SEATTLE — With news coming out of Corvallis that Oregon State’s starting quarterback is out this weekend, and the Beavers’ star running back is expected to return from an injury, logic dictates that Oregon State will try to run the ball early and often against the Huskies on Saturday.
And while knowing what an opponent is planning to do is a good thing, stopping it can be a different task all together.
The Huskies expected Ohio State to come out running, and the Buckeyes still rumbled to 263 yard and two rushing touchdowns. They knew UCLA would try to run while playing its backup quarterback, yet the Bruins piled up 333 yards on the ground. And then there was Oregon, which managed a school-record 465 yards on the ground.
Now, the test for the Huskies’ run defense will be Oregon State and Yvenson Bernard, who is back after missing last week’s game with a shoulder injury.
“You hear that they’ve got a quarterback that is banged up over there, they’ve got a great back in Bernard, and he’s coming back this week, so all signs points to them trying to run the football,” said defensive tackle Jordan Reffett. “They’ve got a great offensive line, probably one of the best we’ll see all season. It’s going to be a great challenge for us up front and we’re ready to go and get after it.”
Bernard is always a big part of Oregon State’s offense, but with Sean Canfield out with a shoulder injury, the Beavers figure to be even more reliant on the run against the Huskies, who still rank last in the conference in run defense despite allowing just 141 rushing yards in their last two games.
“They don’t do a lot,” said Reffett. “They do a couple plays on offense, three, four runs that they do quite a bit, and they just kind of run at you. As a defensive lineman, I love that. I don’t have to think too much, I just strap it up and go. That’s a lot better for us. It’s going to be a big, physical game, we’re excited.”
In recent meetings, Oregon’s State’s physical play has been one of the deciding factors in Beaver victories. In a cold, wet game in 2005, the Beavers outgained the Huskies 127 to 19 on the ground, and last year, it was 180 to 84. Bernard gained 122 yards in the 2005 meeting, and 144 last year.
“I think that he is the heart and soul of that football team, and when he is in there they have a different life,” Tyrone Willingham said of Bernard. “I think he’s a special player and has that special energy to him.”
The Huskies know what’s coming with Bernard and Oregon State’s run offense, now comes the tricky part of stopping it.
“A lot of their strength is up front and it’s going to be up to the defensive line and the front seven to get after them a little bit,” said Reffett.
Williams likely out: Freshman safety Nate Williams appears to be out for Saturday’s game with a hamstring injury. Williams did not practice Tuesday, and Willingham said that Williams wouldn’t likely play if he could not practice again Wednesday. Williams was not in pads at practice and watched from the sideline during warm up drills.
If Williams can’t play, Jordan Murchison is likely to fill in on nickel defense packages. Murchison saw his first game action of the year last weekend filling in for Williams after the injury.
One more in gold: Make that 12 gold jerseys for this week. In addition to the 11 gold jerseys spotted on Tuesday, center Juan Garcia was also in gold at Wednesday’s practice. UW coaches award gold jerseys based on performances in the previous game.
Another wet one: After playing two straight games in the rain against Oregon State in Seattle, the Huskies and Beavers are likely going to be playing in the rain again this weekend in Corvallis.
“Since we’ve been here, we just count on it,” said Willingham. “That game is the worst game of the year, weather wise. It’s going to be one of those bad-weather nights, and you’ve got to be mentally tough and focused on what’s important.”
A change in environment: After playing in a less-than-half-full Stanford Stadium last weekend, the Huskies are expecting a much more hostile road game this week.
“We’re playing in a real hostile crowd down there in Corvallis,” said Reffett. “It’s going to be a lot different than playing at Stanford, where I think our fans were louder than theirs.”
Contact Herald Writer John Boyle at jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more on University of Washington sports, check out the Huskies blog at heraldnet.com /huskiesblog
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