Washington Huskies: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
Washington Huskies: Key To The 2022 Offense
Get physical when needed.
Fresno State bombed away with its fantastic passing attack under Kalen DeBoer, but the running game wasn’t totally ignored. It wasn’t effective enough – it only averaged four yards per carry – but the team was 7-0 when it hit the 120-yard mark.
Washington had no consistency whatsoever with its ground game. It went nowhere in the embarrassing loss to Montana, averaged just 3.2 yards per carry on the season, and it failed to get to 100 yards in six of the last seven games.
However, it ran for over 200 yards twice and won both times.
Like Fresno State, the dangerous passing game should take over, but average 4.5 yards per carry and most of the other issues from 2021 will go away.
And the flip side of that …
Washington Huskies: Key To The 2022 Defense
Stop the run.
The Huskies were hammered on for close to five yards per carry, giving up over 200 rushing yards in six of the last eight games and allowed 21 touchdowns on the season.
There’s too much size up front, too much talent in the linebacking corps, and too much to like overall on a defense that was banged up last season but still shouldn’t have been been crushed for 194 rushing yards per outing.
How bad was it? Washington allowed 200 rushing yards or more seven times. It gave up 200 rushing yards six times from 2017 to 2020.
Washington Huskies: Key Player To The 2022 Season
WR Jalen McMillan, Soph.
Can the Fresno native become the go-to No. 1 receiving star?
The Huskies will figure out the quarterback situation – it’s Michael Penix if he’s healthy – but whether it’s McMillan, or Rome Odunze, or Arizona State transfer Lonyatta Alexander, they need the young targets to start doing more.
McMillan had one monster 10-catch, 175-yard game early on against Arkansas State, and he didn’t get to 90 yards the rest of the way.
Washington Huskies: Key Transfer
QB Michael Penix, Jr.
A big-time get for Indiana, he eventually took over the starting job and led the way to a great 2020 season. He threw 24 touchdown passes and just eight picks over 12 games in two seasons, but last year the team struggled, he wasn’t quite as good, and he got hurt … again.
He’s had no luck whatsoever. He tore his knee twice, missed time with an injured clavicle, and last season was knocked out with a shoulder injury. If he’s ready to go and can be close to his normal form again, he’s a difference-maker.
Washington Key Game To The 2022 Season
Michigan State, Sept. 17
Nothing can be taken for granted considering the loss to Montana to start last season, but for this to be a good year the Huskies have to get by Kent State and Portland State to kick things off.
Will this be a team to worry about in the Pac-12? Coming up with a big, splashy home victory over Michigan State would do wonders.
Win this, and with Stanford, at Arizona State, Arizona, at Cal, and Oregon State coming up before November – along with a trip to UCLA – there’s a chance to come up with a massive turnaround before going to Oregon.
Washington Huskies: 2021 Fun Stats
– Red Zone Scores: Washington 35-of-38 (92%) – Opponents 35-of-45 (78%)
– Penalties: Opponents 82 for 735 yards – Washington 52 or 479 yards
– Rushing Yards Per Game: Opponents 193.6 – Washington 98.4
Washington 2022 Preview
Offense, Defense Breakdown
Season Prediction, What Will Happen
Washington Top 10 Players | UW Schedule & Analysis