When the Kent State game was added to the schedule it looked like a gimme. Then a certain FCS team with a Grizzly mascot came in and held the Husky offense to 7 points. Were the Huskies looking to a big game the next week against a team from Michigan and forgot to prepare for the Montana Grizzlies?
Winning by 1 point in what is usually two weaker opponents in an C, B, A formulated pre-conference schedule. C-representing the weaker of the three being a lower-level FBS or middle to upper-tier Group of 5 team like Portland State, with a B representing Kent State-quality opponent, and an A-type opponent such as Michigan State.
With the kickoff of a big game against a team from the Great Lake State less than two weeks away when he takes his Huskies onto the field, expect that
“There’s enough of film on DeBoer’s teams from other stops that he doesn’t need to hide anything,” said 4th and Inches Network’s Trevor Mueller. “I expect the game to be somewhat vanilla, but with only recently naming a starting QB it will be important to find an offensive rhythm.”
A rhythm that the Husky offense found last season was ineptitude, finishing the season on a 4-game losing streak that started with Jimmy Lake’s final game as head coach–against the Oregon Ducks, no less.
“A win over Kent State won’t exactly wash out the bad taste of 2021, but it will start the ball rolling in the right direction,” Mueller said.
Covering the 23-point spread that Washington is favored by would be an important signal Mueller said on his Washington-Kent State preview show.
With the majority of the roster signing up for Chris Petersen, this isn’t a Washington team that needs to learn to win; it’s a team that must remember how to win.
“There’s no real culture shock like going from the Steve Sarkisian-era to the Chris Petersen-era, just schematic changes,” noted Mueller.
Trap game?
“Kent State is a great opportunity to get the offense clicking and dial up some different looks on defense–just don’t get caught looking two weeks down the road,” Mueller said.
