Play of Husky defensive front seven crucial

Published 11:37 pm Tuesday, August 14, 2007

SEATTLE – Before the start of fall practice, Washington coach Tyrone Willingham was hopeful that of his defensive line and linebacking groups could be strength of the team.

“Hopefully one of the cores of our football team will be our front seven,” he said.

Now, the second week into practice, Willingham is more than just hoping for they’ll be good. He needs the front seven to be good.

“It has to be,” he responded when asked if the front seven looked like a strength of the defense. “Because we’ve got a young secondary.”

That young secondary, one that returns only two starters, became even more experienced than expected last week when two cornerbacks were sidelined. Byron Davenport, who played two seasons ago at UCLA, injured his hamstring Tuesday and has been limited since. Jordan Murchison, a junior college transfer, was arrested the next day for missing an arraignment on assault charges, and his future with the team remains up in the air.

That means even more pressure is being put on the rest of the defense.

“Yeah, it puts pressure on us, but I definitely think it’s a good pressure,” said sophomore linebacker Donald Butler. “That only makes us work that much harder knowing that if we really want to compete and win, we’re going to have to create some turnovers. The quarterback can’t have five, 10 seconds to throw the ball, the defensive line has to get to him, the linebackers have to drop back in coverage and make plays on the ball.”

Butler, who played in 10 games as a freshman, is one of several young players expecting to help senior Dan Howell solidify the linebacking unit.

On the defensive line, senior end Greyson Gunheim, a starter in each of his first three years, leads an experienced group that includes Wilson Afoa, Daniel Te’o-Nesheim and Jordan Reffett, all of whom started games last season.

“Everything starts up front and if we get a good pass rush, our secondary doesn’t have to worry at all,” Gunheim said . “If we can do that, then we’re fine. With the returning secondary that we have and the young guys we brought it, I think we’re going to be fine. But I just want them to sit back there and watch the game and not have to do anything while we get sacks all day.”

@5. Sports notes lead:Davenport still slowed: While Davenport’s hamstring is improving, he is missing valuable time as a newcomer to the defense. Having missed a week of practice now, there is concern not just for his health when it comes to being ready for the first game.

@5. Sports notes:”He’s a newcomer to our team,” said Willingham. “How much of the mental process has he acquired, and how much can he acquire without practicing? A lot of that goes into it.”

Willingham added that the time missed is “not good for him or for the team.”

@5. Sports notes lead:Other injuries: Afoa wore a red jersey for the second straight day, and Willingham said he is day to day, though he did not give specifics on Afoa’s injury… Freshman kicker Erik Folk, limited in the first week by a back injury, participated in almost all of Tuesday’s practice, Willingham said.

One less: The first change in the roster occurred Tuesday, as freshman walk-on Brandon Mezistrano left the team. Mezistrano, a receiver, played for Newport High School in Bellevue.