In the second game of the season, Michigan football will host Washington, and here are five things you need to know about the Huskies.
This week, Michigan football will host Washington on Saturday night in primetime. A few weeks back, I previewed Washington before the start of the season. However, after one week a lot has already changed. Here are five things to know about Washington.
Washington have may a QB controversy
In some ways, Washington’s quarterback room is similar to Michigan’s. Like Cade McNamara, Dylan Morris is the Huskies’ redshirt freshman starter who earned playing time last season the before arrival of the heralded five-star.
For Washington, its five-star true freshman quarterback is Sam Huard, the Huskies version of J.J. McCarthy. The Huskies also have a grad transfer quarterback in Patrick O’Brien from Colorado State like Michigan quarterback Alan Bowman, who transferred in from Texas Tech.
However unlike Morris, McNamara was composed, efficient, and got the Wolverines into whatever they wanted on offense. He finished 9 for 11 for 136 yards and 2 TDs.
Morris started off 22 for 31 against Montana but he finished 27 for 46, 226 yards, and 3 interceptions. Morris was too comfortable checking the ball down, which led to his paltry 4.9 YPA. He only completed three passes of 15 yards or more.
Morris is billed as a game manager but he did not protect the football against Montana, which included the back-breaking interception on Washington’s final possession. Washington head coach Jimmy Lake said Dylan Morris is still his starting quarterback, but that will not stop fans from calling for a change.
Huskies fans will want to see the five-star Sam Huard, who is also an UW legacy. Huard is listed as a co-backup with O’Brien for now. If Michigan football forces a change at quarterback in-game for Washington, it will probably mean Saturday’s game is going well.
Huskies will be short-handed at wide receiver
Washington’s loss was not all on Morris as the Huskies started the game without receivers Terrell Bynum, Jalen McMillan, and Rome Odunze. Texas Tech transfer Ja’Lynn Polk caught a pass on the first play of the game, left the game with a chest injury, and did not return.
Polk underwent emergency surgery and Washington probably will not have him back until their bowl game. Meanwhile, the injuries for Bynum, Odunze, and McMillan have been classified as “week-to-week.” You can infer they will be out against Michigan as well.
If the Huskies are again without their top four receivers, its passing attack will be severely limited. Washington only listed four scholarship receivers on this week’s depth chart, Michigan transfer Giles Jackson, Taj Davis, Jabez Tinae, and Sawyer Racanelli.
The Huskies may have to turn to walk-on David Pritchard and former wide receiver Alex Cook for additional snaps. Against Montana, Washington’s wide receivers struggled to win against man coverage. We know the Wolverines will run a heavy dose of man coverage.
To mask its limited receiver depth, Washington could run more 12 and 22 personnel to get more two tight ends sets on the field.
Washington does have one of the best tight ends in the country in Cade Otton. He will be the focus of the Wolverines game plan after hauling eight passes for 82 yards against Montana. Michigan football will have options in defending him with both Daxton Hill and RJ Moten on the field.
Washington has a great offensive line. . . or so we thought
Washington left tackle Jaxson Kirkland was a first team All Pac-12 selection a year ago. Right guard Henry Bainivalu Jr., center Luke Wattenberg, and right tackle Victor Curne were All Pac-12 honorable mention selections. All of them returned this season and it was thought Washington would have one of the best offensive lines in the Pac-12 as well as nationally.
With the addition of redshirt freshman left guard Julius Buelow, Washington’s offensive lines goes about 6-foot-6 and 317 pounds across the board. Yet against the undersized Montana defensive line, Washington’s offensive line struggled mightily.
Montana only sent six or seven man rushes on 22% of snaps but it was still able to get home. Morris was sacked three times and pressured 16 times, which may have led to his tendency to check down so much since he was getting hit so often.
The Huskies particularly struggled on the interior. According to Pro Football Focus, Buelow (24.7), Wattenberg (54.2), and Bainivalu Jr. (51.1) all had pass blocking grades below 60, which is suboptimal against a FCS opponent.
The running game was not much better. Buelow (57.0), Wattenberg (58.3), and Bainivalu also had run blocking grades below 60. Running backs Richard Newton and Cameron Davis combined for 21 carries for 70 yards (3.33 YPC).
It will be imperative for Washington to run the ball to be successful on offense with its receivers situation. Michigan’s run defense was okay against Western Michigan, but the Wolverines only had three tackles for loss and the Broncos were able to get the second level a few times.
If there is ever a game for Chris Hinton, Mazi Smith, and Donovan Jeter to step up and dominate against a marquee opponent, this is the week.
Washington has an elite secondary
The Huskies have sent several defensive backs to the NFL in recent years including Byron Murphy, Sidney Jones, Budda Baker, and Elijah Molden. Next in line for the Huskies are corners Trent McDuffie and Kyler Gordon. McDuffie is already projected as a first round pick in next year’s NFL Draft.
Against Montana, Washington secondary was again looking like it would be elite in 2021. The Huskies held Grizzles quarterback Cam Humphrey to 12 of 23 for 105 yards, just 4.6 yards per attempt.
The Huskies also record five pass breakups, including a pivotal one in the redzone leading to a field goal. Washington knows its secondary is the strength of its defense and tries to get as many defensive backs on the field with its 2-4-5 scheme. The Huskies keep opponents guessing by mixing up its coverages.
Washington having a top notch secondary is particularly significant in light of the news that leading receiver Ronnie Bell will be out for the season with a knee injury. Michigan football still has talent at wide receiver, but it is largely inexperienced.
The Wolverines will not be able to replace Bell’s leadership, but the only way the young receivers will gain experience is by playing.
A.J. Henning, Roman Wilson, Daylen Baldwin, and Mike Sainristil will be tasked with replacing Bell. Michigan’s wide receivers will face a tough test in its first game without Bell.
Michigan football can run on Washington
Washington starting down defensive lineman Tuli Letuligasenoa and Taki Taimani take up a lot of space on the interior of its defensive line along with. Along with defensive lineman Faatui Tuitele, the Huskies have three 300 pounders in its defensive line rotation.
Despite all the mass up front, Washington’s defense is suspectible to the run. Last season, Washington gave up 161.3 rushing yards per game. That number ballooned to 203 rushing yards per game without outside linebacker Ryan Bowman.
Bowman was back against Montana and the Grizzles managed 127 yards on the ground, however, they were timely. Running back Xavier Harris ripped off a 37 yard run on the first series of the game to set a tone. Running back Isiah Childs had a key 12 yard run to ice the game in the fourth quarter.
Michigan football ran for 335 yards against Western Michigan and should have some confidence after last week. Exploiting Washington’s run defense could be key in opening up the passing game for Michigan.