5 things to watch for as Washington Football visits Oregon State
By Bret Stuter
How will the passing game compensate for loss of WR Chico McClatcher?
When you have a returning receiver like Chico McClatcher, you not only get his production, but his years of playing with the quarterback. That shared experience gives both passer and receiver instinctive trust and knowledge of what the other will do in response to the defense.
In fact, quarterback Jake Browning must redo that learning curve with a new receiver.
But that may also mean expanding the role of an existing contributor. The team has running back Salvon Ahmed, tight ends Hunter Bryant and Will Dissly, and wide receiver Quinten Pounds to turn to. And this is an excellent weekend to do so, as Oregon State has proven to be a rather pourous defense so far in this young season.
As a matter of fact, this is the same defense which surrendered 396 yards and 6 touchdowns to Washington State quarterback Luke Falk. While Falk is a solid passer, those numbers are awfully high even for him.
Right now, the team has a large number of options from which to choose. But the key of this weekend is to observe which option they select.
Ultimately, the direction they go against Oregon State could impact the rest of their season.