Can the Washington defense stop anyone?
Everyone nationally is sold on the offense but can the defense continue to improve with an influx of young talent?
To assess Washington's prospects based solely on the quality of its quarterback is to declare the Huskies the Pac-10 favorite, for Jake Locker is as good as they come in college football. The Huskies will score, but will they stop anybody? As good as he is, Locker can't do much standing on the sideline.
Jake Heaps was 10/11, 86 yds, 2 TDs, 1 int during day three of camp for the Cougars. He is competing with Riley Nelson for the starting job who was 4/6, 63 yds, 3 TDs; 6 rushes, 48 yds. Looks like Riley is a little more mobile but reports coming out of Provo say Heaps is throwing the ball well.
With players in "shells" (helmets/shoulder pads) for the first time, QBs Jake Heaps and Riley Nelson each threw a pair of touchdown passes in "Blue Zone" drives that began at the opposition 20-yard line; a fifth blue zone series was led by James Lark and ended with Bryan Kariya taking a handoff from the three-yard line for what would have resulted in a touchdown under game conditions.
Which Husky veterans improved the most in the off season?
Several Huskies used a strong spring to catapult themselves into the thick of the battle for starting jobs when fall camp opened this week.
When it comes to playing time, the most opportunities appear to be on the defensive line. While Sarkisian continues to be impressed with prized freshman Sione Potoa'e, veterans like Matthews and Ta'amu have done their best to hold him off. Ta'amu has lost 25 pounds since the end of last season, thanks to a little extra motivation from the coaching staff, and now he's No. 1 on the depth chart at the nose guard position. "I only have two years left (at UW), and the coaches asked me what I wanted to be remembered here as," said Ta'amu, who now weighs 325 pounds. "So I worked toward that. I have a family, and I want to take care of them."
Who is going to be the starting QB at Oregon?
This is going to be a battle that may last into the season. Fr QB Bryan Bennett is also getting a long look during camp because Kelly insists he will play this year.
"There's no question Jeremiah was a dynamic guy with the ball in his hands,'' Greatwood said. "Are (Costa and Thomas) Jeremiah? No. But I think Darron is a faster guy, a bigger guy, who can probably do as many things downfield. I think Nate's been as good a decision-maker as there is. Whoever ends up being the guy there, they're both going to have their strengths, and we'll look at, adjust and adapt and give them a shot to make the same plays that Jeremiah did.''
Will Washington State be better in 2010?
The Coug's will be improved but they are extremely young.
Two days into camp and it’s obvious this Washington State football team is better than its counterparts from the past two years. It’s bigger in spots it needs to be bigger. It’s stronger in spots it needs to be stronger. It’s faster most everywhere. But all that comes with a caveat...