SEATTLE — He’s double-teamed so often, it’s become a way of life for Terry Johnson.
Even so, the Washington Huskies standout defensive tackle leads the Pacific-10 Conference in tackles for loss with 13 and is second in sacks with seven.
Yet, this season has been anything but satisfying for the 6-foot-4, 285-pound senior. Yes, he’s piling up individual numbers and receiving attention from NFL scouts, but the Huskies are 3-3, coming off a loss at home to Nevada, have played the worst six quarters in memory and are in danger of having the entire shootin’ match spin out of control.
"You’ve got to toss the frustration out the window," Johnson said. "We have to make plays. What turns around the situation right now is playmakers, and I think that’s definitely my role on the team."
Were it not for Johnson, the Huskies would get little pass rush at all. Defensive end Manase Hopoi has been bothered by a sore ankle and only recently began to contribute as hoped.
End Graham Lasee, in his first year of heavy duty, came into this season with just one tackle. He has neither a tackle for loss nor a sack.
Lasee is splitting time with Ty Eriks, a converted fullback/linebacker/tailback/safety who was switched to defensive end only a month ago and still is slogging through a vertical learning curve.
Senior defensive tackle Jerome Stevens has just 2Z\x tackles for loss, including one sack. Junior Tui Alailefaleula has seen limited playing time and has one sack.
Redshirt freshmen Dan Milsten, Brandon Ala and Donny Mateaki still might be at least a year away before they make significant contributions, as is JC transfer Mike Mapu. Redshirt freshman Stanley Daniels was moved to offensive guard as an emergency move because of depth issues on the offensive line.
Washington’s defensive line has further suffered with the career-ending injuries to Josh Miller, last year’s starter at tackle, and Junior Coffin, a projected top reserve at tackle who had a very good spring.
So desperate are circumstances in the pass rush that the coaching staff has had Johnson line up as an end. A superb athlete (Johnson was an all-state volleyball player at McClintock High School in Tempe, Ariz.), he has taken to moving around.
"I like that," he said. "Every time they do that, they either run away from me or throw the ball quick. If the quarterback holds on to the ball longer, I’ll be able to get him from the edge."
Yet, the lack of production from the rest of the defensive line all adds up. Besides a meager pass rush, the Huskies have forced a conference-low 10 turnovers.
"Sometimes, when you look at us on film it looks like we’re playing in slow motion and unorganized at times," Johnson said. "We’ve got to find out who’s going to play and make those guys play. With all the athletes we have on defense and offense, when they start making plays, we’re going to have a lot better time out there.
Right now, it’s not a lot of fun. Combine a 39-0 second-half embarrassment against UCLA and the stunning 28-17 loss to Nevada and it’s little wonder the natives are restless.
Frustration manifested itself in fans nearly trampling each other to leave Husky Stadium. That is, after they gave the home team a serious case of boos.
"The way we laid an egg out there, I don’t blame them," Johnson said.
UW coach Keith Gilbertson talks about the team needing a spark, and that spark can start on the defensive side. A sack. An interception. A forced fumble. A big hit.
Yet, it’s all happened so seldom. The defense, dynamic and daring in the early season, has become tentative. The Nevada game was a prime example.
"Overall, we really weren’t flying around out there," Gilbertson said. "We didn’t have that attacking style that you look for. We were on our heels. We need to fly around and look like we’re having fun out there."
It might all come down to Johnson. Despite the double teams, despite the extra attention on him and despite the lack of production from his line mates, the coaching staff is hoping to squeeze even more out of Johnson.
"I think Terry is playing well, but I think he can play better," Gilbertson said. "Of course, I have a pretty high standard for him."
No higher, however, than he has for himself.
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