UW Notebook | Huskies football team has no sacks

Bad as Washington's defense was in 2007, when it allowed a school-record 446.4 yards per game, the Huskies could still get to the quarterback at a respectable rate.

The Huskies had 35 sacks last season, sixth in the Pac-10 but only four fewer than the third-place team UCLA (USC led with 45).

But four games into this season, the Huskies are still waiting for their first one, making them the only team of 119 schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision without one.

"It's tough to believe," said junior defensive end Darrion Jones.

The coaches are searching for answers. They point optimistically to some near-misses as signs of progress — defensive end Daniel Te'o-Nesheim hit Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard six times Saturday. But they know that's not enough.

"We just keep trying," said defensive line coach Randy Hart. "They are nearly getting there, but nearly doesn't count. We are not playing horseshoes. So that has to improve."

The Huskies tried blitzing a bit more than usual against the Cardinal, but couldn't turn any into sacks, and were burned one time when Pritchard got rid of the ball quickly to throw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin that swung the game late in the second quarter.

"There's been pressure on the quarterbacks, but not enough," said first-year defensive coordinator Ed Donatell.

The biggest reason for the lack of sacks might be inexperience. Other than Te'o-Nesheim, UW entered the season without a player on the line who had started a game. The Huskies are often using three true freshmen up front. Those players not only lack experience but also haven't had the years in the weight room of the veteran linemen they are usually opposing.

"Some of them aren't as strong as the guys they are playing against, but they are holding up in there as well as they can," Hart said.

Hart said sacks tend to be group efforts. And while Te'o-Nesheim is getting past his man at a decent rate, there isn't another UW lineman close by to make the sack when the quarterback steps up in the pocket.

Hart, the lone assistant left who dates to the Don James era, remains optimistic, saying he likes the potential of the young players. "Work ethic is not the issue," he said. "They are working, and as a result, they will get better."

Notes

• UW coach Tyrone Willingham said RB Brandon Yakaboski suffered a knee injury in practice Tuesday. He didn't know the nature or severity but said it was unlikely the Mount Si grad could play Saturday at Arizona.

David Freeman, battling ankle injuries suffered against Stanford, was not in pads for Wednesday's practice and also might not play. That could leave UW with just two TBs against Arizona — Brandon Johnson and Willie Griffin. The team is hoping to redshirt Terrance Dailey. Dailey missed practice Tuesday due to an illness but returned Wednesday. Willingham said the team is still trying to diagnose the nature of Freeman's injury.

• Also sitting out practice Wednesday was safety Johri Fogerson, apparently battling an ankle injury that hampered him last week. That could open the door for playing time this week for Victor Aiyewa, out since the Oregon game with a groin injury but back this week.

• Willingham said the career of CB Byron Davenport is likely over. Davenport will undergo knee surgery to correct an old injury later this month.