Ahead of Auburn's top-10 showdown with Washington, The Plainsman posed questions to The Daily's sports editor, Josh Kirshenbaum, to preview the contest in Atlanta. Here's how he sees the Pac-12 vs. SEC matchup playing out.
Everyone wants to talk about UW's talented secondary. What about the front seven?
Compared to the secondary, it's in a tough situation, but all that means is that it has any retooling to do at all. Obviously, the story on the line of scrimmage will be how UW replaces Vita Vea, but Greg Gaines should be more than ready to take his place in the spotlight. Jaylen Johnson is set to start next to him; it will be interesting to see if this can be a coming out year for him. He spent most of last season as the primary focus on the second team line, attracting double teams. This season, we'll get to see if he can take advantage of offensive lines focusing on Gaines.
The biggest question of the front seven may be on the edges. Washington's outside linebackers didn't have nearly as much success in 2017 as they did in 2016, and then Connor O'Brien graduated and Tevis Bartlett moved inside to replace Keishawn Bierria. Right now of the six outside linebackers listed on the UW roster, five have shots at significant playing time.
As a four-year starting quarterback, Jake Browning is just a different breed. What is it about his leadership that helps UW's offense to be so successful?
It's all in the mental game for him. We may overblow the stereotype of the cerebral quarterback, but Browning prepares like nobody else, and now that he's had three years' worth of experience staring down opposing defenses, he's pretty much seen it all, and he trusts his instincts. This is the guy who will check to a running play on 4th-and-10, then watch it go for 20 yards.
I would hazard a guess that he knows more about the Auburn defense than anyone not on the Auburn roster or coaching staff, and the team trusts his preparation.
- Petersen's Dawgs have been hearing all offseason how they're the Pac-12 favorite and have a legitimate shot to make the playoff again. How has Washington tuned out the noise?
I'm sure Petersen has put in his best effort to make sure his Dawgs don't hear any of it. Seriously though, this team has fully bought into its coach, and from what I've seen, the players take after Petersen in his approach to outside noise. They really just don't care.
Every week, we're going to hear how UW's next opponent is the best team they'll ever play, and while it may actually be true this time around, they're not going to change anything because of that.
Does Washington view this as a revenge game for its playoff loss in Atlanta?
Not at all, really. If UW ends the season matched up against Alabama in a bowl or playoff game, then we might get a bit of that, but Auburn and Alabama are two very different programs (as I'm sure most Auburn fans would hastily and wholeheartedly agree with). On the other hand, this game is being viewed as a chance for UW to take that next step as a program. Washington has proven that it can make it to big games on the national level, but it's still looking to win one of them.
Making the Playoff at all in 2016 was plenty for a team that was still supposed to be up-and-coming. Last season showed that UW should have staying power. Now it's time to see if the Dawgs can beat teams as good as themselves.
Who is a player, on either side of the ball, that could be an X-factor for UW? Aside from the regulars (Gaskin, Browning, etc).
On offense, look for sophomore wideout Ty Jones. At 6 feet 4 inches tall, he's really the first big receiver to come into the UW system. Washington has had fast receivers (see John Ross) and all-around GOATs (see Dante Pettis), but Jake Browning hasn't really had a guy he can just lob a ball up to in key situations. Jones appeared in 10 games in his true freshman season, making just seven catches, but made some great plays in camp and looks like he's planted himself in the main rotation of wideouts.
Defensively, there are a lot fewer unknowns in terms of personnel. I think Johnson could have a breakout year if he can take advantage of the one-on-one battles playing next to Gaines will afford him. In the secondary, Elijah Molden and Austin Joyner would probably be starting for any other team in the country. Molden has battled all fall long with incumbent Myles Bryant for the starting nickelback job, and while all signs point to Bryant winning it for Auburn, Molden should see plenty of time.
Joyner has experience at pretty much every position in the defensive backfield. When Byron Murphy got hurt last year, he filled in at corner and had as good a year as anyone in the DB room. Now with Murphy and Jordan Miller back healthy, he's moved to safety, backing up Taylor Rapp and Jojo McIntosh.
Game prediction?
I ... I really don't know. On one hand, I think UW may have the better team, especially with the injuries in Auburn's receiver corp. On the other hand, the Tigers are not far behind talent-wise, UW hasn't won a game over a ranked opponent in the South since 1994, and this game is pretty much going to be played a Jordan-Hare-Lite.
I could honestly see this game going 42-17 either way, and any score in between, but in the name hot takes, let's go with 30-24 Huskies.
You can find The Daily online at DailyUW.com. Follow Josh on Twitter @J_Kirshenbaum.
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Nathan King, senior in journalism with a minor in business, is The Plainsman's sports editor.
