“We’re behind. I’ve been saying that from the start,” Petersen said. “We’re the only new staff in the Pac-12, and because we came in late, we put our guys behind. So every day, every practice and every meeting, it’s just critical we’re all locked in.”

Here are five things to watch with the Huskies:

QB QUANDARY: Petersen is known for his development of the quarterbacks at Boise State. That will be tested early at Washington. The Huskies are one of two Pac-12 teams without a returning starting quarterback. Cyler Miles was the presumptive starter for this season but he was suspended from the team for spring practice and is suspended for the opener because of his involvement in an off-field incident. That leaves Jeff Lindquist or Troy Williams to start against Hawaii. Miles should eventually win the job, but the time he missed in the spring puts him behind in his development learning Petersen’s system.

SECONDARY TO NONE: Marcus Peters looks like he could be the next Washington cornerback to become a first-round draft pick. He’s coming off a sophomore season during which he had five interceptions and was second-team all-Pac-12. But the rest of Washington’s secondary is new. Jermaine Kelly appears to have the nod at cornerback opposite Peters, with Brandon Beaver and Trevor Walker at safeties. Yet to be determined is how freshman Budda Baker could fit. Baker was the top recruit landed by Petersen in his first recruiting class with the Huskies.

LINEBACKER U: Thompson has received the bulk of the notoriety after being an all-Pac-12 honorable mention selection last season and a preseason all-American choice by some publications. But Washington’s depth at the position goes beyond Thompson. Travis Feeney and John Timu both return, and Hau’oli Kikaha will move from defensive end to outside linebacker as the Huskies take on more of a 3-4 look.

“We should be pretty solid,” Thompson said.

RUN, RUN, RUN: Bishop Sankey completed one of the greatest careers by a Washington running back when he rumbled for a school-record 1,870 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. The next leading rusher for the Huskies was Dwayne Washington with 332 yards. Washington returns, along with Deontae Cooper, but the running back to watch could come from the defensive side as Thompson occasionally gets carries. Thompson could become this year’s version of Myles Jack, who played on both sides of the ball for UCLA last season.