With the way the University of Washington football team has been performing in recent years, this program has as many question marks as it does uniforms. But the new-look Huskies, who have an entirely new coaching staff, might not be as far away from the middle of the “Pac” as it appears.
Here are 10 burning questions that the Huskies need to answer when camp opens Monday, heading into the Sept. 5 season opener against LSU.
1. Will this team EVER win a game?
With a losing streak at 14 and counting, and a schedule that includes top-10 teams LSU and USC before the end of September, it’s a legitimate question. But rest assured, Husky fans, another 0-12 season is not on the horizon. The Sept. 12 home game against Idaho looks like a slump-buster, while home games against Arizona and Washington State are also somewhat favorable on paper.
2. Is Steve Sarkisian going to build Southern California North on Montlake?
Not anytime soon, but he’s certainly trying. Sarkisian’s experience at USC should help him recruit, but it remains to be seen how effective he can be on Saturdays. Let’s just start by giving Sarkisian some realistic goals, like not being the Pullman of the West.
3. Is this the year that Jake Locker lives up to the hype?
With guys like Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford returning to school, it’s certainly the Year of the QB in college football. UW’s Locker has a long, long way to go to get mentioned with those Heisman candidates, but there’s reason to believe he’ll make a case for Pac-10’s top signal caller. If Locker can stay healthy, he should put up impressive numbers in Sarkisian’s quarterback-friendly system.
4. What’s the strength of this year’s team?
OK, funny guy, we get it. Asking what the strength of this team is would be like trying to find the biggest muscle on Olive Oyl’s arms. But there are some spots where the Huskies have talent. DE Daniel Te’O-Nesheim has the potential to be among the conference’s best pass rushers, and the receiving corps is chock full of playmakers. The three starting linebackers — Donald Butler, Mason Foster and E.J. Savannah — also have potential to make some noise.
5. Will the subtraction be an addition?
A slimmed-down offensive line is the most obvious reward from plenty of extra work in the weight-room. Whether less bulk translates to more success is still to be determined. If nothing else, the Huskies proved to be dedicated to their craft; as Sarkisian put it, the UW players are looking at workouts as more of a “want-to” instead of a “have-to.” The offensive line could certainly stand to get more dedicated, and maybe keep Jake Locker healthy this year.
6. The defense has nine returning starters … is that a bad thing?
When this question was posed to defensive coordinator Nick Holt last week, the former USC assistant said it was “no advantage whatsoever” to have that many players returning, adding that the unit was “terrible” last season. The returning players certainly took their lumps, and their confidence is shaken. But Holt’s job is a tad bit easier than, say, having to start nine true freshmen. Experience is king, and bad experience can be the best teacher of all.
7. Who will lead on the field?
Winless teams typically benefit from graduation, but this one actually lost a key piece when C Juan Garcia’s eligibility ran out. Garcia’s leadership will be missed, and it’s still unclear who will fill those shoes. QB Jake Locker might take a more vocal role in this, his junior season. On defense, senior LB Donald Butler is the epicenter of most pep talks.
8. Other than Locker, who are the playmakers?
Surprisingly, this team might have some candidates. The receiving corps had a good spring, particularly in the form of sophomore Jermaine Kearse. Sophomore TE Chris Izbicki might be ready to live up to the potential as well. As far as the running game goes, the Huskies have plenty of questions to be answered over the next few weeks. Sophomore Willie Griffin, the elder statesman, is competing with redshirt freshman Chris Polk and true freshman Demitrius Bronson for leading-man status.
9. Are there any freshmen competing for immediate playing time?
Considering the Huskies’ recent lack of success, it would behoove them to get a transfusion of youth. And there are a few candidates, starting with RB Demitrius Bronson. The Kentwood product and CB Anthony Gobern are the only true freshmen on UW’s two-deep depth chart. Other candidates for playing time include LB/DE Andru Pulu and LBs Tim Tucker and Jordan Wallace. The Class of 2010 has a better chance of breaking the lineup than this year’s crop.
10. So how long is this going to take?
Sarkisian has already proven his knack for recruiting, but the rewards of his first full class won’t be reaped for a couple years. His new offensive system should provide some immediate rewards, but this team is still a year or two away from competing for top-five status in the Pac-10. Impatient Husky fans might want to wait until 2011 to check back in.
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