Happy Thanksgiving Husky fans. The #6 Oregon Ducks present as tough a challenge as Washington has faced all season. They have an elite level passer and one of the country’s best run games. Let’s take a closer look.
By the Numbers
National rank in parenthesis
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Points per game: 37.3 (#9)
Rushing yards per game: 226 (#9)
Passing yards per game: 252 (#52)
Yards per rush: 6.1 (#3)
Rushing play percentage: 55%
Yards per play: 7 (#5)
Key Players
Dante Moore is a pure passing quarterback who consistently gets the ball out on time and accurately. He processes quickly and makes the right decision before the pass rush can effect him. Per PFF, he has the quickest time-t0-throw in the B1G. Similar to Ohio State QB Julian Sayin who the Huskies faced earlier this season, he doesn’t need elite athleticism or tools when he just knows how to play the position at such a high level. As a true passer, he doesn’t offer much outside the pocket or with his legs. This season he’s completing 73% of his passes for 2,447 yards (8.6 YPA), 23 TDs and 6 INT. Between his pocket awareness and strong offensive line, he’s only been sacked ten times, six of which were against Indiana.
As good as Moore’s been, the consistent engine of this offense all season has been the run game, lead by running backs Noah Whittington and Jordon Davison. Whittington is in his fourth season for Oregon and after spending most of his career as a productive backup, and he’s finally starting and averaging 7.7 yards per rush on 727 total yards. Davison is a true freshman who tips the scales at 236 pounds, and has 511 yards and 13 touchdowns in his young career so far. He’s a physical inside runner with great vision and feel for finding space. Those two are the key contributors in a running back room that has four backs averaging at least six yards per carry.
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The main pass catching threat for Oregon is the TE Kenyon Sadiq. He’s not a particularly long or tall tight end, but is a very powerfully built 6-3 and 245 pound player with great strength, speed and agility. He’s versatile and will line up all over the field, including in the backfield. You’ll hear the announcers say “matchup nightmare” every third play during the broadcast. He has 36 catches for 479 yards and eight touchdowns.
On the outside, true freshman WR Dakorien Moore has been a revelation, but is injured and hasn’t played since the Wisconsin game on October 25th. In eight games he has 28 catches for 443 yards and three touchdowns. He’s only 5-11 but plays bigger than his size and has elite speed and explosive athleticism. WR Malik Benson has stepped up more in the past three games with eight catches and 147 yards. WR Gary Bryant is another explosive playmaker at receiver who was hurt in the Iowa game and hasn’t played since.
The offensive line has been great all season, but lost its starting center to injury last week in the USC game. LT Isaiah World was injured heading into the game and played limited snaps. There isn’t official word on either player, but both should probably be considered questionable.
The Scheme
This is a run first offense, particularly in the last three weeks. And as the WR depth chart thins, they have committed more and more to the run game. They usually operate out of the shotgun, and you can expect lots of motions and shifts.
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When not running, OC Will Stein’s scheme will rely plenty on what we’ve seen in previous years in terms of quick passing and screens designed to allow playmakers to turn short throws into big gains. Almost 60% of Dante Moore’s passes are nine yards or fewer downfield.
Final Thoughts
Oregon has played three great defenses so far this year in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Only Indiana was able to slow down their run game and ultimately win. This is definitely a pick your poison matchup because forcing Dante Moore to throw isn’t any sort of guarantee to win, though he is capable of a bad interception or getting sacked. If Washington can somehow slow down Oregon’s run game, it puts pressure on a banged up offensive line and receiver corps, and they could have a chance. Only the best defenses in the country have slowed down Oregon this year, and even in those games they were always able to make the play when they needed. This feels like a game where Washington’s offense has to be able match Oregon score for score.
