Room for Optimism?
19 July 2005

In this article, Malamute and T. H. from Orange, California exchange e-mails concerning the Dawgs' chances for this upcoming season. Is there room for optimism? Last in the country in both scoring and turnover margin, the UW offense needs an infusion of speed, talent, focus, discipline and toughness. This article is all about the Dawgs' offense. (RB Kenny James is pictured left).

T.H. of Orange, California writes:

Just read your overview of what needs to be done this year. Legitimately, what do you think the Huskies record will be this year?

Mal’s reply to T.H.

The Huskies need to fuel a punch-less offense with some high octane gas. However, look for a conservative team that runs the ball often and throws high-percentage passes. That should cut down on the turnovers that devastated the team last year. Finding some playmakers on both offense and defense is a necessity.

Realistically, the Huskies have a shot at beating Air Force, Idaho, Oregon State, Arizona and Washington State.

I’m hoping for at least a 3-8 season. Anything better should be a considered a good start for Tyrone Willingham’s program.

Most pre-season publications rank Washington either ninth or tenth in the Pac-10.

T.H. responds to Mal:

I agree to an extent, but with a much improved (Isaiah) Stanback starting most likely at QB, don't you think the Huskies have potential for more?  I agree their record is most likely going to be around 3-8 or 4-7, but I think if Stanback plays well the potential is fairly high, since the defense appears to be strong.  Stanback did not get a good enough shot last year, and I feel if he had played more, we would have beaten UCLA (L 37-31) and Washington State (L 28-25), especially with the way (Craig) Chambers started to play towards the end of the year.  What do you think?

Mal’s reply to T.H.

If the Dawgs can muster a decent running game, any of their quarterbacks should do just fine – even Casey Paus. Isaiah Stanback could be brilliant, something like Marques Tuiasosopo, if that should happen.

Without a solid running game to support him, Stanback’s alleged limitations come to the fore: (1) mental mistakes, and (2) passing inaccuracy. The danger is in asking him to do too much, as was asked of QB Carl Bonnell in the Stanford game last year. Because they both run the ball so well, Stanback and Bonnell are susceptible to injury if they’re asked to carry the offense on their shoulders, as witnessed last season with Bonnell.

Aside: At wide receiver, Stanback, an outstanding athlete, could have that Sunday look about him.

Sophomore quarterback Johnny DuRocher has the best arm, according to the experts, and might see considerable action if Stanback doesn’t cut it for one reason or another. The durable, experienced Casey Paus is waiting in the wings, and with all things considered, gives the Huskies added strength at quarterback. Being more the victim of last season’s implosion rather than its detonator, Paus brings smarts to the table and can be counted on to help the quarterback situation. After all, he is a fifth-year senior. I’m thinking of Rick Neuheisel during his fifth year at UCLA when he came out of nowhere to lead the Bruins to the 1984 Rose Bowl and victory. Until then, the fuzzy-cheeked, ruddy-complexioned Neuheisel looked like a high-school water-boy on a coaching mission, that omnipresent clipboard adding stature to his boyish looks.

Incidentally, most of the veteran members of this year’s team are his recruits, and for that he did well. I remember Rick battling Bob Toledo (UCLA) to get Clay Walker, who should start at left guard. Rick also fought hard for Stanley Daniels, who most likely will start at right guard.

When he recruited Stanback, Rick said that he was the best quarterback he'd seen on tape that recruiting season.

Basically, the UW offensive linemen aren’t too shabby, considering their pedigrees. Senior RT Rob Meadow is ready for a good year, DL Manase Hopoi having taught him well. By now, Rob's caught on to Manase's "tricks," the ones Manase used to get around him during a Spring football game a few years back.

Sr. Tui Alailefaleula (LG, 6-4, 340) has the talent to be an excellent lineman, according to what former coach Keith Gilbertson said about him last season. Guys like "Tui" are sleepers in the trench who could muscle their way into the starting lineup.

Sleepers committing themselves to being the best they can be could give the offense the impetus it needs, and unexpectedly. I'm expecting Senior Ty Eriks (6-2, 235) to have a good year at fullback and, also, for Sr. James Sims (FB, 6-1, 205) to have an outstanding last season -- along with giving Joe Toledo a whopping on the chess board. Yeah, Joe, knuckle your King over. The Dawgs really need these guys to come through.

Coach Willingham’s emphasis on focus and discipline should help reduce the number of turnovers and mental mistakes. Offensive coordinator Tim Lappano is determined to run the ball, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The coaching staff knows a solid rushing attack is the backbone of the West Coast Offense.

The offensive line has depth, as do the running backs and wide receivers, so there is room for optimism.

Tight end could be a weakness. Formerly a tight end, Joe Toledo has been moved to weak side tackle. Last season, in two tight-end sets, Toledo, positioned along side departed weak-side tackle Khalif Barnes, was a people mover. After Barnes went down, the running game suffered.

In Toledo's absence, that leaves Rob Lewis (So., 6-3, 225) and Dash Crutchley (Jr., 6-6, 255) to carry the load at tight end.

The Huskies have potential playmakers on offense in Stanback, wide receivers Corey Williams and Craig Chambers, and running backs Shelton Sampson, Chris Singleton, and Louis Rankin. Kenny James is a nice inside runner to have. We’re all waiting for Willingham to unveil Johnie Kirton, of whom former coach Keith Gilbertson simply beamed about when I mentioned the size of his recruits last year. “I’ve got a 275-pound running back,” he exclaimed, his eyes flashing as if he’d just won the lottery.

Because of last season’s lack of output, no one expects the Huskies’ offense to do much this season; for that reason, the 98-pound-weakling Dub could surprise a big Kahuna or two, especially after it's had sand kicked in its face, in what I hope is an unlikely scenario, by those robot-like zealots from Colorado Springs. Cal and Notre Dame, both of whom trip to Husky Stadium early on, might be in for unexpected battles regardless of what happens with the Air Force. Cal has lost QB Aaron Rogers and Notre Dame has lost Willingham – I’m not being facetious in the latter case. Willingham is a better coach than people think.

Honestly, the odds are against the Dawgs. I'm thinking of the coaches’ laments here, about the lack of speed in certain areas of the team and about a lack of toughness on the line of scrimmage. However, Willingham is shrewd and cagey; you can’t trust that "paint-dry-Ty" image. And remember his keeping the media away from the Spring practices adds more uncertainty to what one might think of as Dawg-gone certainty.

Seattle's most vocal Husky hater, columnist Art Thiel, won't kick sand in Ty's  face this season, for Ty's father, as an octogenarian, once tore a house down with his bare hands. Solely for that reason, having a coach blessed with the best of DNA-given aplomb should add amusement to this season's media circus.