Huard, UW’s Mr. Efficiency, Wary Of Trojans
Brock Huard likes to remember his mistakes so he won’t repeat them.
In two seasons as the starting quarterback for the Washington Huskies, he’s thrown 29 touchdown passes and seven interceptions, including 16 TDs and two interceptions this season.
“You don’t want to give the other team opportunities,” Huard said. “You want to take care of the ball.”
When the No. 7 Huskies (6-1, 4-0 Pac-10) face Southern California (4-3, 2-2) at Husky Stadium today, Huard will be facing a defense that includes cornerbacks Brian Kelly and Daylon McCutcheon. Washington is a 17-point favorite.
McCutcheon, son of former NFL running back Lawrence McCutcheon, was an all-Pac-10 selection as a sophomore.
As a freshman, Huard was 12 for 29 for 133 yards with one interception and one touchdown in a 21-10 victory over Southern Cal last season.
He goes into today’s game No. 2 in the nation in passing efficiency, having completed 59 percent of his passes (90 for 152) for 1,392 yards.
“The more efficient you are, the more efficient the offense is going to be,” Huard said.
With a strong offensive line and a running attack featuring Rashaan Shehee, the Huskies give their quarterback a lot of time and a lot of options.
USC coach John Robinson is making a quarterback change this week. He’s demoted season-long starter John Fox and replaced him with Mike Van Raaphorst after Fox threw an interception that Oregon returned for a touchdown in the second half last week.
Robinson’s plan is to play both quarterbacks against the Huskies.
“John has done well, but there have been times when he lost his focus,” Robinson said.
The Huskies like to gamble on defense and they’ll be sending almost everybody after Southern Cal’s young quarterbacks.
Washington has won four games in a row since losing to No. 1 Nebraska and has an 11-game Pac-10 winning streak.
Oddsmakers need to get real
The oddsmakers are kidding, right? How can USC be 17-point underdogs in Seattle?
After all, they’re not playing the Seahawks - they’re just playing Washington, albeit these are the seventh-ranked Huskies.
And, remember, these are the Trojans that have eight national championships, three as recently as the 1970s, who have all those high school All-Americas and perhaps the best talent in the Pac-10.
“That’s ludicrous,” Huard said of the game’s point spread. “They’ve got too much talent and too many athletes and really too much experience, especially on defense.”
Added coach Jim Lambright: “It’s unbelievable. They have the players that all of us were trying to recruit.”
xxxx COMING UP Today: Southern California at Washington, 12:30. TV: ABC.