SEATTLE – Despite Casey Paus’ excellent performance in Washington’s 42-10 victory against Oregon Saturday night, Cody Pickett will start against Arizona Saturday.
That is, if Pickett is healthy.
Pickett sustained a concussion in the first half Saturday and sat out the second half. In came Paus, in his first extended duty as a Husky in a hotly contested game. He sparked a rally, completing five for eight passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
UW coach Keith Gilbertson said Pickett was better, yet still had some symptoms of the concussion: nausea, dizziness and a headache. He was held out of practice Monday.
Isaiah Stanback, who has been used at slotback, moves back to quarterback fulltime for as long as Pickett is unavailable.
“If Cody is symptomatic during the week, he’ll be out,” Gilbertson said.
Paus’ performance Saturday gave Gilbertson great confidence in the position in the case that Pickett is unable to play.
“He went in and threw the ball on the money and made good decisions,” Gilbertson said. “He moved the team. It was a real good night for him. He’s s smart guy. He’s been here four years. He really knows our system.”
Paus has an advantage over Pickett because he has thrown to the team’s young receivers more than Pickett has. As the second-team quarterback, Paus was accustomed to throwing to the second-team receivers. When those receivers were elevated to the first team, Pickett didn’t have the same rapport with them.
Gilbertson plainly spelled out the terms of Pickett’s return, avoiding even a whisper of a quarterback controversy. Players would have none of it, either.
“Nobody doubts that this is Cody’s team,” wideout Reggie Williams said.
Still, Paus’ night didn’t go unnoticed by many. Paus’ parents watched the first half of the game on television from their suburban Chicago home with friends. When their friends left at halftime, the Pauses decided to go to bed, but their friends called them about 30 minutes later to tell them Casey was playing.
Whether the showing will give Paus an advantage over Stanback for the starting spot next season is anyone’s guess. Paus is closer to Pickett in his style, while Stanback is a better runner, which would give the offense more of an option-based look.
“I don’t know what their plans are, but I’m just glad I got the opportunity,” Paus said.
General hospital: After Pickett the picture doesn’t look good. Tailback Rich Alexis probably will miss the rest of the regular season because of what’s now described as a quad tear. Also out are tight end Joe Toledo (back), cornerbacks Roc Alexander (shoulder) and Chris Massey (hernia) and guard Tusi Sa’au (back).
Quick bursts: The Washington defense, embarrassed by 36 missed tackles against USC the week before, missed just 11 against Oregon, Gilbertson said … The Washington-Cal game Nov. 15 at Berkeley, Calif., will be at 12:30 p.m. It will not be on television … Place-kicker Evan Knudson missed two PATs against Oregon, but neither was his fault, Gilbertson said. One was a bobble by the holder; the other missed because of bad protection … No sacks and 261 yards rushing against the Ducks indicates great play by the UW offensive line, Gilbertson said.
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