The criticism was inevitable. The indignation was somewhat surprising. And the calls for a new defensive coordinator, well, that’s just the reactionary society we live in.
But in the hours and days following Washington’s 51-38 loss to Nebraska, defensive coordinator Nick Holt became one of the least-popular men among Huskies fans.
Good or bad, right or wrong, the many faults of the Washington defense were placed squarely on Holt.
Message boards, Twitter and other social media became venting places to discuss all that was wrong with the defense, particularly the face of it. Surprisingly, the Internet domain www.firenickholt.com has yet to be purchased, but if the Huskies defense struggles again today against California at Husky Stadium, some angry and enterprising UW fan will get it up and running.
Is the criticism fair? Head coach Steve Sarkisian certainly didn’t seemed pleased when asked about it at his Monday news conference.
“I trust Nick Holt,” he said. “I believe in Nick Holt. I believe in our defensive staff. They are tremendous coaches. I’ve seen them coach for years. And we will get better.”
Still, as the defensive coordinator, Holt speaks for the defense as a whole. And the defense as a whole has been less than mediocre at best and awful at its worst.
“We need to get better,” Holt said.
Indeed, the numbers don’t lie. Washington ranks 107th out of 120 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision in scoring defense, giving up 36.7 points per game. The Huskies rank 108th in total defense (452 yards per game), 115th in pass defense (320.4 yards per game) and 117th in opponent third down conversion (57.14 percent).
“We’ve bent a lot – we gave up a lot of yards – but we haven’t broke,” UW cornerback Desmond Trufant said. “There are times when things are unraveling, as you’ve seen.”
How about some more numbers?
The Huskies have allowed 72 first downs in three games, most in the Pac-12. They also have allowed 42 plays of 10 yards or longer, 15 of 20 yards or longer and three of 50 yards or longer. And of the 15 times an opponent has made it into the red zone, it has come away with a score 14 times, including 10 touchdowns.
“It’s embarrassing,” said defensive end Hau’oli Jamora. “We’ve got to be a lot better. We have to get a better pass rush, better run-stopping, all of that.”
Sarkisian and Holt have steadfastly believed that the players are in the right position to be successful and make plays, but they’ve played passively for whatever reason.
“Some of our guys just aren’t playing as fast as they need to be,” Holt said. “You look at the production and we need more production out of some of the guys that are on the field. We need to do a good job of putting our kids in position to make good plays. And when the opportunities arrive, they need to make them.”
Holt even singled out the defensive line, expressing his dissatisfaction with a group – anchored by seniors Everrette Thompson and Alameda Ta’amu – that was considered a strength in the preseason.
“They’ve been the disappointment to me, really a disappointment so far,” Holt said. “… There were some good things, but we didn’t come with it and we have an older group and we didn’t play as well as we need to.’’
Sarkisian was a bit more blunt in his criticism.
“I think our players need to believe in our calls better,” Sarkisian said. “When we are calling pressures, you need to go. This is the third straight week where we have players unblocked against protections and we are not hitting the quarterback.”
Yet after all the criticism of the players, the responsibility of a coach is to not only put players in proper position for success, but teach them into being a playmaker. It’s why the criticism has followed Holt this week.
You know, it’s only three games,” Holt said. “We have gotten better, historically, through the season, which we will this year.”
For the Huskies to have a chance and the criticism of Holt to subside, it needs to start today.
Ryan Divish: 253-597-8483 ryan.divish@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/uwsports
HUSKIES GAMEDAY
CALIFORNIA (3-0, 0-0 PAC-12) AT WASHINGTON (2-1, 0-0)
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m., Husky Stadium. TV: Root. Radio: 950-AM.
The series: These two are the only teams that have been continuous members of what is now the Pac-12 Conference since it was founded in 1916. They first played each other in 1904. They have met 91 times, with Washington leading the series 49-38-4. Last season, UW beat California, 16-13, in Berkeley.
What to watch: The first thing to watch above all else is the health of Washington quarterback Keith Price. He’s coming off a left knee sprain suffered in the Nebraska game, to go with the right knee sprain that he’d been battling since Eastern Washington. Obviously, Price’s quickness and athleticism have taken a hit. But he’s shown toughness and the ability to make things happen with his arm, highlighted by 11 touchdowns. The question will be whether the Huskies’ offensive will be able to protect Price against a very good Cal defensive line. Cal will use a host of linemen in their 3-4 look. Led by Mychal Kendricks and D.J. Holt, the linebacker unit has veterans and solid tacklers. They are allowing opponents just 2.7 yards per rush this season. The Huskies are still going to give the ball to Chris Polk, who ran for 86 yards in the game last season. They just need to open up the middle by hitting on some passes to loosen up the defense. This could be a game where Austin Seferian-Jenkins becomes even more of a presence. Defensively, the Huskies have been mediocre at best.
What’s at stake: Everybody wants to get a win in its first conference game. For California, it would be a major confidence builder considering its recent struggles at Husky Stadium. The Bears also are looking for a little redemption after last season’s last-second loss at home to Washington.
The pick: Washington, 34-31.
PRIME NUMBERS
CALIFORNIA
No.Name (position)Height/weightYear
11Sean Cattouse (DB)6-3/218Senior
A one-time quarterback, the ball-hawk likely will become Cal’s career leader in interceptions by the end of the season
1Marvin Jones (WR)6-3/202Senior
He’s caught a pass in his past 28 games, and his size gives smaller defensive back troubles in one-on-on situations.
15Zach Maynard (QB)6-2/190Junior
The Buffalo transfer has given the offense a new outlook with his ability to improvise and make plays with his feet.
30Mychal Kendricks (LB)6-0/240Senior
The Butkus Award candidate has played in all 41 games of his career and has 172 career tackles, 25.5 of them for a loss.
92Trevor Guyton (DL)6-3/280Senior
The Redmond grad anchors a deep and physical defensive line unit that can stop the run and disrupt the pass.
WASHINGTON
No.Name (position)Height/weightYear
17Keith Price (QB)6-1/195Sophomore
Beyond his quality numbers, Price has shown a willingness to play hurt, fighting his way through sprains to each knee.
3James Johnson (WR)6-1/198Junior
He was in the doghouse a year ago, and now he’s back on the field and giving the Huskies yet another receiving threat.
56Senio Kelemete (OT)6-4/301Senior
The senior tackle will have to protect his beat-up quarterback against a very physical and deep Cal defensive line.
28Quinton Richardson (CB)6-0/203Senior
In the loss last week, he gave up a couple of big plays not indicative of a senior. He needs to be better this week.
Ryan Divish, staff writer
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