Cal Football: Bears' Defense Faces Monumental Challenge vs. Prolific Huskies

Washington leads the nation in passing offense and averages nearly a first down with every snap.

No. 8 Washington has assembled a lot of impressive offensive numbers so far this season.

The Huskies lead the nation in passing yards at 493.3 per game. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has thrown 12 touchdowns, just one interception and has been sacked only once through three games. And three UW receivers are averaging at least 100 yards per outing.

Washington averages 46.7 yards per game.

None of those numbers impresses Cal defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon as much as this one: UW gains 9.46 yards per play.

“Just take that into consideration,” Sirmon said. “That is unbelievable.”

Well, it’s only three games but the number is spectacular — virtually a first down every time the ball is snapped. By comparison, Cal is averaging 5.49 yards per play.

It’s also light years better than the most prolific Cal offenses of all time:

— The 1975 Bears led the nation in total offense, averaging 485.5 yards per game and, famously, totaling the exact same yardage on the ground and through the air. Their yards per play: 6.04

— The 2004 Bears, led by Aaron Rodgers, averaged 492.4 yards per game. Yards per play: 7.03

— Jared Goff was the No. 1 NFL draft pick after directing Cal to 529.2 yards per game in 2015. Yards per play: 6.95.

How about the collegiate record-holders?

— Houston in 1989 set an NCAA record with 624.9 yards per game. The Cougars’ yards per play that season: 7.60

— Two decades later, in 2011, Houston set an NCAA record by piling up 8,387 yards. Their yards per play that season: 7.61

The NCAA record book does not have an entry for single-season yards per play, but the best we could find was Oklahoma in 2017, when the Sooners — led by Lincoln Riley in his first season as coach and Baker Mayfield on his way to the Heisman Trophy — peeled off 8.29 yards per snap.

None of those stacks up to what we’re seeing so far from the best of the Pac-12. Again, just three games, but here are the FBS leaders this season: Washington 9.46 yards per play, USC 9.32, UCLA 8.59 and Oregon 8.20.

“That’s what we’re fixing to get into the next eight or nine weeks, facing some of the most talented offenses in America,” said Sirmon, whose defense will be pitted against all four of those. “This is what the Pac-12 is right now.”

The short-term effect on Sirmon is insomnia, or so he suggests.

Asked if he’s having nightmares while prepping for the challenge, Sirmon joked, “Nightmares would be under the assumption I’m sleeping. When I’m awake, I’m having nightmares.”

No one is making light of the assignment at Husky Stadium.

“It’ll be a great opportunity to see where we’re at,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said.

Craig Woodson returns an interception for a TD vs. UC Davis last season / Photo by Darren Yamashita, USA Today

Cal’s one edge may be its ability to generate turnovers. The Bears share the national lead with 10 takeaways — five interceptions and five recovered fumbles — and they understand they’ll need to squeeze a few out of the Huskies to have a realistic chance.

UW has three giveaways through three games.

“We definitely see an offense doing a lot of shifts and motions and pre-snap movement,” Cal safety Craig Woodson said of the Huskies. “Receivers that can get open. A quarterback that’s slinging it.

“As a defense if we can come out with some turnovers . . .that would definitely be important. Field position is kind of everything when it comes to the flow of the game.”

“That’s the No. 1 indicator in winning and losing,” Sirmon said.

The Huskies certainly are aware of the Bears’ defensive prowess that includes allowing just seven points in the second half all season.

“Their guys are where they’re supposed to be and they play hard. You see guys running to the football, finishing plays and trying to get the ball out,” UW offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said. “They’re very disciplined and they play physical. We think they’re going to be by far our biggest test.”

Cal fans have one more reason to feel hopeful — the Bears have played UW tough in recent years. The teams are 2-2 the past four meetings, and all of those outcomes were decided by seven points or fewer.

Washington has averaged a modest 22 points against Cal in those four clashes, including the Huskies’ 28-21 win last season in Berkeley.

“Historically, we have played them pretty well,” Woodson said. “Everyone knows on both sides it’s going to be a good game, a close one like it always has been.”

Asked if the prospect of facing high-scoring teams is daunting for a defensive player, Woodson declined to bite.

“I wouldn’t say daunting. I think it makes me more excited about playing all these offenses,” he said. “I just want to get out there and play.”

That’s exactly what Cal coach Justin Wilcox wants to hear from his guys.

“If you’re not excited to play this game, you’re in the wrong sport."

Cover photo of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. by Joe Nicholson, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo