Washington Huskies O-line coach disappointed with Apple Cup performance

Michael Switzer’s evaluation of his offensive line in the 118th Apple Cup was blunt. He needed just two words to sum up his reaction to their performance. 

“Really disappointed,” Switzer, now in his second season as No. 19 Washington’s offensive line coach, said Tuesday. 

Washington’s offensive line, projected as a strength for the team after returning four starters from a 2025 unit that took massive strides from 2024, struggled mightily against Washington State. The Huskies totaled just 134 yards rushing against the Cougars, while quarterback Demond Williams Jr. faced pressure on 15 of his 40 dropbacks. 

All against a defensive line with an average weight of 291 pounds and only one starter listed heavier than 290 pounds. 

“The way we played, physically, wasn’t to our standard,” Switzer said. “Some moving pieces in terms of guys getting their first action … but the expectation is the position. To sit there and make excuses for it, we will not. We’ve got to improve greatly. And the guys understand that very clearly. They understood it before the game was over.” 

The Huskies (1-0), of course, didn’t get a chance to start their top offensive line. Senior center and captain Landen Hatchett was in street clothes on the sideline while continuing his recovery from the wrist fracture he suffered in late October 2025. Coach Jedd Fisch said Hatchett will also miss Saturday’s game against Utah State.

In Hatchett’s place, senior offensive lineman Kolt Dieterich, a Sam Houston State transfer who exclusively played tackle before transferring to UW during the offseason, started at center. Additionally, sophomore right guard Champ Taulealea earned his first career start while freshman left tackle Kodi Greene made his first college appearance. 

And Switzer said the newcomers certainly got their official welcome to the job. Dieterich allowed two pressures, both hurries, against WSU, while Greene was credited with five pressures surrendered, including four quarterback hits and a hurry. 

Greene, the 6-foot-6, 315-pound Renton native, was also called for a holding penalty that offset a potential defensive pass interference in the first quarter and false started during a third-and-four with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, setting up Williams’ critical 21-yard dash on the ensuing third-and-nine. 

The UW offensive line coach said Greene had to adapt to his first experience with college football physicality, and added they want the freshman to focus on his fundamentals and training instead of falling into some of the comfortable habits that worked at the high school level but won’t translate against college edge rushers. 

Switzer and Fisch, however, backed Greene, who will remain UW’s starting left tackle, to learn from the experience and improve against Utah State. Switzer commended the freshman for finishing the game and grinding his way through the performance even when things weren’t going well and for his preparation. Greene played all 68 offensive snaps Sunday. Fisch added Greene flashed plenty of potential for a first-year player making his first collegiate appearance. 

“There’s obviously nervousness for anybody starting their first game, let alone as a freshman,” Switzer said. “But he’s wired very differently. He takes it all very seriously. It means a lot to him. So I was proud of how he dealt with it all, and I think he’ll continue to get better and better.” 

Greene wasn’t the only offensive lineman who struggled with penalties. Taulealea was whistled for two holding penalties on one drive in the first quarter, backing UW into a fourth-and-28 and forcing the Huskies to settle for a field goal. He was replaced by seventh-year offensive lineman Geirean Hatchett, who started all 13 games at right guard in 2025. Taulealea played 27 snaps Sunday, while Geirean Hatchett played 41, including the entire second half. 

Switzer said UW had planned to rotate between Taulealea and Geirean Hatchett, who enjoyed one of his strongest performances as a Husky on Sunday. Pro Football Focus graded him as UW’s best run-blocking offensive lineman in the Apple Cup, and the third-best pass-blocking offensive lineman behind sophomore left guard John Mills and fifth-year right tackle Drew Azzopardi. Geirean Hatchett did not allow a single pressure against the Cougars. 

“He’s a guy with a ton of experience,” Switzer said. Geirean Hatchett has played 37 games during his six seasons at UW. “He’ll do anything to help this team. What an awesome teammate to have and a great guy in the offensive line room to cultivate that kind of mindset.” 

While Switzer was complimentary with specific individuals in his position group, he also expressed his severe disappointment with the unit as a whole. The offensive line coach said the team was slightly better in pass protection — UW didn’t allow a single sack — but struggled massively trying to establish the run. 

No play demonstrated UW’s lack of push up front more than the fourth-and-goal stop as time expired in the first half, as senior running back Jayden Limar was stuffed on the WSU 1-yard line by a mob of Huskies. Switzer called the play “embarrassing,” especially considering UW’s offensive line had one-on-one matchups across the line of scrimmage and were simply asked to win their battles. 

Switzer said Taulealea missed his assignment. The sophomore right guard appeared to block Dieterich’s defensive lineman instead, leaving UW mismatched on the line of scrimmage and allowing WSU’s Linus Zunk to slip through a gap into the backfield. Switzer added Greene and Mills lost their matchups, failing to climb to the second level and causing the left side of the line to collapse on Limar before he’d even reached the line of scrimmage. 

“Very poorly executed up front by an offensive line that says they want to be something more,” Switzer said. “We’ve got to stop talking about it and be about it.” 

Switzer, however, also said he wants his offensive line to stay confident and maintain its high expectations despite their underwhelming Apple Cup. He doesn’t want them to believe one poor performance defines their season. 

And the Huskies need their offensive line to step up even more considering the injury crisis in the backfield. Fisch announced starting tailback Quaid Carr (hand) and Limar (elbow) will miss an extended period of time after injuries sustained during the Apple Cup, joining junior Jordan Washington (neck) on the sideline, and Switzer said his offensive line has an opportunity and a responsibility to help the young tailbacks settle into their new roles. 

Something they can start doing Saturday against Utah State. 

“No matter who’s back in the backfield, we’ve got to clear the way for them,” Switzer said. “We’ve got to give them good rushing lanes. We’ve got to give them good reads. Even more so, I’d say it’s time to step up for the offensive line and do everything we can for these halfbacks and the rest of the offense to effectively operate.”