Washington Huskies focus on linebackers this spring
The Washington Huskies started spring camp on March 30, and it concludes on April 30 with the annual spring game. One big area of focus will be on linebacker play.
Can the Washington Huskies linebackers improve over the last several years against the run?
It can’t get much worse. Last year the Huskies’ defense was second-worst in the Pac-12 Conference, allowing 193.6 yards per game.
New Defensive Coordinator William Inge is also the Linebackers Coach. He’s well aware of the problems UW had defending against the run. Inge will work hard to improve that area and try to match the success UW had against the pass.
The problem isn’t just with the inside linebackers but the edge defense as well. It will be interesting how Washington deploys their defensive backs, especially the safeties, to stop the run.
Getting pressure on the passer must improve as well. Last year, the Huskies had the Pac-12’s third-lowest sack total. They put up 20 in 12 games. Compared to the 10 in 4 four games during the shortened 2020 season, it was a significant fall-off.
Inside
According to Ourlads.com, the two inside linebackers expected to start are Edefuan Ulofoshio and Cam Bright, a graduate transfer from Pittsburgh. Last year, Ulofoshio was named a preseason All-American by Pro Football Focus. Unfortunately, Ulofoshio played in only the first five games before missing the rest of the season because of injury.
Cam Bright played four years at Pittsburgh after redshirting as a freshman. Last year Bright started eight games for the 11-3 ACC Champion Panthers. Listed as a starter going into spring camp, will Bright be when it ends?
Carson Bruener had an outstanding season as a redshirt freshman last year. He started 5 of the 11 games he played in, making 70 tackles. Against Stanford, Brunner was the Pac-12 defensive player of the week.
Right now, the depth chart shows Bruener as Bright’s backup. It won’t surprise many if Bruener is the starter for most of the coming season.
Alphonzo Tuputala, a redshirt sophomore from Federal Way, is behind Ulofoshio. Last year he was hurt during spring camp, causing him to miss the first six games. Tuputala came back to play the final five games seeing spot duty. If he’s healthy, Tuputala will be a big asset and improve the interior defense.
Outside
The outside linebacker spots expected to start are Zion Tupuola-Fetui and Bralen Trice. In 2019 ZTF played in 12 games, though didn’t start any of them. It was in 2020 that the native Hawaiian came into his own. He started all four games and made seven sacks for 49 yards. Tupuola-Fetui’s outstanding play earned him First-Team All-Pac-12, and The Athletic named him a Second-Team All-American.
During last year’s spring practice, ZTF tore his Achillies tendon. The injury could have sidelined him for up to a calendar year, but he worked hard in rehab to rejoin the team as soon as possible. After missing the first five games, Tupuola-Fetui returned against UCLA in mid-October. In limited action, he had eight tackles and three forced fumbles.
After such a serious injury, ZTF wasn’t near 100 percent. If he was fully healthy, he’d be preparing for the NFL draft right now. Getting Tupuola-Fetui back to pre-injury form would be a big step for the Washington Huskies’ defense.
To start spring practice, Trice will be the starting edge rusher opposite ZTF. Last year he came on Huskies’ fans’ radar when he returned a fumble 72 yards for a touchdown against Arkansas State. Trice ended the season with 14 tackles in 12 games.
The backups are Jeremiah Martin, who transferred last year from Texas A & M, and Sav’ell Smalls. Martin played in 11 of 12 games for UW last year, with no sacks.
Smalls was a 2020 five-star recruit and second-team All-American coming out of Kennedy Catholic. The redshirt sophomore played in all 12 games during his redshirt season after playing all four games in 2020. In high school, he was a big difference-maker. If Smalls plays up to his potential, the opportunity is there for him to claim a starting spot by opening day.
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If these four edge rushers play up to what they are capable of, the Washington Huskies will be even tougher to pass against in 2022. Go Dawgs!