From Washington Huskies On SI · · 2m
The best hands in football went cold
Washington's most reliable receiver dropped two passes in the fourth quarter, and it said everything about a team out of sync.
In brief
Washington's most reliable receiver dropped two passes in the fourth quarter, and it said everything about a team out of sync. Slumps spread. When a team presses, even the surest hands start to shake, and recovery usually starts with the best player on the field. Originally reported by Washington Huskies On SI.
When a team gets sick
Washington is out of sync right now, and that kind of dysfunction spreads through a roster like the flu. Nobody gets a pass, not even the best player on the field.
“it can affect even the best player like a debilitating strain of influenza shooting through the roster”
Roebuck catches everything
The second-year receiver from Marana, Arizona has built a reputation on hands that never fail. Conventional grabs, acrobatic ones, it does not matter.
Except last Saturday
Against Utah State he dropped two passes. One came at the 5-yard line with a touchdown sitting right in front of him.
“It was like the stadium power went out without explanation.”
The numbers say star
Through two games he has 14 catches for 100 yards, seven receptions in each. Both totals lead the team.
He only sees the two
Ask him about the production and he would skip past it. The drops are what he would want to talk about.
His coach calls it a fluke
Jedd Fisch put Roebuck's hands on the same level as Tetairoa McMillan, his old Arizona receiver now in the NFL. He had never seen anything like this.
“Dez Roebuck has the best hands of any player I've ever been around other than T-Mac”
Third and goal, wide open
Early in the fourth, Washington faced third-and-goal from the 9. Roebuck slid into the flat with nobody near him and let it go, then grabbed his helmet with both hands.
Again with two minutes left
First down at the Utah State 43, a chance to bleed the clock and end it. The ball went through his hands, the Huskies went three-and-out, and the punt team came on.
“The ball and his hands were not a good match.”
The forced hug
Washington survived 16-14, but Roebuck was inconsolable. Fisch went in for a hug after the game and got one he could tell his receiver did not want.
“He did hug me, but I could tell it was a forced hug.”
Fix him, fix the team
The Huskies need Roebuck back to his old self. If the surest player on the roster steadies, the rest of them may follow.
In short
Slumps spread. When a team presses, even the surest hands start to shake, and recovery usually starts with the best player on the field.
