http://washington.247sports.com/Article/Pac-12-Preview-The-Ups-Downs-and-In-Betweens-46914110
PAC-12 Preview: The Ups, Downs, and In-Betweens
NORTH:
- Washington (-)
- Stanford (-)
- Washington State
- Oregon
- California
- Oregon State
SOUTH:
- USC (-)
- Utah (-)
- UCLA
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Arizona State
Washington
- Returning starters: 8 offense 9 defense
- Last season: 4-5/7-6
- Average: PF 398 PA 244
- Schedule: @UA @Oregon @Utah @Cal @WSU
- Won bowl game: Yes
The Huskies are the team I cover, of course, but a little sanity is called for right now on this hype train in the media. It's been my opinion for quite some time that they were still a year away from reaching the heights they haven't seen since they went in the tank in 2003. But others seem to have a lot of confidence in this Husky team. If not in the team, then in the coach. You give a lot of talent to a guy like
Chris Petersen, then championships will be won and fans will remember what it was like to be Top Dawgs. New fans will discover new joys, and they all lived happily after... The question is: Is it still too soon to expect such things in 2016? The Huskies return 17 starters, and nine are on a defense that only allowed 16 points per game on the average in 2015. Gone are
Travis Feeney,
Taniela Tupou, and Corey Littleton. But back are
Elijah Qualls,
Greg Gaines,
Vita Vea,
Azeem Victor,
Keishawn Bierria, and arguably the best secondary this side of the Mississippi. Offensively the biggest loss is WR
Jaydon Mickens, but
Jake Browning is back at QB,
Myles Gaskin at TB,
Dante Pettis at WR, and big time speed with WR
John Ross and
Darrell Daniels. Washington is one good offensive line away from making a national title run. If this OL, that returns just about everyone, shows up and consistently executes, then watch out. This is an offense that is going up against the conference's best defense week in and week out in practice. Back in the old days this is why Washington was consistently a winner. And this is why defense wins championships.
Schedule: The Huskies have a generous OOC schedule this season, opening at home against Rutgers, followed by Idaho and Portland State. The Pac-12 opener at Arizona will be an immediate challenge because the Huskies beat the snot bubbles out of the Wildcats last year and so Rich Rod's squad will be looking for retribution. But then the fun starts when Washington hosts Stanford in a Friday night game. This could be a huge stepping stone in a championship run in the North. Followed, of course, by that trip to Eugene. But these current Huskies aren't the least bit intimidated by Oregon or Autzen and believe they can win. Last year the Husky defense slowed a strong Oregon offense to the lowest yards all season. After Oregon the Huskies get Oregon State at home, followed a tough road trip to Utah, then Cal. The Huskies will come back home to play USC, who they beat last year, and then Arizona State, who they haven't beaten in 9 seasons. The Apple Cup could be judgement day this year. If it were in Seattle, then it might not be as much of a challenge, but it's in Pullman. The Huskies have the best shot at winning if it doesn't snow. Remember all those years when the Huskies would be on a conference championship run and then come to Pullman and get spoiled by the Cougs?
Key to Success: As stated above -- this is going to be about the offensive line for the Huskies. Controlling the line of scrimmage isn't a daunting task for these Huskies, not as long as they do it on the offensive side of the ball and do it consistently.
