2013-14 Football Previews – (Pac 12) – Huskies
The Washington Huskies are full of potential, but they can’t quite get over the hump. Steve Sarkisian and his squad have gone 7-6 the last three years, and while they’ll look to improve upon that mark, they’ll also have to prove people wrong who believe they’ve hit their ceiling.
2013 Preview: Washington Huskies (Team Link)
Coach: Steve Sarkisian
2012 Record: 7-6 (5-4)
UW Gambling Odds from Bovada.lv: 150/1
One person who believes they can improve is ESPN’s KC Joyner. Joyner believes that the Huskies can challenge the Oregon Ducks and Stanford Cardinal in the Pac-12 North, noting that a strong four-game stretch in the second half of 2012—and an early win against Stanford—points toward promise in 2013.
The late success in 2012 came from an offense that finally started to put it together, but it could be the defense that comes back stronger. Also, don’t ignore home-field advantage. Last year, the team played its games away from the familiar confines of Husky Stadium—a venue that has seen Washington go 20-7 since 2009.
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This team has a lot of question marks, and while that makes them tough to buy into, it also makes them an intriguing wild card. Success is going to revolve around quarterback Keith Price. Teams all throughout the country rely on their quarterbacks, but in the case of Price, his potential and his production haven’t always coincided.
In 2011, Price threw for 33 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, racking up 3,000-plus yards. In 2012, his interceptions increased to 13, while his scores plummeted to just 19. He threw the ball 70 more times than he did the year before, yet he threw for about 300 fewer yards.
A big part of Price’s struggles came from the offensive line. Health and experience were both a problem, and a lack of protection put the quarterback in a tough spot. The O-line is going to be another variable in 2013. It’s largely the same group that played in 2012, and while that sounds like a recipe for disaster, another year of experience and a hopefully healthy season could be all Price needs to find success.
Also on that side of the ball, a young set of skill players created for inconsistency, but the potential for potency is there. The top tailbacks were underclassmen, and the top six receiving weapons were also sophomores and freshmen. As if this team needs any more variables, off-the-field troubles make Austin Sefarian-Jenkins and Kassen Williams worth keeping an eye on, but if they can stay out of trouble, they’ll team up with Price and tailback Bishop Sankey to create on heck of an athletic attack. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
After watching this team in the spring, it’s clear that the defense has potential. We didn’t see the whole playbook when it came to the new up-tempo offense, but even so, the defense showed that it can be the anchor of this year’s group.
Defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox will have to replace Desmond Trufant, but he has a slew of returners vying to step up. With youth comes potential, and the nice part about having so many underclassmen in 2012 is that they’re turning into experience for 2013.
Washington’s season is going to kick off with a bang one way or the other, as a rematch against Boise State will set the tone. If this team wins its season-opening match, it will reinforce everything it worked on with the new offense. If it loses, it will be a disappointing start to a year with so much potential.
It’s no secret that UW is one giant question mark, and by the time it faces Stanford and Oregon in back-to-back weeks, it had better have some of those questions figured out. If those questions are unanswered when the competition ramps up, another seven-win season is a legitimate possibility. However, if confidence is high, the powerhouses better be on the lookout.
2013 Huskies Schedule:
Sat, Aug. 31 vs. Boise State
Sat, Sept. 14 @ Illinois
Sat, Sept. 21 vs. Idaho State
Sat, Sept. 28 vs. Arizona
Sat, Oct. 5 @ Stanford
Sat, Oct. 12 vs. Oregon
Sat, Oct. 19 @ Arizona State
Sat, Oct. 26 vs. California
Sat, Nov. 9 vs. Colorado
Fri, Nov. 15 @ UCLA
Sat, Nov. 23 @ Oregon State
Fri, Nov. 29 vs. Washington State
