2013 Washington Spring Football Analysis

Washington Huskies 2013 ... Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian

Washington Huskies

2013 Schedule
8/31 Boise State
9/7 OPEN DATE
9/14 at Illinois
9/21 Idaho State
9/28 Arizona
10/5 at Stanford
10/12 Oregon
10/19 at Arizona State
10/26 California
11/2 OPEN DATE
11/9 Colorado
11/15 at UCLA
11/23 at Oregon State
11/29 Washington St

Why To Get Excited … the Huskies used a ton of sophomores in 2012 … and they’re all bucking to ascend to a higher level of play this fall. The program is flush with returning starters, especially on defense, where only CB Desmond Trufant leaves a glaring void in the lineup. A half-dozen defenders were named honorable mention All-Pac-12 as underclassmen, lending hope that U-Dub is poised to build on a strong finish for coordinator Justin Wilcox.

Why To Be Grouchy … the offensive line should be healthier than it was last season, but will it be any better? Many of an underachieving offense’s problems stemmed from a banged-up line that finished 102nd nationally in sacks allowed. Sure, QB Keith Price regressed from his breakout sophomore season, but many of his problems stemmed from not getting enough time to set his feet in the pocket. If Price gets proper support from his blockers, TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, RB Bishop Sankey and WR Kasen Williams will form a dynamite trio.

The Number One Thing To Work On Is … Price. In 2011, the Huskies quarterback was +25 in touchdowns to turnovers. A year ago, that number plummeted to +8. While the descent was not all his fault, he was clearly not the same player he was in his debut. If Washington is going to make the trek from mediocrity to North Division contenders, it’ll need a few things to happen. Topping the list will be to get Price right in his final season in Seattle.

Non-Conference Games: Boise State, at Illinois Idaho State
Games Against The South: Arizona, at Arizona State, Colorado at UCLA
Realistic Best Case Record: 10-2
Worst Case Record: 6-6
Likely Finish: 8-4

Pre-Preseason Projected Wins: Boise State, at Illinois, Idaho State, Arizona, Oregon, California, Colorado, Washington State

Pre-Preseason Projected Losses: at Stanford, at Arizona State, at UCLA, at Oregon State

Schedule Analysis: The Huskies have a good enough team returning to beat anyone on the schedule, but they’re going to be tested from start to finish with Boise State coming into Seattle to kick things off and a trip to Illinois potentially tougher than it might seem. Fortunately, there’s a week off before the game against the Illini and there’s a week off against Idaho State before starting the Pac-12 season with Arizona from the South. Missing USC is always nice and getting Colorado is a break, but having to play Arizona State and UCLA on the road is a bad interdivisional break.

The conference fates could be determined by mid-October with a trip to Stanford and a home game against Oregon sandwiched in between the games against the Arizona schools. There’s a good midseason break with California, a week off, and Colorado before having to go on the road to face UCLA and Oregon State. As last year proved, the Apple Cup against Washington State to close out the regular season is never a layup.

Team Concerns For 2013: It was supposed to be a rough season with a tough schedule, and the Huskies managed to rally through it to finish with a winning record. However, the offense didn't work like it was supposed to with a mediocre running game and an underwhelming season from Keith Price. With ten starters returning to the attack, it needs to be more explosive. The defense that finished last in the Pac-12 in tackles for loss and struggled with the pass rush. The punting game was the worst in the conference with Travis Coons averaging under 40 yards per kick and the team netting just 34.8 yards per punt.

The 2013 Class Is Heavy On ... Skill players. A year after loading up on quarterbacks, and two years after bringing in some nice receivers, Steve Sarkisian has come up with a whopper of a class for the passing game. Troy Williams had his pick of places to go, but he'll be groomed to be in the fight for the stating job in a few years. Demorea Stringfellow is a fantastic receiver catch, while John Ross and Darrell Daniels aren't far behind. The defensive line got just as much talent with Joe Mathis for the end and Elijah Qualls at tackle. Jermaine Kelly will eventually become a lockdown starting corner, but getting Patrick Enewally on Signing Day was better. Getting linebacker Keishawn Bierria put a cap on a great offseason.

2012 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 34. That Class Was Heavy On ... Quarterbacks. Everything is fine for the moment with Keith Price firmly entrenched as the main man, and with a good pecking order behind him, but the coaching staff is looking ahead to 2014 while upgrading the depth. Jeff Lindquist and Cyler Miles are big passers who fit what Steve Sarkisian wants to do with his offense, and the receivers will be in place with a good haul last year and a few good prospects coming in this season.

2011 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 20. That Class Was Heavy On ... Receivers. Jake Locker would’ve loved to have had this group to throw to. Austin Seferian-Jenkins is a tall, talented tight end who might could be special very, very soon. Kasen Williams isn’t a blazer, but he’s a big, physical receiver who’ll the team’s No. 1 target when he’s ready. Josh Perkins and Jamaal Jones aren’t going to break any stopwatches, but they’ll fight for the ball. Bishop Shankey could be an interesting back to work into the mix right away. Defensively, the strength is on the defensive front with Taniela Tupou leading a big group.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 10. That Class Was Heavy On ... Linebackers. Steve Sarkisian, with a full year to work, came up with a phenomenal class with the type of infusion of talent to make Washington a player in the Pac 10 race for the next few years. The key piece to the puzzle is Sean Parker, an NFL-caliber safety who was given the full court press by USC, Cal, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Tennessee, but will be the sheriff of the Dawg secondary. Nick Montana, Joe's son, will get a year to groom behind Jake Locker, and Deontae Cooper is the running back the program has been missing. Underappreciated was the pickup of two future All-Pac 10 guards, Eric Kohler and Colin Porter, and DT Sione Potoae, a sure-thing NFL run plugger. Seven linebackers were signed including Chris Young, a big-hitting outside defender, and Victor Burnett, a pure inside linebacker who should become the leader in the middle.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 66. That Class Was Heavy On ... defense. Steve Sarkisian spent almost all of his recruiting muscle trying to rebuild a defense that allowed more than 38 points a game a year ago. Every level of the defense received attention, with special concentration going to the defensive tackles and cornerbacks. Linebackers Tim Tucker and Andru Pulu, in particular, might be good enough to dodge a redshirt year and contribute on special teams and defense right away.