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Washington Huskies Offensive Line Challenged to do Better by Coach
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- Washington Huskies Offensive Line Challenged to do Better by Coach
(Joe Nicholson/Imagn Images)
SEATTLE — The No. 19 Washington Huskies football team's 24-10 win against the Washington State Cougars on Sunday wasn't met with the most favorable reviews, despite UW starting the season 1-0 at the expense of its cross-state rivals.
Huskies coaches have stated their feelings that the team didn't play at the heights it was capable of, leaving points on the field on offense and extending opposing drives with unnecessary penalties.
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One of the points left on the board game on the last play of the first half, with Washington up 10-0.
Washington head coach Jedd Fisch opted to keep his offense out on the field on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line and called a hand-off to fourth-year running back Jayden Limar.
The Cougars defense stopped Limar and kept the Huskies' lead at two possessions.
That play was emblematic of how offensive line coach Michael Switzer viewed his group's performance.
"Really disappointed," Switzer said in a weekly news conference Tuesday at Husky Stadium. "As you look back at it, even throughout the game, the way we played physically was not up to our standard. There were some moving pieces in terms of guys getting their first action. ... But, the expectation is the position. So to sit there and make excuses for it, we will not. We got to improve greatly and the guys understand that very clearly. They understood it before the game was over."
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The "moving pieces" mentioned by Switzer included three players on the offensive line either making their first starts at their respective position or first starts in college ball, period.
First-year Kodi Greene started at left tackle, fourth-year Sam Houston State transfer Kolt Dieterich made his first career start at center and second-year Champ Taulealea made his first career start at right guard.
All three players received grades below 60 and were the team's lowest-graded offensive lineman of the day per Pro Football Focus . Greene received a grade 50.2, Dieterich had a grade of 57.2 and Taulealea had a grade of 52.2.
Both Greene and Taulealea contributed to Washington's penalty troubles (12 for 130 yards). Taulealea was called for two holds and Greene was whistled for a false start late in the game.
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Taulealea also split time at right guard with seventh-year player Geirean Hatchett, who received the highest grade (74.4) from PFF among UW's offensive linemen.
Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch said in a weekly news conference Monday that the team intends to have Taulealea and Hatchett splitting reps again for the team's Week 2 game against the Utah State Aggies at 12:30 p.m. PT on Saturday at Husky Stadium.
Switzer confirmed that that rotation was the plan "from the start."
"Champ had a rough go in terms of holding penalties," Switzer said. "Absolutely critical. In critical moments in critical positions on the field. ... It comes with understanding, being a starter, that shouldn't affect your play, that shouldn't take you off your game. We'll continue to work that rotation."
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The Huskies offensive line play improved as the game went on, which allowed the offense to put up 14 points in the final 15 minutes after scoring just 10 through the first three.
Washington's o-line will be looking to extend that performance across a full 60 minutes, and their performance will be even more imperative given the injuries to the team's top two running backs , second-year Quaid Carr and Limar.
"No matter who's back in the backfield, we've got to clear the way for him," Switzer said. "We've got to give him rushing lanes, give them good reads. Even more so, I say, 'time to step up offensive line and do everything we can for these halfbacks."
