SEATTLE (AP) — When Jimmy Lake was named the successor to Chris Petersen at Washington in December, preparing for a season opener in opposition to Michigan appeared his largest precedence.

Practically 11 months later and nonetheless in the midst of a pandemic, Lake will lastly get his alternative as Washington’s coach when the Huskies open the season on Nov. 7 at California.

It ought to have been a seamless transition for the Huskies when Petersen determined to step apart and his defensive coordinator was promoted. However the pandemic saved Lake and his workers guessing about whether or not there would even be a season.

It’s created the type of challenges no first-year head coach might have anticipated.

“To not be capable of be round our guys as a lot as we normally are has been essentially the most troublesome factor,” Lake mentioned. “We’ve been artistic on some completely different stuff that we will use to ensure that we’re staying involved with one another and we will proceed to attach. However I feel that’s been essentially the most difficult factor.”

When the Huskies take the sphere in opposition to the Golden Bears, they’ll accomplish that dogged by questions — most notably who would be the beginning quarterback. The 4 gamers competing for the job have by no means began a recreation at Washington and just one — switch Kevin Thomson — has began a school recreation.

Washington additionally had two of its prime defensive linemen choose out for the season, selecting to prepare for the NFL draft. The Huskies may also be changing their main rusher from final season, their prime two cross catchers and two key starters on the offensive line.

However the Huskies might have the very best secondary within the Pac-12 and greatest defensive participant in Elijah Molden.

“It’s going to be completely different, it’s going to be a brand new transition, however I feel we’re going to be OK,” Molden mentioned.

UNDER CENTER

Thomson has essentially the most general expertise among the many Huskies’ quarterbacks after enjoying three seasons at Sacramento State. He was the Huge Sky offensive participant of the yr in 2019 after throwing for 3,216 yards and 27 TDs and added one other 12 speeding TDs. Jacob Sirmon is the one candidate to have thrown a cross in a Washington uniform. Sirmon appeared in 5 video games and threw three passes final season. The opposite choices are redshirt freshman Dylan Morris and freshman Ethan Garbers.

Lake hasn’t dominated out the thought of enjoying a number of QBs within the opener and mentioned it’s totally doable he will not announce the starter forward of time.

CARRYING THE ROCK

The largest enhance for a brand new beginning quarterback can be a powerful working recreation. The Huskies could have a pack of working backs to select from, led by Richard Newton and Sean McGrew. Newton had 10 touchdowns final season as a freshman and rushed for 498 yards, whereas lacking three video games on account of damage. McGrew added one other 342 yards speeding. Newton and McGrew will doubtless be the first duo, but additionally anticipate redshirt freshman Cameron Davis to be within the combine.

SECONDARY TO NONE

Molden is the chief of a secondary unit that ought to proceed Washington’s run of manufacturing distinctive defensive backs.

The depth of the group is presumably most spectacular, with Keith Taylor, Cameron Williams, Trent McDuffie, Brandon McKinney, Asa Turner and Kyler Gordon all anticipated to play important roles together with Molden.

“The defensive backfield is stacked with quite a lot of gamers which have performed quite a lot of soccer and it’s going to be aggressive,” Lake mentioned.

VIRUS UPDATE

Washington misplaced a pair of defensive stars when defensive sort out Levi Onwuzurike and cross rusher Joe Tryon determined to bypass the season and prepare for the NFL draft subsequent spring. On the time they made their selections, the Pac-12 was set to play within the winter and never the autumn.

Onwuzurike was a first-team all-Pac-12 choice final season, whereas Tryon was a second-team choice.

SCHEDULE SCRAMBLE

Whereas the pandemic price Washington its massive season-opener in opposition to Michigan, the schedule units the Huskies up for a possible run on the Pac-12 North title if they will get by California within the opener. Washington’s cross-divisional matchup is at residence in opposition to Arizona. They get Stanford at residence and their solely Friday recreation is the Apple Cup in opposition to Washington State the day after Thanksgiving. All of it factors to a possible showdown on Dec. 12 in Eugene in opposition to Oregon that would resolve the North.

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