Steve Sarkisian: Huskies can’t over-rely on Chris Polk
Jun 28, 2011, 5:54 PM | Updated: 8:43 pm
 Chris Polk rushed for 177 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 34 carries in Washington’s win over Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. (AP photo) |
710Sports.com staff
Huskies running back Chris Polk carried 260 times last season, the third highest total in Washington’s history. His 506 career attempts rank eighth on the school’s all-time list.
Given the extensive workload he’s handled in over two seasons at Washington, it would be natural to assume that the Huskies will lean even more on Polk next season as they break in a new quarterback, sophomore Keith Price.
Coach Steve Sarkisian joined Bob & Groz on Tuesday and said that while he would prefer the Huskies to be a power-running team, they can’t over-rely on Polk.
“We’d love for Chris to have a great year for us and a big year and even improve upon over 1,400 yards from last year, but the reality of it is we can’t just go in thinking Chris Polk is going to win us every ballgame,” Sarkisian said. “So that development has to start from Day 1. We can’t wait for a team to stop Chris Polk to say, ‘OK, now we have to throw the football.’
“So we are going to strive for balance. The best teams in this country and in our conference are the ones that that are balanced, that can run and throw the ball effectively, and we will work towards that.
“But it is a nice luxury to have a returning two-time 1,000-yard rusher in the backfield.”
Some more notes from Sarkisian’s appearance on Bob & Groz:
• Sarkisian said one of the more notable position battles is at safety between sophomore Sean Parker, sophomore Taz Stevenson and incoming freshmen Evan Zeger and James Sample.
• Sarkisian said he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of incoming freshman Kasen Williams starting at wide receiver.
• Senior Alameda Ta’amu has been voted one of the team’s captains and Sarkisian expects him to continue his momentum from last season.
