The Huskies finally got their bye last week, and it’s been a well-known fact that injuries were a detriment to the 2018 season.
[icon name=”chevron-right” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Hunter Bryant injured before fall camp
[icon name=”chevron-right” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Trey Adams’ back problems
[icon name=”chevron-right” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Nick Harris was in and out during the season
[icon name=”chevron-right” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Jared Hilbers was in and out
[icon name=”chevron-right” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Myles Gaskin got hurt
[icon name=”chevron-right” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Jordan Miller hurt
[icon name=”chevron-right” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Shane Bowman hurt
[icon name=”chevron-right” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Myles Bryant hurt
[icon name=”chevron-right” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Quinton Pounds out
(If I forgot anyone, it’s because there were too many to remember)
Then throw in Amandre Williams leaving the team, Chico McClatcher leaving the team, etc. etc. Wow (in the words of Sly Stone).
Given what I’ve already said here, you’d think this was all about injuries — but the fact is that this team needed a mental break more than a physical break.
Ever since 2016 when the Huskies were shot out of a cannon and make the playoffs, this team, its senior class, its coaching staff, and even the event planners have had more mental pressure to win than anyone realizes.
Oh — forgot to mention that in 2018 the Huskies changed offensive and defensive coordinators too. And while other schools do the same, the Huskies have been pretty regimented for four years straight under Chris Petersen and this was a bigger change than it appears.
Petersen, himself, has even pressed. No matter what anyone says — whether it was the right move or wrong move — pulling out Jake Browning in the Cal game was way out of character.
Petersen said he wanted to give the offense “a spark”.
Even though Petersen said he would have liked to have had a bye earlier in the season, given the way the North has played out, it worked out for the team to have their bye two weeks before the last two games.
Not only did they need a physical break, Petersen said they needed “to get out of this building” for awhile.
As bad as Husky fans and college football fans want to take shots at Washington on Twitter or Facebook about how they played up until now, let’s take a look at the 2018 Huskies have done:
[icon name=”chevron-right” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] The loss to Auburn: A touchdown called back on an offensive pick play. That could have won that game.
[icon name=”chevron-right” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] The loss to Oregon: A missed kick. A 37-yard chip shot.
[icon name=”chevron-right” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] The loss to Cal: Coach Petersen pulled out Browning and put in Jake Haener threw a pick. Take that pick away and the Huskies would have won that game 10-6.
So as poorly as Washington has seemingly played — those three losses were because of mental errors. They haven’t been blown out — or beaten badly. One little detail and they’re undefeated.
The Utah game was their best defensive game of the year: They were on the road, and Utah had their starting quarterback and starting tailback in the game — and that same team that dominated Oregon was without both those guys.
And the defensive performance against Oregon — at Oregon, even after Oregon had a bye the week before — that was a very, complete offensive game. Jake Browning was the best quarterback on the field that day, despite the overtime loss.
Washington now has the opportunity to win out and go to the Pac-12 championship game — probably to face a team they’ve already beaten this season.
The mental rest was just as big — if not bigger — than the physical rest. They’re capable to winning out — they know how the beat Washington State (and the Cougars have been in a favorable position for the North the past two seasons going into the Apple Cup). This isn’t a new thing. The only thing new about is that Washington is in second place this year.
First, they must get by Oregon State. Jonathan Smith knows this Washington team inside and out — so it’s not a gimme.
But as someone who covers this team? Getting the mental rest makes me feel a whole lot better — these are rivalry games — Washington will be up for them.
Washington has the talent and this means a lot to a senior class who faced Alabama in the playoffs two years ago and tasted that Pac-12 Championship win.
Ikaika Malloe has used the words “get your mind right” on the field for many years — those words completely ring true in terms of what’s gone on in 2018 with the entire team — and now is when it counts.
