By JOHN SLEEPER
Herald Writer
SEATTLE – A lot of individual factors are giving the Huskies a startlingly better pass rush than they had last season.
Beter coverage in the secondary and better push up front is forcing pass protection to break down. The Huskies have 12 sacks so far this season, just one fewer than they had all of last year.
“Guys are just getting off quicker,” UW defensive coordinator Tim Hundley said. “We’re getting better push from the inside guys. If there’s no push, all you do is step off, and the outside guys can never get a sack.”
Corners Anthony Vontoure and Omare Lowe also are providing better pass coverage than the Huskies had last season, forcing the quarterback to hold onto the ball longer.
Defensive tackle Larry Tripplett’s three sacks against Colorado equaled the number 1999 sack leader Mac Tuiaea had all last season.
“It’s been great,” Tripplett said. “When I’m bearing down on a guy, all I’m saying is, ‘Don’t throw it; don’t throw it.’ Lately, I’ve been getting to him.”
Tripplett leads the Huskies with five sacks; linebacker Derrell Daniels has three.
While it has been effective in some respects – the Huskies lead the Pacific-10 Conference in rushing at 190.7 yards a game – Neuheisel prefers what he calls “a hot back” to carry the load almost exclusively.
Now, he said, he will rely on running backs coach Wayne Moses for assessment.
“I don’t see any reason to deviate from where we are,” Neuheisel said.
Among the tailbacks, none has more than 27 carries or fewer than nine.
The Oregon-Washington game will be a sellout. The last of the University of Oregon student tickets were sold Monday and standing-room-only tickets were sold out weeks ago … In the Ducks’ 17-game win streak at Autzen Stadium, they have scored 42 points or more nine times … The UO offensive line has allowed just four sacks in the Ducks’ four games. On the other side of the ball, opponents are completing just 37.5 percent of their passes against the Oregon defense.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.