ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Saturday afternoon, the Michigan football team will try to bounce back from its loss at USC and keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive, as the Wolverines take on Washington in Michigan Stadium (Noon, FOX). The Huskies arrive to Ann Arbor with a 5-1 record, and are hoping to make their own move up the rankings on the national stage.
So what does Washington bring to Saturday's matchup, and what are the keys for Michigan Saturday to come away victorious? We break it down in our weekly scouting report below.
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Washington passing offense vs. Michigan pass defense
Key Huskies to know
Demond Williams Jr. (QB) — 158 attempts, 117 completions (74.1 percent), 1,628 yards (10.3 per attempt), 10 touchdowns, 1 interception
Denzel Boston (WR) — 48 targets, 30 receptions, 444 yards, 6 touchdowns, 117 yards after catch, o drops, 5 contested catches, 25 first downs
Dezmen Roebuck (WR) — 23 targets, 18 receptions, 331 yards, 2 touchdowns, 152 YAC, 1 drop, 13 first downs
Jonah Coleman (RB) — 22 targets, 20 receptions, 243 yards, 1 touchdown, 278 YAC, 0 drops, 9 first downs
Decker DeGraaf (TE) — 18 targets, 15 receptions, 151 yards, 85 YAC, 1 drop, 2 contested catches, 7 first downs
What Washington brings
Similar to Nebraska and USC, the Huskies enter this matchup with one of the most efficient passing attacks in the country, ranking fifth nationally in yards per attempt, third in completion percentage and fifth in passer rating.
Williams has a lot to do with that, as the sophomore has thrived in his first year as a starter. He ranks fifth among qualified quarterbacks in passer rating on passes 20 yards or more downfield, sixth in passer rating on passes behind the line of scrimmage (Coleman's after-catch ability has a lot to do with that), and 12th in passer rating under pressure.
That under-pressure success is important for Washington because, so far, the Huskies have struggled in pass protection. Williams has faced 85 pressures this season, third-most nationally, and Washington's offensive line ranks 91st nationally in Pro Football Focus's pass-blocking efficiency. Williams' mobility has allowed him to evade pressure, extend plays and only take 15 sacks, but so far, it has been a weak point for the Huskies.
In the receiving game, Boston is likely a familiar name to Michigan fans, as he had five catches, 80 yards and a touchdown against the Wolverines last fall. The room overall has only two drops to 120 receptions, and averages a very healthy 7.9 yards after the catch.
Key for Michigan
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