The next challenge for Washington: Staying at the top of the Pac-12
LOS ANGELES — Washington, coming off a Pac-12 title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff, enjoyed breakout success in Year 3 of coach Chris Petersen's tenure.
The goal in Year 4 is to stay there.
“Is it harder to get there or stay there? I think it’s probably harder to stay there because you have to do those (difficult) things over and over and over for a long period of time,” Petersen said Wednesday at the Pac-12 media days.
Staying there is exactly what the Huskies, now everyone else's target, will look to accomplish in 2017.
“We don’t really focus about having a bull’s-eye on our back because we’re hunting,” said senior linebacker Keishawn Bierria said. “I don’t really like the idea of someone hunting me when I’m actually hunting somebody.”
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Washington’s key departures after 2016 certainly make repeating that success a challenge. The secondary lost three stars in Kevin King, Sidney Jones and Budda Baker, who are now on NFL teams.
The incoming secondary shows flashes of greatness but must become consistent, Petersen said.
“We aren’t into comparing what this guy looks like compared to Kevin King and Sidney Jones. The standard is the best that kid’s got every single day. That’s good enough for us,” Petersen said.
Though speedy receiver John Ross has moved on to the NFL, Washington brings back almost every other key piece on offense. Junior quarterback Jake Browning returns after offseason shoulder surgery. Myles Gaskin and Lavon Coleman — two running backs who combined for more than 2,000 rushing yards last year — are back. Receiver Dante Pettis scored 15 touchdowns as a junior.
Browning, who ranked second nationally in passing touchdowns last year with 43, said he can’t become complacent.
“If you start reading into too much about yourself and how great you are, I don’t care who you are, that’s going to begin to affect you,” Browning said. “I think you’ve got to stay pretty even-keeled, especially quarterbacks.”
