After a gut-wrenching loss against Oregon, how can Washington football get back on track against #9 Utah at home this weekend?
Hosting the ninth-ranked team in the country isn’t exactly the best way to rebound after a tough loss against your biggest rival. Having a bye week helps, but hosting the Utah Utes is going to be a tough task for the Huskies. Even though they lost to Oregon, there were a lot of signs of change in the Husky offense that are very promising for fans going forward this season, and into the future.
The Big Question
Will the pattern on offense hold true this weekend? Can the young players see the field consistently, and be given opportunities to make plays? Terrell Bynum, Puka Nacua, and Marquis Spiker all made an impact in the Oregon game, will we see them again in a matchup with a tough Utah defense? Salvon Ahmed has been excellent rushing the ball this season, and Hunter Bryant is still a big-time weapon.
Jacob Eason has the talent to throw the ball all over the field, make defenses worry about everything, so what does the offense need to do? First of all, stop running the wildcat. It didn’t work against Oregon, and Utah’s defense is much better than Oregon’s, so it’ll probably look even worse against a star-studded defensive line. Utilize Eason to the best of his abilities, and let him pick apart this Ute defense like the world knows he can.
On Defense
The Huskies need to find a way to contain Zack Moss, the rushing touchdown leader in the Pac-12 with 10. Moss is also second in the conference among running backs in yards per game with 104. The inside linebackers need to be disciplined hold their gaps and not come crashing downhill on every play, because Tyler Huntley can beat them to the edge with his legs, or over the middle with his arm.
The key for the Dawgs is playing disciplined football, they have the talent to come out on top, but can they execute the proper game plan?