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ScoopDuck Roundtable: Players to Watch vs UW

On3 imageby: Justin Hopkins11/28/23
Rome Odunze
© Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Round two is just a few days out. The expected long week is dragging along. We are on to our second round table of the week focusing on which players the Ducks need to worry about.

You know the drill by now so here are the picks below.

Jarrid Denney: EDGE Bralen Trice 

Washington star edge rusher Bralen Trice got off to a bit of a slow start in terms of statistical production this season. But since the Huskies and Ducks last met, he has been on a tear. Trice has generated 40 quarterback pressures over UW’s last six games — including 16 against Stanford. 

He is now tied for the conference lead with Laiatu Latu at 64 pressures on the season. Finding a way to contain Trice will be near the top of Oregon’s priority list on Friday. 

Joel Gunderson: WR Rome Odunze

Penix is (clearly) banged up; Dillon Johnson, too. And there’s no way that Jalen McMillan is back to complete form.

That leaves one option, and it’s a big one. Say what you want about the (blatant?) way Rome uses his hands to get open; he’s still the biggest weapon in their arsenal and can single-handedly beat anyone Oregon throws at him.

If Oregon can slow Rome down a little and force Penix, Macmillan, and Johnson to do more than they’ve had to do of late, this one looks good for the Ducks.

Doug Scott: WR Rome Odunze

Mike Penix gets all the love, but Odunze is the best player on Washington’s team, and the secret sauce behind their offense. Time and time again, Penix throws up balls in the direction of Rome, and time and time again he delivers with elite catches in contested coverage. Washington has 3 losses right now if not for Penix, who was a dagger against the Ducks in the first matchup, catching 8 balls for 126 yards and 2 TDs. The key to this game for Oregon’s defense is limiting Rome Odunze.

Corpatty: Michael Penix

Let’s face it, as Penix goes so go the Huskies.  If the Penix from the last couple of weeks shows up in Vegas, Oregon will have their way with UW.  If the Penix from the first meeting shows up, the Ducks will be in a dog fight. 

Jhop: Dillon Johnson

Penix to Odunze is dangerous. It’s a lethal combination that takes advantage of Oregon’s biggest weakness defensively. But it was the effectiveness of Dillon Johnson for Washington was the back-breaker for Oregon. His ability to keep the defense off-balance was a critical piece to the chess match. If Oregon can contain him much better this time I think they will have more success defensively.

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