Washington State Football Receivers: Different week, different star

Rotating Stars

Critics will say those big numbers are just a product of a pass-happy offense. That’s partially correct. Head coach Mike Leach would tell you all the success is a feature of his interpretation of balance, all five skill positions getting touches and contributing. That is also partially true.

Give some credit to the receivers who are very talented, run routes well, and can catch the ball. Additionally, quarterback Gardner Minshew II does a fantastic job of reading defenses to make the offense as effective as it is. He doesn’t rely on only one or two receivers. Minshew seems to ride a different hot receiver each week. Here are each game’s leading receivers:

• Game 1 – James Williams, 10 receptions for 53 yards and one TD.
• Game 2- Tay Martin, six receptions for 68 yards and two TDs.
• Game 3 – Tay Martin, 13 receptions for 149 yards and one TD.
• Game 4 – Easop Winston, six receptions for 143 yards and two TDs.
• Game 5 – Easop Winston, four receptions for 115 yards and one TD. Dez Patmon five receptions for 112 yards and one TD.
• Game 6 – Tay Martin, eight receptions for 119 yards and two TDs.
• Game 7 – Dezmon Patmon, six receptions for 81 yards and one TD.
• Game 8 – Dezmon Patmon 10 receptions for 127 yards.

In any given week the hot target can come from the X, Y, Z, or H receiver slots. It could also be a running back who becomes the leading receiver. Both Williams and Max Borghi have excellent hands coming out of the backfield.