Washington is looking to bounce back from a 2021 season that was their worst in 13 years. It’s no secret that there are a lot of improvements that need to be made under the new coaching staff. Here are three key stats the Huskies must fix to be contenders in the Pac-12 again.
Yards Per Rush
One of the most glaring stats of the 2021-22 season for the Washington Huskies, was their 3.2 yards per rush. There’s no single reason why UW struggled running the ball last season. From predictable play calling, to poor blocking, inconsistent running back play, etc. There was absolutely no consistency running the ball. The Huskies finished 109th out of 130 FBS team in yards per rush. Washington’s coaching staff has already said they want more out of their running backs and that will continue to be a point of emphasis the rest of spring and fall camp. Under Chris Petersen the Huskies would wear teams down with their physical running attack. It’s time for UW to get back to that.
Rushing Yards Allowed
On the opposite side of the ball, the Huskies statistically were a stout defensive team considering how poorly the offense was. Washington gave up just 22.7 points per game in 2021-22. But the major issue was their lack of run defense. UW gave up 193.6 yards per game on the ground. That ranked Washington 108th out of 130 FBS teams. The Huskies must do a better job getting off blocks. And they must find a few run stuffers on their current roster to help clog up the middle. And maybe not play two deep safeties on every snap? Just a thought. The defense was on the field a lot last season due to the lack of offense but it must improve if they want to compete in the Pac-12.
Passing Offense
Another major issue with the Huskies a season ago was their passing offense. Washington quarterbacks threw 16 interceptions to just 15 touchdowns. Dylan Morris started 11 games and had a 14-12 TD/INT ratio. Sam Huard started the Apple Cup, and threw four interceptions to just one touchdown. The Huskies ranked No. 73 in the nation – passing for just 225.0 yards per game. The good news for UW is Kelen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb bring in a passing attack that ranked No. 9 in the country last season at Fresno State. The Bulldogs passed for 326.7 yards per game. Former Washington QB Jake Haener threw 33 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. By default it seems Washington’s passing offense will be better. But combining the coaching staff and two experienced QB’s, this passing offense should be much improved in 2022.
