Washington Football: Spring Practice Storylines That Matter

2016 Washington Spring Football: What’s the big deal, what to worry about, and what’s all set.

Washington is a program rife with sleeper qualities …

There’s a quiet, yet unmistakable, confidence on Montlake about the upcoming season. The staff, led by Chris Petersen, is entering its third season with the Huskies. The team won its final three games of 2015, including a rout of rival Wazzu.

And the roster will feature very few first-time starters.

Washington may not be ready to enter Stanford and Oregon’s zip code, but the breakthrough vibe around campus is palpable. Meeting rising expectations in 2016 could hinge on the maturation of QB Jake Browning who started all but one game of his rookie season.

No One Is Worried About …

the secondary. The Huskies had more picks than touchdowns allowed a year ago. And with the returns of First Team All-Pac-12 S Budda Baker and CB Sidney Jones, a repeat performance is expected in 2016. With any help from the pass rush, it’s going to be very difficult completing passes downfield on U-Dub this year.

Extra Attention Must Be Given To …

Pass protection. Browning is central to Washington’s success, so protecting him is a must. The Huskies gave up 34 sacks in 2015, struggling with one of the Pac-12’s youngest blocking units. However, now that Kaleb McGary and Trey Adams are no longer freshmen, there’s hope that the pocket will be noticeably cleaner.