7 WASHINGTON

OPPOSING COACH'S TAKE

"They are incredible on defense. They've got good players, like [junior safety] Budda Baker, but more than that Chris Petersen and Pete Kwiatkowski, his defensive coordinator, are really good teachers. It's not surprising, because it was the same at Boise State. Their players are technically sound, and they play hard. You never really see them have a down game. They're multiple with their fronts, and they're so good on the back end that they can get away with bringing a lot of pressure. Oh, yeah, and the guys you're trying to block are often first-rounders.

They're going to win games because of their defense, but I think their quarterback [Jake Browning] has matured a lot, and it was obvious at the end of last season that he was comfortable in the scheme. They did a nice job running the ball last year with Myles Gaskin too. They're not flashy, but they do all the stuff in football that wins—block, tackle and catch the ball. They're creative with their sub packages and formations too.

They're replacing one of the best special teams coaches in the country [Jeff Choate, who went to Montana State], but they've got explosive returners in Dante Pettis and John Ross. And that stadium—it's an advantage. When it's rolling, it's one of the hardest places to play. All that 12th man stuff with the Seahawks was going on at UW way before Seattle claimed it."

FAST FACTS

38

Combined tackles last season for new starting linebackers Joe Mathis and Psalm Wooching, now seniors.

2.54

Sacks per game Washington gave up last year, 96th in the nation.

1,348

Yards for tailback Myles Gaskin, best among freshmen last season; his 14 rushing TDs were also tops in his class.

67.9

Completion percentage for Jake Browning as a freshman over the final six games of 2015. The Huskies went 4--2.

129

Tackles by 5'10", 184-pound safety Budda Baker over the last two seasons. He also has three interceptions.

[The following text appears within a chart. Please see hardcopy or PDF for actual chart.]

5 YEAR TREND

WINS

15

12

9

6

3

7--6

7--6

9--4

8--6

7--6

YEAR

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

X-FACTOR

The 5'11", 173-pound junior JOHN ROSS is the definition of versatility. As a sophomore, in 2014, he started seven games—four at corner, three at receiver—and scored seven touchdowns, including two on kick returns, that averaged 74.7 yards. He appears to have recovered from the right knee injury that forced him to miss last season.

2016 SCHEDULE

SATURDAY 9/3

RUTGERS

SATURDAY 9/10

IDAHO

SATURDAY 9/17

PORTLAND STATE

SATURDAY 9/24

AT ARIZONA

FRIDAY 9/30

STANFORD [KEY MATCHUP]

SATURDAY 10/8

AT OREGON [BIGGEST GAME]

BYE

SATURDAY 10/22

OREGON STATE

SATURDAY 10/29

AT UTAH [KEY MATCHUP]

SATURDAY 11/5

AT CAL

SATURDAY 11/12

USC

SATURDAY 11/19

ARIZONA STATE

FRIDAY 11/25

AT WASHINGTON STATE

KEY MATCHUP

BIGGEST GAME