Dawgs release hounds on 'D'
A reporter from Columbus, Ohio, asked coach Tyrone Willingham about his team's speed. Willingham leaned in and told a bald-faced lie.
"We're really the slowest team we've had here in a couple years now," Willingham said.
Willingham may try his best to keep the cat in the bag, but the Dawgs are already on the loose.
Nowhere is that speed more evident than on Washington's defense and at no time will it be more important than Saturday against No. 10 Ohio State.
After the Huskies (2-0) recorded seven sacks in the 42-12 season-opening win at Syracuse, Willingham said he thought this was his fastest Huskies team.
His defense solidified that notion Saturday in a 24-10 win over No. 22 Boise State.
Proof?
Strong-side linebacker Dan Howell ripped into the backfield to knock Broncos running back Ian Johnson for a loss.
Weak-side backer E.J. Savannah chased Ian Johnson through the entire backfield before shoving him out of bounds.
Defensive ends Greyson Gunheim and Caesar Rayford closed hard and fast for a combined sack.
Cornerback Roy Lewis, who was Monday named the Pac-10's defensive player of the week, zoomed to the line of scrimmage to hit Ian Johnson for a loss of 2 yards.
The Huskies defense didn't simply tune up its old Nikes or add invisible jets to its collective heels.
Howell said several players have increased their speed and newcomers have brought faster 40-yard dash times to the roster, but the biggest difference is a smarter defense.
"We understand concepts better, too," he said. "We know where we should be and that makes us look and move faster."
Freshman cornerback Vonzell McDowell is among the athletes whose speed is not disguised -- he runs the 40 in 4.49 seconds.
"Still, football is an angle game," he said. "It's all about the angles and alleys and if you have them, you can cut anybody off. The more you know them, the faster and faster you get."
Huskies coaches have long lauded the speed from the edges -- namely the athleticism of ends Gunheim, Daniel Te'o-Nesheim and Rayford, who has two sacks.
"It's (having) more confidence and letting themselves go," defensive line coach Randy Hart said. "They're seeing the objective and getting there and, undoubtedly, it's a confidence thing. You can't go into a pass rush not thinking you're going to get there and you can't go in without great technique.
"I think our speed has definitely improved and as a result we're having a little success."
Savannah leads the team with 19 tackles and makes up a linebacking corps that is showing significantly more speed than those of the past two seasons.
"Personally, a major difference between this year and last year is that I know what I'm doing out there," Savannah said.
Savannah, the middle-linebacking platoon of Donald Butler and Trenton Tuiasosopo and backup Chris Stevens have impressed coaches this season by swarming to the ball.
The Huskies defense has allowed just 22 points in the first two games. Syracuse and Boise State -- a team that went into Saturday averaging 41.8 points over its previous 89 games -- averaged just 55.5 rushing yards.
In two early season routs, the Buckeyes (2-0) have scored 58 points. Running back Chris Wells is averaging 94.5 yards.
Savannah, for one, is excited about the challenge.
"Our run game is pretty tough right now," he said. "If they want to run on us, they're going to have to line up and hit us in the mouth ... and we're going to try to hit them right back."
INJURY REPORT: Willingham said that Howell (right knee) and right guard Casey Bulyca (undisclosed) suffered injuries against Boise State. They will be evaluated Tuesday before their status is revealed. Howell said he slightly sprained his knee and put a brace on it for the remainder of the game. He said he will practice and "definitely" play.
Fullback Luke Kravitz (left hand) did not dress Saturday and is questionable for Ohio State.
Cornerback Byron Davenport was already nursing a hamstring injury Saturday when he slightly strained the other hamstring. His status is uncertain.
FSN PICKS UP UCLA GAME: FSN will televise the Sept. 22 game at UCLA, moving the kickoff to 7:15 p.m.
The only other games in which the kickoff time has been determined are Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. versus USC, Oct. 27 at noon versus Arizona and Nov. 10 at 7:15 p.m. at Oregon State.
UW VS. OHIO STATE
WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Husky Stadium
TV/RADIO: ESPN; KJR-AM/950
INSIDE
MOORE: Jake Locker's No. 10 jerseys are flying off the shelves at local sports apparel stores. D2
FIRST LOOK: OHIO STATE
WHAT: No. 10 Ohio State (2-0) at Washington (2-0)
WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Husky Stadium
TV/RADIO: ESPN; KJR 950-AM
ABOUT THE BUCKEYES: Coming off a loss in the 2007 BCS Championship Game, Ohio State is making its first West Coast road trip since playing at UCLA in 2001. The Buckeyes have held their first two opponents to eight points. They lead the nation in total defense (122.5 ypg) and are paced by linebacker James Laurinaitis. Laurinaitis is the son of James, a professional wrestler better known as "The Animal" of the Legion of Doom.
CONNECTIONS: Defensive line coach Randy Hart was raised in Cleveland and played at Ohio State from 1967-69, helping the team win a national championship in 1968. Hart served as the Buckeyes' defensive line coach from 1982-87 before coming to Seattle, where he has been since. During that time, Hart assisted current Ohio State coach Jim Tressel under Earle Bruce. Tressel and his brother Dick -- the Buckeyes' running backs coach -- are cousins of Carol James, wife of former Huskies coach Don James.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: The Buckeyes are 7-3 against the UW. All 10 games have been during the regular season. The series began in 1957. The last time they played was the season opener in 2003. Ohio State was the defending national champion and beat the Huskies 28-9. In 1994, unranked Washington shocked No. 16 Ohio State 25-16 when Napoleon Kaufman had 278 all-purpose yards to break Hugh McElhenny's school record.
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