Huskies put pressure on offensive line
SEATTLE – For most of the first two months of the University of Washington’s 2011 football season, the Huskies’ offensive linemen were golden in their silence.
Not drawing much attention, either on Saturdays or when it came to be interviewed between games, was a byproduct of some solid play.
The UW offensive linemen were so solid in their protection of quarterback Keith Price and their ability to open holes for running back Chris Polk that they were widely overlooked.
Until this week.
A rough performance in UW’s 34-17 loss to Oregon that head coach Steve Sarkisian described as “poor, at best” has the linemen in the crosshairs this week. Position coach Dan Cozzetto wasn’t talking to reporters, nor did he allow any of his players to answer questions during a frustrating week of searching for answers.
After a midweek practice, Sarkisian summed up the situation by saying, “All these guys need to play better, and they know it. (From senior left tackle) Senio (Kelemete) on down, they all need to play better.”
The coaching staff has gone as far as to open up competition for jobs. The only noticeable battle this week came at right tackle, where redshirt freshman Micah Hatchie has split reps with starter Erik Kohler.
“There’s a lot of competition there right now, and that’s a good thing,” Sarkisian said. “Guys are wanting the opportunity to step in and play and show that they’re worthy of playing – guys that haven’t been playing. And I think some guys that have been in there, now they’re having to prove that they’re worthy of staying on the field.”
It says a lot about the line’s overall performance this season that all five starters have remained the same. A coaching staff that had 13 different starting combinations over its first two years at UW settled with a lineup featuring Kelemete, redshirt freshman Colin Tanigawa at left guard, junior Drew Schaefer at center, sophomore Colin Porter at right guard and Kohler for all nine games of the 2011 season.
The group allowed just 16 sacks through the first eight games of the season while playing a large role in Polk’s seven 100-yard games.
Other than some occasional struggles against bigger lines in Nebraska and Stanford, the offensive line generally controlled the line of scrimmage for much of this season.
“I thought we were playing together really well,” Sarkisian said. “I thought we were on the same page. Even if we were wrong, we were all doing it together.”
But Oregon’s defensive linemen were too quick and aggressive for Washington last Saturday, and the proof was in the pounding.
The Ducks sacked Price six times – the highest total by a Huskies opponent during Sarkisian’s three seasons at the school – and held Washington to a season-low 82 rushing yards. Polk was held to less than 100 yards for only the second time this season, finishing with 80 yards despite his third-most attempts of the season (24).