After the Huskies were idle last weekend, coach Jedd Fisch met with reporters on Monday to preview Washington’s matchup at No. 13 Indiana.
UW Huskies to witness a significant difference in opponents’ playing styles after bye.
Here’s what you should know.
UW Huskies’ tackle depth thinning
The Washington Huskies are dealing with injuries at the left tackle position as they prepare to face No. 13 Indiana. The team will likely be without Maximus McCree, who dislocated his thumb in the first series of the Huskies’ 40-16 loss at Iowa. McCree had been starting in place of redshirt freshman Soane Faasolo, who was injured earlier in the season during the Apple Cup.
With McCree expected to miss the upcoming game, Faasolo is set to make his first start since September 14th, despite not being fully recovered. Backing him up will be fellow redshirt freshman Kahlee Tafai. Tafai, a 2023 signee, redshirted last season and has played 41 snaps in three games this year. His readiness could be crucial, given the team’s ongoing struggles with depth on the offensive line due to injuries.
Otherwise, health is OK
The Washington Huskies are getting healthier as they prepare for their upcoming game against No. 13 Indiana. Junior edge rusher Zach Durfee, who missed the previous game against Iowa due to a toe injury, is expected to return. Head coach Fisch noted that other than the injury to Maximus McCree, there were no new injuries against Iowa that would prevent anyone else from playing.
Several players should be closer to full strength. Left guard Gaard Memmelaar has appeared limited in recent weeks, with Landen Hatchett starting in his place at Iowa. Linebacker Carson Bruener, who has been playing through an AC sprain suffered in the Apple Cup, rested during the bye week and reported feeling the best he has since the injury. Bruener continues to lead the team with 44 tackles this season.
Tailback Jonah Coleman, who is fourth in the Big Ten in rushing, has also been dealing with an undisclosed ailment but managed to rush for 80 yards on nine carries against Iowa. The extra rest during the bye week appears to have been beneficial, and Coleman is close to returning to full form. His presence has been impactful whenever he’s on the field, making his return important for the Huskies’ offense.
In defense of Grady Gross
Head coach Fisch addressed junior kicker Grady Gross’s recent struggles during a press conference, particularly highlighting his performance during the games against Rutgers, Michigan, and Iowa, where Gross either missed a field goal or had one blocked. He has only converted 4 of 9 attempts during that stretch. Despite these setbacks, Fisch noted that Gross kicked well during practice, hitting a 48-yarder that spared his teammates from having to run extra conditioning sprints.
Fisch acknowledged that the entire special-teams unit has had a challenging season, with the Huskies ranking poorly in both kickoff and punt return averages. He pointed out that Gross’s miss against Iowa, a 32-yarder, was actually blocked due to a defender breaking through the A-gap, which speaks to the need for improvement across the special-teams unit as a whole.
“It really is all 11,” Fisch said, emphasizing that the responsibility for these plays extends beyond just the kicker or punter. He expressed hope that the team would improve in this area, aiming for their best special-teams performance in the upcoming game against Indiana. Fisch is optimistic that Gross understands the importance of his role and is focusing on executing his kicks effectively, while also stressing that the entire team must contribute to better special-teams outcomes.
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