Three keys to a Washington football win over Eastern Washington

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After narrow victories in the first two weeks of the season, the Washington Huskies are looking to pull away from their FCS opponents in Week Three, the Eastern Washington Eagles, and prove that they belong back inside the AP Top 25.

Here are three things Jedd Fisch's team needs to do to move to 3-0 on the season.

Re-establish dominance along the offensive line

Through the first two weeks of the season, Washington's offensive line has not been the physically dominant group that it touted itself as throughout the offseason. With a 41-pound advantage over Eastern Washington (Washington's offensive front averages 316 pounds with seventh-year Geirean Hatchett starting versus EWU's 275 pounds along the defensive front), the Huskies have a chance to assert themselves after playing at what sophomore John Mills called an unacceptable level in the first two weeks.

"Stay on a combination block a little bit longer,” Fisch said of what the unit needs to do. “The last third down of the game, on the option play, blocking the read rather than coming down on a linebacker, and leaving a guy for the read. A lot of the wide-zone plays…we talked a lot about securing the first level before you get to the second level. I think there’s a ton."

Get freshmen comfortable

In a year when the Huskies were already heavily reliant on freshmen, that will increase against Eastern Washington. With starting cornerback Emmanuel Karnley sidelined, Jeron Jones will move to the outside from the nickel, while running backs Brian Bonner and Ansu Sanoe should see more action in their second games following injuries to Jayden Limar and Quaid Carr.

Even though wide receiver Rashid Williams has been cleared from an oblique injury and will return to the starting lineup, freshmen Jordan Clay and Trez Davis are expected to play key roles in the receiving game. Against an FCS opponent, the Huskies should have plenty of opportunities to let their young players get involved as they assume bigger roles ahead of Big Ten play.

Contain Eastern Washington QB Nate Bell

If there's one area Washington's defense hasn't excelled in, it's containing dual-threat quarterbacks. Through two weeks, quarterbacks have totaled 142 of the 175 yards the Huskies have allowed on the ground, the vast majority of which have come on scrambles after the play breaks down. Bell is Eastern Washington's leading rusher on the year through three games with 159 yards.

With 16 tackles for loss and 6 sacks on the year, defensive coordinator Ryan Walters' front has wreaked havoc through the early portion of the season and will have an opportunity to do so again against the Eagles.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Three keys to a Washington football win over Eastern Washington

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