Huard: No. 6 Huskies won’t have as easy a time vs Colorado as last year’s Pac-12 title game
Sep 21, 2017, 1:06 PM
The Huskies rolled to a win over Colorado in the Pac-12 championship last year. (AP)
(AP)
The sixth-ranked Washington Huskies take a perfect 3-0 record into their Pac-12 opener, a rematch of last year’s conference championship game against Colorado. Here are five keys from 710 ESPN Seattle’s Brock Huard for the Dawgs’ primetime Saturday contest in Boulder, Colo.
Make Colorado quarterback Steven Montez pay for trying to run the ball.
Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre is a defense-first coach and likes the benefit that comes from big, physical quarterbacks. He also likes running his QB, and as Huskies defensive lineman Vita Vea said, it’s not about pressuring QBs like this, it’s about physically pounding them and making them pay for running the ball and extending plays. They did it a year ago and knocked the starter, Sefo Liufau, out of the game, and I’d expect Montez to be hit in ways he hasn’t yet experienced in his career. The Buffaloes will be very physical and well-coached, and they have an established culture of winning that will challenge and strain the Huskies for four quarters on the road. Add in noise, elevation, physical toughness and this sets up to be a very legit challenge and a much closer game than last year’s conference title game.
Hold down the Buffaloes’ run game on first and second down.
Early-down run success is essential for a system like Colorado’s, and like Rutgers tried in Week 1 against Washington, the Buffaloes would love nothing more than to shorten the game and limit possessions against a more dynamic UW team. Specifically, creating movement and avoiding penetration of Greg Gaines and Vea will be the top priority for a QB that needs to read and react in Colorado’s run game, and a running back that is undersized but incredibly swift if he can get going in Phillip Lindsay. On the road especially, UW will want to make Colorado one-dimensional and thus commit their extra defender to taking away the quarterback/running back combination.
Make the most of 1-on-1 opportunities on offense.
This is a game where the Huskies have to take advantage of the numbers matchup. Meaning, if Colorado will load the box as Rutgers and Fresno State did, then UW will have to find 1-on-1 opportunities on the perimeter. Colorado is very stout on defense. The Buffaloes don’t hurt themselves and they make an opponent earn it, having given up only three touchdowns in three games, so UW will have to be patient and win those 1-on-1 chances.
Huskies QB Jake Browning needs to have a big game.
Browning’s accuracy and arm strength was diminished in this matchup last year, and I’d expect Colorado to play plenty of man-to-man, press and challenge Jake to throw with precision. I’d also expect wide receiver Dante Pettis to be doubled or bracketed and force the other Husky receivers and tight ends to beat them consistently.
Be ready for the Buffaloes to key on Pettis and Vea.
Colorado will have a plan for Pettis that others haven’t. They will also commit to doubling Vea and not letting him wreck the interior zone run game that sets the table for the Buffaloes’ offense.
