The Husky Haul
Fansided

Washington Football coach Jimmy Lake turns prospects into defensive backs

By Bret Stuter

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 09: Defensive back Byron Murphy
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 09: Defensive back Byron Murphy /
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Chris Petersen of the Washington Huskies looks on against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Husky Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Chris Petersen of the Washington Huskies looks on against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Husky Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Confidence is infectious

On one hand, it’s not an overstatement to say that the Washington Football team defensive backs are confident. That is not by accident. Rather, confidence is earned by drilling and competing under the direction of Coach Lake. When he is satisfied, then he knows the players are ready to play. On the other hand, these defensive backs step onto the field knowing that they are just that – ready to play.

Just check out this interview with Lake over the Colorado game by Scout.com’s Chris Fetters:

Some time at the Lake

"How did Austin Joyner grade out taking over for Byron Murphy? “He played excellent, (Joyner) he played excellent. He didn’t have any busts. (Joyner) He played hard, he had probably the biggest hit of the night on that scramble play when (Shay Fields) caught the ball and he hit him. He was in position. Extremely, extremely proud of him.” How impressive is it for a guy like that to come out and perform like that on the road? “That’s what we expect, not just in the defensive backs. Coach Petersen talks about it all the time at any position. We lose a great guy like David Ajamu and another tight end has to step in and they have. Last year we lost Azeem (Victor), DJ Beavers comes in and we don’t miss a step. We lose Byron Murphy for a little while and Austin comes in and he’s ready to role. It’s going to happen again. It’s going to happen this week, we might lose a guy, we might have lost a guy today and you guys will find out about it hopefully right before game time and not the night before this time.”"

You simply cannot overemphasize the fact that the coach is so certain of his players. Winners breed winning. Confidence breeds confidence.

On one hand, there is no magical incantation with the Washington Football team. On the other hand, there is neither a potion, lotion, nor elixir.  In fact, there is not even a supercomputer diagnosing the most effective training methods.  There is a man who is quite confident in his ability to teach young men how to defend the pass. He is so confident, that those same young men believe in themselves as a result.

And that’s how it’s done. Trust and faith.

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