Many stories this week will focus on the two quarterbacks, Washington’s Michael Penix and Oregon’s Bo Nix, as the Ducks and Huskies prepare for both teams’ biggest game of the season.
And rightfully so.
Both are two elite quarterbacks and the winner of this game might have an inside track to a Heisman Trophy.
That’s how big this contest is between these two Top 10 behemoths.
Oregon’s offensive success generally rides and dies on Nix’s arm and when he has a good day, the Ducks usually win.
The same is definitely true for this game as well, but it’s the Oregon running game that could be the key to the Ducks success.
It’s the Oregon rushing attack that has the attention of the UW defense.
“Well first of all they ( Oregon ) have tremendous running backs” said Washington co-defensive coordinate Chuck Morrell.
“They’re running the ball at a really efficient rate. You look at their average per rush,…their top two running backs are 8 yards per carry,…the other kids almost 10 yards per carry. So, it really starts with that. And then you have Bo’s pass game.”
“A lot of it is a quick game,..it’s coming out fast,…they’re letting their speed guys get the ball low in space and making plays. I think they’re timely on their shots. I don’t think they take as many shots as they did a year ago, but you’ve got some guys who can run down the field,…deep threats for them too. When the time is right they’ll take their shots over the top”
Washington’s defense is going to focus on Nix and his receiving corps, as it should be.
However, the Ducks might use this to their advantage and get the run game going early and often, depending on the kind of yards they are getting.
Bucky Irving has been sharing the carries with Noah Whittington, but with Whittington out for the rest of the season, Oregon will need to turn to sophomore Jordan James to carry Whittington’s workload and prove he’s much more than a goal-line specialist.
The Husky defense is allowing just under four yards a rush and a total of 122 yards per game.
Oregon is gaining seven yards a rush and 227 yards per game.
“Man he can change gears,…I think that’s the biggest thing” said Morrell when asked about Irving and the success he’s having this season.
“His ability to jump cut and slide. His ability to set up blocks I think is something that is really top-end in terms of the league and maybe the country is how he’ll draw guys in. He has good lateral quickness.”
“He’ll back up, bounce, he’ll get vertical and it’s hard to get him on the ground one-on-one. He has a knack for making the single guy miss. It has to be a team effort with him,…very explosive, very dynamic, and obviously doing a great job of leading their rushing attack”
Something has to give.
Last season in Eugene, the Ducks offense took advantage of the Huskies poor tacking which Morrell say’s has been an emphasis this season.
And it’ll have to be against this potent Oregon rushing attack,.
“We need to do a great job of getting their backs down” said Morrell.
“I think their backs,….they pride themselves on making people miss. They do a good job of that so far this year. It’s not just a one-guy thing,…it’s got to be multiple guys at the point of attack every single snap – it’s relentless focus and it’s relentless finishing. It’s the key to the game.”
Being extremely balanced on offense would serve the Ducks well.
It would force the Huskies to divide their focus between the tailbacks and the downfield threats Oregon possesses. It would also limit UW’s blitz packages taking some pressure off of Nix.
Oregon having success on the ground not only limits the time of possession for Heisman hopeful Michael Penix Jr, but it will also force the UW defense to play the entire field and all of the Ducks offensive threats.