The Washington Huskies face the Texas Longhorns tonight in the Alamo Bowl. There are an abundance of storylines of the ties between but when the football begin flying, executing and adjusting game plans will be all that matters.
Former Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian now leading the Longhorns facing the team he rescued from the ashes. Three coaches later he will be locking horns with another offensive mastermind, Kalen DeBoer.
Here three things Washington needs to do to beat the Longhorns.
Key Number 1: Improved Linebacker Play.
Junior inside linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio missed the first 8 games of the season. When he returned against he returned he helped Washington take down it’s 3 biggest rivals: Oregon, Oregon State and Washington State. Against the Ducks, in Eugene, Oregon no less, he had the biggest defensive play of the season without even touching the ball carrier.
On 4th and short he caused running back Noah Whittington to slip in the backfield. If the defensive QB can return to pre-injury form it will go a long way in helping out the Husky defensive efforts.
Key Number 2: Go off script offensively. Pop in the tape of Washington’s lowest scoring output this season and it’s former defensive coordinator and now Cal head coach Justin Wilcox. The Golden Bear D held the Huskies to 28 points by continually dropping 7 or 8 players into coverage.
Washington will need to have a good ground game, one that at least makes Texas respect the run, to bring more defenders close to the line of scrimmage.
Key Number 3: Get into the head of Texas QB Quinn Ewers.
The Texas passing game is a work in progress. Washingtons edge rush game needs to make Texas QB Quinn Ewers uncomfortable in the pocket. Getting hits on him early in the game will be just as important as getting him to the ground.
Between edge rushers Bralen Trice, Jeremiah Martin, Zion Tupuola-Fetui, and Sav’ell Smalls the Huskies can have fresh bodies getting after Ewers all game long.
There will be external pressure for Ewers as the number 1 player for the 2023 recruiting class, QB Arch Manning will be watching, and looking to take his job next season.
There’s If Washington can get into Ewers’ head early it could be a long night for the Longhorns.
