Through four weeks, Washington’s offense has shown one clear split: the passing game can move, but the ground game has been stuck in the mud.
The Huskies are 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten play, but the numbers tell a rougher story. Washington is averaging 28 points per game, which puts it 16th in the 18-team league, and its 395.8 yards per game ranks 14th in the conference. The air attack has carried much of the load, with the Huskies averaging 288.5 passing yards per game, good for fifth in the Big Ten.
The run game, though, has been a different story entirely. Washington is managing just 107.3 rushing yards per game, which ranks second-to-last in the conference. That imbalance has helped create drives that never quite find a rhythm.
A recent graphic underscored just how thin the production has been. In a post on “X” from Parker Fleming of dropbackHQ, Washington’s running backs were shown averaging less than one yard before contact per run and less than two yards after contact per run.
That puts the Huskies in a bleak neighborhood nationally. According to the graphic, the only other Power Four programs with those same marks are Boston College and Maryland, leaving Washington and Maryland as the only Big Ten teams with that distinction.
Injuries have taken a major toll on the backfield. Third-year running back Jordan Washington has been sidelined since spring practice with a neck injury. The team’s top two backs entering the season, second-year Quaid Carr and fourth-year Jayden Limar, are both expected to miss significant time, and Carr’s injury - after surgery - could keep him out for the season.
The depth chart has thinned even further with reserve second-year back Julian McMahan done for the year after a foot/ankle injury suffered during the week of practice leading into UW’s 27-24 loss to Minnesota on Sept. 26.
Right now, Washington is piecing together its backfield with first-year Brian Bonner in the lead role, sixth-year Trey Cooley behind him - though the two have split carries over the last two weeks - plus first-year Ansu Sanoe and second-year Ryken Moon.
Bonner has carried 22 times for 126 yards this season, while Cooley has 23 rushing attempts for 50 yards.
In Other News...
Washington Must Solve USCs Biggest Mismatch To Get Back On Track
Washingtons defensive staff has spent part of the week sorting through the problems USC can create, and one of the most interesting is right in the middle of the Trojans passing game. Defensive coordinator Ryan Walters singled out true freshman tight end Mark Bowman ahead of the matchup, pointing to the kind of athletic, physical presence that can force a defense to adjust in a hurry. For a Huskies group trying to steady itself, the assignment is less about name recognition and more about handling a young pass catcher who already looks like a central piece of the offense.
Bowman has emerged quickly for USC, giving the Trojans a reliable target early in his career and adding another layer to a matchup Washington cannot afford to misread. His production through five games has already shown why he draws so much attention, but the bigger issue for the Huskies is what he can do when defenses start keying on him and still have to account for the rest of USCs skill talent. If Washington is going to get back on track, this is the kind of mismatch it has to solve before it turns into a long night. [Read more 🡒]
Former Huskies Playmaker Suddenly Has An NFL Opportunity Again
Dante Pettis is back in the league mix after earning a tryout with the San Francisco 49ers and landing on their practice squad. For Washington fans, it is another reminder of how much talent the former Huskies playmaker carried into the NFL, where he has moved through several teams since the 49ers first drafted him in 2018.
The timing gives Pettis a real chance to push for more than just a holding pattern on the scout squad. San Francisco could still elevate him to the 53-man roster for an upcoming game against the Denver Broncos, which would put him one step closer to getting meaningful snaps again and another chance to carve out a role. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Could Get A Crucial Veteran Boost Very Soon
Washingtons defensive front could be in line for a timely veteran addition, with Taitai Uiagalelei still waiting on a court ruling that will determine whether he can return for a fifth year. The Huskies defensive tackle spent one season in Seattle after three years at Arizona and became a steady presence up front, giving the staff an experienced piece to build around as the season moves along.
Uiagaleleis case is tied to a legal injunction involving NCAA eligibility rule changes, so the decision sits outside the usual football calendar and leaves his status unresolved for now. For Washington, the appeal is obvious: a proven interior defender with a year in the program already under his belt could give the Huskies a much-needed boost, if the ruling eventually goes their way. [Read more 🡒]