No two players have impacted the University of Washington’s football season quite like cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Gregory Ducre.
The two starters on defense have had their hands full, facing pass-heavy teams from Eastern Washington and Hawaii.
But their impact on the Huskies’ punt coverage unit has been astounding. Three of the seven turnovers UW has forced have come from special teams.
“We call that ‘gunner activity’ within our team,” said Trufant, notably proud of the punt-coverage unit’s all-out mission. “All you really need on the punt team is the snapper … the punter and the two gunners. If the gunners are effective, that gives the defense great field position.”
Or, in the Huskies’ case, getting the ball back to the offense.
It started in the first quarter of the opening game against Eastern when Trufant knocked the ball out of returner Matt Johnson’s hands, and the ball bounced right to Ducre for the team’s first turnover of 2011.
Last week against Nebraska, Ameer Abdullah – one of the nation’s premier returners – fumbled a punt right in front of the two UW standouts. Trufant recovered the turnover, leading to an Erik Folk field goal at the end of the first quarter.
Even if they don’t force a fumble, Trufant and Ducre seem to be in the middle of every punt-coverage play. Against Hawaii, both met returner Scott Harding as soon as he caught the ball, and leveled him for a 1-yard loss.
“These first three games, they have been active and caused turnovers and had a real impact on the game,” UW coach Steve Sarkisian said.
So what exactly is a “gunner” on special teams?
He is the first line of coverage. Usually, a gunner is a smaller, quicker player – often a receiver, running back or defensive back. And he has to be there to disrupt the play as soon as the returner catches the ball, sets his feet and is ready to go.
“First thing is, you’ve got to find guys who can release (off the line),” Sarkisian said. “So much of a gunner is, ‘Can you get off the jam, bump-and-run coverage?’ ”
That is why receivers are notably the best gunners – they practice getting off bump-and-run pressure. But in fall camp, Sarkisian noticed it was Trufant and Ducre – the team’s two fastest players – who were doing it best.”
“The second thing is, you have to have speed,” Sarkisian said. “And then you have to have a want-to – you’ve got to want to do that job and be willing to go down there and make a play. It is a 40-yard dash.”
Which speed demon is usually the first to get to the returner? It is close, the third-year UW coach hedged.
“I’d like to see them race, actually,” Sarkisian said. “It would be a pretty good one.”
EXTRA POINTS
Quarterback Keith Price (knees) is nowhere close to healthy, but the redshirt sophomore displayed his best movement of the week Thursday in practice, and will likely start Saturday against California. … Free safety Nate Fellner (hamstring) did not participate in team-period action, but showed enough improvement that he should be available to play against the Bears. Justin Glenn will get the starting nod. …Reserve safeties Taz Stevenson (knee) and James Sample (shoulder) are unlikely to play. … Tailback Jesse Callier (knee) should resume the primary kickoff-return duties, along with receivers Kevin Smith and Kasen Williams. … Sarkisian said he will announce next week which walk-ons have earned scholarships this season.
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442 todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
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