Washington football’s pass rush is absolutely tearing it up, hitting opposing quarterbacks on a staggering 40 percent of dropbacks through just two games this season. Seriously, stop scrolling, because what Jedd Fisch’s crew is doing on defense right now is flat-out *nasty*, and it’s already got the whole team feeling a swagger that purple and gold faithful in the Emerald City are loving.
Fisch’s Faith in the Front Is Already Paying Off
This kind of early season dominance is exactly what Coach Fisch and his staff were banking on, even after losing nine players from last year’s front, including two defensive linemen to the 2026 NFL draft. Despite those big departures, they exuded plenty of confidence in the pass rush, and man, does it feel well warranted now! Defensive coordinator Ryan Walters has this front playing aggressive and disruptive. We’re talking 16 tackles for loss and 6 sacks on the young season. Yeah, okay, it’s been against “inferior opponents” like Washington State and Utah State so far, but those numbers are disruptive no matter who you’re lining up against. The pressure is real, and it’s setting a tone.
Youth Movement and Returning Firepower
Coach Fisch isn’t just seeing it, he’s loving it. He said on the Husky Football Coaches Show that the pass rush “has gotten very good, which is something we can absolutely build upon with our defensive front.” Think about that for a second. We’re already seeing freshmen like Derek Colman-Brusa and Ramzak Fruean playing key roles up front and making huge impacts. And get this: they played the whole game against Utah State without starting defensive tackle Elinneus Davis! Derek Brusa himself only saw 18 plays, but every single one was extremely impactful. Kai McClendon is getting healthier, playing 16 snaps this week and looking to hit 20-25 next week. Jacob Lane and Isaiah Ward are back after missing all of training camp, and you can already feel their presence on the field. Plus, Russell Davis, who missed all of last year, is making a “big impact” in the pass rush too. This rotation is absolutely stacked and only getting healthier.
Now, keeping up that 40 percent pressure on two of every five dropbacks in the Big Ten? That’s gonna be a tall, tall task. But Washington has clearly built a deep rotation on the defensive line, designed to keep these guys fresh and generating havoc. That’s been integral in keeping the Huskies afloat early, especially as the offense has struggled to find its rhythm. We know the schedule is only gonna get tougher. This D-line is going to have to keep bringing that heat for the rest of the season. It’s time to build on this, unleash the hounds, and show the Big Ten what Husky football is all about!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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