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Tackling Will Make or Break Washington's Defense in 2023

The Huskies can make major improvements by wrapping up and tackling
Roman Tomashoff|
Tackling Will Make or Break Washington's Defense in 2023
Tackling Will Make or Break Washington's Defense in 2023

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Washington Huskies

When thinking about what could have been for Washington's 2022 season, two plays come to mind. The first is Michael Penix's pick-six that eventually became the difference in the team's 45-38 loss at Arizona State. The second is UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson hurdling defensive back Kamren Fabiculanen for a touchdown in their only other loss of the season.

While the first was just a product of bad luck, the second was a microcosm of the season. At all levels of the defense, tackles were missed left and right, especially during the upset win over No. 6 Oregon. 

Even though the Huskies won that game, running backs Noah Whittington and Bucky Irving ran for a combined 254 yards, and broke what felt like 40 tackles over the course of the game. However, with some upgrades at linebacker, that could be different in 2023.

The biggest addition at the position comes from within, as a fully healthy season from Edefuan Ulofoshio will be a massive boost both on and off the field. One of the team's vocal leaders, the former walk-on is also a sure tackler who hasn't played a full season since Washington's four-game season in 2020.

Washington also went out and acquired graduate transfer Ralen Goforth from USC. He totaled 147 tackles over his four years with the Trojans, and could top his career high of 60 next to Ulofoshio.

It's also time for Alphonzo Tuputala and Carson Bruener to take the next step in their development. Both have shown flashes of greatness over their Husky careers, and could thrive in a rotational role behind Ulofoshio and Goforth. 

Even though it didn't feel like the strongest defense Washington has ever had, the Huskies finished third in the Pac-12 in total yards allowed. If they can take a step forward and get ball carriers on the ground and not give up nearly as many yards after contact, the defense could be a much bigger part of a potential playoff push in 2023.

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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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