UW Football Notebook | Young Dawgs have no answers

For weeks, the inexperience of a beat-up Washington secondary hid in obscurity, overshadowed by how porous the Huskies' front seven had been against the run.

But after Arizona threw for 510 yards last Saturday at Husky Stadium, it brought the Huskies defensive backs to the forefront of this week's criticism.

A unit that frequently plays two freshmen — and lost junior safety Jason Wells to a right knee injury four weeks ago — had few explanations for so many breakdowns against the Wildcats.

"Giving up 500 yards, that's crazy," cornerback Byron Davenport said. "Our game plan was fine. We knew they were going to throw the ball deep. We weren't playing it right."

Davenport had a sideline view for most of the game; Willingham took him out on Arizona's second series when the Wildcats' Mike Thomas beat him deep on back-to-back plays. Thomas dropped the ball the first time, but on the next play, Thomas blew past Davenport for a 66-yard touchdown, one of seven Arizona plays that went for 21 yards or more.

"On a couple of a big plays, we did have a couple of mental breakdowns," Willingham said.

The Huskies replaced Davenport with Vonzell McDowell, a true freshman whom the UW coaches had been bringing along slowly since a rough game against Ohio State on Sept. 15.

Safety Nate Williams, another true freshman, plays in the Huskies' nickel package. Willingham said McDowell and Williams should be ready for more teams to throw their way.

"The most difficult thing is realizing you're going to be tested, and that test could come every play," Willingham said. "That they're going to try to find a way to get to you."

In the past two weeks, the Huskies have allowed 465 rushing yards to Oregon and then 510 passing yards to Arizona, two of the worst defensive showings in school history. On Thursday, Willingham pleaded to his defense to not give up.

"Keep doing the things that we know how to do well," Willingham said. "Keep working. Don't get down, don't start to lose your fundamentals, because when you lose your fundamentals, everything else goes out the window."

Notes

• Willingham said he didn't know Thursday afternoon whether running back J.R. Hasty would make the trip to Stanford this weekend. Hasty left the team Oct. 25, but he returned Tuesday.

• Defensive tackle Wilson Afoa (shoulder) fully participated in practice Thursday after being limited Wednesday. "We anticipate he'll be ready to play on Saturday," Willingham said.

• Linebacker E.J. Savannah, whom Willingham said Monday would be on close watch because of past problems with pinched nerves, looks ready to play Saturday. "E.J.'s been fine," Willingham said. "Doesn't seem to have any ill effects of the stingers. Seems to be working pretty well."

• Stanford has beaten UW in their past two meetings, in 2006 and 2004. The Huskies haven't lost to Stanford three consecutive times since they lost 10 straight to the Cardinal from 1967 to 1976.