We've taken a look at the offensive side of the ball, so now let's look at the defense.
One of the most glaring issues in the 0-12 2008 campaign was just how bad the Huskies defense was. They couldn't defend against the pass, there was no pass rush or run stop, and it took well into the season for them to even record a sack.
New coach Steve Sarkisian made wholesale changes to the program, bringing in an all new staff headlined by defensive coordinator Nick Holt, late of USC.
Spring provided some good displays for the defense. However, while some positions are now crystal clear, others are still hopelessly muddy.
Let's take a look:
Defensive End - Daniel Teo'nesheim/Everette Thompson
Defensive Tackle - Alameda Ta'amu/Tyrone Duncan
Defensive Tackle - Cameron Elisara/De'Shon Matthews
Defensive End - Darrion Jones/Kalani Aldrich
Outside Linebacker - EJ Savannah/Josh Gage
Middle Linebacker - Donald Butler/Trenton Tuiasasopo
Outside Linebacker - Mason Foster/Fred Wiggs
Cornerback - Matt Mosley/Vonzell McDowell
Cornerback - Quinton Richardson/Adam Long
Strong Safety - Nate Williams/Victor Aiyewa
Free Safety - Johri Fogerson/Alvin Logan (if Jason Wells is healthy, expect him to make the strongest case for this positions starter slot)
Essentially, the defense is pretty easy to predict with the exception of the cornerback slot opposite Quinton Richardson.
The defensive ends are a lot stronger this year than they were last year. Teo'nesheim brings such a huge presence that the staff have had him rotating in and outside on the line all practice, to use his energy for the greatest effect.
Darrion Jones provides a solid foil for the opposite side as well. Kalani Aldrich and Everette Thompson are young backups but have the potential to be good defensive ends for the future.
The inside of the line really needs to step up, though. Cameron Elisara needs to fulfill his potential. The inside was very stale last season so this should be a priority for Nick Holt.
Alameda Ta'amu is a huge load up the middle, and if he has any kind of speed he can bowl over linemen and plug up gaps.
The backups are more or less untested, however, so the starters need to play well and play healthy.
The linebacker corps, as I've said all season, could be really good. Depending on how ready EJ Savannah is, the corps could be considered to have three returning starters.
Not only that, the backups in Gage, Tuiasasopo, and Wiggs all have game experience.
The secondary has only two clear starters, in Nate Williams at strong safety and Quinton Richardson at cornerback.
Williams, an honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection, has shown a penchant for hitting hard in his two years at UW. He could be a force for the team this year and next, and I truly believe he could be a late round pick for the NFL at least, but we'll see.
In the same way, Quinton Richardson had a solid debut last season, and reinforced his position with good play during spring.
The other cornerback spot is a mess, though, with four players listed at the spot. Mosely and McDowell have the most experience of the group, but one of them has to step up and grab the spot with both hands.
The same with the free safety spot, which I would defer to Jason Wells if he can prove that he is fit enough to play and can shake off the rust after missing last season.
If that's not the case, Johri Fogerson showed he could play the position last season. Alvin Logan is the wild card, since he was moved from receiver to defensive back at the end of spring. I only got to see him play the position once.
It is going to be an interesting year for the Huskies defense. Since expectations are essentially non-existent, if they can manage almost anything this year it would be considered a successful development year.
However, that's the worrying part. This is most likely a developmental/transitional year as the staff upgrades the talent at the positions.
We'll see, as with everything this offseason.
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