Ahead of Maryland football’s Saturday afternoon tilt with Washington, Testudo Times partnered with Mark Schafer of UW Dawg Pound, Washington’ SB Nation publication, for a Q&A exchange.
Below are Mark’s responses to our staff’s pressing questions about the Huskies.
Q: What do you make of the team’s performance against No. 1 Ohio State? What are your postive and negative takeaways from the contest?
Mark: My biggest takeaway from the Ohio State game was that the Huskies are a middle of the road Big Ten
team, with potential to go into the upper echelon provided the recruiting remains competitive. It was a lot closer than I thought it was going to be, and the defense really prevented all of those Ohio State weapons from having truly gaudy stats. Still, the talent difference was evident in many areas, especially up front. The offensive play calling in the red zone especially left a lot to be desired. It felt like they were playing conservatively and not gambling as much as they should have, but if anything, this was a barometer that shows how far they have to go to be competitive in this conference.
Q: Denzel Boston and Jonah Coleman are extremely talented weapons on the Huskies’ offense. What about their respective games make them so difficult to stop, and where do you envision them being drafted this year?
Mark: Denzel Boston and Jonah Coleman have remained the Huskies’ two biggest playmakers after coming back for another year. With Coleman, he’s a prototypical bowling ball of a back at 5-foot-9 and 228 pounds, with great power and vision in addition to spectacular athleticism. It takes between two and three guys to bring him down, and yet once you do bring him down, he might have about five more yards after first contact. Combine that with a much-improved line, and Coleman has emerged as one of the premier running backs in the country.
Denzel Boston was destined to become the Huskies’ WR1 ever since Fall Camp of 2023, when he was repeatedly praised by Rome Odunze. And for good reason, his height, hands and acceleration have made him one of the best possession receivers in college football and a red zone matchup nightmare for defensive backs. I think Boston could be one of the first two receivers off the board and Coleman could be the first running back, so let’s say Boston goes first round and Coleman goes second round.
Q: What are some important things Maryland fans should know about Washington football? What is its play style?
Mark: Husky football (at least under Jedd Fisch) is very much a pro style program. Jedd’s vision for the program is summed up by the “Be a Pro” mantra, which says if you want to make it to the league, you come to Washington. Fisch runs a distinctly pro style offense, with multiple formations and personnel in different spots. There’s a distinct focus on short passes, play action, and Shanahan-style zone blocking and run schemes, creating an offense that’s fun to watch. Having Demond Williams as the quarterback also helps, as he is an electric athlete with speed to spare! The Huskies also have talented depth at the skill positions, as Adam Mohammad serves as a great backup to Jonah Coleman, and Dezmen Roebuck serves as an electric WR2 as a true freshman. Defensively, Ryan Walters brings a very man coverage heavy scheme, which looked better last week, but has its issues, particularly stopping the run. It’ll be a tall order, as these Dawgs are heavily banged up right now, but I have faith that they’ll continue to improve.
Q: What’s your final score prediction for Saturday?
Mark: This will be the longest the Huskies will have had to travel this year, and as such, it’ll be difficult for them to get their footing right away. But this team has plenty to prove, and will come in hungry for a win to even up their record in conference play. Expect a heavy dose of Demond Williams, Jonah Coleman, and Denzel Boston as the defense does just enough to slow down Maryland’s offense. Washington 31, Maryland 24.
