Kalen DeBoer explains how pairing Michael Penix with 'special' WRs created dream scenario at Washington

Washington’s Kalen DeBoer has a pretty sweet gig considering what the Husky offense has been in Seattle. He knows it as much as everyone else too considering the weapons that he gets to work with week in and week out.

DeBoer spoke about how ideal Washington’s offense is to work with during his appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Friday. All he could do was smile a bit as he openly admitted that the nation’s third-best offense makes games easier to handle overall.

“It’s set up pretty well,” DeBoer admitted. “I will have to say that.”

While a lot of that comes down to the player that QB Michael Penix Jr. is, DeBoer also said it leans on Penix Jr. as a student and coach on the field with his knowledge of the system. Add in three, big-play receivers to work with and the system that the Huskies are running obviously just hums.

“When Michael came in, the other piece too is not just his skillset but him having a pretty good dose of the offensive system back in 2019 when we were together. Then that carrying on what he was a part of there at Indiana,” said DeBoer. “When he came in, he was like an extra coach on the football field.”

“Then, like you said, surrounding him with Jalen McMillan, Ja’Lynn Polk, Rome Odunze? I mean those guys are just special,” DeBoer added. “Every day, they keep getting better. I still don’t think we’ve seen what they’re capable of.”

The passing game is the crown jewel when it comes to Washington’s offense. As the engine of it, Penix Jr. has thrown for a yard shy of 2,000 through the air. That pairs well with a near 75% completion rate and 16 touchdowns. Odunze, Polk, and McMillan have been the recipients of much of that production. As a trio, they have 1,387 yards and 11 touchdowns off of 78 catches combined.

Washington has made it look easy to put up 46 points per game in their 5-0 start to 2023. That kind of cushion takes some of the weight off a coach like DeBoer as his team wins track meet after track meet each week.

DeBoer raves about the growth, development of Penix Jr.

Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. has been starting games at the Power Five level for five years now. While he has been a starting-caliber player for a half-decade, Penix has never stopped improving along the way. It has now culminated in this sixth year where he has emerged as one of the best players in the country and a Heisman contender.

Kalen DeBoer hopped on during Friday’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show and told McAfee about the growth he has watched from Penix over the years.

“I think he has just continued to grow,” DeBoer said. “The adversity that’s come his way? He has just taken it on and understanding that I can control what I can control and that’s what I’m gonna focus on. And here you are. I think each, and every day, you can see pieces of his past and how he has responded continue to come out. That includes on game day, when things maybe aren’t going your way as a team. Him rising to the occasion and making the most of the moment. Playing in the present.”

“He you can throw it short, long,” DeBoer said. “He’s very heady. He’s mobile. Great athlete. He has seen all the defenses you can imagine over six years. So he understands the game and he has got the tools and the skill set to go with it.”