this year. In fact, they are currently ranked sixth in the nation as they prepare to face the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, September 16th. The offense is coming alive.
Even special teams play is wickedly dangerous, thanks to wide receiver Dante Pettis flirting with the NCAA record for punt returns for a touchdown. Pettis has already set the Pac-12 record with seven TDs. So there is plenty of good things happening on the Washington football team. Still, there is room to improve, and few know that better than linebacker Azeem Victor.
Azeem Victor MIA?
So far this season, Victor has been credited for four tackles in two games. The last time he recorded four or less tackles in a game was October 22, 2016, when he was held to just two tackles at home against Oregon State. After missing week one due to a suspension, he needed a huge game against Montana.
He still needs a big game.
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The nation awaited Victor’s return this year. His name appeared in the first round of some 2018 NFL Mock Drafts. He has been paired with teammate Keishawn Bierra as two of the most formidable college linebacker tandems in the game this year.
So far, just hype
Azeem Victor has not been one to buy in on the hype in any year. He has averaged over 7 tackles a game in each of the past two seasons. His best performance to date was a 16 tackle performance at a very tough Utah Utes team on October 29, 2017.
On one hand, he is coming off a leg injury from last season. That injury resulted in surgeons embedding a titanium rod in his right lower leg. He looked good on that leg in practice. But this is the season now. Perhaps he is still subconsciously favoring that leg.
Just rust?
On the other hand, it could simply be rust. He played his last game on November 5, 2016, at the California Golden Bears. So he’s had nearly a year off. In fact, he was suspended for the first game of the season, which kept him off the field one more week.
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Against the Montana Grizzlies, he recorded four tackles. He never saw the field against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. There are new faces on the defense, and plenty of moving parts. It may take several weeks for Victor to regain his true game-playing form,
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Time is not on Victor’s side
Unfortunately, there are no mulligans in football. With just 10 regular season game left, Victor need to produce an average of 7.3 tackles per game to maintain his better-than-seven-tackles average.
And this season is starting to get tougher.
But entering the more challenging part of the season might be just what the doctor ordered. No matter what the situation, Azeem Victor does not back down from a challenge. Right now, the Washington Huskies’ schedule is quite challenging in the weeks ahead.
After this Saturday’s game against visiting Fresno State, the Huskies travel to face the Colorado Buffaloes in Colorado for a rematch of last season’s Pac-12 championship. And that is also the beginning of the team’s Pac-12 schedule.
Next: Washington Football Season Summary: Where are we week 3?
It won’t get any easier than this week. In fact, I predicted a career game for Victor against Fresno State. But the game is also a potential trap, as it is followed by a certain struggle on the road against Colorado.