Washington Huskies O:6 D:8Even though the Huskies closed out 2005 with a 2-9 record, they lost a number of close games and had a shot of knocking off UCLA and Washington State in the closing minute. One can only expect them to learn from their mistakes of last season, and start fresh in 2006. That being said, the talent still isn't on par with the rest of the PAC 10, and there's still more rebuilding to do. However, head coach Ty Willingham has succeeded in this conference before and the 2006 Huskies will be the ones to lay the groundwork for future Husky versions. Senior quarterback Isaiah Stanback is back to lead the offense. The kid can flat out fly and has a powerful arm, but bad decisions and injuries have hampered him throughout his reign.
Running back Kenny James suffered an injury-riddled season in 2005, and hopes to regain his 2004 form. It will be tough early on though as the offensive line has to be completely retooled, and is the coaches biggest concern on offense. The wide receiver corps boasts a stable of capable wide receivers, so this unit should excel and be more of a threat than a joke.
Defensively, the Huskies return eight, and it looks to lower the thirty points per game it has allowed the last two seasons. The entire two deep returns in the secondary and the defensive line looks to be one of the better Husky fronts in years. If this unit can stay healthy, look for a solid improvement in its points per game allowance. Special teams returns almost completely intact, and should improve upon last season's numbers.
