UPON FURTHER REVIEW
OFFENSE (B)
Perhaps the best traits Alex Hornibrook displayed in the opener were patience and mental toughness. UW’s offense generated a combined 40 yards on its first four possessions. Those ended with a punt, a lost fumble by Hornibrook, a punt and a punt. Hornibrook was sacked twice on the first series, lost a fumble on the second and was sacked again on the fourth series and saw three catchable balls dropped. The redshirt sophomore, starting his 10th game, didn’t flinch. He kept trusting his receivers and his arm and completed 4 of 4 passes for 42 yards on a 79-yard touchdown drive that got UW back into the game. Three of the completions converted third-down chances. Hornibrook didn’t see or feel a well-timed corner blitz on the first sack. He might have held the ball a beat too long on the second sack, but it appeared left guard Micah Kapoi could have picked up the blitz with better awareness. On the third sack it appeared left guard Jon Dietzen and tailback Chris James allowed pressure. Hornibrook was hit about 2.2 seconds after the snap. From this seat, Dietzen is simply a better option at left guard than Kapoi. Dietzen missed significant time in camp because of apparent ankle problems and acknowledged he has to work back into football shape so he can handle a full game. UW appears to have playmakers at wide receiver, tight end and tailback. That diversity will be a strength, particularly against teams that will scheme to take away tight end Troy Fumagalli and wide receiver Jazz Peavy. Freshman tailback Jonathan Taylor was very good and he isn’t going to regress. He is bright, tough and talented. Before Friday, the last time tailback Chris James carried the ball in a game was on Oct. 29, 2015, for Pittsburgh. Wonder if he was pressing Friday. He is better than he showed. Freshman wide receiver Danny Davis threw a terrific block and negated three defenders on Zander Neuville’s 28-yard touchdown catch. Sophomore wide receiver Quintez Cephus threw an important block on Taylor’s 13-yard touchdown run.
DEFENSE (A)
UW has been blessed with playmaking outside linebackers in recent seasons. The names Joe Schobert, T.J. Watt and Vince Biegel come to mind immediately. It is time for people outside the UW program to appreciate the consistency displayed by inside linebacker T.J. Edwards. The redshirt junior is stout against the run and is mobile enough – he was a high school quarterback – to drop into coverage and disrupt throws. In short, he is a football player who can play in any scheme and flourish. Chris Orr, who missed all but two plays last season because of a torn ACL, appeared active and reported no problems withis right knee. Redshirt freshman end Isaiahh Loudermilk recorded a sack. It won’t be his last. If UW’s secondary can avoid injuries it will be an outstanding unit. Cornerbacks Nick Nelson and Derrick Tindal won’t back away from any receiver. And safeties D’Cota Dixon and Natrell Jamerson can cover ground and hit. Nickel cornerback Dontye Carriere-Williams, just a redshirt freshman, has talent and is fearless.
SPECIAL TEAMS (B-)
Lubern Figaro was called for a block in the back on Nick Nelson’s punt return in the first quarter. That put the ball at the UW 4. The mistake was on Nelson, however, who was backing up when he caught the ball at the 5. Let it hit and take your chances it caroms into the end zone for a touchback. Zander Neuville was called for a block in the back on A.J. Taylor’s kickoff return. That put the ball at the UW 4. Not surprisingly, UW punted after both mistakes. If you want to be entertained/impressed, watch Jamerson cover punts. His effort and speed to get down the field and drop the return man for no gain on Anthony Lott’s 54-yard punt was fabulous. One game is a small sample size but the combination of Rafael Gaglianone, P.J. Rosowski and Lotti will help UW win games in 2017. A.J. Taylor showed conviction and a feel for navigating through traffic on his 28-yard kickoff return to open the second half.
COACHING (B)
Throughout an awful start that included penalties, sacks, dropped passes and communication issues on defense, UW’s players never appeared to get rattled. Frustrated? To be sure. But their demeanor mirrored that of head coach Paul Chryst, whose poker face is one of his many strengths. Assistant coach Tim Tibesar generally wants to play four outside linebackers each week. He has three solid players now but it will be interesting to see if he can identify / develop a fourth option. If you aren’t impressed by the work of wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore you’re not paying close enough attention during games.