The Washington Huskies pass rush has been impactful all season long. Although the group has just 14 sacks, it has consistently caused pressures and hurries through the team’s first seven games and against an Indiana Hoosiers offense that leads the nation in scoring at 48.7 points per game and is No. 11 in passing, picking up 310.3 yards per contest.
Most of that has been due to quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who has operated at an elite level for coach Curt Cignetti, but Rourke will be unavailable against the Huskies due to a thumb injury, leaving the offense in the hands of backup Taven Jackson. Jackson does have four starts from 2023 under his belt, but he threw 5 interceptions in those games and could be forced into some bad decisions if pressured.
That’s much easier said than done against an Indiana offensive line that has allowed just 7 sacks in 2024, the third-best mark in the Big Ten. But Washington has the scheme and talent necessary to find success.
Defensive coordinator Steve Belichick is getting back one of his best pass rushers, Zach Durfee, who has been limited since the start of Big Ten play with a toe injury.
“We do feel good about having Durfee back,” Fisch said on Monday. “We do feel like he’s an impact player when he’s played.”
The Huskies have a deep rotation of edge rushers who have the ability to contribute, and one that Washington’s coaching staff is expecting to take on a bigger role is sophomore Isaiah Ward, who leads the team with 3 sacks but hasn’t seen as many snaps as someone might expect for a player with his stat line.
“That’s been more based on the type of teams we’re playing,” Fisch said. “We’ve been playing a heavy run group of offenses when you look at really from the Northwestern game on. Northwestern, Michigan, Rutgers, all those teams have been very much heavy run-based. Isaiah Ward’s greatest trait is his ability to rush the passer.”
“This is a big game for Isaiah Ward,” he continued. “This team knows how to run and pass really, really well. This is a great opportunity for a guy like Ward.”
If Ward and Durfee can lead the way and put consistent pressure on Jackson, that could go a long way to a potential upset of the Hoosiers.