Washington's Pass Rush Will Have Its Hands Full With Cam Ward

Co-defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell said the Washington State quarterback plays a lot like Caleb Williams.

During the 2022 Apple Cup, edge rushers Bralen Trice and Jeremiah Martin both had career days while getting after Washington State quarterback Cam Ward, combining for 25 pressures in Pullman. 

While Martin has since graduated, Washington's defensive line will need another strong performance against Ward to secure the school's first 12-0 season.

Led by Trice and Zion Tupuola-Fetui, the Huskies' containment Ward will be an important piece of co-defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell's game plan. Teams have sacked the Cougars quarterback 32 times this season, but he's extremely elusive and Morrell said Ward's play reminds him of USC quarterback Caleb Williams. 

"His escapability is top-notch; it's as good as anyone in the country and his arm talent is as good as anybody we've faced," Morrell said during the coaches' weekly news conference. "He's creative in what he does when the play breaks down. It's hard to draw that stuff up."

Ward has led one of the best passing offenses in the Pac-12 this season, with the  Cougars averaging 338.6 yards per game through the air and trailing just Washington and Oregon. But as Morrell alluded to, the quarterback's elusiveness outside of the pocket will be hard to defend.

Ward's athleticism and ability to make plays out of structure is something Washington's defense has seen a lot of this year and still struggles to counter. Oregon's Bo Nix, Arizona's Noah Fifita, Oregon State's DJ Uiagalelei and Williams all have given the Huskies trouble with their legs.

The Huskies did a great job of overwhelming the Washington State offensive line in their 2022 meeting, recording 6 sacks of Ward, and they will seek similar success with a different personnel grouping along the defensive line. 

The coaching staff could attempt to counter Ward's athleticism with its speed package, which has become a favorite when Washington needs to generate pressure.

The package includes Trice and Tupuola-Fetui on the edge and  junior edge rusher Voi Tunuufi and true freshman Jacob Lane lined up at defensive tackle to get after the quarterback.

Washington ranks last in the Pac-12 with just 14 sacks for the season but has a chance to improve on that number if the defensive line can keep Ward inside the pocket.

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