Two weeks into the college football season, two ugly wins for Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies after an ugly 16-14 victory over the Utah State Aggies on Saturday.
Here are three things we took away from the win.
1. There Are Real Concerns on Offense
Even without their top two running backs, the Huskies' ground game was borderline non-existent. Demond Williams Jr. led the team in rushing for the second straight week, taking 11 carries for 56 yards. The quarterback's day on the ground was highlighted by a 36-yard run that put the Huskies in the red zone; yet it stalled and ended in a field goal. While freshman Brian Bonner Jr. led the running back room in carries, he and transfer Trey Cooley each mustered just 22 yards.
The run game wasn't the only issue, though, as the offensive
line struggled again to establish dominance up front. After not allowing a sack a week ago, the Huskies allowed 2 sacks and 5 tackles for loss. Although some of the shortcomings in the run game can certainly be chalked up to an inexperienced rotation of backs, the open running lanes were minimal throughout the entirety of the game.
To put the icing on the cake, Washington had a case of the drops, all of which came in critical situations. In the first quarter, Cooley found himself wide open on a fourth-down play, one that likely would've resulted in a 30-plus-yard touchdown. However, the sixth-year back was unable to haul in the reception. Wide receiver Dezmen Roebuck also had an uncharacteristic day with a pair of drops, including one late in the fourth quarter that could have iced the game for the Huskies. Instead, the clock stopped following the incompletion, leading to Utah State having an opportunity to get the ball back with a minute remaining.
2. The Run Defense is Among the Best in the Big Ten
For the second straight week, defensive coordinator Ryan Walters and his front seven played hero, holding the Aggies to just 75 yards on the ground. The Huskies were able to force pressure against quarterback Grady Brosterhous, recording 3 sacks to go along with 8 tackles for loss. Safety Alex McLaughlin was the star of the show, filling up the stat sheet with 9 tackles, 2 sacks, a pair of pass breakups, and an interception.
The Aggies' backup passer was also their leading rusher, carrying the rock 21 times for an impressive 81 yards. Outside of Brosterhous, Utah State's run game was non existent, posting -6 yards between their two running backs. With Big Ten play just around the corner and the offense in disarray, the ability to force turnovers and get pressure in the backfield could be a key factor to staying in games throughout the season.
3. Freshman Wideouts Find Their Way Into Rotation
With Christian Moss out due to a soft tissue injury and Rashid Williams going down in the first half and not returning, the freshmen duo of Trez Davis and Jordan Clay saw significant playing time. The tandem tied for the second-most receptions in the game with four, with Davis collecting 44 yards receiving and Clay with 42.
With the running game struggling to find an identity and Demond Williams still looking for a solidified weapon in the passing game outside of Roebuck, the two skillful pass catchers could prove to be reliable options depending on the status of Moss and Williams. Either way, their performances were one of the few positive takeaways from Saturday's offensive performance.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Three Takeaways From Washington Football's 16-14 Win Over Utah State
