Defensive Standouts Early ‘Tone Setters’
September 11, 2016 | Football, General
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
Azeem Victor said Washington's defensive players want to be "tone setters." And, the best way for the linebacker and his Washington teammates to do that is to make a play on special teams.
Enter Budda Baker.
On the opening kickoff in the Huskies' 59-14 win over Idaho on Saturday at Husky Stadium, the junior safety made a beeline for the ball carrier, forcing a fumble that set up the game's first touchdown.
"I saw a lane, so I shot and hit him," Baker said. "I didn't even know the ball fell out until I got up and everyone was jumping around. It was a great feeling. We always preach about making a play. We made a play."
Not only did Baker force that initial fumble, but he tied Victor for the team lead in tackles with a six each in game when their days were finished early.
"Being a defensive player, we love to make an early statement, make a big hit that, maybe, makes the receiver scared, so maybe the next guy doesn't want to catch the ball next time," Baker said. "We love early hits like that, but at the end of the day, we're trying to get the W."
That early turnover set the tone.
"We definitely did that," Victor said.
Then it was the linebacker's turn to make a play. With Idaho threatening to put some early points on the board, Victor recovered a fumble – JoJo McIntosh forced it – that helped keep the Vandals scoreless in the first half.
"We have to do a good job of staying on our toes and imposing our will," Victor said.
Two games into the season, with a top 10 ranking and a pair of impressive performances, it would be easy for Washington's defense to start buying into their elite status. But that's not the approach of this group of Huskies.
"We're playing well," Victor said. "We feel like we still have something to prove. Our defense is ready to go out there and prove it every day. There was no room for mistakes today, and that's a good thing.
"Our opponents are faceless, no matter who they are. You can't sleep on anybody. Watching these games, there's been a lot of crazy stuff going on. You can never get caught sleeping, because they'll always come back to wake you up."
And, once the starters day was finished, an opportunity presented itself for the backups.
Enter Connor O'Brien.
When the junior gets in the game, he has a knack for making plays. Against Idaho, cornerback Jordan Miller told his teammate the Vandals had been running a slant route into O'Brien's side of the field.
On the next play, O'Brien picked off a pass. He returned it 46 yards for a touchdown.
"I sat there and waited," he said. "I got pretty lucky."
Like his teammates before him, he made a play.
"It feels good just to be playing and I appreciate coach K (Pete Kwiatkowski) and coach Pete (Chris Petersen) giving me the opportunity to be out there," he said.
