Greg McElroy: Washington's not sneaking up on anybody this season
Washington won’t sneak up on anybody this season, according to ESPN’s Greg McElroy. The team is too good to be under-the-radar like last season.
Head coach Kalen DeBoer led the Huskies to 11 wins last year and now they’re a popular pick to win the Pac-12 and get to the College Football Playoff. In a loaded Pac-12 this year nonetheless. From underrated to the spotlight, that epitomizes Washington in 2023.
“Is there a more underrated coach in America than Kalen DeBoer,” McElroy said on Always College Football. “Probably not because 90-11 in his head coaching career, I would say that’s pretty dang good coming off an 11-win season last year. And you got to think man last year was a breakthrough. Washington (is not) sneaking up on anybody this year … Michael Penix Jr. is capable, we know just how dynamic those wide receivers can be … I mean, you got weapons all over the place. And I got to think and maybe I’m naive, but Michael Penix was kind of thrust into the spotlight last year, had an amazing year.
“But that was the first year of a transfer situation. Even Joe Burrow, first year of his transfer situation, struggled in his redshirt junior year at LSU before he had a massive breakout, maybe the best season we’ve ever seen in 2019. So there is a little bit of a gap there for you to kind of get on the same page with the other personnel that you are going to be playing with and it certainly didn’t seem like there were any hiccups. And if that was your one, what could year two look like?”
In 13 games last season, Penix Jr. threw for 4,641 yards, 31 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a 65.3% completion percentage.
“I’m anticipating a pretty significant leap for that passing attack,” McElroy said. “And that’s hard to do given exactly what they accomplished last year. You also look at what they added from the transfer portal. I love the Dillon Johnson transfer from Mississippi State. I love this guy.
“I think he runs so hard. I think he gets downhill. I also think when you add another person in Germie Bernard from Michigan State at wide receiver, the depth gets better and you’re only going to have more weapons to account for.”
The biggest issue could be the offensive line. But if the Huskies can overcome questionable play up front, they should be just fine.
“Now the big question is whether or not they’ll be able to play as well along the front as they did last year,” McElroy said. “Now they bring back their tackles, which is a pretty good starting point. They still have to figure out the internal pieces of that offensive line. Now, Penix’s escapability will help with that. It will help some.
“(But) you can’t play quarterback by yourself. You got to have good sound protections, especially in the middle. And if there is any type of growing pains for that offensive line that could be a little problematic, but I’m banking on the possibility that they’re going to be just fine.”