Washington Huskies Preview 2022: Offense
Did you like the 2021 Fresno State offense? It finished 14th in the nation overall, averaged 33 points and 327 passing yards per game, and now the coaches who helped make that all go are in Seattle. Head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb know how to get an attack moving.
Washington’s offense was 114th in the nation, there wasn’t any ground game, and turnovers were a major problem. So how can the new guys turn everything around in a hurry?
It starts with an offensive from that was a major disappointment and now needs the right starting five to emerge. Jaxson Kirkland is one of the best left tackles in the country, and the right side should be okay if Matteo Mele can handle the tackle job so Victor Curne can work inside. The front five was okay in pass protection, but now it has to start blasting away.
The running backs are there. Leading rusher Sean McGrew is gone after rushing for 434 yards and eight scores last season, and in comes Wayne Taulapapa from Virginia – he ran for almost 1,200 yards with 19 touchdowns over the last three years. Also transferring over is Aaron Dumas, a quick back from New Mexico who ran for 658 yards and two scores for the Lobos.
It would’ve been nice if Jake Haener was ready to run the fun. The one-time Washington star get went to Fresno State, came up with a brilliant season in 2021, was going to transfer over with DeBoer, and then went back to Fresno State. The cupboard is hardly bare.
Leading passer Dylan Morris is back – he threw for 2,458 yards and 14 touchdowns with 12 picks – and Sam Huard is an intriguing options, but Indiana transfer Michael Penix will be the main man as long as he can stay healthy – he hasn’t had a lick of luck with injuries over his career. If he’s 100%, he’s a dynamic veteran playmaker.
The receiving corps has enough parts to make this go, even with deep threat Terrell Bynum leaving for USC. Leading target Jalen McMillan is back after rolling for 470 yards and three scores on 39 catches.
Rome Odunze is the led the team with 41 catches with four scores, and TE Delvin Cup should be able to pick of the slack with Cade Otten gone catching 20 passes for 222 yards and a score.
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Washington Huskies Preview 2022: Defense
The defensive coordinator combination of William Inge and Chuck Morrell might need to fill in some gaping holes, but the defense should be okay after finishing second in the Pac-12 overall and No.1. in the nation in pass defense. However …
Yeah, the pass D was amazing, but 1) star corners Kyler Gordon and Trent McDuffie are off to the NFL, and 2) the stats were great because everyone spent so much time running the ball on the front seven.
6-1, 313-pound Tuli Letulgasenoa is a veteran big body on the inside along with 304-pound Kuao Peihope. there’s more size ready to rotate in. The huge plus is getting back star pass rusher Zion Tupola-Fetui on the edge after missing most of last season, if he’s back to form, the line will be better in a big hurry.
The linebacking corps lost leading tackler Jackson Sirmon to Cal, but it’s absolutely loaded. Cam Bright made 177 tackles with 9.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss in four years at Pitt, and Kristopher Moll made 232 tackles with 12 sacks and 27 tackles for loss with five forced fumbles at UAB – but missed most of last year hurt.
They’re good, Carson Bruener is turning into a superstar coming off a 70-tackle freshman season, and the hope is for tackling machine Edefuan Ulofoshio to be back soon from injuries that cost him a bulk of 2021.
And then there’s the secondary.
There’s no replacing what McDuffie and Gordon to do, and losing key backup Jacobe Covington to USC doesn’t help. UC Davis transfer Jordan Perryman was an All-American talent at the FCS level making 63 tackles with a pick and 12 broken up passes last season.
Dominique Hampton will make plenty of big plays as a hybrid safety/linebacker in the Husky role, and Alex Cook and Asa Turner are veteran safeties.
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