5 things to watch for as Washington Football visits Oregon State
By Bret Stuter
Can the Washington Huskies emerge unscathed this weekend?
The Washington Football team is counting on the “next man up” mantra to continue their success this season. But the numbers will eventually catch up to the team, as healthy bodies will begin to thin at some point.
The depth of the Washington Huskies was tested against the Colorado Buffalo. While the team passed that test with flying colors, they lost wide receiver Chico McClatcher to a broken ankle. Now, the team must absorb the loss of a key receiver mid-season, and still progress to compete even stiffer competition as the season progresses.
On one hand, the hope is for the team to establish some equilibrium, where dinged up players return to active roles as other players must rest for a week or two. On the other hand, the pace of current injuries will eventually whittle away at the team’s ability to compete.
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However, head coach Chris Petersen is a wily veteran who knows how to adjust his team roster to adapt to the challenges as they surface. But the hope is that he will have the same or more players to use next week as he has entering this week’s contest.