At least look like you care

The Huskies are running out of running backs.

Their defense—while stout—wasn’t what you would call disciplined in the win against Washington State.

The Seahawks will begin their season on Wednesday night against the Patriots, but I’m going to start with the team that I’d already stuck a fork in. That’s right, I’m going to talk Mariners for just a minute.

In my time covering sports, I have been reluctant to conclude that any team has quit.

The closest I’ve come was 2009 when the Seattle Seahawks were beaten 48-10 in Green Bay on Dec. 27. It was Seattle’s third straight loss, and those defeats had come by a combined score of 106-24.

But when I walked into the locker room after that game, I could sense the anger in there. In fact, I suspected there might have been some sort of confrontation or altercation before we came in. Players were seething. I don’t think the Seahawks quit that day.

But on Saturday night against the A’s? I think the Mariners quit.

I don’t say that just because they were held to two hits — both singles — by a guy with the highest ERA in the American League (for the record, his name is Jeffrey Springs). I don’t just say that because Josh Naylor showed less-than-optimal hustle on an eighth-inning ground ball, affording the A’s time to turn a double play even after second baseman Donovan Walton muffed his initial attempt to field the ball.

I believe the Mariners quit because, after managing just two singles against a poor starting pitcher and failing to run out a ground ball, there was not a single Mariners position player in the clubhouse to answer questions after the game.

Whatever starch once existed in this Mariners lineup is gone.

Poof.

Vamoose.

Any playoff chances Seattle has are strictly mathematical in what will be the worst Mariners season since the COVID-shortened year of 2020.

It’s too bad, and if this team can’t run out the rest of its season, I’m not sure why I feel compelled to do so.

Before I start wailing about Washington, I would like to offer a couple of words about Washington State.

I know this sounds slightly condescending, and I truly don’t mean it to be. I like the Cougs. They tend to be nicer than I am. Much nicer.

For instance, had my school been the one abandoned by its sister institution, left to fend for ourselves alongside Oregon State in the Great Conference Shakeup of 2023, I wouldn’t ever want to play the Apple Cup again.

But the Cougs not only played the Apple Cup, but they also won it that first year after Washington bolted to the Big Ten.

And after Washington’s 59-24 thrashing last year, I worried that the Apple Cup was turning into a snuff film.

Except the Cougs dusted themselves off after that defeat, rallied themselves to put together a thoroughly respectable season, and even after Jimmy Rogers bolted, the Cougs have landed in a very good place with new coach Kirby Moore.

Washington State’s defense acquitted itself well against Washington and quarterback Caden Pinnick looked good.

As I said, I like the Cougs and wish them the best in the Pac-12 2.0.

Now, about the Huskies:

Demond Williams is a very talented player.

His 21-yard scramble with just under 3 minutes remaining was the single most important play of the game as he evaded three different defenders to convert a third-and-9.

Williams was nothing short of extraordinary on those final two scoring drives in the fourth quarter.

However, the fact that Washington needed its quarterback to out-maneuver three different defenders on a crucial third-and-9 speaks to the extreme load he may have to handle.

The Huskies didn’t run over the Cougars by any measure, and that was with their top two running backs who are going to be out for the foreseeable future.

I understand Washington is a young team and, as such, should be expected to improve as the season goes on. But on Sunday, the Huskies did not look like a team that’s going to finish toward the top of the Big Ten standings.

Here are three things worth nothing:

Washington forced two turnovers, finished with three sacks, and held Cougar running backs to 41 yards on 17 carries, an average of 2.4 yards per rush, as Pinnick accounted for 79 of WSU’s 120 yards.

There were four personal fouls. Two of those came in one second-quarter drive in which Washington seemed determined to keep the Cougs from punting.

I’m all for aggressive defense. I’m even willing to overlook a few personal fouls as the cost of doing business. But hitting a quarterback who’s stepped out of bounds is like doing thrill-seeker liquor-store holdups with a “Born to Lose” tattoo on your chest.¹

Throw in three holding penalties that Washington was flagged for on the second drive of the game, and this was a game in which the Huskies hurt themselves. Frequently.

Running back was the biggest unknown on the Huskies offense with Jonah Coleman having been drafted by the Broncos and Adam Mohammed having transferred to Cal.

Now, it’s even more of a question mark.

Quaid Carr was Washington’s starter, but he suffered a hand injury in the second quarter. Jayden Limar—a transfer from Oregon—was the backup, and he suffered an arm injury in the fourth.

Both are going to be out for some time, which means transfer Trey Cooley—a transfer from Troy—and true freshman Brian Bonner will be asked to carry the load.