Entering the 2021 season there was a ton of speculation of how good the offensive line would be. With all five starters returning from the 2020 season where the offensive line played relatively well, the Huskies were expecting to have the best offensive line in the Pac 12–in not the the nation.
Unfortunately, the 2021 season didn’t turn out how anybody expected with the offensive line play continuously hurting the team throughout the year.
Through 12 games the team allowed 19 sacks, 57 Tackles for loss, and only averaged 3.3 yards per carry. The offense averaged only 7 explosive plays per game while at the same time having 6 negative yardage plays per game.
Out of 131 FBS schools the Huskies ranked 89th in pass blocking and 53rd in run blocking by Pro Football Focus.
However as bad as the offensive line looked at time, it is hard to know how much of last season’s disappointing offensive line play was due to scheme and how much was on the players.
With an underperforming offensive line and the rest of the coaching staff getting let go, people were curious to see if offensive line coach Scott Huff would be retained.
When DeBoer’s new staff put in the tape from 2021 they must have agreed that scheme was the culprit and not anything rose as Huff was retained. Huff has proven his ability to recruit quality offensive lineman and coach them up into NFL Caliber players.
The offensive line room is thought to be one of the more talented rooms on the team with some of the recruiting classes Coach Scott Huff brought in from 2017-2021. Over that time the Huskies added eight 4-star offensive line recruits, as well as a couple 3-stars who have already developed into quality Pac 12 offensive lineman.
Prior to this season the biggest question mark around position groups was the offensive line. That was partially due to the group’s disappointing play in 2021 and partially due to turnover among starters.
DeBoer shuffled the offensive line deck and redealt the cards.
To start the 2022 season the team was only starting 1 member of last year’s starting lineman even though Luke Wattenberg was the only graduate from last year’s group. The other 2021 starting offensive lineman that did not begin the 2022 in the starting lineup are Jaxson Kirkland (out with an injury), Ulumoo Ale (position change to defensive line), and Victor Crune (currently 2nd string RT).
Week 1 versus Kent St. the Huskies settled on a starting group of LT Troy Fautanu, LG Nate Kalepo, C Corey Luciano, RG Henry Bainivalu, RT Roger Rosengarten. Kent St was a good match up for the first game with this starting group.
Roger Rosengarten stepped up in his first start as the Huskies RT and led the team with a couple huge highlight blocks on outside runs. Overall the offensive line played great holding Kent St to 1 Sack and 2 TFL. Week 2 they picked up right where they left off and dominated the Portland State defensive line for 4 quarters, allowing only 1 sack and 3 TFL with the 1 sack coming against the second string offense.
As week 3 approached it was evident that it would be the first real test for these new starting offensive lineman. Michigan State was coming into this game as the number 1 pass rushing team in the country leading in sacks as well as tackles for loss and forced fumbles.
Spartan defensive end Jacoby Windmon entered the game with the Huskies as the nation’s leader in sacks and force fumbles. As good as Michigan State was coming in to Husky Stadium, Washington matched their ability and then some.
The reworked Husky offensive line held the Spartans to just 1 tackle for loss, no sacks, no QB hits, and only 2 QB hurries.
Troy Fautanu had terrific game, matched up with Jacoby Windmon for a majority of the game the 4rd year junior locked Windmon down.
For his efforts, Fautanu was rewarded as being named Pac 12 Offensive Lineman of the Week.
When Coach Grubb was asked about his offensive line’s performance against Windmon and Michigan State he said “I’m not saying this in an overconfident way. I totally expected that. I did. I would have been disappointed if they didn’t handle him.”
Just three weeks into the season the Husky offensive line has already shown how much improvement they have made from last season. After averaging 7 explosive plays and 6 negative plays per game in 2021 the Huskies have already jumped up to 12 explosive plays versus only 2 negative plays per game.
Through 12 quarters not only have no starters allowed a sack but Michael Penix has not even been hit so far this season. Compared to last season when the Huskies averaged 3.3 yards per carry, the 4.4 yards per carry they are averaging this season is a big improvement. With how well the offensive line has been playing, many are wondering if they will make any changes to the starting lineup once former 1st team all-Pac-12 LT Jaxson Kirkland is healthy. According to coach Grubb the plan is to play Kirkland at LT again once he is healthy, what that means for Troy and the rest of the O-line is yet to be seen.
No matter who is playing at what position it is clear that tremendous strides have been made along the O-line since last season. If they can continue to play at the level they have played so far this season the Huskies will be a very difficult team for any opponent.
