SEATTLE — It will be a day-to-day kind of week for a handful of Washington Huskies football players who were banged up during UW’s 45-20 loss at Oregon on Saturday.
That list is headlined by starting quarterback Cyler Miles, who left the game and was tested for a concussion on the sideline. UW coach Chris Petersen said during his Monday press conference that Miles displayed “concussion-like symptoms,” and that he’ll be closely monitored throughout this week — but the plan is still for him to start this week against Arizona State (7:45 p.m. Saturday, ESPN).
“Plan is that,” Petersen said, “but like I said, we’ll take one day at a time with him.”
And, too, with starting tailback Dwayne Washington, who left the Oregon game with a chest injury.
“Dwayne was out there today (at practice) running around there with us,” Petersen said. “Little bit sore, but we’re hopeful. I think we have a few guys that we’re hopeful for and it’ll be game-type decisions depending on (how they) come back tomorrow and the next day.”
Redshirt freshman tailback Lavon Coleman isn’t in that group. And that’s good news for the Huskies. Coleman left Saturday’s game with an apparent injury, but Petersen said “I think he’s better than a game time decision. I think he’s feeling pretty good today.”
Petersen also said he’s not considering playing redshirt freshman Troy Williams, now the team’s backup quarterback, over Miles if Miles is healthy. Williams relieved Miles against Oregon, completing 5-of-10 passes and rushing for 28 yards on five attempts, including a 7-yard touchdown run.
It was the most extensive action of Williams’ young career. And Petersen thought he fared pretty well. But Miles is still, unequivocally, the Huskies’ starting quarterback.
“I don’t think we’ve got to that point yet,” Petersen said in response to a question about giving Williams a series or two. “You start getting into the rotating quarterbacks and those types of things, and I don’t think any coach really loves to do that. But you do like to get those other guys some work.”
Of equal concern is the Huskies’ running game, which totaled just 133 yards on 36 carries against Oregon and for much of the season has failed to produce the way Petersen envisioned.
That’s particularly alarming considering four of UW’s five starters on the offensive line are in their fourth or fifth year in the program.
“Guys just have to play better. That’s the bottom line,” Petersen said. “We’ve got to block better, give our backs a chance to get something done. Then when we do, we’d like our backs to be able to get out and get loose a little bit. I think it hurt having Dwayne out of the mix, because he does get to the second level. He’s got some pretty explosive speed, and that hurt us a little bit.
“I think when you play a team like Oregon you get exposed in some ways. You really do. You can really see where your issues are. You can see how you match up talent-wise. That’s what you want your team to look like talent-wise. And how did we match up? Some places we matched up pretty well, some places we didn’t. I think you can get exposed on your attention to detail. Because even if the talent’s not right, are you doing your technique and your assignments just right? And even if you’re getting whipped physically, hey, you shake their hand and move on.”
Extra points
Washington’s Nov. 1 game at Colorado is scheduled for a 10 a.m. Pacific Time kickoff, and will air on Pac-12 Networks. Petersen said “7:45 is more of an issue. We’re morning guys, so 10 a.m. shouldn’t be as much of a problem as the late-late. The later games are just hard waiting around all day long. That’s hard. I think everybody likes to get up, get ready, go play.” … Petersen said senior receiver Kasen Williams, who has just six catches in seven games this season, might line up at slot receiver more. “We try to move him a little bit inside, maybe a little bit more as an inside slot receiver. Try to get him the ball outside, tried to make the tough play. Those things happen. That’s a hard one. You guys ask that every week, and we do, too.”
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