With a full week under their belts, there appears that the Washington Huskies are looking more and more like a Big 10 contender in-the-making.  As the Husky world turns, much of moving on from a 7-win season will hinge on quarterback Demond Williams.  He does have some weapons beginning with Jonah Coleman in the backfield and All-American candidate receiver Denzel Boston.

Listen in as 4th and Inches as RealDawg’s Trevor Mueller and I discuss the answers Husky Nation has had.  In an answer that will certainly surprise, is Mueller’s answer on what UW’s best position is:

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/husky-podcast/episodes/Fall-Camp-Update-e36g8fj/a-ac3bfnm

Will Washington’s lines improve to put them in the 5 in the Big 10?

In reality, Washington was nearly a 10-win team last season.  Literally, the outcome of a single play in 3 games determined their fate.  Flip those plays and UW is top 5 in the conference.  So, to say that Washington’s lines needed a major overhaul is a bit of a stretch, in my opinion–they just need to continue to improve.

Alas, Landen Hatchett anchors an offensive line that appears to be much closer to a putting a player or two onto the all conference lists.  Defensively, there are questions more than concerns.  As RealDawg’s Trevor Mueller said after practice on Monday, this defensive front won’t be pushed around by Iowa and Penn State last season.  The health will determine how far they will progress.

 

Will a freshman receiver crack the starting lineup?

No. Quite simply, no.  There’s a technicality to that answer.  You asked if “a” receiver will crack the starting lineup.  I think that two freshmen will be starters throughout the season.  Dezmen Roebuck, the state of Arizona’s record holder for career receptions with 352 (an absolutely insane number for an average of 88 each high school year).  There’s als0 Raiden Vines-Bright and Chris Lawson who have made statements.

According to Mueller, Penn State transfer Omari Evans finally has a passing offense to help take care of his talents and is likely the number 2 receiver after Denzel Boston.  Rasheed Williams is tightening his grip on a 3rd spot, meaning that with 4 and 5  receiver sets the freshmen will have opportunities to move up.

 

Outside of Jonah Coleman, is Washington’s running back room good enough for the conference’s upper echelon?

Adam Mohammad is more than a serviceable running back.   He looks bigger, faster, and stronger, but what we’ve seen so far is that he’s quicker and more decisive with his cuts.  There are a lot of great running back rooms in the conference, but just with those two backs Washington fans should feel secure.

Then, throw into the mix Jordan Washington, who is probably the fastest player on the team, and there’s probably your 3 most productive backs on the team.  We’ll see how the Huskies deploy 6-2, 230-pound Julian McMahan, but his size in short-yardage situations could prove to be the key to flipping the one play.

 

Am I wrong to feel like Washington’s defensive backfield is its best and deepest position group?

Best?  Yes, you’re wrong.  Deepest?  You’re correct.  Best would be the starters at running back and quarterback.  But deepest in the defensive backfield is more difficult to define because Jedd Fisch stated that he’s going to be putting the best 5 or 6 DBs out there.  This is a fierce competition that will last the entirety of Fall Camp.

Two positions are set with cornerbacks Tacario Davis and Ephesians Prysock with red shirt freshman Rahshawn Clark making a run at the “menace” position (not an official title).  In fact, it seems like Clark has inspired the entire defensive backfield to be more aggressive–maybe that’s Coach Richardson’s aggressive nature rubbing off on the room.  Either way, Dyson McCutcheon is making a run at one of the 3 remaining spots along with Leroy Bryant.  Makell Esteen has been a solid compliment to the CBs, along with several other veterans.

Where do you see Washington’s biggest improvement?

Bigger, faster, stronger–yes, but more unified in Jedd Fisch’s second season.  He has his finger in every pie from the new nutrition, to the new player’s room, to the new tunnel, to the music being played.  He’s more of a player’s coach than I think a lot of people realize.  I’ve never heard him drag a player’s name