Running the Huskies' show

As UCLA defensive end Bruce Davis slammed him into the grass of the Rose Bowl, Jake Locker knew that freshman orientation was over.

Even a redshirt year couldn't completely prepare him for the task at hand. Over the summer, Washington coach Tyrone Willingham made it known that Locker would be the leader of the team and handed him the reins to the offense.

Willingham did so with good reason. Locker showed why he was one of Willingham's most highly-touted recruits when he piloted the Huskies to wins in their first two games of the season, including a victory against Boise State, which had the nation's longest winning streak.

In those two games, Locker lived up to the reputation he built as a high school star in Ferndale, Wash. Suddenly, there were possibilities for a team that faced one of the nation's most daunting schedules.

Husky fans were convinced that Locker was the golden boy born to lead the gold and purple.

But in the team's last two games against Ohio State and UCLA, both losses for Washington, Locker has faced a series of harsh reminders that he's not in high school anymore. His five turnovers in those games have filled the spectrum from normal - such as a lofted pass against UCLA intercepted and returned for a touchdown - to bizarre like his shovel pass inexplicably snatched out of mid-air by Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis. Davis' sack of Locker was a shot of instant humility.

"It was the first time I ever took a hit that shook me up a little bit," Locker said.

But Locker is willing to take responsibility for the offense, even in his first year as a starter. And win or lose against No. 1 USC on Saturday, he will be considered accountable for the outcome.

The Huskies, however, are more than willing to cope with Locker's growing pains, believing that there's more to like than dislike.

"Like any quarterback, he's learning as we go," Willingham said. "But I've been very pleased so far with his learning and how he's handled everything."

Perhaps opposing coaches wish that Willingham's faith in Locker had been shaken by some of Locker's freshman mistakes. Locker has not only passed for six touchdowns

but had also run the most yards of any quarterback in the country and averages 6.6 yards per carry.

Locker's competitive drive and refusal to slide like most quarterbacks has won him some fans in high places. In evaluating Washington, USC coach Pete Carroll was continually drawn to number 10.

"We're going to have to do everything we can to slow him down and keep him from being the factor that controls the football game," said Carroll, who briefly recruited Locker before the quarterback committed to Washington. "I think he's that good."

Most of the discussion surrounding Locker entering the week have focused on how the Huskies plan on keeping Locker a reliable threat. With four touchdown passes against UCLA, Locker has shown flashes of the play that has earned him such lofty praise, even in losses.

But occasional miscues have marred otherwise scintillating performances. Locker completed only one of his first five passes against the Bruins as the Huskies quickly dug themselves into a hole.

"There's no excuse; I have to make those throws early in the game," Locker said. "We watched the film, and my feet were in the wrong places a couple times. I got kind of crazy with my feet a little bit, which I haven' t had a problem with the last couple of weeks. "

With only four games under his belt, the problems are not likely to be perpetual. If whatever Carroll sees is true, then Locker won't be making freshman mistakes for long.

"Fortunately we're getting him in his first year," Carroll said. "Get him in years two and three, he's going to be ridiculous."

Part of Locker's recent woes may be from trying to do too much. When running back Louis Rankin and wide receiver Anthony Russo step up, Washington is far from a one-man show.

But Locker is the engine to the Husky offense. Take him away and the offense is stuck in park.

"I don't think it's something you think about during the flow of the game," Locker said of the impulse to spark the offense. "I think there's a drive in every one of our offensive players to want to make a play. Everyone wants to make that play that picks everyone else up."

So while Locker doesn't feel the burden of carrying the offense, he won't shy away from taking charge either. In preparing for USC, he's kept that balance in mind.

"We're not really trying to do anything special in preparing for them," Locker said. "You just have to have every guy on their field doing their job and not anyone else's job."

But Locker wouldn't mind having the ball in his hands in a close game. It would just be another opportunity to add to his lore among Husky fans, as well as win the game.

"He likes it best when the game is on the line," Willingham said. "That's just his personality."

Maybe those Husky fans are onto something.