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Washington Football: 3 takeaways from 2019 Apple Cup victory

By Dante Pryor

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: The Washington Huskies take the the field prior to taking on the Eastern Washington Eagles during their game at Husky Stadium on August 31, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: The Washington Huskies take the the field prior to taking on the Eastern Washington Eagles during their game at Husky Stadium on August 31, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 28: Defensive back Myles Bryant #5 of the Washington Huskies celebrates with defensive back Jojo McIntosh #14 and defensive back Elijah Molden #3 after recovering a fumble against the UCLA Bruins at Husky Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 28: Defensive back Myles Bryant #5 of the Washington Huskies celebrates with defensive back Jojo McIntosh #14 and defensive back Elijah Molden #3 after recovering a fumble against the UCLA Bruins at Husky Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

1. Washington defense dominated

Jimmy Lake is going to be a head coach sooner rather than later. There’s a reason Chris Petersen doesn’t mind playing complementary football. You don’t go that far down the list of the country’s elite defenses until you get to the Washington Huskies. They are solid at all three levels, and boast the best secondary in the country.

One of the reasons they have the number of Mike Leach and the Air Raid is they cover so well. The foundational element of the Air Raid is the quarterback’s ability to find the open receiver while running the same passing play multiple times. That’s really difficult when no one is open.

Even elite teams are three maybe four deep at defensive back. The Huskies are four deep just at corner. They are probably three or four deep at safety as well. They don’t have to sub in corners either; the Washington safeties can cover the slot as well as anyone.

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Couple that with their ability to get home with three, and you can do whatever you want behind the defensive front. When they want extra pressure, they will blitz, but usually Washington have no issues with getting to the quarterback with their base three or four down linemen. That’s exactly what won the day for the Huskies in the Apple Cup.

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