Offense wins games, but defense wins championships. This often-used cliché has historically held true. Over the past four seasons, the national champion has never ranked worse than sixth in points per-game allowed. Last season Florida was sixth at 13.5-points per-game.

In 2005 Texas was fourth at 14.6-points. The two years prior, USC was second at 12.5-points and LSU was first at 10.8-points. Put into context, it is easy to understand Washington's struggles. Over that four-season span, the Huskies surrendered 28.2-points per-game while compiling a 14-34 record.

Washington now sees its defense as a strength. With senior leadership and a core of good young athletes, the defense is hoping to set the tone for the rest of the team. One of those young athletes is 6-foot-1, 240-pound sophomore middle linebacker Donald Butler.


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