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Sneak Peek: SJSU/UW Richard Linde, August 7, 2006 I was so excited about this upcoming season that I decided to sneak a peek at the opener between the San Jose State University Spartans and the University of Washington Huskies. On paper this game is a push, though Washington has opened as a 19-point favorite. Head coaches Dick Tomey of SJSU and Tyrone Willingham of UW, who have been honored by their coaching peers in the past, took pratfalls in their inaugural seasons with their two teams last year. Tomey (161-118-7) is coming off a 3-8 season in 2005 and a sixth place finish in the Western Athletic Conference. Willingham (67-60-1) finished 2-9 on the season and last place in the Pac-10. San Jose State returns 8 starters on offense, 2 starters on defense, and 2 defensive specialists. UW returns 6 on offense, 8 on defense, and 1 specialist. The Spartans won their last two games of last season, and hope to carry that momentum into the game at Husky Stadium on 2 September. The Spartans lost three games by a touchdown last season which, in the case of their long-suffering fans, translate into three moral victories that morph into hope for this season. San Jose State has had just one (2000) winning season since 1992, when it went 7-4-0. UW hasn't had a winning season since 2002. With only 2 starters returning from a defense that finished eighth in the WAC last season, it would seem that the Spartans have a pressing need to score more points than the other guys. That need could be met by the 8 returning starters on offense; they look to better their total offense number from last season, which was sixth best in the WAC. “We're better at almost every phase than we were a year ago because we've been doing virtually the same thing now for a year and a half,'' Tomey has been quoted as saying. [1]. “We're going to be better. I don't know how that manifests itself in terms of winning and losing, but we're going to be better.'' Willingham might be saying the same thing about last season going into this season if he weren't into homilies associated with coach speak. It's hard for reporters to get a handle on Willingham. The teams appear equally inept in the table below, which presents a statistical comparison of last season’s lamentable play. For example, the Spartans had a passing efficiency of 105.79, finishing 100th best in the nation out 117 Division I-A teams. SJSU was one of 12 teams that failed to complete half of its passes, just 47%. The good news for Tomey is that Washington was one of the worst teams in passing defense efficiency last season, posting a wretched rating of 150.17, which was good for 113th in Division I-A football. The Huskies allowed the opposition to complete 67% of their passes. Junior quarterback Adam Trafalis could have been licking his chops at the chance to get well against the Dawgs if it weren’t for the fact the junior college transfer Sean Flynn had an excellent spring. Trafalis started eight games last season, and will be pushed by Flynn. The starting quarterback slot is up for grabs and, most likely, won't be decided until well into practices. The UW has a solid quarterbacking corps, led by Isaiah Stanback, who is dug in as its starter. The Spartans return an offensive line with four starters from last season that are eager to open some holes for junior tailback Yonus Davis, who was second team all-WAC last season. Davis returned a 95-yard kickoff for a touchdown in the spring game. Center Justin Paysinger, guards John Booker and Marcel Burrough, and left tackle Matt Cantu all return. [1]. On the offensive line, with 42 starts among them from last season, 5 of 8 mainstays are gone at UW, 3 to the NFL. Willingham must cobble together an effective OL against the Spartans or face another pratfall right off the bat. The eleven players who started in one or more games on defense last season offer more hope this season for Spartans fans, the two returning starters notwithstanding. "There are no jobs set in stone right now. Everyone is still battling. Right now, every day, you have to compete. The defense is further along than we were last year. We have a lot of people who didn't play much last year, so everybody is fighting for a job. We're coming along pretty well and jelling," San Jose State CB Trae Jackson said on the conclusion of spring practice. [2]. “Our defense only has a couple starters returning, but a lot of the guys that are ready to step in, are very stout, and can fly to the football. It will be our job as a front seven to take pressure off the defensive backs," says DT Freddie McCutcheon, who averaged nearly one tackle for a loss per game last season. Despite what people are saying, the Huskies should have a distinct advantage on defense when the two teams collide, providing the Dawgs' cornerback issues are put behind them. The Dawgs finished sixth in defense in the Pac-10 last season and because of some incoming J.C. talent and a few position moves look to be stronger on defense this season. Both coaches desperately need an opening win to meet their expectations for the season. In particular, Willingham's goal of winning at least six games, it would seem, depends on a win over the Spartans. Tomey would like to make it three straight wins to continue the streak from last season and bring hope to the land of Sparta and semiconductors. The Spartans began their practices on August 7 and, unlike the UW, all practices are open to the public. Some Trivia: -- Washington leads the series 9 games to none. In their last meeting, the Huskies, in their only win of the season, beat the Spartans on October 9, 2004 by a score of 21-6 at Husky Stadium. In a game dominated by the running games, UW ran for 304 yards to the Spartans’ 161 yards. Both teams combined for 97 total passing yards. UW RB Kenny James had a big day, running for 189 yards, with an average of 7.5 yards per carry. QB Carl Bonnell rushed for 58 yards, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. -- Five SJSU players signed free agent contracts with NFL teams after the 2006 draft. Washington had one player drafted in the fourth round and had five players sign free agent contracts. -- SJSU colors are gold, white and blue. -- SJSU was tied for 91st in the country in the 2006 recruiting battles, according to data on scout.com. UW finished 35th. -- Willingham is 4-3 against SJSU, while Tomey is 4-5-1 against UW. -- When he coached at Arizona, Tomey was named "Pac-10 Coach of the Year," in 1992. At Stanford, Willingham was twice named "Pac-10 Coach of the Year," in 1995 and 1999. References: [1]. Miedema, Laurence, “At SJSU, consistency is what matters,” San Jose State Mercury News, August 6, 2006. [2]. www.sportsline.com. Table: Some lamentable stats (UW has an 8-7 edge)
Richard Linde (a.k.a., Malamute) can be reached at malamute@4malamute.com |
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