UW Dawg Pound - UW Fall Camp Preview 2015All I Blogged Was Purplehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51197/uw-fav.png2015-07-31T08:58:17-07:00http://www.uwdawgpound.com/rss/stream/87637662015-07-31T08:58:17-07:002015-07-31T08:58:17-07:00UW Fall Camp Preview - Quarterbacks
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/A4z00XKOpooOtHEfsEu5_bIrjRI=/0x0:2902x1935/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46872628/usa-today-8097242.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Year two of the Chris Petersen Era begins like year one did - with uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position.</p> <p>With the retirement of <span>Cyler Miles</span> and the transfer of <span>Troy Williams</span>, the Huskies once again find themselves entering the fall with little experience at the quarterback position and no clear-cut leader for the job coming out of the spring, although it seems that redshirt junior <span>Jeff Lindquist</span> holds at least a slight lead over redshirt freshman KJ Carta-Samuels, true freshman Jake Browning, and junior Tony Rodriguez (who wasn't enrolled for spring). There is certainly talent and potential in this group, but someone has to step forward to maximize it and give the Huskies better production from this oh-so-critical position in 2015.</p>
<p><b>Who's Gone (2):</b></p>
<table style="text-align: center; " width="602" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<colgroup> <col width="96"> <col width="49"> <col width="43"> <col width="53"> <col width="54"> <col width="49"> <col width="35"> <col width="47"> <col width="41"> <col width="58"> <col width="35"> <col width="42"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="20">
<td style="text-align: center; " width="96" height="20">Name</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="49">Year</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="43">Att</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="53">Comp</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="54">Yards</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="49">%</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="35">YPA</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="47">TD</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="41">INT</td>
<td style="text-align: center; " width="58">Rating</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="35">QBR</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="42">AQBR</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td style="text-align: center;" height="20">Cyler Miles</td>
<td style="text-align: center; ">RJr</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">219</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">329</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2379</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">66.6</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7.29</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">17</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">142.4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">48.4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">49</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td style="text-align: center;" height="21">Troy Williams</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RFr</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">23</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">36</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">176</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">63.9</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4.89</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">93.8</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">15.3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center; "> </p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Following the conclusion of the 2014 season, Cyler Miles took a voluntary leave of absence that extended through spring practices and in to the offseason. He ultimately decided to retire from football due to a hip injury that had plagued him since high school and apparently didn't heal properly after the surgery he had prior to enrolling at the University of Washington. Miles made the difficult decision that life after football was more important than a couple of more years on the field, and will remain as a student at Washington.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Miles' statistics in 2014 weren't bad by any stretch, but he struggled with some of the throws needed to fully open up the Husky offense. How much of that was due to his injury, his mechanics, or an overly conservative game plan has been the fodder for much offseason debate. He wasn't able to become a playmaker with his legs, almost undoubtedly due to the injury he played through all season. In every respect but the velocity he generated on the football, Miles was far more "young" than he was "limited," and his future was much brighter than his past.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Troy Williams made the decision to transfer immediately following his redshirt freshman season, and I really wonder how he feels about that decision given the way that the UW QB battle has gone since that time. By all accounts, including head coach Chris Petersen's, Williams had supplanted Jeff Lindquist as the backup quarterback by the seventh game of the season (after Lindquist was given the starting nod in game one while Miles served a suspension) against Oregon, and began what this author at least hoped was a bright future at Washington in game eight against Arizona State while Miles recovered from a concussion. But it wasn't to be, as game-time conditions included the all-too-common Seattle rain, but coupled with winds that reached more than 60 miles per hour that night. Williams struggled with the conditions, as all QBs would, but there seemed to be more than just the weather that he dealt with. Petersen was diplomatic in his comments about Williams, but after that night, he wouldn't see the field again, and announced his intent to transfer shortly after the conclusion of the season. Had he known of Miles' imminent retirement, many wonder if he would have made the same decsion ...</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Who's Back (2):</b></p>
<table style="text-align: center;" width="634" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<colgroup> <col width="112"> <col width="48"> <col width="42"> <col span="2" width="51"> <col width="46"> <col width="47"> <col width="44"> <col width="38"> <col width="54"> <col width="51"> <col width="50"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="20">
<td width="112" height="20">Name</td>
<td width="48">Year</td>
<td width="42">Att</td>
<td width="51">Comp</td>
<td width="51">Yards</td>
<td width="46">%</td>
<td width="47">YPA</td>
<td width="44">TD</td>
<td width="38">INT</td>
<td width="54">Rating</td>
<td width="51">QBR</td>
<td width="50">AQBR</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td style="text-align: center;" height="20">Jeff Lindquist</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RJr</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">30</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">162</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">33.3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5.4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">89.7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">44.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">42.1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td style="text-align: center;" height="21">KJ Carta-Samuels</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Rfr</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" colspan="10">no statistics - redshirted the season</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: left;">With Miles serving a one-game suspension for the UW's opener at Hawaii, Jeff Lindquist earned the starting nod. After finishing an efficient but unspectacular first half (outside of one very nice throw to <span>John Ross</span>), Lindquist and the entire Husky offense struggled to find yards either through the air or on the ground. As the pressure from the Warriors' defense front mounted on Lindquist, the game plan in the second half included more rolling pockets and true rollouts for Lindquist, and he never appeared to get settled. The complete lack of any help from the running game added - greatly - to this.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">One game does not a career make, and many quarterbacks have struggled in their first action. So, as with Williams, that Hawaii game on the road isn't a great barometer for Lindquist moving forward. But that the offense struggled so mightily against such a weak defense was certainly disappointing.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Lindquist was brought in a couple of times to run the ball out of a pseudo-Wildcat look, and managed two touchdowns against Georgia State. He was also brought in to throw end-of-the-half hail maries on a couple of occasions, narrowly missing John Ross on the Frozen Tundra of the Palouse. (Side note: He threw a great ball to Ross - one of the best pure passes of the season - but that it was dropped shows just how difficult those long passes are to complete. Even against air. Or, in this case, the Cougar secondary. Just a low percentage pass no matter what.)</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">By almost every account, Lindquist has the lead for the QB position heading in to fall camp. The margin of that lead is up for debate. Lindquist possesses a very strong arm, and is a good runner. He seems to fit the Petersen Mold of protecting the ball and taking what the defense gives him. All of the physical tools are there. If the mental aspects of playing the quarterback position follow, then Jeff - who is an intelligent and well-grounded person - is poised to have two very good years leading the UW offense.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">KJ Carta-Samuels redshirted the 2014 season, and picked up Offensive Scout Player of the Year honors. This spring, he was neck-and-neck with Lindquist, but likely finds himself on the wrong end of that battle at this time due to a slightly higher propensity to turn the ball over. Like Lindquist, Carta-Samuels possesses a linebacker's build, and was known for his abilities as a runner in high school more than as a passer. By all accounts, he's developing well in that regard, and if he can show a mastery of the offense in the fall, could usurp Lindquist as the starter in September. On the road. Against a good team. After not playing any real football for around 20 months. Gulp.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Who's New (2):</b></p>
<table style="text-align: center;" width="426" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<colgroup> <col width="106"> <col span="5" width="64"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="20">
<td width="106" height="20">Name</td>
<td width="64">Year</td>
<td width="64">Ht</td>
<td width="64">Wt</td>
<td width="64">Stars</td>
<td width="64">Elite 11</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Jake Browning</td>
<td>Fr</td>
<td>6' 2"</td>
<td>205</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21">Tony Rodriguez</td>
<td>Jr (JC)</td>
<td>6' 3"</td>
<td>185</td>
<td>Unrated</td>
<td>No</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Jake Browning was the crowning jewel of Coach Petersen's 2015 recruiting class. And after a record-setting high school career that saw him throw for nearly 17,000 yards and 229 (!) TD's, he enrolled in time for spring practices at Washington. Browning isn't the running threat that either Lindquist or Carta-Samuels are, and to be quite honest, I was very surprised (pleasantly) to see him listed at 6' 2" and 205 pounds. But at the high school level, he showed very good pocket awareness and the ability to both slide and step up in order to buy extra time to get the ball down the field.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">While his peers were trying to learn how to shave correctly (no, that peach fuzz goatee doesn't really work with your bone structure) and score dates for the prom, Browning was attempting to evade JoJo Mathis and keep the ball away from <span>Budda Baker</span>. And he struggled with interceptions this spring. But make no doubt about it, Browning is the future of Husky football. He just seems to "see" the game differently than any of the other QB's on the roster do. The biggest question for him is if the future is right now, or a year or two down the road. Many Husky fans really hope he's afforded the opportunity to redshirt, which is likely why ...</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">... Tony Rodriguez was added after National Signing Day as a late addition to the roster. An All-Conference performer at City College of San Francisco, Rodriguez committed in early June. He's a junior with three years to play two, so he may very well end up redshirting (and hopefully adding a pound or two to that frame). Rodriguez is a heady quarterback, as evidenced by the fact that of the 18 TD's he threw last year at CCSF (against only four interceptions), 11 came on audibles he called at the line of scrimmage. While not a true runner, Rodriguez is sneaky-athletic, and can use his feet. An apt comparison would be Jake Plummer during his time at Arizona State in the mid-90's.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">While there are still significant questions surrounding this position for the Huskies, we'll start to get some answers in a little over a week's time (or not, since fans don't actually get to know anything about the team anymore). There's a substantial amount of talent at this position, but a dearth of experience. No matter who wins the job, a team that's living on the margins on offense needs positive play and an increase in production from the QB position in 2015 to meet the modest success of 2014. And since it's the offseason, and we're all filled with hope, here's hoping that a player emerges that can lead this team on and off the field.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Crisp, cool days like this one make me think of football. It's just about that time, folks. GO DAWGS!!!</p>
https://www.uwdawgpound.com/2015/7/31/9073457/uw-fall-camp-preview-quarterbacksBrad Johnson UW2015-07-27T08:00:02-07:002015-07-27T08:00:02-07:00UW Fall Camp Preview: WR/TE
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<img alt="WR Jaydon Mickens" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/i0Z26T8Qgi3ltwtY5R-U_qKM4OA=/0x61:2744x1890/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46784920/usa-today-8313243.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>WR Jaydon Mickens | Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Washington boasts a talented, well-stocked and balanced group of tight ends, but is particularly young and not nearly as balanced at wide receiver. Will the Huskies lean on that talent at TE to bolster the passing game this fall?</p> <p>It's a Tale of Two Position groups for the Huskies when looking at the receivers. At tight end, they boast talented players at every class level with a nice mix of bigger bodies and faster catch-and-run types; at wide receiver, they return just two experienced upperclassmen and only four scholarship players with experience, and they are somewhat lacking in the bigger-bodied receivers you'd like to have at the X (split-end) spot. The coaches will be looking to newcomers to help fill in the gaps, and they might decide to get creative with the TE group and utilize more 12 and 22 personnel.</p>
<h4>Who's Gone (5):</h4>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="445">
<colgroup> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4266; width: 90pt;" width="120"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 995; width: 21pt;" width="28"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1450; width: 31pt;" width="41"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 9102; width: 192pt;" width="256"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt; width: 90pt;" height="19" width="120"><b>Player</b></td>
<td style="width: 21pt;" width="28"><b>Pos</b></td>
<td style="width: 31pt;" width="41"><b>Year</b></td>
<td style="width: 192pt;" width="256"><b>Stats</b></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Kasen Williams</td>
<td>WR</td>
<td>Sr</td>
<td>20 catches/189 yards, 9.4 avg, 2 TD</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">DiAndre Campbell</td>
<td>WR</td>
<td>RS-Sr</td>
<td>24 catches/231 yards, 9.6 avg, 1 TD</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Michael Hartvigson</td>
<td>TE</td>
<td>RS-Sr</td>
<td>5 catches/65 yards, 13.0 avg, 0 TD</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">John Ross</td>
<td>WR</td>
<td>RS-So</td>
<td>17 catches/371 yards, 21.8 avg, 4 TD</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Kendyl Taylor</td>
<td>WR</td>
<td>RS-So</td>
<td>18 catches/146 yards, 8.1 avg, 2 TD</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Attrition of the unwanted kind hit the WR group this off-season as Kendyl Taylor opted to transfer and John Ross re-injured his leg and will be redshirting this season. That leaves the Huskies with just four scholarship wide receivers with experience heading into fall camp. <b>Kasen Williams</b> attempted to come back from a gruesome lisfranc injury to his left foot but appeared slowed early in the season and never quite seemed to fit in to the flow of the offense. There were flashes here and there where he showed some of his pre-injury form (Arizona, WSU, Oklahoma State) but overall it must have felt like a bit of a disappointing ending to the former 5-star Parade All-American and Husky legacy.</p>
<p><b>DiAndre Campbell</b> was given a shot at playing a 5th year by Coach Petersen after the previous staff encouraged him to move on after 2013, and while Campbell wasn't setting any records, he provided a steady veteran presence on the field and in the locker room and was arguably the best blocker in the WR group. His 24 catches in 2014 placed him 3rd on the team in that category.</p>
<p><b>Michael Hartvigson</b> found himself overshadowed during his career by Austin Seferian-Jenkins, and while he never quite emerged as a big-time receiving threat, he did develop into a quality in-line blocker on the edge of the line and contributed a few timely catches in 2014.</p>
<p>While there was much debate over the move of <b>Ross</b> to CB midway through 2014, there was no question that he represented the most electric play-maker on the team on offense and the coaching staff had already decided to return him to WR this year. While he still exhibited a tendency to dance around too much at times, he also displayed his explosiveness as he led the team with his 21.8 yard average on his 17 catches, four of which went the distance. His loss will be a blow.</p>
<p><b>Taylor</b> seemed to have settled into a permanent position at WR after bouncing around to RB and S in his first couple of seasons, and he excited Husky fans with a terrific performance in the 2014 spring combine showcase, but it never quite translated out on the field as he saw limited playing time. He still finished 5th in catches with 18, and his athleticism and experience would have been nice assets to have this year.</p>
<h4>Key Returners (8):</h4>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="445">
<colgroup> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4266; width: 90pt;" width="120"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 995; width: 21pt;" width="28"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1450; width: 31pt;" width="41"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 9102; width: 192pt;" width="256"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt; width: 90pt;" height="19" width="120"><b>Player</b></td>
<td style="width: 21pt;" width="28"><b>Pos</b></td>
<td style="width: 31pt;" width="41"><b>Year</b></td>
<td style="width: 192pt;" width="256"><b>Stats</b></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Josh Perkins</td>
<td>TE</td>
<td>RS-Sr</td>
<td>25 catches/315 yards, 12.6 avg, 3 TD</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Jaydon Mickens</td>
<td>WR</td>
<td>Sr</td>
<td>60 catches/617 yards, 10.3 avg, 4 TD</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Marvin Hall</td>
<td>WR</td>
<td>Sr</td>
<td>6 catches/42 yards, 7.0 avg, 0 TD</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Darrell Daniels</td>
<td>TE</td>
<td>Jr</td>
<td>11 catches/171 yards, 15.5 avg, 1 TD</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">David Ajamu</td>
<td>TE</td>
<td>RS-So</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Dante Pettis</td>
<td>WR</td>
<td>So</td>
<td>17 catches/259 yards, 15.2 avg, 1 TD</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Braden Lenius</td>
<td>WR</td>
<td>So</td>
<td>7 catches/56 yards, 8.0 avg, 0 TD</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Drew Sample</td>
<td>TE</td>
<td>RS-Fr</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><br> It's hard to believe <b>Jaydon Mickens</b> is heading into his fourth season - it doesn't seem that long ago that the one-time USC commit was making his announcement for the Huskies by playfully picking up then tossing aside a Cuog cap and saying "Nah!" and committing to the Dawgs. Now he's the established vet heading into his final season, owner of the #8 and #10 seasons in Husky history for catches and with a good chance to finish his career #2 in receptions for Washington. Long known for his big smile and ease in front of the mic, Husky fans also saw a fiery side of him in the Cactus Bowl as he did his best to rally his team on the sidelines and on the field. Mickens provides a terrific security blanket for the passing game, someone with terrific quickness and elusiveness that can turn a swing pass or bubble screen into a long gain and enough pure speed to get open deep. He'll be leaned on heavily to lead his fellow receivers on and off the field this year.</p>
<p><b>Josh Perkins</b> entered the program as a highly productive WR from Gahr H.S. with good size, but the coaching staff saw a player with the skillset to provide a real threat as a TE. Fast enough to be a mismatch against many linebackers and safeties and with enough size to not embarrass himself as a blocker, Perkins has developed into a reliable option in the passing game over the last couple of years. He's often been split wide rather than lining up outside the tackle, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him utilized at times this year out on the perimeter.</p>
<p>Before Mickens arrived at Washington from Dorsey H.S., <b>Marvin Hall</b> paved the way. Hall has similar size to Mickens and is a touch faster in a straight line, but thus far significant playing time has eluded him. Now in his final year, this would be a great time for him to make a big leap forward and help fill the gap left behind by the injury to fellow Legion of Zoom member Ross.</p>
<p>Similar to Perkins, <b>Darrell Daniels</b> arrived at Washington as big-bodied WR. Blessed with terrific speed, the 4-star got a lot of attention from Husky fans and showed enough to the coaching staff to avoid a redshirt year. Noted for his punishing hits on special teams, some lobbied to see him moved to linebacker. Instead, the coaching staff moved him to TE. He's continued to get bigger without losing his speed, and he's a nightmare matchup for any linebacker. But he also has battled nagging injuries that have played a part in keeping him from breaking out, though he showed his potential with a spectacular 68 yard catch and run for a TD last year against Oregon State. Finding ways to get him more involved in the passing game has to be a priority for the coaches.</p>
<p>When he arrived at Washington, Shelton's <b>David Ajamu</b> invited comparisons to Austin Seferian-Jenkins, often saying how he aspired to be a similar player. The biggest of the Husky tight ends at 6'5", 251 pounds, he has worked hard at improving his game and isn't just a blocker - the RS-Sophomore showed this past spring that he has the ability to make spectacular catches and be a real threat in the passing game.</p>
<p><b>Dante Pettis</b> arrived as a 3-star WR recruit, but with some notable hype as the younger cousin of star WR Austin Pettis and a player that Greg Biggins considered <a target="_blank" href="http://www.scout.com/college/football/recruiting/story/1329858-pettis-has-major-bcs-ability?s=147">highly under-recruited</a>. With the opportunity available for early playing time, Pettis seized it showed flashes over the course of the season that he could become an impact player at the position. His 15.2 ypc figure ranks 2nd among returning receivers, and he figures to emerge as the #2 option among the WR group.</p>
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<p>Less heralded but no less intriguing is <b>Braden Lenius</b>, a big target originally from British Columbia who spent a year in California at Chaminade Prep to gain greater recruiting exposure. While still a bit raw in terms of technique, his size and ability jumps off the page and he too avoided a redshirt year as he earned a spot in the depth as a true frosh. As one of the few big receivers among the WR group, he fills a needed role as a blocker on the edge and a dangerous end zone target.</p>
<p>Initially a Boise State commit, <b>Drew Sample</b> followed Chris Petersen to Washington. With the TE position well-stocked, he was able to redshirt last season. He has good size at 6'4", 249 lbs and showed well this spring both as a receiver and a blocker. He figures to see time in blocking sets and has enough talent to rotate in as a receiver as well, and along with Ajamu he figures to keep the position in great hands for the foreseeable future.</p>
<h4>Newcomers (6):</h4>
<p> </p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="431">
<colgroup>
<col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3953; width: 83pt;" width="111"> <col style="width: 48pt;" span="5" width="64"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt; width: 83pt;" height="19" width="111"><b>Name</b></td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><b>Ht</b></td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><b>Wt</b></td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><b>Pos</b></td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><b>Year</b></td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><b>Stars</b></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Nik Little</td>
<td>6'5"</td>
<td>210 lbs</td>
<td>WR</td>
<td>Jr (JC transfer)</td>
<td>**</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Andre Baccellia</td>
<td>5'9"</td>
<td>165 lbs</td>
<td>WR</td>
<td>Fr</td>
<td>***</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Chico McClatcher</td>
<td>5'8"</td>
<td>180 lbs</td>
<td>WR</td>
<td>Fr</td>
<td>****</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Michael Neal</td>
<td>6'4"</td>
<td>219 lbs</td>
<td>TE</td>
<td>Fr</td>
<td>***</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Quinten Pounds</td>
<td>5'11"</td>
<td>166 lbs</td>
<td>WR</td>
<td>Fr</td>
<td>***</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">
<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Isaiah Renfro</td>
<td>6'1"</td>
<td>185 lbs</td>
<td>WR</td>
<td>Fr</td>
<td>****</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Washington coaches saw the lack of scholarship bodies at the WR position this past spring and not a lot of big guys to fill the Split End role and decided to offer JC transfer <b>Nik Little</b>, a big target at 6'5", 210 lbs. Little had a big freshman year at Golden West College and was getting a lot of recruiting attention, but an injury limited him to two games this past year and left him available well after Signing Day had come and gone. Whether he's 100% recovered is unknown at this point, so it will be very interesting to see how he looks once fall camp starts. At his size - and with his JC experience - he's a guy that will have a great opportunity to make an immediate impact.</p>
<p>With four recruits coming in at WR, there's a major re-stocking of the position. In the interests of keeping the positions balanced across classes, you'd figure that the staff would hope to redshirt 1-2 of the incoming frosh, but which ones? <b>Isaiah Renfro</b> brings needed size and 4-star pedigree so it would seem he'll have a great chance to play right away. The other 4-star in the group is the "Blue Mamba",<b> Chico McClatcher </b>from Federal Way. A local legend with an amazing highlight reel, he brings electric play-making ability to the position, but he's also a player in transition as he was a RB in high school and will need to prove his hands are reliable. Expect to see him used a lot as a slot player and out of the backfield with some handoffs a possibility. <b>Andre Baccellia </b>is a polished route-runner with explosive breaks; size and an injury his senior year meant a low 3-star rating, but he could surprise a lot of folks. <b>Quinten Pounds</b> was recruited by many teams as an "athlete" with the potential to play in the secondary, but the Husky coaches will start him off on offense. Slightly built at just 166 pounds, he could stand a year in the weight room, but he was a productive and versatile player in high school with terrific athleticism. Joining the TE group is <b>Mike Neal</b>, a play-maker who would appear to fit more of the Josh Perkins mold. With the quality of depth at this position, he figures to get the luxury of a redshirt year to keep things nicely balanced with one player per year.</p>
<h4>Analysis:</h4>
<p>With few proven returning WR's - heck, few unproven ones too - and a large recruiting class of new WR's, this is a position in transition. Mickens is the unquestioned leader and (by far) the most established target. Pettis brings a lot of potential to the group and could be poised for a big uptick in his production. Beyond that you're looking at a lot of unproven and/or new players and hoping they can advance quickly. The good news is there's talent there to be molded, but how quickly they can emerge is a big question mark. Keep an eye on the walk-ons too - guys like Drew Before, Max Richmond, John Gardner and Taelon Parson got a lot of reps this past spring, and talented kids like Jamon Jones and Josh Rasmussen will join the competition when fall camp opens next month.</p>
<p>The good news is that the TE group is <i>very</i> well established, and all four players took turns grabbing the spotlight this past spring. With a couple of former WR's in that group in Perkins and Daniels, you have players that could potentially play a hybrid role where they see some time split out wide with the other WR's while the bigger guys - Ajamu and Sample - play more of a traditional in-line TE role. This should be a case where the position of strength (TE) supplements the less-proven position (WR).</p>
<h4>Predicted Depth Chart:</h4>
<p>Here's my WAG for how things will look when fall camp opens:</p>
<p>WR1: Jaydon Mickens, Chico McClatcher, Andre Baccellia</p>
<p>WR 2: Dante Pettis, Marvin Hall, Drew Before* (walk-on)</p>
<p>WR3: Braden Lenius, Nik Little, Isaiah Renfro</p>
<p>TE: Josh Perkins, Darrell Daniels, David Ajamu, Drew Sample</p>
https://www.uwdawgpound.com/2015/7/27/9001303/uw-fall-camp-preview-wr-teKirk DeGrasse2015-07-25T07:41:42-07:002015-07-25T07:41:42-07:00UW Fall Camp Preview: LB
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zrsiE2W-o037Kg2k9jpCnIYpvoo=/0x0:4195x2797/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46828468/usa-today-8178053.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The coaching staff will have to plug the holes left in the wake of the departure of John Timu and Shaq Thompson. Check in on the players that will be vying to head a revamped linebacking corps. </p> <p>Only two major contributors from last year's group will be missing in 2015. Unfortunately those two happen to be the biggest recruit in recent UW history and a three-year starter and team captain. While no obvious star exists entering camp, there is solid past production via <span>Travis Feeney</span> and <span>Cory Littleton</span> as well as several players who seem set to seize major roles for the first time in their careers.</p>
<h2>Who's Gone</h2>
<table width="1160" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<colgroup> <col width="116"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> <col width="161"> <col width="151"> <col span="2" width="99"> <col width="122"> <col width="115"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="19">
<td width="116" height="19"><b>Name</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Position</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Height</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Weight</b></td>
<td width="161"><b>Tackles</b></td>
<td width="151"><b>INTs</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>TFLs</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Sacks</b></td>
<td width="122"><b>Passes Defended</b></td>
<td width="115"><b>Forced Fumbles</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>John Timu</span></td>
<td>ILB</td>
<td>6-1</td>
<td>246</td>
<td>109</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>1.5</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Shaq Thompson</span></td>
<td>OLB</td>
<td>6-1</td>
<td>228</td>
<td>80</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>2.5</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><b>Total</b></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td style="text-align: center; " align="right"><b>189</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right"><b>3</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right"><b>4</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right"><b>1</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right"><b>14</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right"><b>4</b></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p>To lose Shaq Thompson is to lose the feeling that your defense is capable of scoring a touchdown on any given down regardless of situation, as well as to lose a capable, versatile linebacker. To lose Timu is to lose a dependable, if limited, three-year starter who racked up tackles and, by the end of his career, developed a knack for jumping passing lanes (and then dropping would-be picks, though it's kinder to forget that part now).</p>
<p>It isn't really realistic to view any young player as capable of replacing everything that Shaq brought to the table in terms of pure electricity and versatility, but that is not necessary for one to play as a capable starting outside linebacker. Timu, on the other hand, is the kind of good-but-not-great player that the Huskies should hope to replace under Coach Petersen without feeling the loss too badly.</p>
<h2>Returning Players</h2>
<table width="1259" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<colgroup> <col width="116"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> <col width="161"> <col width="151"> <col span="2" width="99"> <col width="122"> <col width="115"> <col width="99"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="19">
<td width="116" height="19"><b>Name</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Position</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Year</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Height</b></td>
<td width="161"><b>Weight</b></td>
<td width="151"><b>Tackles</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>INTs</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>TFLs</b></td>
<td width="122"><b>Sacks</b></td>
<td width="115"><b>Passes Defended</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Forced Fumbles</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Keishawn Bierria</td>
<td>OLB</td>
<td>Soph.</td>
<td>6-1</td>
<td>223</td>
<td style="text-align: center; " align="right">35</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Sean Constantine</span></td>
<td>ILB</td>
<td>Soph.</td>
<td>6-2</td>
<td>228</td>
<td style="text-align: center; " align="right">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Travis Feeney</td>
<td>OLB</td>
<td>Sr.</td>
<td>6-4</td>
<td>223</td>
<td style="text-align: center; " align="right">60</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Scott Lawyer</span></td>
<td>OLB</td>
<td>Sr.</td>
<td>6-2</td>
<td>230</td>
<td style="text-align: center; " align="right">20</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Cory Littleton</td>
<td>OLB/BUCK</td>
<td>Sr.</td>
<td>6-3</td>
<td>227</td>
<td style="text-align: center; " align="right">37</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Connor O'Brien</span></td>
<td>LB</td>
<td>Soph.</td>
<td>6-3</td>
<td>234</td>
<td style="text-align: center; " align="right">12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Azeem Victor</span></td>
<td>ILB</td>
<td>Soph.</td>
<td>6-3</td>
<td>239</td>
<td style="text-align: center; " align="right">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">0.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Psalm Wooching</span></td>
<td>BUCK</td>
<td>Jr.</td>
<td>6-4</td>
<td>228</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><b>Total</b></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td style="text-align: center; " align="right"><b>173</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right"><b>1</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right"><b>8</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right"><b>2</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right"><b>7</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right"><b>3</b></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p>Feeney and Littleton are the most recognizable returners. Both have shown flashes of obvious talent leading up to their final year on Montlake, and this is their last chance to put it together for a full season. Feeney seemed to fall in and out of favor with the coaching staff, possibly due to the unpredictable, feast-or-famine nature of his play. The fans remember him for the vicious pile driver tackle for loss, but the staff remembers the blown assignments.</p>
<p>The rest of the position group is mostly made up of relative unknowns, players that played sparingly as redshirt freshmen or toiled as veteran backups and who will now be called upon to replicate the production of the players that kept them off the field in 2014.</p>
<h2>Newcomers</h2>
<table width="824" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<colgroup> <col width="116"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> <col width="161"> <col width="151"> <col width="99"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="19">
<td width="116" height="19"><b>Name</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Position</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Year</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Height</b></td>
<td width="161"><b>Weight</b></td>
<td width="151"><b>Star rating (Scout.com)</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Expected to Redshirt?</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Tevis Bartlett</td>
<td>LB</td>
<td>Fr.</td>
<td>6-2</td>
<td>218</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td>Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">D.J. Beavers</td>
<td>LB</td>
<td>Fr.</td>
<td>6-0</td>
<td>202</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td>Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Gerran Brown</td>
<td>LB</td>
<td>Fr.</td>
<td>6-2</td>
<td>210</td>
<td style="text-align: center; " align="right">N/A</td>
<td>Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Ben Burr-Kirven</td>
<td>LB</td>
<td>Fr.</td>
<td>6-1</td>
<td>202</td>
<td style="text-align: center; " align="right">3</td>
<td>Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Manu Kyler</td>
<td>LB</td>
<td>Fr.</td>
<td>6-1</td>
<td>224</td>
<td style="text-align: center; " align="right">3</td>
<td>Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Matt Preston</span></td>
<td>LB</td>
<td>RFr.</td>
<td>6-2</td>
<td>214</td>
<td style="text-align: center; " align="right">2</td>
<td>Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Jake Wambaugh</span></td>
<td>LB</td>
<td>RFr.</td>
<td>6-1</td>
<td>220</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td>Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Justiss Warren</td>
<td>LB</td>
<td>Fr.</td>
<td>6-2</td>
<td>226</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td>No</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<h2>Players to Watch</h2>
<p>Aside from Feeney, who I just mentioned above, you'll want to keep an eye on the following players:</p>
<ul>
<li> <b>Azeem Victor </b>has put in his time, redshirting his first year on campus and carving out a key special teams role in 2014. He boasts ideal size for a middle linebacker, and based on last year's depth chart and word out of spring practices, he seems to be the favorite to follow in Timu's footsteps. <br> </li>
<li> <b>Cory Littleton</b> is a fantastic athlete who managed to pick up five sacks back in 2013. With Kikaha (who, was discussed with the defensive line because the BUCK position is confusing) holding down the BUCK spot, Littleton instead played as a more traditional outside linebacker, and consequently his sack total dropped to only 1. One of the big questions in camp will be whether or not the coaching staff sees Littleton as a pass-rushing specialist capable of helping fill the void left by Kikaha's departure, or if he will spend another year at OLB, competing with Feeney, Bierria, and perhaps Jusstin Warren for snaps. </li>
<li> <b>Scott Lawyer </b>occupied a lot more of the conversation in the spring than one might imagine from a three-year backup that recorded 20 total tackles last year. I will be watching intently to see if this narrative keeps up in the fall, or if younger players began to steal away a share of the staff's praise. Here's hoping Lawyer has just taken a step forward, and that his status as a possible starter says more about him than it says about the development of younger players like Bierria. </li>
</ul>
<h2>Predicted Depth Chart</h2>
<table width="413" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<colgroup> <col width="116"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="19">
<td style="text-align: center;" width="116" height="19"><b>Position</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>First String</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Second String</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Third String</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td style="text-align: center;" height="19">BUCK</td>
<td>Cory Littleton</td>
<td><span>Joe Mathis</span></td>
<td>Psalm Wooching</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td style="text-align: center;" height="19">MLB</td>
<td>Azeem Victor</td>
<td>Sean Constantine</td>
<td>Connor O'Brien</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td style="text-align: center;" height="19">OLB</td>
<td>Scott Lawyer</td>
<td>Travis Feeney</td>
<td>Jusstis Warren</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td style="text-align: center;" height="19">OLB</td>
<td>Kieshawn Bierria</td>
<td>Jusstis Warren</td>
<td>Travis Feeney</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>
<br>Closing Thoughts</h2>
<p>To predict the depth chart down to the specific backups at each linebacker position is obviously to make an educated guess. The hybrid nature of the BUCK position doesn't help, as we may see more defensive line types try their hand at the position, and we may see players that fit more in the linebacker mold, like Littleton, end up starting as an outside linebacker.</p>
<p>I would really love to see Feeney starting, as it would mean some sort of understanding had been reached with the coaching staff as to his role and responsibilities. Still, it strikes me as a Petersen move to go with a younger, more moldable player like Bierria.</p>
<p>Warren is basically an unknown quantity to me as I never watched him play in high school, but it looks like at least one linebacker will need to play, and he is both hyped up enough and physically mature enough to seem like the logical pick.</p>
<p>On paper it would be irresponsible to rate this unit as any better than middling in the Pac-12. There are far too many unknowns, even concerning the veteran players. The aforementioned BUCK situation and the pass-rush in general will be a huge question mark for this defense, and the linebackers will have to provide at least part of the answer.</p>
<p>I'd love to hear how you all feel about this pool of players and how things may shake out in the fall.</p>
https://www.uwdawgpound.com/2015/7/25/9038923/uw-fall-camp-preview-lbJesse Kennemer2015-07-23T07:00:06-07:002015-07-23T07:00:06-07:00Washington's DBs are young, but talented
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bteNzj6OQvkpx1DCag24-XYZMqs=/0x0:5184x3456/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46809228/usa-today-8308863.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Washington's youngest defensive unit in 2014 has suddenly become its most experienced position group just one year later. How they build on that experience may very well dictate the success of the Husky defense this season.</p> <p>The Husky secondary will feature young but talented players who cut their teeth in 2014, and will be counted on as the strength of the defense this season. With just one returning starter in the front seven, Washington's sophomore-heavy corps of cornerbacks and safeties will be relied upon to act as the defense's veterans. No doubt, the hope is that the bumps and growing pains of 2014 will translate into steady and reliable play in 2015 and beyond.</p>
<h2>Who's Gone</h2>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1160">
<colgroup> <col width="116"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> <col width="161"> <col width="151"> <col width="99" span="2"> <col width="122"> <col width="115"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19" width="116"><b>Name</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Position</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Height</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Weight</b></td>
<td width="161"><b>Tackles</b></td>
<td width="151"><b>INTs</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>TFLs</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Sacks</b></td>
<td width="122"><b>Passes Defended</b></td>
<td width="115"><b>Forced Fumbles</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Travell Dixon</span></td>
<td>CB</td>
<td>6-1</td>
<td>195</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Jermaine Kelly</td>
<td>CB</td>
<td>6-1</td>
<td>190</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Jonathan Kwon</span></td>
<td>S</td>
<td>5-10</td>
<td>185</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Marcus Peters</td>
<td>CB</td>
<td>6-0</td>
<td>190</td>
<td>30</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Thomas Vincent</span></td>
<td>S</td>
<td>6-0</td>
<td>200</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><b>Total</b></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; "><b>40</b></td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;"><b>3</b></td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;"><b>4</b></td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;"><b>0</b></td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;"><b>7</b></td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;"><b>0</b></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p>It is quite telling that nearly all of the statistical production by players no longer on the team belonged to first-round draft pick <span>Marcus Peters</span>, as not one single other player who graduated or transferred contributed an interception, tackle for loss, sack, pass defended or fumble forced in 2014. Had Jermaine Kelly not broken his ankle in the week prior to the Illinois game and had a full season to show his ability, he likely would have been a significant contributor as well, but his decision to move on from the program means that we'll never know how that hypothetical scenario may have played out.</p>
<h2>Returning Players</h2>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1259">
<colgroup> <col width="116"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> <col width="161"> <col width="151"> <col width="99" span="2"> <col width="122"> <col width="115"> <col width="99"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19" width="116"><b>Name</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Position</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Year</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Height</b></td>
<td width="161"><b>Weight</b></td>
<td width="151"><b>Tackles</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>INTs</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>TFLs</b></td>
<td width="122"><b>Sacks</b></td>
<td width="115"><b>Passes Defended</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Forced Fumbles</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Budda Baker</span></td>
<td>S</td>
<td>Soph.</td>
<td>5-10</td>
<td>173</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">80</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">6</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">2</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Brandon Beaver</td>
<td>S</td>
<td>Jr.</td>
<td>6-0</td>
<td>192</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Brian Clay</span></td>
<td>S</td>
<td>Sr.</td>
<td>6-1</td>
<td>196</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Darren Gardenhire</td>
<td>CB</td>
<td>Soph.</td>
<td>5-11</td>
<td>173</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">6</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Naijiel Hale</span></td>
<td>CB</td>
<td>Soph.</td>
<td>5-10</td>
<td>171</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Sidney Jones</span></td>
<td>CB</td>
<td>Soph.</td>
<td>6-0</td>
<td>171</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">61</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">2.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Kevin King</span></td>
<td>CB</td>
<td>Jr.</td>
<td>6-3</td>
<td>183</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">65</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">0.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Brandon Lewis</td>
<td>CB</td>
<td>RFr.</td>
<td>6-2</td>
<td>189</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>JoJo McIntosh</span></td>
<td>S</td>
<td>RFr.</td>
<td>6-0</td>
<td>204</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Hayden Schuh</span></td>
<td>S</td>
<td>Jr.</td>
<td>6-0</td>
<td>202</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><span>Trevor Walker</span></td>
<td>S</td>
<td>Jr.</td>
<td>5-11</td>
<td>182</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">--</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19"><b>Total</b></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; "><b>262</b></td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;"><b>4</b></td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;"><b>5</b></td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;"><b>1</b></td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;"><b>19</b></td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center;"><b>5</b></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p>The headliner here is undoubtedly blue-chip 2014 recruit and freshman all-American Budda Baker. The phenom started every game for the Huskies at safety and tied all-American <span>Shaq Thompson</span> in tackles with 80, and made <a href="http://es.pn/1OnCbJI">a ridiculous interception</a> in the first quarter of Washington's loss to Oklahoma State in the Cactus Bowl. He's also beginning to attract the eyes of a nationwide audience by earning a place on <a href="http://bit.ly/1gC32Hl">four separate postseason award watch lists</a> for 2015. The secondary's other key player will be sophomore cornerback Sidney Jones, who outplayed virtually all expectations last year by seizing the starting role opposite Marcus Peters and starting 12 of Washington's 14 games. His breakout performance against Arizona included two interceptions, the latter of which should have sealed UW's first road win against a top-10 team since 2002.</p>
<h2>Newcomers</h2>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="824">
<colgroup> <col width="116"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> <col width="161"> <col width="151"> <col width="99"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19" width="116"><b>Name</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Position</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Year</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Height</b></td>
<td width="161"><b>Weight</b></td>
<td width="151"><b>Star rating (Scout.com)</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Expected to Redshirt?</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Ian Biddle</td>
<td>DB</td>
<td>RFr.</td>
<td>6-0</td>
<td>176</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td>No</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Dustin Bush</td>
<td>DB</td>
<td>Fr.</td>
<td>5-10</td>
<td>165</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td>Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Austin Joyner</td>
<td>CB</td>
<td>Fr.</td>
<td>5-10</td>
<td>192</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">4</td>
<td>No</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Jordan Miller</td>
<td>CB</td>
<td>Fr.</td>
<td>6-1</td>
<td>164</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">3</td>
<td>Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Ezekiel Turner</td>
<td>S</td>
<td>Soph.</td>
<td>6-2</td>
<td>204</td>
<td align="right" style="text-align: center; ">3</td>
<td>No</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19">Sean Vergara</td>
<td>DB</td>
<td>RFr.</td>
<td>6-2</td>
<td>174</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td>No</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<h2>Players to Watch</h2>
<p>Aside from the obvious choices of Baker and Jones, whom I detailed above, you'll want to keep an eye on the following players:</p>
<ul>
<li><span><b>Ezekiel Turner</b> is the rare junior college transfer who has four years to play three, rather than the usual three to play two. The No. 38 prospect in Scout.com's JuCo 100 offers a heavy-hitting option in run support in the mold of the graduated <span>Sean Parker</span> that the Huskies sorely missed last year.<br><br></span></li>
<li><span><b>Austin Joyner</b> is too tantalizing a prospect to merit a redshirt, even with a solid number of experienced players ahead of him who are more likely than he to earn starting roles. Playing in the Pac-12 means that defenses must be able to field five or more effective pass defenders at any given time, and his natural athleticism should ensure that Joyner sees at least a handful of plays each week from one of the cornerback or nickel positions.<br><br></span></li>
<li><span><b>Darren Gardenhire</b> contributed mostly as a special teams player in his freshman campaign last year, but <a href="http://bit.ly/1OnDIzF">a monster spring 2015</a> may have propelled him atop the depth chart opposite Sidney Jones. As is always the case with spring football stars, his production may say more about the opposing offense than anything else, and he has yet to show an ability to play with consistency against Pac-12 opponents. Those caveats aside, however, Gardenhire is an intriguing prospect to whom Husky fans will want to pay attention, especially in the early weeks of the fall.</span></li>
</ul>
<h2>Predicted Depth Chart</h2>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="413">
<colgroup> <col width="116"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> <col width="99"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19" width="116" style="text-align: center;"><b>Position</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>First String</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Second String</b></td>
<td width="99"><b>Third String</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19" style="text-align: center;">CB</td>
<td>Darren Gardenhire</td>
<td><span>Kevin King</span></td>
<td>Austin Joyner</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19" style="text-align: center;">S</td>
<td>Budda Baker</td>
<td>Brian Clay</td>
<td>JoJo McIntosh</td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19" style="text-align: center;">S</td>
<td>Ezekiel Turner</td>
<td><span>Trevor Walker</span></td>
<td><span>Brandon Beaver</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="19">
<td height="19" style="text-align: center;">CB</td>
<td>Sidney Jones</td>
<td>Naijiel Hale</td>
<td><span>Brandon Lewis</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>
<br>Closing Thoughts</h2>
<p>Aside from <a href="http://es.pn/1KGqHyd">the defensive nightmare that was the Eastern Washington game</a>, UW's secondary did very well for a unit last year that spent the season breaking in untested and undersized freshman while contending with the challenge of facing off against a ridiculously talented slate of opposing quarterbacks without the help of an all-American prospect in Marcus Peters following his midseason dismissal from the team. They were helped immeasurably in that regard by a dominant front seven with players like <span>Danny Shelton</span>, <span>Hau'oli Kikaha</span> and Shaq Thompson; now, with those players gone, the secondary must return the favor to a front seven that is as inexperienced and untested any in recent memory. Washington's safeties and cornerbacks are young but not inexperienced, and will in all likelihood become the defense's leaders. Defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake has his work cut out for him, but if the Dawgs can avoid the injury bug, his players have the potential to be the strongest and most consistent unit on the entire team.</p>
https://www.uwdawgpound.com/2015/7/23/9019063/uw-fall-camp-preview-2015-defensive-backsRyan Priest2015-07-21T08:15:02-07:002015-07-21T08:15:02-07:00UW Fall Camp Preview: Defensive Line
<figure>
<img alt="Introducing the new face of the Huskies defensive line." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/D7kRORmwO6gG4w6U3IOWeGujBjg=/1479x446:4182x2248/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46781472/usa-today-8177541.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Introducing the new face of the Huskies defensive line. | Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It's a whole gaggle of young pups that will be manning the defensive line of scrimmage for Washington in 2015.</p> <p>No single unit anywhere on the Huskies roster is going through more of an overhaul in 2015 than the Defensive Line. Husky fans are well aware of what has been lost: the NCAA's leading sack man (and UW all-time record holder) in <span>Hau'oli Kikaha</span>, the top DT in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft" style="background-color: #ffffff;">NFL Draft</a> in <span>Danny Shelton</span>, and senior leader and top 10 sack man in his own right in <span>Andrew Hudson</span>. Mix in steady <span>Evan Hudson</span> and you have a lot of beef to swap out.</p>
<p>If there is a bright side, it is that at least the Hudson bothers won't have to hear the term "Hudson brothers" any more.</p>
<p>If there is another bright side, an imbalanced Husky two-deep where there was a huge gap between the first teamers and the youthful second teamers is now a much more balanced group of big, strong, mean and fast Dawgs. Let's make no mistake, these pups are still young. But they are growing up and will have the opportunity to forge a new legacy and restore luster to the recently-faded tradition of being a Husky lineman.</p>
<p>But first they need to sort out who is going to play where when they strap 'em on for real. That's the challenge facing the Husky coaching staff this fall. Let's take a closer look.</p>
<h4>Who's Gone (5)</h4>
<table width="2" align="left" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="7" border="2" style="text-align: center; height: 2px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Name</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Position</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Sacks</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>TFLs</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tackles</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Hau'oli Kikaha</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LB/DE</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">19</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">72</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Danny Shelton</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">NT</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">16.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">93</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Evan Hudson</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">DT</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Andrew Hudson</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">DE</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">12.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">15.5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">77</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Drew Schultz</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">DT</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Total</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>43</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>60</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>275</b></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>There is no question that the Huskies are losing a tremendous amount of production from the 2014 team. The players departing the program played roughly 80% of the DL snaps for UW last year and recorded an even-higher percentage of the stats for the group. These guys logged sacks, crushed the pocket, held up the edges and protected the young secondary by creating their own pressure without the need for blitzing.</p>
<p>It will be very difficult to replace the leadership of those seniors.</p>
<p>But it was their example that sets the tone for the next generation of young linemen. Whether we are talking about A-Hud's perseverance, Shelton's emotional leadership, or Kikaha's dedication to technical excellence with his hands and his motor, the impact of the 2014 graduates will be felt this spring as the returning players emulate the habits of their predecessors.</p>
<h4><span>Returning Players (9)</span></h4>
<table width="2" align="left" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="7" border="2" style="text-align: center; height: 2px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Name</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Position</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Year</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tackles</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Sacks</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Elijah Qualls</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">DT</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RSo</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Joe Mathis</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LB/DE</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Jr</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">16</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Willy Dissly</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">DE</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Soph</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Taniela Tupou</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">DT</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RSr</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Damion Turpin</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">DE</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RJr</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Vita Vea</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">DT</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RFr</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Jaylen Johnson</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LB/DE</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RFr</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Shane Bowman</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">DE</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RFr</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Jarret Finau</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">DE</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RSr</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Total</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>52</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>3</b></td>
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<p>The theme for the Defensive Line this fall is "Everything is On the Table". From my vantage point, there will not be a set starter in any single position when camp opens.</p>
<p>How's that for a little fall camp position battle drama?</p>
<p>The big thing that jumps out at Husky fans as they look at the roster is the breadth and balance of the players returning. While none are exactly "accomplished", there is a nice balance of players - in terms of size, experience and differentiating skills - across the classes and position groupings. We haven't seen this kind of diversity to open a fall camp in a very long time.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of "knowns" for anybody, coaches included, to bank on. On one hand, there are veterans like Tupou, Finau and Turpin who will be looking for one last chance to work themselves into the rotation. On another, there are a few young guys like Qualls, Dissly and Mathis who all flashed a year ago but have no real set position as of now. Finally, there is a slew of young guys - all with high upside - who will be looking to make their marks as redshirt freshmen. Count Vea, Gaines, Bowman and Johnson among that crowd.</p>
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<p>Defensive Coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and DL Coach Jeff Choate will be looking to really ratchet up the competition this spring. Look for them to continue their spring time experimentation with guys at different positions and for plenty of orchestrated competitive drills. Just don't expect any immediate answers. Husky fans are likely to get very little guidance on how the starting lineup will play out before the Huskies open in Boise on 9/4.</p>
<h4><span>Newcomers (3)</span></h4>
<table width="2" align="left" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="7" border="2" style="text-align: center; height: 2px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; "><b>Name</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center; "><b>Height</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center; "><b>Weight</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center; "><b>Star Rating </b></td>
<td style="text-align: center; "><b>Expected to Redshirt?</b></td>
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<td style="text-align: center; ">Benning Potoa'e</td>
<td style="text-align: center; ">6-4</td>
<td style="text-align: center; ">270</td>
<td style="text-align: center; ">4*</td>
<td style="text-align: center; ">No</td>
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<td style="text-align: center; ">Bryce Sterk</td>
<td style="text-align: center; ">6-5</td>
<td style="text-align: center; ">230</td>
<td style="text-align: center; ">2*</td>
<td style="text-align: center; ">Yes</td>
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<td style="text-align: center; ">Jason Scrempos</td>
<td style="text-align: center; ">6-6</td>
<td style="text-align: center; ">240</td>
<td style="text-align: center; ">3*</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Yes</td>
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<p>The Huskies loaded up on big, long defensive lineman in the 2015 signing class. The headliner of the group is man-child Benning Potoa'e. Given his size and the skills he has put on film, most experts find it difficult to believe that the Huskies will be able to keep him off the field this season, especially if he can emerge as a legit 3T style end. There is plenty of depth in front of him and whether or not he can overcome it this fall is a storyline to watch.</p>
<p>Both Sterk and Scrempos bring to the table a versatile set of skills and the kind of physical capabilities that pop both on film and with the "eyeball test". Both players have tremendous motors and bring an element of "grit" to the table. These guys both epitomize the Petersen preference for "hard-nosed" and "under-valued" players. While the odds would seem to be stacked against them playing in 2015, a huge fall from either of them could change that equation. Scrempos - a strong kid with long levers - is a particularly intriguing prospect.</p>
<h4><span>Players to Watch</span></h4>
<p><b>JoJo Mathis</b></p>
<p>The biggest challenge that the Huskies will have in replicating the production of the 2014 line is sourcing a pass rush. Kwiatkowski has demonstrated that he'd prefer - as would most coaches - to keep an extra defender back in coverage assuming that his D-Line can generate its own pressure on the QB. That role was more than adequately manned by Hau'oli Kikaha a year ago with Danny Shelton providing a lot of opportunities with how he attracted double teams.</p>
<p>Enter JoJo Mathis.</p>
<p>The Dawgs don't have any obvious candidates when it comes to future pass rushers. While guys like Dissly and Bowman certainly could develop that skill, there aren't any guys who have actually shown it in games. That is, except for Mathis.</p>
<p>Whether he does it out of a stand-up BUCK role or with a hand in the dirt, Mathis is going to be leaned on to get past opposing tackles and to harass QBs. His success in this role is vital. Whether or not he can demonstrate it this fall is a critical situation to watch.</p>
<h4>Predicted Two-Deeps*</h4>
<p>*this is a total WAG (wild-ass guess), so please take it as such</p>
<p>BUCK:<span> </span>Mathis (Wooching and Littleton will be reviewed with the LBs)</p>
<p>NG:<span> </span>Qualls, Gaines OR Vea</p>
<p>SDE: Tupou OR Dissly OR Potoa'e</p>
<p>WDE: Dissly, Bowman OR Johnson OR Finau</p>
<p>How do you like that for putting a stake in the ground?</p>
<h4>Closing Thoughts</h4>
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<p>The D-Line is the most interesting position group to watch this fall. Not only is it stocked with high-level talent in adequate numbers, but the competition level promises to be very high. The bottom line is that even if we knew what players were slotted for which roles, there still wouldn't be a ton of separation among the individuals competing for those spots. It's a D-Line Battle Royale with Jeff Choate playing the role of Mean Gene Okerlund (who I saw in MSP airport last week!).</p>
<p>The hope here is that the competition continues in earnest throughout all of camp and that UW goes into Boise stocked with 8-10 players who are ready for rotational roles and able to man one or two positions each. If that can be achieved, then UW may well surprise the rest of the PAC with their D-Line with both their diversity and their depth.</p>
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https://www.uwdawgpound.com/2015/7/21/8998689/uw-fall-camp-2015-preview-defensive-lineChris Landon2015-07-19T10:00:02-07:002015-07-19T10:00:02-07:00UW Fall Camp Preview 2015 - Special Teams
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<img alt="PK Cameron Van Winkle in action" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vIuUvbFcrX_CpabgXmer1mL2O9c=/0x0:3205x2137/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46782718/usa-today-8226235.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>PK Cameron Van Winkle in action | Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Washington's special teams in 2014 were among the better units in the nation; will they be a strength in 2015 too? We kick off our 2015 fall camp preview series with a look at the unsung folks that make up the special teams for Washington.</p> <p>If you are feeling a bit more pep in your step and a little bit of that old familiar fan anxiety burbling in your stomach, it's because we are less than a month away from the opening of fall camp which means the season is getting close. And that means it's time to start ramping up the content and getting serious about looking ahead to your 2015 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.uwdawgpound.com/">Washington Huskies</a>. First up in our Fall Camp Preview series is a look at the Special Teams, the folks that play a critical - and chronically under-appreciated role - in achieving success.</p>
<p>For the Huskies, this is arguably the most established and predictable group on the team as they return every specialist but one:</p>
<h4>Who's Gone (1):</h4>
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<td style="height: 14.4pt; width: 48pt;" height="19" width="64"><b>Player</b></td>
<td style="width: 21pt;" width="28"><b>Pos</b></td>
<td style="width: 31pt;" width="41"><b>Year</b></td>
<td style="width: 142pt;" width="190"><b>Stats</b></td>
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<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19"><span>John Ross</span></td>
<td>KR</td>
<td>RS-So</td>
<td>38 KR/938 yds, 2 TD's, 24.7 avg</td>
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<p>While I certainly don't want to minimize the loss to injury of Ross - he would have entered 2015 as one of, if not <i>the</i> most electric kickoff returner in the country with 3 touchdowns and a 24.1 yard average in his first two seasons - there's reason to believe the drop-off here won't be severe, not when the Huskies can run folks like <span>Budda Baker</span>, <span>Dante Pettis</span>, <span>Marvin Hall</span> and <span>Deontae Cooper</span> back there. Add in newcomers like Chico McClatcher, Myles Gaskin and Austin Joyner and I'll be surprised if the Huskies don't boast one of the better kickoff return units in the conference, assuming they can clean up the holding/clipping penalties that called back a few more Ross touchdowns.</p>
<h4>Key Returners (5):</h4>
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<td style="height: 14.4pt; width: 98pt;" height="19" width="131"><b>Player</b></td>
<td style="width: 21pt;" width="28"><b>Pos</b></td>
<td style="width: 25pt;" width="34"><b>Year</b></td>
<td style="width: 182pt;" width="242"><b>Stats</b></td>
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<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19"><span>Ryan Masel</span></td>
<td>LS</td>
<td>Sr</td>
<td>2 year starter as short and long snapper</td>
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<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19"><span>Korey Durkee</span></td>
<td>P</td>
<td>Sr</td>
<td>63 punts, 42.1 avg, 19 inside the 20</td>
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<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19"><span>Cameron Van Winkle</span></td>
<td>K</td>
<td>Jr</td>
<td>20/24 FG (51 long), 47/49 PAT</td>
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<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19">Dante Pettis</td>
<td>PR</td>
<td>So</td>
<td>28 PR/288 yds, 1 TD, 10.3 avg</td>
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<td style="height: 14.4pt;" height="19"><span>Tristan Vizcaino</span></td>
<td>K</td>
<td>So</td>
<td>70 kickoffs, 17 touchbacks, 60.4 avg</td>
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<p>Washington headed into the 2014 season with some serious uncertainty at all three kicker positions with the graduation of Mr. Dependable do-everything <span>Travis Coons</span>, but those fears were put to rest as his shoes were capably filled. <b>Korey Durkee</b> - who had a brief run as the starting punter as a frosh before being replaced by Coons - settled in nicely as the punter, finding the consistency he'd lacked earlier in his career, speeding up his stride and kick time and harnessing his big leg to post the 9th best season average in Husky history (42.1 ypk). And it wasn't just big kicks that out-kicked the coverage - the Huskies only allowed 12 punt returns on the year as their net punting average was 38.2 ypk.</p>
<p><b>Cameron Van Winkle</b>, a touted kicker at Mt. Si before signing with the Huskies had battled a back issue in 2013 and there was uncertainty following that season if he'd be able to continue. But he was able to work through it and seized the place-kicking job and posted a strong year, hitting on 20 of 24 attempts (15/16 from 39 and closer, 5/8 from 40 and beyond with a long of 51) and hitting on 47 of 49 PATs to finish with 107 points. Nearly all of those marks placed him in the top-10 of single season kicking records at the UW.</p>
<p><b>Tristan Vizcaino</b> battled Durkee for the punting job and Van Winkle for the place-kicking job but had to settle for being the primary kickoff specialist, allowing Van Winkle a bit of a break. While the freshman wasn't consistently booming kicks through the end zone, he did notch 17 touchbacks and a posted a decent 60.4 yard average (given wind conditions in Husky Stadium in the late fall, this can be a tough task).</p>
<p>Another true freshmen in <b>Dante Pettis</b> locked-down the punt return duties early in the season and he displayed a combination of explosiveness and consistency that hasn't been seen in that role since Charles Frederick back in 2003. He fielded 28 punts and turned that into 288 yards and an impressive 87 yard TD return vs. Colorado that showed terrific vision and speed.</p>
<p>The Huskies as a group ended up ranked 21st in special teams play by FEI, powered mainly by the efficiency of Van Winkle, the effectiveness of the punt game in getting good kicks and severely limiting the number of returns, and getting great seasons from Pettis on punt returns and from Ross on kickoff returns. The kickoffs and coverage were just average.</p>
<h4>Newcomers (0):</h4>
<p>With the news that long-snapper A.J. Carty will be delaying his enrollment to January, there were no specialists added to the team in the 2015 recruiting class. Of course that doesn't include skill position players likely to get a look in return roles - I'd expect Chico McClatcher to get a long look, and both Myles Gaskin and Austin Joyner are candidates as well - and if any of the incoming linebackers avoid a redshirt, that's a position group that usually fills up the coverage units.</p>
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<h4>Analysis:</h4>
<p>While you never like to lose a weapon of the caliber of Ross and injuries can always wreak havoc with the best-laid of plans, this is an area on the Huskies where Chris Petersen has to be feeling pretty good. All of his kicking roles return experienced and effective players, his snapper is in his 3rd year of starting, he has a proven weapon to return punts and a large cast of potential breakout stars for the kickoff return role. Heck, even in the role of quick-kicking quarterbacks (a subject of no small amount of controversy around these parts) he returns a guy with experience in RS-Jr. Jeff Lindquist.</p>
<p>After identifying his new primary kickoff returner, Special Teams coordinator Jeff Choate's biggest task would seem to be finding improvement in the kickoff game. Another year of strength & conditioning training should help Vizcaino find some more oomph in his leg, and the team boasts a wealth of athletic bodies at LB and S to help fill out the coverage units. As long as Durkee and Van Winkle don't suffer through slumps in their 2nd full seasons in their respective roles, this should be an area of strength for the 2015 Dawgs.</p>
https://www.uwdawgpound.com/2015/7/19/8999639/uw-fall-camp-preview-2015-special-teams-cameron-van-winkle-dante-pettis-korey-durkeeKirk DeGrasse