Oregon brought in four newcomers at wide receiver this offseason to try and make the most out of its final year with Justin Herbert at quarterback. The previous season had seen Herbert throw primarily to Dillon Mitchell, and with his early departure, the prevailing thought was that the new blood would be integral in improving the passing attack.

Some, myself included, even expected that those new players would pace the passing attack. In my preseason stats prediction story, I pegged freshman Mycah Pittman to lead the way in receptions with grad transfer Juwan Johnson topping the yardage and touchdown reception list.

Turns out, I was dead wrong. Injuries have played a factor there, both Johnson and Pittman missed the team's first four games, but none of that should detract from just how meaningful the junior tandem of Johnny Johnson and Jaylon Redd have been.

Johnson has led the team in receiving yards in three of seven games this season, including 90 in the team's win over Washington. All five of his receptions in that game resulted in first downs. For the season, he's the team's top yardage guy if you subtract injured tight end Jacob Breeland from the discussion. Redd has been the unexpected touchdown star. At just 5-foot-8, he probably didn't feel the likely choice, but he's found the end zone in six straight games (eight total scores). That's the longest streak since Jeff Maehl did it in 2010.

While the pair's development might surprise some, it doesn't surprise those who watched the development happen. Chief among those spectators is Herbert himself, who says offseason work this summer has been instrumental in getting both players where they are today.

“We had all those guys out there just throwing it a bunch," Herbert said of the offseason. "I feel comfortable with all of them. Fortunately, we’ve had so many of them capable of stepping up.

"I’ve kind of said it before, but [Redd] is just a guy I can go to and who I can trust. He shows up on gameday."

As stated above, Redd doesn't fit the mold of your typical red zone threat. He's a 5-foot-8 converted high school running back. But only two Pac-12 players have found the end zone through the air more frequently, and only one of the seven have come outside of the red zone.

“I feel like anytime I have the ball in my hands, I look at the field like I cannot be denied," Redd said following Tuesday's practice. "Especially when it’s anywhere near the goal line, I take it to heart that I have to get in the end zone. I can’t be stopped short of that."

Johnson hasn't been surprised by the streak either.

“Jaylon is a monster," he said of his teammate. "He finds a way always to get in the end zone. I’m proud of that dude. He’s made a lot of strides this year. We’re going to keep going to him when we get down there."

Asked to pick his favorite, Redd went with his 13-yarder against Colorado. The reason why? He had to make the catch in the end zone rather than race in to break the plane.

"That was probably my best one," he said. "Just the fact that I got to go up and get it a little bit, and control it on the way down."

It's been the run after the catch scores that have caught Mario Cristobal's eyes. Throughout the season it's been noted just how tough the diminutive receiver is. Crisotbal says that is particularly clear when he gets close to the end zone and has to fight for yardage like he did on the five-yard go-ahead score in the fourth quarter against Washington.

“That was a tough couple yards he had to go get down there," he said. "He’s done it before on stuff we’ve run with him. He’s just an accountable guy who we depend upon."

For Johnson, this year has been about re-writing his story. As a sophomore he struggled to routinely hang on to passes. By the end of the season, he wasn't targeted all that much. This season, he's set off to prove himself as reliable.

So far, so good.

“I think I’m that guy," he said. "I think I can make any catch on the field and any play. I’m a dependable receiver. That just comes from offseason work."