Washington Football: 5 overreactions from win over Colorado
By Zach Bigalke
Washington football overcame a sluggish first half in Boulder to run away with their first Pac-12 victory of 2017. Here are five overreactions to the Huskies’ win.
When Washington up just 10-7 at the half against Colorado on Saturday, it appeared that the game could go one of two ways. Either A) the Buffaloes were going to gain revenge for their loss in last year’s Pac-12 Championship Game, or B) the Huskies were going to pull away just like they did last December.
The latter of those two possibilities transpired as Washington pulled away for a convincing 37-10 victory on the road to start conference play. After the game afforded the opportunity for some initial takeaways on Saturday night, here are five overreactions that the game yielded with the benefit of hindsight.
5. Jake Browning is hurting the Washington offense
In 2016, Jake Browning ran one of the most efficient offenses in college football. This year, he looks like an impediment to offensive success rather than a linchpin for one of the nation’s most potent attacks. Eventually, Browning’s marginal play on the field is going to cost the Huskies a game they should win.
Against Colorado, Browning was just 11-of-21 for 160 yards. He threw one touchdown pass, but he also coughed up an interception in the victory. Sure, it was better than his 9-of-24 showing against the Buffaloes last season. But that only reinforces the point that Washington is winning despite their quarterback rather than because of him.
If the Huskies are going to keep winning and return to the College Football Playoff this season, a drastic turnaround needs to transpire in Browning’s game. The veteran quarterback is completing less than 55 percent of his passing attempts against Power Five competition. That is a drop of over five percent from his completion rate in 2016.
Right now, Jake Browning is hurting the Washington offense far more than he is helping the Huskies when they have the ball. Maybe it is time to turn to the future and get more looks from redshirt freshman Daniel Bridge-Gadd.