Washington head coach Chris Petersen said the running game was “not good.”
Asked to rate his performance, quarterback Jake Browning said “sub par.”
Neither was a description UW wanted to be using after its home opener against North Dakota. The Huskies won big, beating the Fighting Hawks 45-3, but a slow start and a struggling run game generated a sober postgame mood.
“On offense, we need to do better,” Petersen said. “Certainly running the ball, we need to do better. We’ll lock in on that and figure out how.”
UW led 17-0 at halftime and had just 54 rushing yards, averaging 3.4 yards per carry. That total included a 24-yard Myles Gaskin run that closed out the second quarter. Without it, UW would’ve entered the break with 30 rushing yards and a 1.9 yards per carry average.
The Huskies’ vaunted ground game hasn’t quite hit its stride this season.
Against North Dakota, the Huskies finished with 195 rushing yards with much of the yardage coming late in the second half. In the loss to Auburn last week, UW had 102 yards on the ground and finished with a 3.1 yards per carry average.
Even Gaskin hasn’t broken out just yet. He’s averaging 64 yards per game through two games.
His early season performance is reminiscent of last year, when he averaged just 51 yards through the first three games of the season. He finished the season averaging 106.2 yards per game.
Asked if the Gaskin’s slow starts were similar, Browning deferred comment to the offensive line.
“I’m not going to sit here and talk about the running game when I feel like I didn’t play well either,” Browning said.
While Petersen was mostly critical of the Huskies’ running game, he offered some compliments to the backup running backs who played late and padded UW’s running stats.
Washington wide receiver Ty Jones (20) pulls in a touchdown catch in the first quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
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The Huskies take the field before the game. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington quarterback Jake Browning warms up before the game. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
The Huskies take the field before the game. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington wide receiver Quinten Pounds (21) reaches but can’t pull in a touchdown pass in the first quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington defensive lineman Greg Gaines (99) stuffs North Dakota running back James Johannesson (33) at the line for a turnover on downs in the second quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
North Dakota quarterback Nate Ketteringham (8) escapes pressure from Washington defensive lineman Jaylen Johnson in the second quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington defensive back Austin Joyner (4) dives in an attempt to corral a punt in the second quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington defensive lineman Greg Gaines (99) celebrates after stuffing North Dakota running back James Johannesson (33) at the line for a turnover on downs in the second quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington running back Myles Gaskin (9) tosses the ball away after rushing for a touchdown in the second quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington linebacker Tevis Bartlett (17), celebrates with Washington defensive back Taylor Rapp (7) and Washington linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven (25) after Rapp’s sack in the second quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington wide receiver Quinten Pounds (21) makes a catch over North Dakota cornerback Hayden Blubaugh (12) in the second quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
A young fans squints as the sun gets in his eyes. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington head coach Chris Petersen disagrees with a call in the second quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington running back Salvon Ahmed (26) stiff arms North Dakota cornerback Hayden Blubaugh (12) in the second quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington linebacker Ariel Ngata forces North Dakota quarterback Nate Ketteringham (8) to fumble in the first quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington wide receiver Ty Jones (20) pulls in a touchdown catch in thew fourth quarter while defended by North Dakota’s Deion Harris. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington defensive back Taylor Rapp (7) and Washington linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven (25) celebrate after Rapp sacked North Dakota quarterback Nate Ketteringham (8) in the first quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
A young fans runs onto the field with the cheer squad during a break in the action. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
North Dakota’s Garett Maag (89) leaps in an attempt to catch a pass in the second quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Dubs II makes an appearance during the game. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington wide receiver Andre Baccellia is tackled by North Dakota’s Evan Holm (6) in the fourth quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington running back Sean McGrew (25) barrels into the end zone during a run in the fourth quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
North Dakota’s Travis Toivonen (11) cant’s pull in a pass I the second quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven (25) tackles North Dakota’s Travis Toivonen (11) in the first quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington running back Salvon Ahmed rushes I the fourth quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington running back Myles Gaskin (9) rushes in the third quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington quarterback Jake Browning (3) throws a pass I the third quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington tight end Drew Sample (88) is brought down after a catch in the first quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Fans cheer after catching a pass during the game. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington tight end Cade Otton (87) reacts after his touchdown in the third quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington defensive back Byron Murphy (1) swats away a pass intended for North Dakota’s Noah Wanzek (31) in the second quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington quarterback Jake Browning throws away a pass under pressure in the second quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington head coach Chris Petersen walks the sidelines during the game. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
Washington linebacker Tevis Bartlett (17) and Washington linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven (25) team up to tackle North Dakota’s Jordan Canady (22) in the second quarter. The University of Washington played North Dakota in a NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Joshua Bessex
[email protected]
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