Chasing greased lightning
Colorado Buffaloes opponent watch: 5 things to know about Washington
Colorado opens Pac-12 play at home at 8 p.m. Saturday against defending league champion Washington. Here are five things you need to know about the Huskies:
1. Here we go again. Washington rolled Colorado 41-10 in the conference championship game last fall. The Buffs trailed just 14-7 at halftime, but a UW pick-six to open the third quarter snowballed into a blowout. The Huskies return 15 starters and dominated in nonconference victories against Rutgers (30-14), Montana (63-7) and Fresno State (48-16).
2. Quarterback Jake Browning is a proven leader. The reigning Pac-12 offensive player of the year completed 62 percent of his passes for 3,430 yards and a leaguerecord 43 touchdowns in 2016. He’s back and is surrounded by talent, including all-Pac 12 left tackle Trey Adams and receiver Dante Pettis. In three games this season, Browning has thrown eight touchdowns and one interception.
3. UW’s defense is off to a hot start. The Huskies return four of their top five tacklers who helped lead the Pac-12 in total defense and scoring defense last fall. In 2017, they’ve yet to allow a 100-yard rusher, or a rushing score, and have given up an average of only 12.3 points. 4. Chris Petersen is an elite head coach. Many wondered if his success at Boise State — 92-12 over eight seasons with seven bowl appearances — would translate to the Pac-12 when UW hired him in 2014. Peterson has since advanced to the postseason in each of his first three years, including a Peach Bowl appearance against Alabama in the national semifinal last fall.
5. Special teams might be the key. CU and UW both faced mostly soft nonconference schedules and appear to be stout on defense and working out the kinks on offense. It all sets up for special teams to play a more important role, and the Huskies have weapons. Pettis, a senior, has won consecutive Pac-12 special-teams player of the week awards after he returned a punt for a touchdown against Fresno State last Saturday.