2021 Oregon Football Preview: Willamette Passing
"Johnny Johnson doesn’t catch that ball three years ago." - My Cousin Andy
Every good football team needs players that can run good, and also players that can catch good. And don’t even get me started on those select few players that can both run good AND catch good.
This 2021 Oregon offense has athletes all over the field—particularly those of the catching variety—and with a full Joe Moorhead offseason under their belts, there’s no doubt that the skill guys might be the key to rediscovering that elusive brand offensive firepower.
Let’s begin with the fact that this is possibly the deepest receiving corps in Oregon history.
I’m not saying they’re going to be the greatest, or even that the greatest receiver in Duck history is on this roster to begin with, but if they’re anything, they are DEEP.
Start with the vets, Johnny Johnson III and Jaylon Redd.
JJ3 is going to solidify a pretty special place in the hearts of Duck fans by the end of the season—if he hasn’t already—but he’s also probably the number one option for Anthony Brown whenever things get hairy.
Whether it’s on a quick slant—a la the 2019 ASU game—or those deep routes that he somehow keeps beating corners on, Johnny Yamms has the strong hands, real speed, and the brain of a wily vet that makes him a threat at any point in the game.
I’ve been big on Jaylon Redd for a while now, and that hasn’t changed a bit coming into this year. Expect AB to lean on both him and JJ3 a ton to begin the year—especially in Columbus.
I think Redd’s skill set is absolutely perfect for the Moorheadian RPO scheme. He’s the end around guy; the slip screen guy; the slot speedster; the Do Everything Man. He’s an electric factory, to put it plainly.
The next “tier” of weapons is by no means a “lesser” group, but it’s simply a mixed bag of not-quite-vets-not-quite-rookies.
Devon Williams is any QB’s dream dude. His size alone makes him a top priority for any secondary. Just having him line up on the outside makes our passing attack dangerous and something to be accounted for.
Jump balls—and even the dreaded goal line fade—are made even slightly more acceptable to fans and coaches alike when you have an absolute Length-a-tron like Devon “The Never Beaver” Williams downfield.
Mycah Pittman also falls into this tier. There’s no doubt that he can play ball, but I’m still not sure if we’ll demand a ton of production out of him as an individual.
Mycah has the hands for sure, but I’ll be interested to see if his top speed can reach the Redd-type level that would make him as dynamic in the slot as I’m sure Oregon would like to have.
He’s going to be bouncing back after missing a lot of 2020 with some mystery “not playing” reason, but I’m sure he’ll be back in his late-2019 form by the time the meat of conference play rolls around.
Kris Hutson is also back after getting a little play here and there last year—primarily on kick returns. He’s the biggest question mark of the returning guys, but based on everyone’s evaluation of him coming in and out of 2020, Hutson’s ceiling could easily be right up there with Williams and Pittman.
The true freshman duo of Dont’e Thornton and Troy Franklin have a ton of buzz around them coming into camp, too.
They’ve been grabbing praise left and right from their coaches and teammates lately, but there’s also no denying that are four-to-five very strong dudes ahead of them both in the starting lineup.
But depending on Moorhead’s rate of rotation—and the ability to keep everyone healthy—I could see a scenario in which solid showings in the Fresno State and Stony Brook games could earn Franklin and/or Thornton some quality time throughout Pac-12 play.
Josh Delgado, Tevin Jeannis, Lance Wilhoite, and Isaiah Brevard are probably the next four guys behind those Top Seven.
I have no clue just how many receivers that a full force Moorhead gameplan likes to run with, but it’s probably a safe bet to think that Delgado, Jeannis, Wilhoite, and Brevard are going to get heavy play on special teams, along with those two early cupcake games.
As far a tight ends go, I think Spencer Webb might be the player I’m most interested in? Don’t get me wrong, DJ Johnson clearly has a place in the Moorhead offense, but I think Webb has the highest downfield playmaking upside of the group as long as he can bounce back after missing 2020.
Every time I think of Spencer Webb I just think about when he put that Auburn CB on a poster. That single play will forever warp my impression of him as a player, but I don’t even care. That play was sick. And I just want to see him do more of that this year.
Pat Herbert has bulked up for this offseason, so maybe the third-year freshman can carve a spot for himself as a blocker initially, and then he can give AB a 6-5 target right down the middle as the offense evolves throughout the year.
Cam McCormick is rumored to be back after being back after being back again from injury, and I’ll be so happy to finally see him play, but at this point his biggest victory will just be staying healthy.
Moliki Matavao and Terrance Ferguson are the young guns that we are supposed to keep our eyes on.
As a fan, you obviously love to hear hype for new dudes, but they do have some serious talent in front of them. If Cristobal & Co.’s decision to redshirt young Herb is any indication, I bet the initial goal with these two will be to preserve that eligibility across this season—as long as nothing crazy happens at the top of the depth chart.
Other than Travis Dye (who I’ll talk more about when I get to the run game), that’s pretty much the extent of what the weapons in the passing game look like for this Oregon team. These guys will all be pivotal to helping Anthony Brown find a groove in Moorhead’s World, and I can’t wait to see what they can do with all their depth and talent.
Go Ducks.