Full disclosure, I was really hoping to call this, “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly,” but I couldn’t narrow this down to just three things. Also, there was nothing that was really either bad or ugly from Saturday’s 45-20 victory over the Kent State Golden Flashes. So let’s jump right into it!
I- This offense is the real deal. Michael Penix Jr. was incredibly accurate and efficient in his Husky debut, and the athletic department definitely made the right choice in Kalen DeBoer. His offensive scheme was executed to perfection by his players and coaching staff, and seems to be only a sign of things to come.
II- Not only was DeBoer the right choice as a coach and strategist, he was the right choice as a leader. When asked about the difference in energy in the locker room and on the sidelines, wide receiver Rome Odunze said, “It’s a lot. Coach [Shephard] already brings a lot of energy, but he takes it to another level on game day. He knows the level that we can play to, and he and the entire coaching staff are incredibly focused but also really energetic at the same time. It’s a quality mix.”
III- Speaking of Odunze, he looked like one of the best receivers in the conference against Kent State. He pulled in a game-high seven catches, for a career-high 84 yards and a touchdown. His routes were crisp, and there were at least two plays where he looked like he was wide open and could’ve gotten a lot more. Notably, on the double reverse to Devin Culp, he definitely had a step on his defender. On Taj Davis’ first-quarter touchdown, he also lost his defender with a gorgeous cut on an in route.
IV- There are still some things that need to be cleaned up. First and foremost, special teams. There were multiple long returns from Kent State, and one of them might have gone for a touchdown if it weren’t for a nice tackle from Peyton Henry. Between the long returns and a lost fumble from Giles Jackson, the coaching staff will probably be spending a lot of time cleaning up the kick coverage and return game this week.
V- The run defense definitely looked suspect at times, but one thing that fans should keep in mind is that Kent State has an incredibly impressive rushing attack. From the press box, it definitely looked like it was hard to defend, with a lot of complexities involved. For what it’s worth, the Golden Flashes finished third in the country in 2021 in rushing yards per game, compiling an average of 248.6 yards every week.
VI- While the defense only ended up with one sack, they were getting consistent pressure in the lap of Collin Schlee, who showed off some impressive pocket presence and mobility. Outside of Dorian Thompson-Robinson at UCLA, Schlee is probably the most elusive quarterback the Huskies are going to face this season. Either way, the coaches will find a way to make sure the pass rush hits home more than once.
