Michigan vs. Washington: Facing nation’s top passing attack, ‘Don’t panic’ becomes mantra for Wolverines

HOUSTON — Plenty of college football teams featured at least one future NFL wide receiver this year. A handful of lucky programs have two. Washington has three.

Biletnikoff Award finalist Rome Odunze was second nationally with more than 1,500 yards receiving, but Ja’Lynn Polk is close behind with just over 1,100 yards. And though limited by injury, Jalen McMillan still posted 39 catches for 526 yards, 131 of which came against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game. 

Odunze and Polk are among the top draft-eligible wide receivers, according to CBS Sports’ Prospect Rankings, but McMillan is a proven veteran and high-level playmaker in his own right. 

Michigan secondary coordinator and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale has been preparing his unit for the diversified passing attack that will hit every corner of the field. He joked that Odunze catches dang near everything, while McMillan is a player who can get lost underneath. The sheer number of targets can be eye-popping, but the Wolverines have to play under control. 

“Don’t panic is the biggest thing,” Clinkscale said. “As you watch their film, there’s a ton of pass interferences, a ton. A lot of it’s because the ball is back shoulder underthrown. Don’t panic. Get that timing. Once we get adjusted to that, you may have a couple of PIs, but be aggressive.

“We talk about defensive football being like a boxing match,” he continued, “you’ve always got to see what they’re throwing, feel them out a little bit, then adjust, then do something when they adjust and keep playing chess and not checkers.”

The command point of the No. 1 passing offense is quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who stresses defenses more than almost any quarterback in recent college football. Penix threw 108 passes of…

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Author : Shehan Jeyarajah

Publish date : 2024-01-07 02:23:10

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