The Washington defense had some ups and downs on Saturday afternoon in their 59–24 win over the Washington State Cougars. The Huskies forced a turnover on the first drive before giving up scores on four straight possessions. The wheels came off for the WSU offense in the fourth quarter when the Husky defense snagged two more turnovers en route to the eventual blowout.
Defensive Line
The defensive line took a step forward in this matchup. The Cougars abandoned the run early as the stingy front allowed just one yard per carry. They made life difficult for quarterback Zevi Eckhaus by collapsing the pocket and preventing him from stepping into throws. It was a big day for Armon Parker, who recorded the first sack of his Husky career. Next week will be the big test of where this unit stands in its development.
Grade: A
Edge
This group showed major improvement in generating pressure on the quarterback. Jacob Lane and Isiah Ward were each credited with half a sack and combined for three additional tackles for loss. Zach Durfee was disruptive all afternoon as well.
Grade: A
Linebackers
Against the run, the linebackers were excellent. The Cougs couldn’t get anything going on the ground. Deven Bryant was caught out of position once when tight end Beau Baker slipped into the flat for an easy 12-yard touchdown. The bigger story was the loss of Taariq “Budda” Al-Uqdah, who had his knee landed on at a bad angle. Head coach Jedd Fisch said the play “didn’t look good” and expects him to miss significant time.
Grade: B
Cornerbacks
This unit was without Tecario Davis, who was injured against UC Davis. His replacement may have emerged. After Leroy Bryant struggled and gave up several big plays, Dylan Robinson stepped in and made an immediate impact. The 6-3 corner was physical in coverage and forced a fumble that all but ended WSU’s threat. Once Robinson entered, the Cougar offense stopped finding success. If Davis can’t go on Saturday, look for big No. 6 to play a major role.
Grade: B
Safeties
Alex McLaughlin has been outstanding in his first year at Washington. He intercepted both of Eckhaus’ passes, returning one for a pick-six. Fellow starter Makell Esteen was steady with four tackles and half a sack.
Grade: A
