SEATTLE — It should be noted that this 99-yard touchdown drive technically began in a way that no 99-yard touchdown drive ever actually could: with a safety.
But, hey, this is still just practice. So Washington’s No. 1 offense got another crack at moving the ball from its own 1-yard line during the final period of Monday’s session, despite senior defensive lineman Shane Bowman stopping senior running back Myles Gaskin in the end zone on the first snap.
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What followed was the most impressive, sustained drive the Huskies’ first-string offense has mustered through its first 10 practices. It ended with a short touchdown run by sophomore tailback Sean McGrew. It required a little more legwork by quarterback Jake Browning than UW coaches would likely prefer. And it took 20 plays, if I counted correctly. But I’m guessing that was all a welcome change for UW’s offensive coaching staff, considering the way the Huskies’ defense has dominated team periods so far.
This is what coach Chris Petersen had to say during his most recent media availability Friday, after all: “Offense, defense, special teams — one phase is looking pretty good, and the other two, we’ve got some work to do, and you guys watch practice, so I’ll let you figure out what side looks good, and (which sides have) a lot, a lot of work to do.”
(The defense. He was talking about the defense.)
Browning made a handful of savvy plays during Monday’s long drive, including a third-and-medium completion to Quinten Pounds for about a 12-yard gain; a 4th-and-10 completion to Pounds that kept the drive alive; and a pair of scrambles for first downs, including one on 4th-and-5.
Even better news for UW’s offense: the defense didn’t force a single turnover Monday, the first time I can recall that happening this camp — though it should be noted the “turnover horn” blew on the aforementioned safety, and twice more when the No. 2 defense forced consecutive safeties with the ball placed at the offense’s 1-yard line during that same period. Sophomore cornerback Keith Taylor crashed in for a “sack” of quarterback Jake Haener on the first play, then outside linebacker Myles Rice broke into the backfield to stuff running back Salvon Ahmed in the end zone.
Other thoughts and observations after watching Monday’s two-plus-hour practice on a hazy day in Seattle …
- At this point, I’d be surprised if redshirt freshman Peyton Henry isn’t UW’s starting kicker come Sept. 1. The left-footer from Danville, California, hasn’t quite been lights out, but he appears to have edged ahead of sophomore Van Soderberg in the competition for place-kicking duties. On Monday, Henry nailed about a 35-yarder early in practice, then made another from similar distance toward the end of practice. And just before practice ended, Henry took the field with only a long-snapper and a holder, and made a 38-yard attempt with the entire team watching. Petersen has tried that drill a few times to simulate real pressure, most recently on Friday, and it didn’t go particularly well for any of UW’s kickers that day. This time, Henry capitalized. Soderberg went 1-for-2 on the day, making a 35-yarder early and missing from a similar distance later.
- Senior defensive lineman Greg Gaines, held out of Saturday’s practice, wore pads and went through early drills, but I didn’t see him take any snaps during the 11-on-11 periods. Freshman linebacker Ariel Ngata, who had been sidelined for a few practices, wore pads and went through drills, as well. Offensive lineman Luke Wattenberg is still being held out of team periods and spent some time riding an exercise bike along with Gaines and Ngata. Sophomore receiver Jordan Chin still isn’t participating, but he’s definitely getting plenty of work on the JUGS machine.
- With Wattenberg out, the first-team offensive line featured Trey Adams at left tackle, Henry Roberts at left guard, Nick Harris at center, Matt James at right guard and Kaleb McGary at right tackle. As has been the case the past few practices, Adams again worked with the first group during early 11-on-11 periods, but not later in practice.
- The second-team offensive line that took the field for UW’s first 11-on-11 period featured, from left to right, Henry Bainivalu, Devin Burleson, Jesse Sosebee, Jaxson Kirkland and Jared Hilbers. Sosebee also stepped in at center with the No. 1 offense during its long touchdown drive.
- It appears senior cornerback Jordan Miller is taking more and more reps with the No. 1 defense, which indicates the coaches must feel good about where he is in his recovery from the ankle injury that cut his 2017 short. Junior Austin Joyner is still taking reps at safety with the No. 2 defense. Defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake said after Monday’s practice that he wants to prepare for as many worst-case scenarios as possible, and preparing Joyner to step in at safety in the event of an injury to a starter is part of that plan. Keith Taylor and Julius Irvin were the cornerbacks with the No. 2 defense, with sophomore Elijah Molden at nickel.
- Speaking of Molden, I asked Lake how close the competition is between Molden and junior Myles Bryant for the starting nickel spot. His response: “(Molden)’s been making a ton of plays. I have to do a better job of rotating our guys in there, because he deserves to play. He’s made a ton of plays. He made six interceptions this spring. He’s tied for the lead right now in interceptions in training camp with four. He’s smart. He can play a number of different positions. He’s forcing his way onto the football field even though he has really good players sitting right there in front of him. Really excited about him. you’re going to see him out there playing, for sure.”
- Freshman linebacker Zion Tupuola-Fetui had another “sack” against the No. 3 offense, with Jacob Eason at quarterback. Another freshman linebacker, MJ Tafisi, “sacked” Eason on the same series. Also during that 11-on-11 period: Benning Potoa’e “sacked” Haener, and freshman cornerback Kyler Gordon “sacked” quarterback Colson Yankoff on a blitz without Yankoff ever seeing him.
(File photo of Jordan Miller (23) by Jennifer Buchanan / USA TODAY Sports)