There is one thing I remember from my high school basketball coach about playing on the road. When you go on the road, you have to be better than you opponent. You can’t be as good. You have to be better. If you as good, you will lose due to home court advantage. Occasionally, you run into a little home cooking by the officials. So, bring your “A -game” if you hope to win.
There has been a lot of conversation about Jedd Fisch’s team and their poor performances on the road. “Why can’t they win on the road!”. “Why does this team disappear? What happens to the offensive line? What happens to Demond Williams?” Why does it all fall apart? Where is the consistency?!
These really are easy questions to answer. What has become very clear is that the Washington football team is not clearly better than most schools in the Big 10 and their A-game is not one that can overcome the road obstacles.
Coming out of last season, it was obvious to everybody that Washington did not have a roster that would allow them to build a competent offensive line inhouse. The transfer portal was critical. The Huskies went out and secured Geirean Hatchett’s return to Washington from Oklahoma and picked up Kansas State tackle Carver Willis. The problem, there was nobody on the roster that was going to be able to develop into a reliable third tackle in the 2025 season.
Hatchett has been a very positive leader and serviceable offensive guard, but he is not the dominant player that can go into places like Wisconsin and be “better” than the opponent.
Bottom line, Washington can’t consistently win on the road because the do not have a starting offensive line that can go into the snow, on the road, and dominate a game. They do not have the ability to walk up to the line, look a Michigan or Wisconsin defensive lineman in the eye and tell them, “We’re getting this first down whether you like it or not.” It is this talent and attitude that will allow a team to win, consistently, on the road.
Demond Williams is a sophomore quarterback that is going to need time to progress through his natural learning curve. Until the Huskies can develop an offensive line with that talent and attitude, Demond Williams will be stunted in his growth as a quarterback. It will be a frustrating two step forward, one step back process.
There is always a danger of a young quarterback deferring to his natural talents when the pressure comes. For Demond, that is launching it deep and missing the checkdowns, or taking off too soon, attempting to do too much with his feet. As exciting as he can be, watching him run over an Illinois defensive back for a twenty-yard gain and a first down, he can be as frustrating watching him spin backwards under excessive pressure and fumbling on our own 2-yard line, setting up a winning Wisconsin touchdown.
You want consistency? It’s not going to happen this year. We don’t have the offensive line for that to happen. We don’t have the offensive line to allow Demond Williams to develop at quick pace.
In the off-season, look for Washington to identify three offensive tackles, either on roster or from portal that can dominate at the Big10 level. Look for them to identify three offensive guards that can dominate at the Big 10 level. Only then, will you see the consistency we all want.
