Quoting Huskies offensive coordinator Jonathan Smith on Jake Browning, Utah State pressure, Myles Gaskin and more

Huskies offensive coordinator Jonathan Smith met with reporters on Wednesday afternoon to discuss a variety of topics. Here’s what he said.

(On improvement from first week to second week) “I think we were improved. I think the confidence was up from Game 1. Some of the jitters from Game 1 were out. There’s still a good amount to clean up, obviously, but I think our confidence showed in Game 2.”

(On Myles Gaskin’s game) “No question, it makes things easier when he can make a couple guys miss out there in the run game. Myles is a talented player, but we’ve still got some other guys that can tote the rock as well. But it was fun to see him carry the ball.”

(On Jake Browning being accurate) “He was. I really look at that last drive of the first half. Built some confidence there, he’s throwing it on time, he’s seeing it very well. He made some good plays, as well, outside of that drive. But that drive showed, to me, that he is making some progress.”

(On Utah State’s defense) “They’re aggressive. They’re unique in their scheme, as well, in their pressure packages, and they create some havoc that way. So we need to be dialed in protection. They show some different looks, so it’s been a big emphasis in practice.”

(Expect more blitzing from them?) “You never really know. I think we expected really even Boise to come after Jake more than they did. So you don’t exactly know what they’re going to do, but we’ve got to be prepared for both ends.”

(On preparing Browning for possibility of more pressure) “Really, in film preparation, showing him all these different looks. At the same time, when we talk about a quarterback, you really want to throw to openness. So, get your eyes to the right spot, that guy’s open, let’s throw it to him. So trying to recognize all the stuff they’ve done as he gets the ball in his hand on the snap is going to be tough. He’s just got to see who’s open and throw it to him.”

(Can you tell yet if that’s something he’ll be good at?) “I think he’s going to have to see more and more. I think in practice you can try to point things out, but the more he plays, the better he’ll get at it.”

(On Browning trying to evade sacks v. throwing ball away) “He hasn’t gotten caught too many times getting sacked for some big gains, but he’s been pretty close a couple times. Sometimes, a throw-away is definitely better than a sack, and then a sack is better than an interception. He’s just got to feel it out there and be smart.”

(Has he surprised you some with his mobility?) “Yeah, he sure has. It’s funny, too, because he … kind of got out at the 4-yard line (from a) sack, but then he can’t just walk in the end zone when he pulled the ball on the other. So I don’t know how that plays out.”

(Did the turf take him down?) “The turf did take him down. He has not been a runner in high school. Some of that was because he was such a good passer seeing things and then getting the ball out, but he hadn’t been much of a runner.”

(You have fun with that during film study?) “Yeah, we pointed it out a couple times, obviously in our quarterback room, and then I pulled it out in front of the offense so we could get a couple laughs.”

(On Myles Gaskin and running back competition) “Myles has made the most of his opportunities, for sure, especially in that game, too. I think it’s just really early. Two games, Myles had some good runs, (but) all those guys are going to continue carrying the load. We haven’t said, ‘hey, it’s 1-2-3’ at all. Each of them are going to get their opportunities Week 3, Week 4, and then if someone really separates in the middle of the season then we might make more of a pecking order.”

(Can you make different calls for Gaskin?) “We’re not really doing that at this point. Whatever back’s in is going to run the call. There’s definitely some things we feel good with Dwayne (Washington) at, and with Myles at, but nothing we’re separating right now.”

(On deciding which tailback to use: is that a nice problem?) “Some of that, I’ll be honest with you, I don’t totally know what back’s going. Coach (Keith) Bhonapha rotates those guys, so all of us recognize when the series starts, but there wasn’t anything (like) ‘hey, get Myles back in there.’”

(On Trey Adams’ debut at left tackle) “He did some good things. He’s come a long ways. He did some good things. Just breaking the ice for him. Going to kind of continue to do that, force the issue with him, because he’s got some talent. He can help us if he settles in and knows what he’s doing. But it was fun to see him out there.”

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 2:42 PM with the headline "Quoting Huskies offensive coordinator Jonathan Smith on Jake Browning, Utah State pressure, Myles Gaskin and more."