When the Washington Huskies’ defense is the first unit to score most teams will have a hard time keeping up with this team. At this point of the season, no program has come close to containing Washington’s explosive offense, so being down a score (then a second on the punt return touchdown) before quarterback Michael Penix takes a snap is like racing Usain Bolt when he has a 50 meter head start.

Five plays into the game, UW Edefuan Ulofoshio retuned a interception 45 yards for the game’s first score.  He and his cohorts forced a punt on Cal’s ensuing possession that stand-in punt returner Rome Odunze returned 83-yards to give the Huskies a 14-0 lead.

The defense held the Bears’ offense to 19 points before the mass exodus of starters after the 3rd quarter. While there were some plays this unit will review, overall it was yet again a solid performance.

Here are our position grades for Washington’s 59 to 32 victory over California Saturday night:

Defensive Line

Two weeks in a row the defensive line has been tasked with stopping a high quality running back. This week it was Jaydn Ott carried the ball 14 times for 40 yards and touchdown.

There were no holes for this running game to get going. Faatui Tuitele got his first reps of the season making a quartet of giant run stuffers up front.

Agian Ulumoo Ale, Tuli Letuligasenoa, and Jacob Bandes made life difficult for offenses in the trenches.

Grade: A-

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Edge

Just because the sack numbers aren’t there for Bralen Trice does not mean he isn’t making an impact. He is consistently moving quarterbacks off their spot and out of rythm.

Washington’s defenders had a whopping 20 QB pressures.

He hurried Finley all night and was held on no less than ten snaps. Zion Tupuola-Fetui continues to impress with explosive movements. His offsides penalty did cost the defense a drive that ended in a touchdown.

The question is the depth, Voi Tunuufi has been very impressive and so has Sekai Asoau-Afoa, but at times Finely had way too much time to work with—in part to the blind eye the refs were turning to offensive holding.

Grade: B+

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Linebackers

I make the case that the linebackers were the best unit on the field. the top three Alphonzo Tuputala, Edefuan Ulofoshio, and Carson Bruner all had fantastic games.

Obviously, Eddie’s interception set the tone for the entire contest, but Bruner’s quarterback hurry late in the first quarter forced Finley’s second interception of the day when he fluttered a ball to the sidelines that Dominque Hampton snagged that led to a field goal.

Grade: A

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Cornerbacks

The highest of high and some of the lower grades go to the secondary. Jabbar Muhammad continues to be the most important transfer on the defensive side.

He was draped all over receivers the entire game and came up with his first interception in purple and gold.

Thaddeus Dixon gave up the first two scores of the game. He was in good position and got a hand on the ball first touchdown to Jeremiah Hunter.

On the second on to Taj Davis he was in good position but didn’t get the lift on his leap which could have easily been an interception. His pick-6 was called back because of a incidental hand on the face mask.

Mishael Powell had a few tough plays deep down the field. Other than those few plays the Corners played well.

Grade: B

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Safeties

The safeties the smoothest game of any of the position groups. They were in good position, made plays in the run game and recorded another interception.

Kamren Fabiculanan was back in the lineup and had a tackle for loss.  Vincent Nunley has gotten better in the last three games.

However, the star of this room against Cal was Dominique Hampton.

In addition to chasing down the fluttering pass from Finley that was intended to go out of bounds, he doled out some serious punishment throughout the game.

Grade: A-