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Inside The Huskies

Are More Two RB Sets Coming In 2023?

Washington recruits versatile running backs, how can they use them to exploit defenses?
Roman Tomashoff|
Are More Two RB Sets Coming In 2023?
Are More Two RB Sets Coming In 2023?

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Washington Huskies

Washington coach Kalen DeBoer loves versatile running backs. Now, his stable of running backs includes Dillon Johnson, Cameron Davis, Daniyel Ngata, and Sam Adams II, who all have proven to be steady pass catchers out of the backfield. Richard Newton has also shown a lot of improvement as a receiver.

Now the question is, how is offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb going to utilize them? The Huskies didn't run a lot of two running back formations in 2022, and instead opted to put wide receiver Giles Jackson in the backfield. While having Jackson in the backfield has its advantages, swapping him out for Davis creates a whole different set of problems for a defense.

With an extra wide receiver on the field, it's more likely that a defense would counter with a nickel or dime package on defense, which puts more defensive backs on the field. A pass would be the more likely call from Grubb with Jackson, who's not a very experienced blocker, in the backfield.

Now, instead of say, Davis and Jackson in the backfield, it's Davis and Johnson. The defense has to make a much harder decision now, they can stay in the nickel and leave a smaller body on the field, or counter with a bigger-bodied linebacker, both of which provide Grubb with an easy hole to exploit.

If the defense leaves an extra defensive back on the field, Grubb can counter with a run. Behind Washington's big, athletic offensive line, whoever ends up with the ball can pick up a chunk of yards on the ground easily. With a linebacker on the field, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. would drop back to pass. 

The skill set of the Husky running backs would be a mismatch against almost any linebacker in coverage, again giving the pass catcher an easy opportunity to pick up a chunk play. Ngata, Johnson, and Davis have all shown that they can line up all over the formation, and can create mismatches almost anywhere for Grubb's offense.

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Roman Tomashoff
ROMAN TOMASHOFF

I've followed the Huskies for my entire life, and to be in a position where I get to cover them full-time is nothing short of an honor. After graduating from Lasell University in 2019, I moved to Seattle to pursue my dream of working in sports media. While writing for the Husky Haul, I also covered local sports for the Everett Daily Herald before the COVID-19 pandemic. After being hired by Realdawg.com in February of 2021, I also transitioned into doing a lot of entertainment writing, as I work on a variety of magazines as a contributing writer for Centennial Media, and have also contributed to Emmy Magazine, as well as Walt Disney Television Studios. 

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