O-line is one of Huskies’ strengths

Published 10:47 pm Wednesday, November 21, 2007

SEATTLE — On an afternoon when California had to be expecting the Huskies to run the ball — they were playing with a backup quarterback on a rainy day — Washington obliged, but the Bears were helpless to stop it.

And while plenty of credit should go to tailback Louis Rankin, who had his second 200-yard game in three weeks, perhaps the biggest stars of last weekend’s victory were the members of Washington’s offensive line.

A group that played inconsistently early this season is now emerging as one of the team’s strengths. The seven players — tackles Ben Ossai, Cody Habben and Chad Macklin, guards Ryan Tolar, Casey Bulyca and Jordan White-Frisbee, and center Juan Garcia — who have played the bulk of the minutes are starting to jell as a unit, making the Washington running attack one of best in the Pac-10.

The win over Cal also proved that Washington’s rushing success wasn’t just the result of a mobile quarterback. While Jake Locker has certainly made the rushing offense more dangerous, playing without him gave the offensive line and tailbacks a chance to show they can run the ball the old-fashioned way as well.

As Rankin collects big numbers and praise — two 200-yard games, the first Husky to rush for 1,000 yards in 10 years, two-time Pac-10 offensive player of the week — the senior tailback’s recent achievements have had plenty to do with what’s happening in front of him.

“I think the line just got hungrier,” Rankin said. “I think they got to the point that they got tired of cutting it close, and they got tired of losing. They’ve just been, these last couple of weeks, they’ve been coming together really strong and improving every week. They’re getting better each game.”

The proof is in the numbers. The Huskies are second in the Pac-10 in rushing offense, averaging 195.8 yards per game. That’s the best for a Washington team since the 2000 Huskies averaged 211.7 yards. They’ve eclipsed the 300-yard mark three times this season, including in two of the last three games.

And even Washington’s worst rushing game, an 85-yard effort against Oregon State, was still 21 yards better than what the Beavers have been allowing on average.

“I think things are starting to come along and just click,” said Bulyca. “We’re better than we were earlier this year, and from last year at this time, where miles ahead of where we were. I think we’re progressing the way the coaches want us to, and everything is coming along well.”

Injury update: Asked again about Jake Locker, Tyrone Willingham answered for the first time that Locker would start this week. Willingham noted that the quarterback “Moved around very well, very much like his old self” at practice Tuesday.

Locker’s coaches don’t expect the quarterback to be timid or hesitant coming back from the injury, but they again are reminding him that sometimes he needs to go out of bounds rather than fight for every yard.

“What I want him to do, unless the game’s on the line, and we need him to fall for a first down, I want him to get out of bounds,” said offensive coordinator Tim Lappano. “It was third and seven [when Locker got hurt], he was trying to get the first down, and at that point, that early in the game, I’d rather punt it or get another play dialed up rather than him take a shot. But when we’re running him inside the tackle box, when it’s a diagramed quarterback run, he’s not getting down. And I don’t expect him to. That’s why he is who he is. That’s why he’s a hell of a football player. You can’t take that part away from him, but you can be smarter when you get forced out of the pocket. You’ve got to know when to get down.”

Byron Davenport also seems likely to return to his starting spot at cornerback after suffering a bruised knee at practice last week.

Getting Davenport back would be a big boost for the Huskies against the conference’s top passing offense.

“We’ve got to have our best guys playing their best in this ballgame to be successful, because one of the things they do very well is throw the ball vertically,” Willingham said.

Linebacker Donald Butler, however, is unlikely to play, Willingham said.

A bit of Bonnell: Even though Locker is scheduled to get the start, don’t be surprised if Carl Bonnell gets in for a series or two.

“We may,” Willingham said when asked if the Huskies would use both quarterbacks. “We’re not set on those things right now, but obviously Carl did a wonderful job for us in last year’s Apple Cup, led the team to victory. He’s a senior, and you like for your seniors to have an opportunity to play in this ballgame if at all possible.”