No. 12 Washington’s secondary faces test in Rosen, UCLA
SEATTLE – Chris Petersen has nothing but the highest compliments for UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen.
He just wishes No. 12 Washington was taking on the Bruins at another point of the season when the Huskies were not facing major injury concerns at cornerback as they will Saturday when they host Rosen and UCLA.
“We’re going to be challenged, but whoever is in there – backup, non-backup – it doesn’t matter,” Petersen said. “He’s leading the conference, one of the top guys, I don’t even know where he ranks in the country, but that doesn’t just happen by accident. He’s good and it will be a great challenge for our guys in a way we really haven’t seen yet.”
It’ll be the first time Washington (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12) has been on the field since its flop two weeks ago in a shocking 13-7 loss to Arizona State that may have ruined any hopes the Huskies have of a return trip to the College Football Playoff. The Huskies must win and look impressive in the process the rest of the way to get back in the discussion.
That starts with the Bruins (4-3, 2-2) and a challenge Washington has yet to see this season. Not only are they facing Rosen and the top passing attack in the Pac-12, but will be doing it with backups in the secondary. The Huskies are expected to be without cornerback Byron Murphy again due to a foot injury and Jordan Miller, the other starting cornerback, who suffered a broken ankle late in the Arizona State loss.
Washington is expected to start Austin Joyner and Myles Bryant, but the issue is the depth behind those two, which includes freshman Elijah Molden and converted running back Jomon Dotson.
“That’s why we played them,” Petersen said. “Everybody asks, why are you playing those guys? You always need those guys back there and we play a lot of DBs.”
Rosen is second in the country in yards passing with 2,620 in seven games. The fact it’s been two games since he last threw for 300 yards is noteworthy, considering Rosen started the year by throwing for at least 450 yards in three of the first five games.
Rosen was efficient last week against Oregon, throwing for 266 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Even with Washington thin in the secondary, Rosen will not have faced a defense as good as the Huskies’, which allows just 163.9 yards passing per game.
“Just be efficient, play our game, you can’t get behind and let them play their (game) and dictate the flow,” Rosen said. “We have to stay ahead of the chains and just kind of keep moving.”