Demond Williams Jr. quarterback grade vs Michigan: were the interceptions his fault?

Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. had an uncharacteristically bad game last Saturday against the Michigan Wolverines. The Huskies lost 24-7, as their offense once again fell flat against a top-tier opponent in a big game. As the commander of that offense, Williams' poor performance stood out the most -- he averaged just 6.5 yards per attempt, going 20-of-32 for 209 passing yards and three interceptions.

Additionally, Williams struggled to make his usual impact with his legs. His offensive line didn't help him, as he was sacked twice while facing relentless pressure all day, but Williams deserves some blame as well for being too hesitant to escape the pocket when things fell apart -- which has never been an issue for him.

Williams finished with -19 rushing yards on five attempts, gaining 10 but losing 29 on sacks and other negative plays. He also fumbled the ball once on a crucial 4th-and-3 with eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter down 21-7. Williams couldn't feel the pressure and was hit hard as his arm slung back to pass. The Huskies recovered the fumble, but still turned the ball over on downs deep in Michigan territory, leading to a field goal that sealed the game.

The interceptions proved to cost the Huskies the most, however, as Williams' three was not only a career high, but also one more than the two he threw in his previous 19 games combined. All of them came in the second half after it was tied 7-7 in the first half, with Michigan immediately scoring touchdowns after two of them for a huge 14-point swing. But were all of them Williams' fault? Let's examine them one by one.

Williams' first interception came late in the third quarter with the game still tied 7-7. Washington took over at its own 18-yard line following a Michigan punt, looking to put points on the scoreboard for a lead. Instead, Williams turned it over on the first play of the drive, as his pass to Denzel Boston was jumped by linebacker Cole Sullivan, setting up a Michigan touchdown just one play later.

At the end of the day, this interception is on Williams, as he failed to identify Sullivan lurking the route. But to be fair, it was also simply a tremendous play by Sullivan. Boston was wide open, and the window Williams had to hit him is one that he's probably had dozens of times before. Not many linebackers are quick enough or have the instincts to get to that ball, so you have to tip your cap to Sullivan. For Husky fans, you can live with this pick and hope it's a moment the young quarterback can learn from.

Williams' next interception was more crushing, however. Just three plays after Michigan scored following his first interception, he threw another one into the hands of linebacker Jimmy Rolder. The blame for this one isn't clear if it's on Williams or on tight end Decker DeGraaf, the target of the pass.

It appears that there was a miscommunication, and DeGraaf ran the wrong route. Williams tried throwing with anticipation to hit DeGraaf before he broke, but DeGraaf ran an out towards the right sideline instead of a hitch coming back toward Williams. As a result, the pass sailed far behind target and right to the Michigan defender. Still, Williams isn't entirely clear of guilt, as it's just as possible that he was the one who was mixed up, and not DeGraaf. A bad interception, but one you can excuse a bit for a quarterback who rarely makes those mistakes.

Finally, Williams' last interception came when the game was basically already over, as with four minutes left in the game, he tossed a deep ball that went through Boston's arms and into the hands of defensive back Jacob Oden.

It's hard to place any blame for Williams on this one. Down by three possessions with the clock winding down, you have to try to make a big play even if it's risky. Williams was hurried on the throw by Michigan's pass rush, as his offensive line didn't give him enough time to fully set his feet.

As a result, the ball was definitely underthrown and wobbly, but even then, Boston was in perfect position to make a not-too-difficult catch. Boston probably completes this reception nine times out of 10, but this one time happened to also drop perfectly into into Oden's hands, instead of on the ground for an incompletion.

Overall, all three Williams interceptions weren't that bad. The sophomore quarterback is certainly at fault to an extent, but there are factors on all three plays where you can understand, if not entirely excuse, Williams' decision-making.

Still, it’s hard to excuse Williams’ performance as a whole. There’s no denying he didn’t look like his usual self. His timing and reads were off at several key moments, leading to missed opportunities and stalled drives. Yet, even in a rough outing, Williams flashed his talent with some great plays, including this perfectly placed ball to Raiden Vines-Bright, and this beautiful deep shot to Boston. Taken altogether, it was a mixed bag -- but fans should remain confident in Williams as the Huskies take on No. 23 Illinois this Saturday.

Final grade: C