Jake Browning stays, gives Washington Football team edge

Quarterback Jake Browning’s decides to stay, giving Washington Football team significant edge for 2018

Fight or Flight is a basic instinct in the corps of each human being. Flight if surviving the conflict seems unlikely, fight if the chance at escape seems like a longshot. But the decision by the Washington Football team quarterback to remain with the team is both a passionate decision as well as a good business decision.

Injury hurt UW receivers

Many have criticized Jake Browning’s season as “meh”. Following the robust production from the previous year, the expectation was that the team would be even better in 2017, and that Jake Browning would lead the charge.  It wasn’t as simple as all that, however.

The team endured some tough injuries to key players in the passing game.  Tight ends Drew Sample and Hunter Bryant both fell to injury. Sample missed eight games, while Bryant missed the final five of the season.  But perhaps the biggest blow happened at the loss of wide receiver Chico McClatcher after just three games.  McClatcher was a perfect compliment to the Huskies offense, as he was a deep threat to Pettis’ possession threat.  When McClatcher fell, the team struggled to develop an alternative receiver for the remainder of the season.

Deep diving into some numbers

Each year, Browning has improved his accuracy in terms of interceptions.  In 2015, he threw ten picks on 368 attempts with 63.3 percent accuracy. In 2016, that number fell to nine interceptions on 391 attempts with 62.1 percent accuracy. Finally, this year, he threw just five interceptions to 336 attempts but at 68.5 percent accuracy.

However, the passing yards took a deep dive, for good reason, this year. In 2015, he threw for 2,955 yards.  In 2016, that total jumped up to 3,430 yards. And finally, in 2017, that production descended to  2,719 yards.

Wise choices during bad situations

So it is not a matter of getting the ball to his receivers.  The perception is that Browning doesn’t throw the long ball.  But the facts seem to prove out otherwise.  In fact, per Pro Football Focus, Browning has the third best completion percentage when the play takes 2.6 seconds or greater to develop.

And that is not surprising considering his main target was none other than sure-handed wide receiver Dante Pettis.  On paper, Pettis is plenty of talent for a team. But he is a sure-footed route runner with great hands.

Injury bug outdistanced Next Man Up

McClatcher was not the only wide receiver injury to the team. The team promoted wide receiver Quinten Pounds, who delivered a thrilling 43-yard touchdown catch to help the Washington Football team down the Colorado Buffalo.

And then, he fell to injury and was out for the season as well.  In fact, Pounds fell to a knee injury in practice, and did not play in the month of November 2017.

That hurt hurt our chances

The team was on life support when Dante Pettis fell to injury. Thankfully, Pettis healed in time for the Fiesta Bowl Game.

But without McClather, defenses targeted Pettis and that limited the production of both Browning and Pettis.  Without open receivers, Browing was forced to pull the ball down and try to make something happen by running the ball.  That stood out during the Arizona State University game when the offense refused to emphasize a running attack despite running back Myles Gaskin gashing the Sun Devils for 4.8 yards per carry.  In the end, the passing game ran out of viable threats as the season wore on.

Welcome back Kotter… er, Browning

With 2018, Browning will benefit with the return of speedster wide receiver Chico McClatcher, plus both tight ends Hunter Bryant and Drew Sample.  They hope to compensate for the offense losing the services of senior wide receiver Dante Pettis, tight end Will Dissly, and running backs Lavon Coleman and Myles Gaskin.

So of course, the team will search for a starting wide receiver and running backs to help Browing.  You can bet that fleet-footed running back Salvon Ahmed will get the nod next year.  And for the first pass at wide receiver, Aaron Fuller seemed to win that role late in the 2017 season. But that opening came at the cost of backup wide receiver Quinten Pounds, who will no doubt be competing for playing time as well.

More in 2018 recruits too

The 2018 recruiting class gives plenty of reason to hope for some good things as well.  6-foot-3 wide receivers Marquis Spiker and Austin Osborne arrive with tight end/wide receiver Devon Culp. There is talk that one or more could compete for a starting role with the offense in 2018. Spiker has the highest ranking ever to be recruited to a Chris Peterson team. His 6-foot-3 height will give the quarterback an immediate target. Osborne compliments Spiker, and has a similar height but slightly less speed.  While Spiker is ideal for deep routes, Osborne is a solid slant, crossing route, hitch and go, or curl receiver.  Add 6-foot-5 Devon Culp to the mix, a young man with incredible hands who translates into a very tall target Dante Pettis, and you can see why the coaching staff is excited for the upcoming season.

Next: Will Harris to become Washington Football team’s 10th coach

Still, the quarterback position is not a slam dunk this year.   While the team says farewell to backup quarterback K. J. Carta-Samuels, they welcome two highly recruited quarterbacks in Jacob Sirmon and Colson Yankoff.  The incoming pair of QBs gives this team tremendous variety of options to consider in planning their offensive scheme.  And if Browning fails to deliver, he will risk losing playing time to one of the young stars arriving this season.  In the end, Browning will have many more weapons to sort through come game time in 2018.  And as other Pac-12 teams reload at quarterback, Browning’s return gives the Washington Huskies stability.  In the end, that will prove to be the edge head coach Chris Petersen needs to reclaim the Pac-12 title.