A 16-14 win over Utah State last weekend should have every Huskies fan in the Emerald City raising an eyebrow, because through the first two weeks of the season, our offense has shown absolutely zero signs of finding any kind of rhythm. This isn’t just a slow start; it’s a full-blown head-scratcher given the talent on this roster.
Those Joe Moore Dreams? They’re Turning Into Nightmares
Remember those Joe Moore Award aspirations for our offensive line? Yeah, those feel like a distant memory already. This unit, featuring five-star freshman Kodi Greene, Freshman All-American John Mills, seventh-year senior Geirean Hatchett, and three-year starter Drew Azzopardi, was supposed to be a dominant force up front. They received tons of praise from the coaching staff and national media. But instead of establishing dominance, we’re averaging a paltry 3.9 yards per carry through two contests. That’s just not good enough, especially for a group we expected to be a strength!
And then there’s our third-year quarterback, Demond Williams Jr. The dude is *leading the entire team in rushing* over these first two games! While we love seeing his athleticism, that’s a serious red flag for the running game and a sign he’s struggling to connect with his downfield targets. Our running game has been borderline nonexistent, forcing Demond to tuck it and run. We need him slinging it, not constantly scrambling for every yard!
Who’s Even Left to Make Plays?
It’s not just the offensive line messing things up; injuries are absolutely decimating the Huskies’ skill positions right now. Our running back room is a MASH unit, with both Quaid Carr and Jayden Limar sidelined for significant time. That’s forced us to rely on sixth-year transfer Trey Cooley and freshmen Brian Bonner Jr. and Ansu Sanoe. The inexperience was painfully obvious against the Aggies: Cooley dropped an open fourth-down pass that looked like a sure touchdown, and Bonner and Sanoe combined for a measly 27 yards on the ground. This backfield desperately needs an identity.
The receiving corps has also been hit hard, losing two starters in just as many games. Transfer Christian Moss went down on his second snap against Washington State, and Rashid Williams left the Utah State game early in the first half. Both are expected to miss some time, and Coach Fisch hasn’t given us a specific timetable. Now, sophomores Chris Lawson and the freshman duo of Trez Davis and Jordan Clay are stepping into substantial roles alongside Dezmen Roebuck. Talk about being thrown into the fire!
Eastern Washington Is Our Last Shot Before Big Ten Battle
Head Coach and play caller Jedd Fisch didn’t mince words after that narrow Utah State scare. “We’ve got to do things better,” he said. “We’ve got to execute better.” He called out specific missed opportunities, like a fourth-and-2 early in the second drive that could have been a huge play, and a scramble pass that could have been another touchdown. His message is loud and clear: “We’re not scoring; we’re not making those plays… we got to get into a rhythm, and I think that’s on all of us to find a way to get into a rhythm.” He gets it.
Now, we roll into Week Three against Eastern Washington, where our Huskies are once again heavy favorites. This isn’t just any non-conference game, though. It’s our last chance to find our stride before diving into Big Ten play against Minnesota. The big question looms: can our Huskies finally play up to those preseason expectations? We need to see that dominance, that rhythm, because the stakes just keep getting higher.
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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