SEATTLE – No sacks and 302 rushing yards? Friday’s performance against Syracuse was a near-perfect first game for Washington’s offensive line.
It wasn’t quite a flawless day, however, thanks to Washington’s first snap from scrimmage. It was on that play that Syracuse defensive tackle Tony Jenkins blew through the line to put a good shot on quarterback Jake Locker just as Locker released his first college pass.
“Watching Jake get hit is not a good thing,” guard Casey Bulyca said. “We’re trying to keep him as safe as possible. Jake’s a pretty tough kid, though. He shook it off, laughed and stood back up.”
Center Juan Garcia said he was to blame for the shot that the 286-pound Jenkins put on Locker. He said he gave the wrong call on the play, allowing Jenkins a clear path to the QB.
“That was all my fault,” Garcia said. “I didn’t realize how bad it was until I saw film, and said, ‘Oh Jake, man, I’m so sorry.’”
Locker, however, didn’t seem to mind. He said the hit might even have been good for him.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been hit like that,” said Locker, who had last seen game action as a senior in high school in 2005. “But it was good. It was like, ‘OK, this is real now. We’re playing. I don’t have the yellow jersey (worn in practice) any more.’”
That play notwithstanding, the big guys in the trenches deserved praise for Friday’s work. Tailback Louis Rankin pilled up a career-high 147 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and Locker rushed for 83 more. As a team, the Huskies averaged 7.4 yards per carry.
“It makes the offensive line feel pretty good,” Bulyca said. “We don’t get a lot of credit, so watching them rush for 300 yards, it helps you feel good about what you’re doing.”
The strong performance is even more encouraging considering the number of young players on the line. Both Bulyca and the other starting guard, Ryan Tolar, are sophomores. Tolar redshirted as a freshman, and Bulyca played in only one game last year. At left tackle, sophomore Cody Habben split time with Ben Ossai for his first game action at Washington.
“It was a good start,” offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Tim Lappano said. “The young guys played well, and they’re going to get better every week.”
Murchison enters guilty plea: Cornerback Jordan Murchison pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of assault in the fourth degree, a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. According to a spokesman for the King County prosecuting attorney’s office, prosecutors will recommend 30 days in jail, 24 months of probation, no contact with the victim and restitution.
Murchison has been away from the team since the first week of August when he turned himself in for failing to appear at a court date. Murchison was originally charged with second-degree assault, a felony, for an incident that occurred March 31. Murchison also faces a court date in Seattle Municipal Court on misdemeanor assault and harassment charges unrelated to his March arrest.
Murchison, whose future with the team is still undecided, is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 19.
Poll votes: The Huskies were listed in the “others receiving votes” category after receiving one vote in this week’s USA Today coaches poll. When asked about it, Washington coach Tyrone Willingham said, “I’m not surprised.” The Huskies also received one vote in the Associated Press poll released Tuesday.
Surgery not needed: Luke Kravitz, who broke a bone in his hand against Syracuse, will not need surgery, Willingham said. The backup fullback is not expected to play against Boise State on Saturday, but Willingham doesn’t expect Kravitz to be out for a lengthy period of time. Kravitz was going through drills in practice on Tuesday, but wore a red jersey signifying no contact.
A plethora of gold: For the first time in more than a week, Willingham awarded gold jerseys for Tuesday’s practice, and apparently he was pleased with his team’s recent effort. Seven players the most since practice started in August wore gold jerseys at Tuesday afternoon’s practice. Players wearing gold were quarterback Jake Locker, tailback Louis Rankin, punter/kicker Jared Ballman, defensive tackle Jordan Reffett, and defensive ends Greyson Gunheim, Daniel Te’o-Nesheim and Caesar Rayford.
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