Quotes from Jedd Fisch press conference as Huskies prepare for No.1 Ranked Buckeyes

After a fun 59-24 win over WSU in the Apple Cup this past Saturday, Jedd Fisch is preparing UW for number-one Ohio State. Fisch said his team celebrated the win over the Cougars on the flight and watched the game on Sunday. Now the focus is on the Ohio State Buckeyes, as the Huskies prepare for their first Big Ten game. Here are three takeaways from Fisch’s Monday presser ahead of the big match-up.

Fisch is proud of QB Demond Williams’ leadership and play

QB Demond Williams was named the offensive player of the week in the Big Ten after his Apple Cup performance. The Huskies have had an offensive player of the week after each game they have played this season. Williams continues to be an important part of UW’s offense this season. He had 386 total yards in the Apple Cup: 298 yards passing, 88 yards rushing, four passing TDs, and one rushing TD. This is what Jedd Fisch had to say about his quarterback:

“He leads the team. He’s led the team in numerous scoring drives in a row. He has great confidence, and he prepares exceptionally hard, and the team follows him. Demond is a really special football player. He’s 19 years old, and he’s playing at an exceptional level, very poised, and he’ll only get better every week.”

Demond Williams is performing at an unreal level given how young he is. His command of the offense resonates with his teammates, and they follow his lead. The sophomore from Chandler Arizona had led the Huskies’ offense on 12 consecutive touchdown drives combined against UC Davis and WSU. UW’s offense found the end zone on 11 of the 12 possession. The lone blemish was a field goal before halftime in the Apple Cup. Williams and the Huskies found it’s rhythm in the second half, scoring on four consecutive touchdown drives before kneeling on the final possession. On Saturday, Williams will face his biggest test of the season against Ohio State.

How the Huskies are preparing for the Buckeyes’ defense

The Buckeyes roll into Seattle this weekend with the nation’s best defense. They have allowed just 5.3 points per game, the lowest in the country. When the Huskies take the field Saturday, they will bring the nation’s second-highest scoring offense. Through three games, UW is averaging 55.7 points per game. The Huskies will be looking to throw everything they can at the Buckeyes this Saturday. Here is what Jedd Fisch said about preparing for Ohio State’s defense:

“Yeah, I mean sure, there’s always going to be pages left in the playbook. There’s always going to be different schemes into a run against different defenses. Coach Patricia is a fantastic defensive coach. They have a great staff. Coach Day does a great job. They’re going to be very well coached. They’re going to have a really good game plan. So we’re going to have to match that the best we can. And with their players and with their personnel, we’re going to have to match that with our players and our personnel.”

Ohio State has one of the best passing defenses in the country. Through their first three games, the Buckeyes are allowing just 118.3 yards per game, and they have seven sacks. The Huskies will need to diversify their passing game to be successful. WR Omari Evans showed he is another option for Demond Williams to throw the ball to against WSU. Evans caught a 59-yard TD on a post pattern from Williams in the fourth quarter of the Apple Cup. The Huskies need other receivers besides their leading receiver, Denzel Boston, to be involved in the offense to give the Buckeyes more to handle.

Fisch talks about the defense as they prepare for Jeremiah Smith and Ohio State’s offense

In the Apple Cup, the Huskies struggled against the pass with CB Tacario Davis out. Cougars’ QB Zevi Eckhaus had success against the Huskies’ defense in the Apple Cup. Eckhaus threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns against UW. The Huskies’ defense forced the Cougars to turn the ball over three times and held them to 28 yards rushing. However, the struggles against the pass without Davis are cause for concern. Ohio State’s offense has one of the best wide receiving corps in the country, led by WR Jeremiah Smith. Here is what Jedd Fisch said when asked about Tacario Davis’ status and defending WRs Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate:

“I don’t know that about Tacario yet, but I do know it’ll be a great challenge. They have a fantastic football team. You don’t win the national championship, be the number-one team in the country, average 11 to 12 wins every year for I can’t ever remember how long…It’s not just Jeremiah Smith, but he’s certainly one of the best wide receivers in the country.”

Jeremiah Smith has 315 yards receiving this season with three touchdown catches. Carnell Tate has 219 yards receiving and three touchdown catches. Together, Smith and Tate are one of the best wide receiver duos in the country. There is still a chance that Tacario Davis will play Saturday against Ohio State. Fisch held open the possibility of waiting all the way up to a half hour before the game to decide if Davis can play. If Davis cannot go, Dylan Robinson, Rahshawn Clark, and Leroy Bryant are other options at corner. Fisch later reiterated that they will see where they are with Tacario Davis as the week progresses.

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