When JaMarcus Shephard took over at Washington he began telling his receivers that they’re not receivers but takers. That was on display against the Oregon Ducks as Michael Penix completed 74-percent of his passes. Here is a look at 10 offensive storylines from UW’s 37-34 victory in Eugene, Oregon.
10. Jalen McMillan caught 8 of 10 passes for 122 yards. The one reception that personified the “takers” mantra was a ball that looked to be picked off by Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez. However, McMillan had a hand in on the ball and both players simultaneously possessed the ball. As the players fell to the ground McMillan took the ball away for a 34-yard completion.
9. Penix’s completion rate was impressive. However, adjusting for one throwaway and two drops amongst the 9 incomplete passes, his completion percentage moves up to 82-percent.
8. With the exception of the drive after the Bo Nix fumble at the Washington 1 yard line, Penix put the Huskies into scoring position eight times. The lone non-scoring opportunity removed and the Husky offense was incredibly efficient at moving the ball all afternoon.
7. Washington trialed Oregon by 7 points, 34-27. To close out the game Washington had the ball for just 122 seconds on their last two drives–scoring the game’s final 10 points.
6. Penix hit seven different receivers, connecting with 6 of them. On his first pass of the game he connected with Rome Odunze for a 13-yard gain. The two connected one more time on that drive, putting the Oregon defenders on notice. The Ducks sought to minimize his impact on the game. However, in doing so it helped to spring the other receivers. Even so, Odunze caught six balls for 56 yards.
5. In Washington’s offensive scheme running backs are asked to be takers, as well. While RB Cam Davis carried the ball 10 times for 24 yards. He also caught all 5 of the balls thrown his way for 31 yards.
4. Because of Penix’s ball-placement the takers had 160 of the 408 receiving yards after the catch. Those totals include 4 players with over thirty YAC. McMillan and Taj Davis both had 36, Cam Davis had 34, and JaLynn Polk had 32.
3. In the 2nd half the Huskies had 5 possessions, scoring on four of them. The one that they didn’t score on was an 11-play 98-yard drive that took just over 4 minutes. Conversely, Penix led the Huskies on three scoring drives that all took under a minute, netting 17 points. Those three drives were a total of 9 plays covering 148 yards.
2. Penix’s deep ball is a thing of beauty. On deep balls over the middle he was 2 for 2 for 95 yards. He found JaLynn Polk streaking down the middle of the field at the Oregon 32, hitting him in stride. Polk didn’t have to slow at all and beat the defender to the end zone for a 76-yard TD.
1. Both QBs turned the ball over at the 1 yard line. Nix’s fumbled the snap on the 4 yard line and the ball was recovered by UW linebacker Wayne Taulapapa was there to recover it. On Penix’s turnover he might have wiser to throw the ball away. However, as noted earlier he led the Huskies from behind, scoring the game’s final 10 points.
