First Look Washington

[ANGCatFan]

Berk at the AZ Daily Star with the early look at Washington.

When: Saturday, Nov. 15.

Where: Arizona Stadium

Last year’s record: 9-4

Projections: Most preseason prognosticators believe it’s going to be more of the same for the Huskies this season. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The Huskies went 9-4 last year and qualified for their fourth straight bowl game after a seven-year drought. But most think the Huskies have reached their ceiling — for now. No preseason predictions have Washington higher than third in the Pac-12 North. Most believe it’s a two-team race between Oregon and Stanford and that the Huskies aren’t quite ready to join. Lindy’s thinks the most of Washington, ranking Petersen’s team 23rd in the country. Phil Steele slotted the Huskies in at No. 28.

Three names to know

Quarterback Cyler Miles: Miles will take over the offense from Keith Price, who graduated after throwing for 8,919 yards — the second-most in school history. Miles went 37 for 61 for 418 yards last season as Price’s backup. Petersen suspended the sophomore, who was a four-star recruit out of high school, for spring drills after he was linked to an assault in Seattle. He was never charged though, and Petersen reinstated him in May.

Linebacker Shaq Thompson: Thompson is the team’s leading returner tackler from a year ago. The junior had 78 tackles, including 3½ for a loss, and four pass breakups last season.

He has ideal size for the position at 6-2, 231 and should be one of the better defensive players in the league this year. Steele thought enough of him to put him on his preseason first-team All-Pac-12 squad.

Cornerback Marcus Peters: The Oakland native started all 12 regular-season games last season and was named second team All-Pac-12.

He led the team in interceptions (five) and pass breakups (nine). He’s played in all 26 games in his career and is the most dependable player in the secondary. Peters also had 55 tackles and a sack last season.

Numbers to know

499.3 Employing Steve Sarkisian’s up-tempo offense, Washington ranked 13th in the nation last season in total offense, averaging 499.3 yards per game.

5-4 Washington has gone 5-4 in the Pac-12 each of the past four seasons and hasn’t won more than that since going 6-2 in the league in 2001.

How they’re different from last time: That remains to be seen. The Huskies will undoubtedly look different under Petersen from the way they looked under Sarkisian, but it’s impossible to know exactly how. Washington found its stride last season with a fast-paced offense, and it would make sense that Petersen would continue it this year. But the Huskies, who return seven starters on offense and seven more on defense, return just one assistant coach from last season and will certainly have some different schemes and wrinkles this year.