Demond Williams Jr. seemed to be a guy stuck in a snow globe with no way out. On the sidelines, Jonah Coleman was helpless, and without Denzel Boston’s offensive line, the team patched it together with hope. Even the sophomore quarterback attempted to be the hero, despite Washington’s uncertain chances of making the playoffs. Fourth-and-5, game on the line, pocket crumbling, he tucked it and went for it. But, Mason Posa of Wisconsin crashed in and dragged him down before he could blink, sealing the Huskies’ 13-10 drubbing.

In a press conference, Coach Jedd Fisch said, “So altogether, just not a very good day for the Huskies and need to make sure that we come back preparing for Purdue in a manner that we’re ready to play our best game uh this coming Saturday,” summing up his feelings after the crushing defeat. He left no room for excuses. The loss has crushed Washington’s playoff hopes. There’s no other way around it.

Fisch didn’t hide behind weather or injury as an excuse. He analyzed what went wrong, starting with his quarterback. He said, “He was under pressure all day. I know some guys were hurt. He looked like he was running for his life half the time and then he was missing some open throws, too.” He acknowledged that protection “wasn’t as good as we wanted it to be today.” Demond Williams Jr. just couldn’t get it going from the QB position, and his offensive line didn’t do any justice to him.

Getting sacked four times in a high-pressure game won’t be a feather in his cap. He had a QBR rating of 45.2, underscoring the team’s struggles with him. Fisch even cited specific breakdowns, saying, “On the first and 10 on the plus 38 up seven… you had Chris Lawson right in front of you. Those are things we’ll work through.” Still, Fisch phrased it more as a warning than a judgment, leaving room for redemption. “Those are situations that we learn from,” he said, softening the blow before praising Williams for “huge plays with his feet” that “kept us in the game.”

The reassurance could do wonders for Demond. Improvement is obviously not optional anymore. Fisch’s words struck like an ultimatum, with Washington’s playoff hopes all dashed with another crucial conference stretch ahead. And honestly, who can blame him? Fisch has been fighting the battle since the day he took over.

Jedd Fisch’s Tough Washington rebuild

Jedd Fisch had walked into Montlake right into the chaos caused by Kalen DeBoer’s exit. The roster appeared thinner than ever, twenty-six players hit the portal, and the once-proud Huskies faced a 6–7 finish. Instead of a reload, Fisch got a rebuild. The expansive receiver room, where injuries to veterans Denzel Boston and Omari Evans have made space for rookies, has been the source of the excitement this fall.

Raiden Vines-Bright, a 6’1″, 200-pound from Arizona, has lately been catching everything that comes his way. Insider Lars Hanson said, “He got a significant amount of first-team reps in throughout fall camp,” and it’s easy to understand why. Fisch has also taken notes, describing the team’s homecoming as ‘a great time.’

Additionally, Fisch has referred to Demond Williams Jr. as “the face of the program” from the outset. He not only made it through last year as a true freshman, but he also showed off his star power. Williams completed 78% of his throws for 944 yards, eight touchdowns, and only one pick. He also added two additional touchdowns and 282 rushing yards. These kinds of stats are the sort of performance that keeps fans dreaming of another one.

“He’s an athlete, he’s got a high ceiling,” stated Dalton Wasserman of PFF. And Fisch knows it’s too. And for now, he’s building Washington around this guy.