Brutal schedule awaits Washington

The University of Washington football program isn’t what it once was. Since splitting the 1991 national title the Huskies have fallen from graces and are in the process of rebuilding a tradition-rich football team.

Head Coach Tyrone Willingham is the man in charge of the resurrection. Red-shirt freshman quarterback Jake Locker is Willingham’s golden ticket and the only thing standing in front of greatness is a brutal schedule for 2007.

Boise State travels to Seattle, Wash., Sept. 8 for the first ever match up between the Broncos and the Huskies. BSU is the first of four consecutive games for UW against teams ranked in the Associated Press top 25. The Huskies follow up BSU by hosting Ohio State, traveling to UCLA and hosting the University of Southern California.

Needless to say, if UW has any hope of staying competitive throughout its grueling schedule the Huskies will have to build on their week-one win over Syracuse University.

“It is exciting to start the season with a win,” Willingham said. “I think it is the first time since about 2001 that we’ve had wins in back-to-back openers so it’s a great start. It was a difficult contest.”

The Huskies traveled to Syracuse looking to start over after a mediocre season in 2006.

Last season UW showed signs of improvement in Willingham’s first season at the helm.

“Having to go across the country, play in a different time zone and play in what we thought was going to be a loud and emotional stadium provided a difficult set of circumstances for our team to walk into,” Willingham said. “Our team handled the situation very well. We got a win and that was the most important part of it.

The Huskies finished the season 5-7 with a big road win at Washington State University.

The Apple Cup victory left hope of a brighter future and helped UW fans look away from the dismal 3-6 Pac-10 record. After starting the season 4-1, UW managed just the one win at WSU in the last seven weeks of the season.

The week-one win over Syracuse (42-12) is a definite stepping-stone for the program. Willingham knows, however, that his team is only 1-0 and the work for the rest of the season is just beginning.

“A win creates excitement and good things can be just as destructive as bad things,” Willingham said. “You think you are better than you are and all of a sudden you get the crap beat out of you.”

Offense

In week-one at Syracuse the Husky offense looked like a well-oiled machine, not an experience-lacking unit led by a first-time starter at quarterback. With all eyes on Locker the Dawgs overcame an early deficit to roll past the Orangemen.
It took Locker a few possessions to get acclimated, but once he gained confidence the Huskies were off and running.

Locker finished the game 14-of-19 for 142 yards in the air. He also added 10 carries for 83-yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns. Locker ran a sub-4.4 40-yard dash, which makes him equally as potent with his legs.

Lining up behind Locker against the Broncos is senior tailback Louis Rankin. Despite only carrying the football 17 times at Syracuse, Rankin finished with 147 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. He broke off a long 47-yarder in the second quarter and still managed to average 6.25 yards per carry.

As a team the Huskies finished with 302 total rushing yards, which is very uncharacteristic in recent history. In 2006 the Huskies averaged 127.9 rushing yards per game. As an offensive unit, UW managed 21.8 points per game. Coach Willingham hopes the combination of Locker and Rankin will help improve both statistical categories in 2007.

Locker’s biggest offensive asset might be his center, fifth-year senior Juan Garcia. Garcia (6-3, 315 pounds) played every snap last year for the Huskies and will help lead the young offensive line.

The Dawgs also return starting right tackle Chad Macklin (6-8, 300 pounds), who played every snap last season as well.
The offensive line returns four seniors with significant game experience. Left guard Ryan Tolar (6-5, 310 pounds) is the only starting lineman that didn’t see any action in 2006. The sophomore started his first game at Syracuse last week.

Defense

Washington has its hands full defensively when the Broncos arrive in Husky Stadium.

Against Syracuse the Dawgs showed incredible poise defensively, tightening up as the game progressed.
The Huskies didn’t allow the Orangemen to cross the goal line until late in the fourth quarter and forced two field goal tries in the first half.

UW maintained stingy rush defense all game long, only allowing three rushing first downs. The Huskies also held the Orangemen to just eight net yards on the ground on 29 carries. If UW has any hopes of slowing down Ian Johnson and the young BSU running back corps the Huskies interior defensive linemen will have to have a big afternoon.

The starting defensive line of the Huskies doesn’t pose overwhelming size but athleticism is definitely a strength of the defense.

At defensive end the Dawgs will start Daniell Te o-Nesheim (6-4, 245) and Greyson Gunheim (6-5, 265). Jordan Reffett (6-6, 295) and Wilson Afoa (6-3, 290) are projected to start at defensive tackle for UW.

The Washington pass defense should be Willingham’s biggest area of concern in week two.

Despite holding SU to 199 passing yards on 20-of-32 passing, UW has been particularly susceptible to the passing game in recent years.

Freshman Vonzell McDowell Jr. (5-9, 176) was thrown at early against Syracuse and provided solid defense at the corner back position.

BSU will likely attack McDowell Jr. on Saturday in hopes of exposing the youngster’s inexperience.

The Players

Louis Rankin
Senior
Running back
6-0, 205

The Dawg bite: The Huskies are hopeful it is time for the fifth-year senior to shine. In the season opener Rankin rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries.

Mesphin Forrester
Sophomore
Strong Safety
6-2, 205

The Dawg bite: Forrester burst onto the scene with a team-high seven-tackles at Syracuse after just two starts last year. Athleticism allows him to play all over for UW.

Dan Howell
Senior
Linebacker
6-1, 225

The Dawg bite: Howell leads a young group of linebackers and played in 11 of 12 games last year (starting 10). He recorded 35 tackles and forced three fumbles in 2006.

Jake Locker
RS Freshman
Quarterback
6-3, 225

The Dawg bite: Locker is already receiving praise as the next great Husky, despite starting only one game at UW. Locker is a double-threat with sub-4.4, 40-yard speed.

Jake Garcin

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