Stanback’s Agility Cause for Concern

Washington junior Isaiah Stanback is the type of mobile quarterback that has given UCLA’s defense problems in the past, which concerns coordinator Larry Kerr heading into tonight’s game at the Rose Bowl.

“We’ve been facing some really fast quarterbacks this season, and Stanback ranks right there,” Kerr said. “He’s the type who can drop back and if you get heat on him, he has enough speed to get out of pressure and outrun your guys.”

Although the Bruins have the second-best pass defense in the Pacific 10 Conference, giving up an average of 183.3 yards a game, they haven’t shut down opposing quarterbacks.

San Diego State’s Kevin O’Connell completed 19 of 26 passes for more than 200 yards and a touchdown and gained 50 yards rushing in the Bruins’ 44-21 season-opening win. Oklahoma’s Rhett Bomar completed 20 of 29 passes for 241 yards and had several big rushing gains in UCLA’s 41-24 victory two weeks ago.

Kerr said of Stanback, “He’s a very fast, talented kid, and what has impressed me this season is how well he’s thrown the football,” Kerr said. “If you look at this team from Week 1 to Week 4, they have really improved.”

Stanback ranks No. 23 nationally in total offense, averaging 278.75 yards a game. He has completed 67 of 116 passes for 1,041 yards and four touchdowns with three interceptions.

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UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell on last year’s 37-31 victory, which started with the Bruins’ falling behind, 24-7, in the first quarter: “It seemed like the game was going to get out of hand, but our guys remained focused and kept their poise. They were able to claw themselves back into the game and we got the lead before halftime. It showed a little about the character that was building in this program.”

UCLA brothers Joe and Patrick Cowan are the sons of former Washington quarterback Tim Cowan, who holds the Husky record for passing yards in a bowl game -- 350 in the 1982 Aloha Bowl against Maryland.

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Coach Tyrone Willingham on Washington’s 1-3 record: “This kind of start is not in key with what I anticipated that we would be or who we would be. It is always difficult to not have success, but at the same time I knew that having success would not be easy.”