Inside The Huskies

Huskies Out to Make Defense a Big-Play Unit, Same as Offense

Kalen DeBoer's defenders will press the issue more this fall.

Dan Raley

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Rome wasn't built in a day. OK, Odunze probably resembled an elite player from the first time he pulled on shoulder pads and a helmet for the University of Washington football team.

This wide receiver certainly was a big reason a new Husky coaching staff could come in and instantly put together an offense no one could stop and win 11 of 13 games.

As for that UW defense, however, Kalen DeBoer and his coaches clearly needed time to put together something with more of a big-play tinge to it, similar to that high-octane offense.

Over 15 spring practices, telltale signs emerged that DeBoer's defense will be leaning more to an attacking, force-the issue, make-you-uncomfortable type of stop unit rather than one that just filled gaps and tried to minimize opposing damage.

Foremost, the Husky defense figures to offer much more of an intense blitzing style using aggressive safeties and the Husky hybrid position, potentially all seasoned players, taking turns coming hard up the middle to disrupt things.

Look for the UW defensive front to have three rather than two down linemen more times than not with returning starting defensive tackles Tuli Letuligasenoa and Faatui Tuitele teaming with another big body in Jacob Bandes, Ulumoo Ale or Jayvon Parker, or a smaller body in Voi Tunuufi. 

You can add another lineman for impact when you fully trust your cornerbacks, which is the case now for the DeBoer coaching staff with new coverage guys Jabbar Muhammad and Thaddeus Dixon showing they can play tight and physical, holdover sophomores in Elijah Jackson becoming a healthy defender for the first time in a while and Jaivion Green growing up some after playing nine times as a freshman.

Edge rusher Zach Durfee makes a tackle, while safety Dom Hampton comes up to support.
Zach Durfee makes a tackle in the final spring scrimmage, while Dom Hampton comes up to support.  / Skylar Lin Visuals

Muhammad and Dixon, who arrived from Oklahoma State and Long Beach City College, respectively, demonstrated in practice they can be as physical as NFL corners, both grabbing, shoving and even punching players on the opposing side.

It's time for some Husky cornerback turnovers, too. The eight guys holding down scholarships at this position have exactly two college pass thefts between them entering the upcoming season — with Davon Banks picking one off for the UW last season against Arizona State and Muhammad stealing another for his Big 12 team against Iowa State. 

Behind them in the back row are veteran safeties Asa Turner and Dom Hampton who together started a combined 20 games in the secondary a year ago, plus Mishael Powell, a returning eight-game starter now in the Husky hybrid role.  

The linebackers likewise should be much more physical and have the ability to create turnovers with a fearless approach. This will happen because the second row is as healthy and brimming with talent as it has been for a very long time in Montlake. 

Eddie Ulofoshio, once-touted as the "best returning linebacker in college football," and hard-hitting USC transfer Ralen Goforth join returning starter Alphonzo Tuputala and returning former starter Carson Bruener to form a formidable crew.

On a defense like this, with the potential for balls popping loose, big hits cascading through Husky Stadium and games won on the defensive side, you save the best personnel for last to break down. 

That would be All-Pac-12 edge rusher Bralen Trice and former All-Pac-12 edge Zion Tupuola-Fetui who will team together to cause a lot of problems for enemy offenses, with promising Sioux Falls transfer Zach Durfee in reserve. 

Establishing the Husky offense was the big priority in season one for DeBoer and Company once they arrived in Seattle. Now it's bringing the UW defense up to speed and maybe make this team unstoppable on that side of the ball, too. 

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Dan Raley
DAN RALEY

Dan Raley has worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as well as for MSN.com and Boeing, the latter as a global aerospace writer. His sportswriting career spans four decades and he's covered University of Washington football and basketball during much of that time. In a working capacity, he's been to the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the MLB playoffs, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and countless Final Fours and bowl games.

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