Sometimes you can be too good for your own good. Keenan Howry is learning all about that this season.
Through two games the senior wide receiver has amassed just three catches for 18 yards — not the kind of numbers you’d expect from one of the best receivers in school history. Opposing defenses have stacked themselves against Howry, the latest Oregon football star to have a building-sized billboard in New York.
Despite his limited touches, Howry has extended his reception streak to 37 games.
Last season, Howry grabbed 52 receptions for 682 yards and nine touchdowns. He needs 27 more catches, 813 yards and six touchdowns to become Oregon’s all-time leading receiver in each category.
If the first two games are any indication, though, Howry will fall short of the records.
On the other side of the field, junior Samie Parker has been getting all of the attention, particularly from quarterback Jason Fife. Parker tied a career high with nine catches against Fresno State last week, including a 70-yard touchdown reception.
Fife said defenses are more weary of Howry, and that has opened up the field for other playmakers.
“We are aware that Keenan needs to get the ball more,” Fife said. “We just need to make some adjustments to make sure we’re on the same page. It won’t be a problem.”
Against Fresno State, Fife said there were set plays called for Howry, but for various reasons, the plays weren’t executed.
“There were a couple times that I was going to get Keenan the ball and I was sacked or I came to
him too late,” the junior quarterback said. “It’s just been a bad couple weeks in getting the ball
to Keenan.”
Howry’s health has also been in question, considering that he had offseason shoulder surgery and was limited in August practices because of tendinitis in his left knee.
“We’re not babying him at all,” Fife said. “He’s 100 percent healthy.”
With Heisman Trophy candidate Onterrio Smith in the backfield, the Oregon offense has also relied heavily on the running game.
“We went out there and established the run and didn’t really do anything else because it was working so well,” Howry said after Oregon’s 36-13 win over Mississippi State on Aug. 31, when the Ducks had a 53-to-27 rush-to-pass attempt ratio.
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