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Huskies Wire
Weighing Washington Football's Quarterback Options at Nebraska
- Story byHuskies Wire
- Weighing Washington Football's Quarterback Options at Nebraska
As the Washington Huskies prepare for arguably the toughest defense they have faced to date, Jedd Fisch has a major decision to make at quarterback. While Demond Williams Jr. has missed the last game and a half due to a fractured rib, backup Elijah Brown has brought a new sense of life and efficiency to the Husky offense.
Here's the case for each signal caller going into Friday's matchup in Lincoln.
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Beginning with the second-year starter, Williams brings more experience at the helm, having started twenty games in Fisch's scheme. The dual-threat playmaker adds another dimension to the offense due to his elite speed and athleticism, as he ranks second on the team in rushing yards and is tied for the most carries with freshman running back Brian Bonner Jr.
While upside suggests the third-year should get his job back, his recent performances say otherwise. For starters, Williams is still listed as questionable for Saturday as he continues to rehab from a rib injury. Outside of his health, the hobbled quarterback has regressed in his second full year as the starter. Entering the year as a popular choice for a dark-horse Heisman candidate, Williams has struggled to find any sort of consistency, posting 10 total touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and taking 19 sacks through five and a half games.
The other starting option in the mix on Halloween night, and maybe beyond, is Stanford transfer Elijah Brown. In just six quarters of game action, the former Cardinal has thrown for 578 yards, 6 touchdowns, and led the Huskies to their highest-scoring conference game this season, hanging up 38 points in a road victory against Purdue. The spike in efficiency has brought a new sense of energy to Washington's offense, allowing wide receivers Dezmen Roebuck and Chris Lawson to showcase their playmaking abilities.
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As good as Fisch's offense has looked under the pocket passer, the sample size is much smaller. With Nebraska boasting one of the best defenses in the nation and coming off a bye week, head coach Matt Rhule's squad has had more than enough time to catch up on film from the Huskies' latest gunslinger. It should also be noted that while Brown has not been afraid to push the ball downfield, turnovers proved to be an issue in his last outing, throwing three interceptions against the Boilermakers.
It won't be an easy decision for the third-year head coach, but it is a pivotal one. Playoff hopes might be out the window, but for a coach who takes great pride in his offensive playcalling, Saturday will say a lot about where his faith lies regarding the most important position on the field.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Weighing Washington Football's Quarterback Options at Nebraska
