Season gets worse for winless Washington
It’s going to be a really long year for the University of Washington football team, one that is likely to cost Tyrone Willingham his job.
The Huskies sit in the basement of the Pac-10 at 0-2 and are 0-2 out of conference with even a single win not looking promising this season as it was revealed that starting QB Jake Locker will miss 6-8 weeks after having surgery Monday to repair a broken right thumb suffered Saturday in a loss against Stanford.
Six weeks would mean Locker could return in time for the Nov. 8 home game against Arizona State. Eight weeks could sideline him until the Apple Cup on Nov. 22 against Washington State.
Willingham did hint that Locker could return sooner at another position, but that seems very unlikely. He was injured throwing a block in front of a 27-yard reverse run by wide receiver Jordan Polk. It appeared to happen when Locker’s hand hit the ground.
Locker is currently the Huskies’ season-leader in rushing with 56 carries for 180 yards and three touchdowns and is 50-for-90 for 512 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Not great numbers, but he is the team’s playmaker.
With Locker sidelined, redshirt freshman Ronnie Fouch will take over as the starter beginning with Saturday night’s game at Arizona, backed up by Taylor Bean, a walk-on redshirt freshman. The Wildcats are 21-point favorites on WagerWeb.com.
“Obviously, [Locker is] a huge loss because he adds so much to our team in so many ways,” Willingham said. “His presence. His running skills. What he brings to us in the passing game. But I also am very confident in Ronnie Fouch. [I] think we have been saying that for the last [year]. That we like a lot of things about Ronnie Fouch and just trying to find a way to get him some plays. … He stepped in very cool, very composed. He has the respect of his teammates.”
Fouch is 25 for 47 for 325 yards and two touchdowns this season in mop-up duty but has never started a game – not good news for a team staring at its first 0-5 start in 39 years.
Offensive coordinator Tim Lappano said the Huskies go back to the drawing board for next week’s game at Arizona.
“The read-zone, read-option goes out the window — not because Ronnie can’t do it, but he gets hit and he’s out?” Lappano said. “The pass game? We’re in good shape. Ronnie did a great job in that, (but) the run game is going to change.”
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