Defensive coordinator Steve Belichick has done an excellent job revitalizing the Washington Huskies defense, which ranks inside the top 10 nationally in scoring and total yards allowed. A lot of that is thanks to his scheme’s ability to allow players to fit roles that maximize their talents.
Nobody has benefitted more from this than senior linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala.
The product of nearby Federal Way is one of the few returning starters from 2023’s run to the national championship, and he has been extremely productive in his revamped role. After strictly lining up at inside linebacker in 2023, Tuputala has moved all over the formation, taking a majority of his snaps aligned as an outside linebacker/edge rusher.
He moves extremely well at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, and playing closer to the line of scrimmage has maximized his athleticism and ability to act as a game wrecker. Tuputala is among the team leaders in pressures, as Belichick has utilized his speed on stunts where he’ll ask defensive tackles to slant to the outside and take on multiple blocks, which leaves a hole available for the linebacker to exploit in the middle of the offensive line.
That has led to 2.5 sacks already for him this season, just short of his career-high of 3 from 2022. But Tuputala has also been maximized as a run defender.
He’s Washington’s No. 2 leading tackler behind Carson Bruener, and he’ll have to have a big game for the Huskies to contain the No. 10 Michigan Wolverines’ running game, which is led by running backs Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards and is one of the best in the Big Ten.
As the Huskies look to get back on track inside a sold-out Husky Stadium on Saturday, Tuputala will be one of the biggest keys to success.
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