SEATTLE — “The Jetsons” first aired in 1962 and was set in futuristic 2062, with everyone from rowdy pet dog Astro to bumbling patriarch George flying around.
The cartoon went on to run through the 1980s, ending in 1987, six years before Washington nose tackle Danny Shelton was born.
Yet, here Shelton was referencing the space-age cartoon and it’s bedrock companion “The Flinstones” when talking about Washington’s defensive personnel groups Wednesday.
Against spread-out and speedy Illinois, Washington often sent in The Jetsons. It’s a light and swift personnel grouping designed to be more mobile. Defensive end Hau’oli Kikaha is the heaviest member at 250 pounds. He plays inside from his typical end spot.
The Flinstones are a jumbo package fill with defensive tackles like Shelton and Lawrence Lagafuaina.
The light personnel is something defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox sketched out in the preseason and specified for the game against Illinois. The Huskies were often naked over the ball against the Illini.
Throughout the first half, Illinois tried to throw against the package. It didn’t work.
In the second half, the Illini shifted to running out their first-half formations, something they had not done earlier in the season. They found success with it.
“There are times where we might be a little bit softer at the point of attack not only because we might be in a certain pass-rush front but because our biggest guy out there is 248 pounds,” Wilcox said. “There’s just physics involved at that point.
“You’re going to give a little to get a little. We knew we were giving up weight and if they did decide to run the ball we were going to have make some plays getting off a block.”
Of Washington’s 10 remaining regular-season games, nine will be against teams that run some variation of up-tempo or spread offense. Even Idaho State will to try to force tempo.
“You’re always going to give and take,” Wilcox said.
Because of that schedule, the Jetsons will feel like a rerun by the end of the year.
Still banged up
Starting middle linebacker John Timu was limited in practice this week, wearing a no-contact yellow jersey when he left the field Tuesday and Wednesday.
Timu bruised his rotator cuff late in the second quarter against Illinois and did not play the second half. If he can’t play Saturday, which seems the case, senior Thomas Tutogi is likely to start at middle linebacker with the Huskies likely to rotate in others, including Princeton Fuimaono and Shaq Thompson.
Looking to rebound
Redshirt freshman running back Dwayne Washington had two carries and two fumbles last Saturday against Illinois.
He had the ball knocked loose on his first fumble and let the ball go for his second while his leg was being awkwardly bent underneath him.
“I kind of let it get to me and I kind of released the ball,” Washington said.
It was a hard road reality for Washington in his first appearance away from Husky Stadium.
“Just being at a different stadium, my first time being on the field somewhere else, there was a lot of distractions,” Washington said. “I just let it all get to my head.”
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