After three games and three wins we think we know who these Washington Huskies are. But do we really know? Here is what we think we know:
Is Michael Penix the Heisman favorite?
Coming into this season Michael Penix Jr. was known around the country as a Heisman trophy hopeful. But with what we’ve seen the first three weeks of this season Penix has to be the favorite. The first half we saw on Saturday was one of the best QB performances we’ve seen.
At the break in East Lansing Penix went to the locker room with 20 completions for 375, yes 375 yards, and four touchdown passes. All in one half. If that’s not enough to tell you that Penix is college football’s best quarterback right now then I don’t know what you’re waiting for.
Penix would tack on a few more yards after half time when the game was all but wrapped up to finish with 473 on the day.
Odunze was his favorite target picking up 8 catches and 180 yards leading both categories for the Huskies. Jack Westover was the go to guy in the redzone as he had only four receptions for 37 yards. But three touchdowns.
What is going on in washington’s offensive backfield?
This was the game they needed to prove it. And while it wasn’t much, it was the sign of life we needed.
Tybo Rogers was the lead dog yesterday as he had 15 carries for 74 yards. But it was Dillon Johnson who looked like the answer to the Huskies struggles. In fact, both Johnson and Will Nixon are running violently.
Johnson only recorded 8 carries over the course of the game but his 71 yards totaled him out to 8.9 yards per carry. After struggling for multiple games, a focus on the ground game allowed the Huskies to finally find some yardage on the ground.
The offensive line was all around great in the game allowing 0 sacks and only two tackles for loss. If Johnson can stay healthy and move the ball like he did on Saturday a combination of the running backs and the genius of coach Grubb should be enough for the Huskies to be a threat on the ground.
Is belief in Washington’s defense well-founded?
In total, the Huskies defense has given up 36 points—12 points a game.
0 points for three quarters against a Big 10 football team is the answer Husky fans have been hoping for.
Despite missing several key, contributors, the defense was firing on all cylinders. Michigan State’s only points came in the fourth quarter against Washington reserve players.
Zion Tupuola-Feta led the team with two sacks while Mishael Powell got his first pick of the season early in the game. ZTF’s sacks led the way for the Husky defense as they had seven tackles for loss over the course of the game.
The Huskies where locked in and had Michigan State stunned in the first half. They dominated in the trenches forcing pressures constantly and holding the Spartans to a measly 53 yards rushing.
They chased Noah Kim from the game and forced the Spartans to make a change at QB. In a conference full of high powered offenses having a top defense might be the best thing the Huskies can do. And they are doing it.
