DawgmanRadio: Spring Ball Day Two Goes to the Defense

The Washington Huskies were 21st in total defense and 15th in scoring defense last season. Could they be even better in 2026? There sure seems to be a lot of reasons to think so, starting right at the top with defensive coordinator Ryan Walters. The guys from Dawgman.com - Kim Grinolds, Chris Fetters, and Scott Eklund - got together after day two of UW's spring football campaign, held Thursday afternoon in mixed conditions on the east field next to Husky Stadium, and hashed out all the good, bad, and ugly that they saw during the 150-minute practice. And the intermittent, spitting wind and rain didn't help things for the offense.  The good on that side of the ball came mostly from the receivers and tight ends, led by Rashid Williams, Chris Lawson, and Decker DeGraaf. It was a mixed day for quarterback Demond Williams and a less than stellar day for the centers, as Jake Flores and Parker Cross were deputized during the final team period due to the Hatchett brothers being unavailable at that time. But most of the talk was about the defense. From the big, stout defensive front to the experienced linebacking crew and a defensive backs room filled with youth and athleticism, there was a lot to talk about. It all started with a conversation about Walters, who spoke with the media after Thursday's practice. He talked about his level of comfort being at UW and in Seattle, how it has worked out tremendously for his family. And as he said, when you're comfortable, you can maximize your potential.