Stanback, here comes the option
Stanback's runs preview future
By: Richard Linde, Posted 26 April 2003

Living in California and headed for the desert tomorrow, I still managed to listen to Washington's annual spring game, which was broadcast live over the web on kjram.com. Although Bob Rondeau and Chuck Nelson made the game sound interesting, I have an idea that the 3,000 fans in attendance were somewhat bored. The Purples beat the Whites, 21-19.

Really, there were no surprises to me, except that QB Cody Pickett had an off day. As far as I can tell, the defense dominated the offense, the running game was feckless, and the punting game was non-existent.

The game matched the Purples (mostly the number one offense and number two defense) against the Whites (mostly the number two offense and the number one defense).

One of the day’s highlights occurred on an option play. QB Isaiah Stanback, who will most likely remain at quarterback in the fall, ran the ball in for a score from 16 yards out--from inside the red zone where the Dawgs have been so inept the last two seasons. On the play, the pitchman, Scott Bellew, froze the linebacker, enabling Stanback to cut inside and dash to the endzone.

To have any sort of running game this next season, the coaches must figure out a way to work Stanback and the option into their version of the West Coast Offense. That might be a difficult task, come to think of it--kind of  like fitting a square peg, with all deference to Stanback, into a round hole.

If Pickett stays healthy, Stanback's role at quarterback must wait until the 2004 season. In the meantime, Isaiah should remain at quarterback, deftly learning his trade, and not be moved to wide receiver as the coaches have contemplated--you know, one of those dumb moves, kind of like moving Willie Hurst to slot receiver. 

Stanback's 34 yards rushing for the day was good enough to lead the White’s running attack. He also threw a screen pass to Shelton Sampson that went for 53 yards and a touchdown, to bring the Whites within one point,  7-6.

After Sampson’s run after catch, Roc Alexander ran the kickoff back 92 yards for a touchdown, another highlight of the game. That made the score 14-6, in favor of the Purples.

Sampson finished the day by rushing the ball 17 yards for the Purples and 23 yards for the Whites. He carried the ball 14 times.

Scott White (LB, 6-1, 230) played a great spring game, with 9 tackles and 1 interception. He had this to say: “Tank's (Terry Johsnon) letting me flow, keeping guys off me...I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Walkon kicker Evan Knudson had two field goals (from 39 and 40 yards) and rooted one kickoff into the endzone. He made three try-for-points.

With 9:15 to go in the game, the coaches flooded the field with third and fourth stringers, and the radio broadcast began to concentrate on player interviews.

Fourth-string QB Felix Sweetman (6-foot-2, 240) performed much more than perfunctorily during those last 9 minutes as far as I can tell. However, Sweetman ended up leading the Purple's rushing attack, accounting for 20 precious yards on the ground--which is not a good sign for next fall when the Dawgs play at Ohio State.

Pickett completed 10 of 20 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. He had two interceptions. His best pass of the day was a 25-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Reggie Williams, who caught 6 passes for 67 yards.

QB Casey Paus completed 6 of 12 passes for 81 yards, while Stanback completed 4 of 9 passes for 82 yards. Both of them, competing for the number two spot behind Cody, didn't wear protective gold jerseys, meaning they were targets for any defensive behemoth who had them in their sights. 

After the game, Rick Neuheisel had this to say. (Note: I think I've got most of this correct, my fingers flailing away at the keyboard during the interview). “The first team offense wasn’t as sharp as they had been this spring…We’re on schedule where we need to be for the Ohio State game. I thought Jimmy Newell did really well. It was great to have Roc Alexander back. He (White) has been one of the pleasant surprises of spring ball. I thought he and Knudson were two of the brightest spots this spring. There’s no question about physical improvement. We’re going to be a much improved team. I don’t think it was his (Pickett’s) best performance of the spring games he's played in over the years. We’re going to count on freshman. Yards-per-carry was not what we wanted out of the first group. I thought Chris Singleton up until today had a great spring.”

Here are some of co-defensive coordinator Phil Snow’s comments. “Well, we’re getting better (defensively). What’s still noticeable is missed tackles. We’re not going to play great defense with missed tackles. We executed fairly well. One player had trouble with the option…The glaring thing was missed tackles today. Missed tackles gives up big plays and big plays get you beat."

Notes:

The Dawgs rushed 64 times for 109 yards, a most pathetic performance. Throw out the quarterback sacks and the Huskies gained 101 yards on 44 carries, which is about what their average-yards-per-carry was last season: 2.3 YPG.

Wide receiver Charles E.T. Frederick said he might be playing basketball again, which is a scoop for Rondeau and company.

The punting game was so poor that a ghost punter handled the punting chores for the last portions of the game. Instead of punting the ball, it was moved 40 yards down field, which is kind of like walking a golf ball to the green and placing it next the hole. Not having a capable punter ready for the spring game is an embarrassment to the University of Washington and its coaching staff, in my opinion.

Untried, true freshman Sean Douglas, from Bellevue, Nebraska, is expected to do the punting next season. Fans are keeping their fingers crossed.