Pass defense still a UW concern

SEATTLE – It was happening all over again.

A year ago, Washington football fans looked on as option-oriented Air Force erased a two-touchdown, fourth-quarter deficit by going to the air.

Quarterback Shaun Carney picked about the Huskies secondary and the Falcons won 20-17. It was the first hint of what would become a season-long problem, characterized by Washington defensive backs chasing receivers into the end zone.

But that problem had been shored up. J.D. Williams had arrived from Cal to take over as the defensive backs coach. Roy Lewis had a great fall camp. Junior college transfers were arriving to help. Dashon Goldson was moving to corner and would make a big impact. It was all coming together.

Then San Jose State nearly pulled an Air Force.

Led by a quarterback – Adam Tafralis – who had to win a quarterback battle after completing 49 percent of his passes last season, the Spartans nearly came back from a two-touchdown, fourth-quarter deficit, falling only when a last-second Hail Mary was knocked down by the Washington defense. Tafralis ended the second half 23 of 27 for 255 yards and three touchdowns.

So, what gives? Is the secondary really improved, or was that just misled confidence from a team desperate for positives on which to focus?

“We’re definitely better,” said Lewis, in his second season as a starting cornerback. “We’re in better shape, we’re more physical. For most of the game, we were good, and we’ll keep getting better.”

Maybe, but perhaps the biggest issue facing the secondary is one that may or may not improve. The most pressing concern is that there is an extreme lack of depth. What had been hoped for hasn’t quite panned out.

It leaves Washington thin at a position that already carried questions. Lewis and Matt Fountaine, who started eight games last season, are the cornerback starters, and the backups are Goldson – if he’s available – and Mesphin Forrester, a converted safety with five games in his career. C.J. Wallace and junior college transfer Jason Wells are at safety. Besides that group, there’s Chris Hemphill if he can play, Jordan Murchison if he can play, junior Durrell Moss, true freshman Matt Mosley, who is nowhere near ready, and walk-on Desmond Davis.

“I don’t worry about what we don’t have,” head coach Tyrone Willingham said. “I believe we have the personnel to accomplish what we hope to accomplish. Would we like to have greater depth there? Yes, but that’s true with any position. We have the personnel. We just need them to make plays.”

The lack of depth hurt Washington last week. The defense seemed to wear down in the heat, and that will be an issue again Saturday against Oklahoma in Norman.

Though Oklahoma will rely on running back Adrian Peterson to carry the offense against the Huskies, Washington’s secondary no doubt will be challenged as long as it is viewed as a weakness.

Sooners quarterback Paul Thompson spent last season primarily at receiver after starting the season-opener behind center, and was the backup quarterback in 2002 and 2003.

Although he doesn’t have a ton of experience, he is certainly capable. The senior has two career starts at quarterback, and last week was 14 of 24 for 227 yards and two touchdowns (and also two interceptions). The 6-foot-4 Thompson is also a capable runner, though he’s not a true dual threat.

“I’m sure they think they can throw on us,” Lewis said.