Washington Huskies defensive coordinator Steve Belichick showed off his elite scheme that allows pass rushers to thrive in Washington’s 30-9 victory over Eastern Michigan on Saturday, as the defensive line racked up 7 sacks of Eagles quarterback Cole Snyder.
2.5 of those sacks went to senior edge rusher Zach Durfee, but he was far from a one-man wrecking crew. Sacramento State transfer Deshawn Lynch was another important piece of the puzzle, even though he played just 16 snaps in a defense that allows edge rushers to thrive.
“It plays to everybody’s strengths,” Durfee said after the win. “We do a great job of putting people in a position where they’re good, and we all trust in it. All 11 guys on the field trust in what we’re going to do…It allows a lot of guys to play fast.”
The 6-foot-5, 292-pound Lynch looked like an extremely effective pass rusher in multiple facets. He showed off power, speed, and technical discipline, hitting home on a sack of Snyder on a tackle-end stunt where he came through unblocked. But that wasn’t his best play of the afternoon.
A few plays before the sack, Lynch had arguably the best rep of any Washington pass rusher so far this season. He picked up an Eastern Michigan tackle on a bull rush and walked him back into Snyder, who was able to escape, but Lynch showed why he was a priority target for Jedd Fisch’s coaching staff in the transfer portal.
As one of the more experienced players at the position, Lynch has also developed into a leader who has helped rally the troops and inspire his teammates.
“Deshawn came in and has been working his tail off,” Durfee said. “He’s been a great teammate, and there’s nothing more that you can ask for than when transfers come in and fit the culture, and they buy in and don’t complain about anything and just work hard, you just love to see that. So it was great to see [Lynch record a sack].”
As the season goes on and Belichick continues to figure out his rotation at the position, Lynch looks like he could be a vital piece of Washington’s pass rush.