In the 2 years that Tyrone Willingham has had to steer the Washington football Program they have shown some improvement in Defensive statistics - but it is incremental to this point.
Looking at Yards per game (or points ppg for Scoring Defense) and rank
Category -- 2006 (rank) --- 2005
Rushing D - 139.6 (r-66) --- 143.4 (r-49)
Passing D - 240.17 (r102) -- 275.7 (r-106)
Total Def - 379.75 (r-95) -- 419.09 (r-94)
Scoring D - 23.1 p (r-62) -- 30.9 (r-89)
On offense their time of possession also showed a positive shift .. 2006 they held the ball on average 29:12 (ranked 82nd in nation), an increase over their 2005 offense of 27:47 and a 109th national ranking. Despite which their Scoring Offense remained questionable 2006 r-76 21.83 ppg, 2005 r-90 21.55 ppg. In both years their Offensive rankings (rush, pass total) were squarely in or near the bottom 2/3rd rankings 2005 69th 358 ypg, 2006, 74th rank 321.75 ypg.
The only manner in which one could describe Rush D as a strength is a relative one - and the numbers do show a weak to porous secondary, so it is likelier that opponents feasted on an obvious weakness, than that Washington made teams one-dimensional.
Also, consider that their ability to stop the run (using those over-sized "safety" LBs) is colored by the style of running back popular in the Pac-10. Lighter, possibly running sweeps and end-arounds this demands exactly the kind of speedy, lighter-weight LB Washington seems to employ. Being able to go sideline to sideline is likely a strength.
But bruise them inside or between the tackles and I bet they are very vulnerable. For which you need a big back - like Chris Wells.
Get them hurting and put in the scat back - break past the first line and big gainers become possible?
Perhaps that is what the better running teams in the PAC-10 did in 2006, like Oregon (316 net yds gained), Arizona State and Cal netted 190 and 195 yards respectively. I would say our stable of RBs this year measures up very well against those of Oregon, Az. State or (Lynch recognized) Cal.
Most instructive is how Jonathan Stewart ate up their rush D for 159 yards last year as Oregon rolled up 316 net yards on the ground - for Stewart and Wells share a lot of physical characteristics. He is that rare beast - a bruising Pac-10 rusher.
Unless Ty has a magic wand to invigorate his team's defense, I think this game goes like the Buckeyes in Norman Oklahoma with Mike T at the helm - grind 'em down and punish them all day.
