When last we saw Isaiah Stanback, his head was down and he was whispering answers to reporters’ questions.
It was a dark day for the University of Washington sophomore quarterback, the one Rick Neuheisel called “the best quarterback I saw on tape this year” on signing day 2002.
On this day, however, Stanback was awful and he knew it. He was 3-for-10 passing for 33 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and a lost fumble. Too often, he simply looked confused and appeared to lack confidence in what he was doing.
He bravely faced the press after the game, trying to come up with answers to circumstances so heartbreaking he could scarcely believe it.
He talked about not earning enough trust from his coaches to play quarterback again. He lamented his decisions, said he had a chance to show what he could do and he blew it. He didn’t pass well. He didn’t run well. He didn’t do anything well.
One of the first decisions the future Husky coaching staff must make is what to do with Isaiah Stanback. Although he has been firm in his self-assessment and desire to play quarterback, the numbers, not to mention his undeniable physical skills, say he should do otherwise.
In 2004, Stanback has completed just 30 percent of his passes (18-for-60 for 289 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions). He has shown to be an innovator, a superior athlete who can escape a pass rush and make something happen.
The trouble is that too often, the “something” is a fumble or an interception or a bad incompletion. He might have a cannon for an arm, but as the numbers indicate, the cannon often has defective sights.
Even on his best day as a quarterback, against Oregon State, he was 11-for-29 passing for 219 yards, but lost two fumbles and threw a pick. In the first game of the year, against Fresno State, Stanback was 1-for-5 passing for 10 yards. He threw one interception that a Bulldogs defender ran back for a touchdown, and lost a fumble that led to another.
In a position that demands consistency, Stanback has been anything but.
To be sure, the carousel at quarterback has done Stanback no favors. Neither have his drop-happy receivers.
In his ideal world, the coaching staff would choose Stanback as The Guy, ride him (through good and bad times) and give him some continuity through extended playing time.
Yet, Stanback has shown little when given the opportunity.
That Stanback took one for the team a year ago and agreed to play wide receiver to help an area of the team crippled with injury and inexperience is commendable. He stunted his own development as a quarterback to help the Huskies. In the process, Stanback caught 10 passes for 143 yards, including a 41-yard reception against Arizona.
Going into his junior year, it is time for Stanback to make a decision, not only on what’s best for the team, but also what’s best for himself. In the off-season, Stanback should consider swallowing his considerable pride and come to the conclusion to give an honest effort at either wide receiver or running back.
The idea of getting the ball to Stanback on a screen pass or isolated one-on-one with a linebacker has to make the new coaching staff drool. Likewise, Stanback’s speed makes the possibilities of a sweep or end run enticing.
It isn’t an admission of defeat to change positions. Jerramy Stevens, recruited as a quarterback, was a first-round NFL draft choice at tight end. Anthony Allen and Eric Bjornson also arrived at Montlake as quarterbacks and left as NFL-bound receivers.
Stanback is an intelligent, articulate, skilled young man. He can ignore neither his quarterback numbers nor his increasing hesitance at the position.
Stanback would do well to consider doing the same, before the next coaching staff makes the decision for him.
Washington vs. Washington State
Kickoff: 4 p.m., Martin Stadium, Pullman.
TV: ABC (channel 4).
Radio: KJR radio (950 AM), KRKO (1380).
Stars to watch: Washington – Quarterback Casey Paus is hoping to build on his career-high 328 passing yards against Cal. Unfortunately for him, he also tossed three interceptions, making it 14 for the year to just four TD passes. The Huskies need a decent game from tailback Kenny James, who ran for 96 yards against the Golden Bears. Wideout Craig Chambers had his best game as a Husky, with eight catches for 189 yards and his first career touchdown. On defense, senior linebacker Tim Galloway takes over for Joe Lobendahn, who fractured a wrist Saturday. Defensive end Manase Hopoi leads the conference in tackles for loss and is second in sacks. Linebackers Scott White and Evan Benjamin are sixth and fourth in the league in tackles, respectively.
Washington State – Redshirt freshman quarterback Alex Brink is improving, but still completes just 48 percent of his passes and is even in interception/TD pass ratio with five apiece. Tailback Jerome Harrison ran for 247 yards on 42 carries against UCLA and followed up last week with 118 yards on 19 carries against Arizona State. Receiver Jason Hill has a conference-leading 11 TD receptions. Linebacker Will Derting leads the defense with 84 tackles, 48 unassisted.
Breaking down the game: Washington needs to contain Hill, along with Chris Jordan and Trandon Harvey. All three can break big plays. The run defense also has to be pretty stout and has to limit Harrison to fewer than 100 yards. But most of all, the Huskies have to stay away from mistakes. Paus showed promise against Cal, but he still needs to eliminate the interceptions. WSU can force mistakes with a decent pass rush. Special attention must be paid to Chambers, who can create mismatches with his height (6-foot-3) and speed.
Bottom line: Mistakes, as they have been all season, likely will come back to bite Washington. There’s no way the Huskies can win. But this is Apple Cup, where little in the way of logic happens.
Pick: Washington, 12-10.
Other Pac-10 games
Stanford at Cal: The Big Game, which has to be the dullest moniker for any Big Game in the history of sports, has two teams going in opposite directions. Stanford has lost its past four, while Cal has won its past five. Normally in a rivalry game, we’d say it means nothing, but Cal is so good. Pick: Cal, 46-10.
Oregon at Oregon State: Winner gets bowl-eligible. We were high on Oregon until it lost to UCLA last week. Oregon State continues to improve and impress, having won four of its past six. Pick: OSU, 31-30.
Sleeper pick of the week: Michigan 34, Ohio State 0.
John Sleeper is The Herald’s college writer
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