Huskies at a glance

2001 schedule Sept. 8 vs Michigan Sept. 15 at Miami (Fla.) Sept. 22 vs Idaho Sept. 29 at California Oct. 6 vs USC Oct. 13 at UCLA Oct. 20 vs Arizona Oct. 27 at Arizona St. Nov. 3 vs Stanford Nov. 10 at Oregon St. Nov. 17 vs Washington St. 2000 results (11-1, 7-1 Pac-10) Idaho W 44-20 Miami (Fla.) W 34-29 at Colorado W 17-14 Oregon L 23-16 Oregon St. W 33-30 at Arizona St. W 21-15 California W 36-24 at Stanford W 31-28 Arizona W 35-32 UCLA W 35-28 at Washington St. W 51-3 ) vs. Purdue W 34-24

If the Huskies can establish a solid running game, it will obviously relieve some of the pressure on Pickett during the early portion of the season. Sharing the work load will be sophomore Rich Alexis and senior Willie Hurst, with Braxton Cleman also looking to contribute when called upon. Alexis didn't practice in the spring due to a shoulder injury but will be ready to go in the fall. He's coming off a 2000 season that saw the 6-0, 215-pounder rush for 726 yards, while averaging an impressive 6.2 yards per carry. Hurst also averaged 6.1 yards per carry.

Replacing Pat Conniff at FB will be senior Ken Walker, but expect some competition from juniors Spencer Marona and Matthias Wilson. The versatility Conniff provided won't be easily replaced.

The potential exists for the Huskies to have a quality receiving corps. This is because of the switch of talented junior Paul Arnold from tailback to WR in the spring as well as the anticipation of super blue-chip recruit Reggie Williams (6-4, 215) joining the program in the fall. Williams was considered the top prep WR in the nation. I'm told that Arnold looked like a natural at WR, although route-running will be something he'll need to work on as the season progresses. Expect to see Arnold work as the slot guy in the Huskies' three-WR sets. The starters figure to be senior Todd Elstrom, who led the Huskies with 47 catches last season, and junior Chris Juergens. Even though he sat out all of last season with an injury, the 6-3, 210-pound Juergens led the Huskies in receiving during the '99 campaign. Sophomore Justin Robbins will also figure as a vital contributor.

While the WR spot looks very good on paper, the primary target in the Huskies' pass offense figures to be highly skilled junior TE Jerramy Stevens. The 6-6½, 260-pounder catches everything thrown his way, while showing the ability to come down with the highlight-film reception. The mismatches he creates with his height and athleticism are an offensive coordinator's dream.

While Pickett will be surrounded by veteran RBs and plenty of depth at WR and will have the luxury of a great TE in Stevens, what he won't have is an experienced offensive line. Four new starters will be moving in, led by a pair of redshirt freshmen (Ryan Brooks and Khalif Barnes) at the critical OT spots. The only senior up front will be returning starter Kyle Benn at the center position.

DEFENSE
Attacking out of a 3-4 scheme, the Huskies are fortunate to have a real destroyer like 6-1, 300-pound Larry Triplett wreaking havoc along the interior from his NT position. I view Triplett as one of the elite defensive players in the nation. Sophomore Jerome Stevens, another 300-pounder, moves into a starting role after operating as a backup his initial season with the Huskies. At the DE spot, Marcus Roberson missed spring practice with a shoulder injury, but is coming off a 2000 campaign that saw the 6-4, 285-pound senior put it all together during the second half of the season.

Within the Huskies' four-man linebacking corps, a major impact should be provided by juco transfer Kai Ellis, a talented 6-3, 245-pounder who flashed All-American potential in the spring. A former juco Defensive Player of the Year at City College of San Francisco, Ellis will be freed up to attack off the edge. In the spring, he made a ton of tackles, impressing with his tremendous motor and natural pass-rush skills. With junior Jafar Williams missing spring practice with a shoulder injury, senior Anthony Kelley moved into a starting role after seeing considerable playing time as a key backup last year. Run-stopper and returning starter Ben Mahdavi will be joined at ILB by Jamuan Willis, a 6-2, 245-pounder who has been a reserve. Also keep an eye on highly regarded redshirt freshman Tim Galloway.

The secondary won't rank as one of the best in the Pac-10, but with the intense pressure that figures to be generated on opposing QBs by Triplett, Ellis and company, their job should be a lot easier. Replacing Hakim Akbar will be the biggest concern. Junior Owen Biddle moves into a starting role, operating next to sophomore Greg Carothers at the safety spots. Junior Omare Lowe is being penciled in at one of the CB spots, but the other is being competed for by a pair of sophomores, Chris Massey and Roc Alexander.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior PK John Anderson hasn't had a ton of opportunities, since the Huskies were so effective in the red zone with Tuiasosopo directing the offense. This year, with first-time starter Pickett under center, Anderson could have more chances from close range. He's already shown plenty of range, connecting on three field goals of 50-plus yards during his career. Taking over the punting duties will be freshman Derek McLaughlin, who appears to have a bright future in the Pac-10. Still, it will be interesting to see how he deals with the pressure.

Overview: Rick Neuheisel and his staff did a great job last year, and with all the talent on hand the Huskies will be a force to be reckoned with down the road as well. As far as the 2001 season in concerned, Neuheisel will be counting on a number of freshmen and sophomores to deliver in pivotal roles. In addition to breaking in a new signal caller, the Huskies will have an unproven offensive line that features a pair of redshirt freshmen at the OT spots. Complicating matters is the challenging early portion of the schedule. The Huskies host Michigan in the season opener, then travel to Miami to face the Hurricanes the following week. Then, two of their first three Pac-10 encounters are in enemy territory.