THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: After title game, jury's still out on Penix as an NFL QB

Doggone it.

No vote.

I’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting to decide what Michael Penix Jr. will look like as an NFL quarterback.

Plenty of people wanted to hear some opinions, too.

There are piles of emails here from Seahawks fans, in fact — all wondering if their local heroes might draft the UW star.

OK, so I decided I would zero in on Penix during the national title game, and see how he’d handle the physical beating he was certain to get against Michigan.

Never mind the 34-13 final score.

Does Penix have the tools to make an impact in the NFL?

Could he be a first-round draft choice?

This all seemed really interesting, because scouts have tossed out all kinds of verdicts on the Huskies lefty — and obviously, the negative side of this argument gains some impact from Penix’s physical issues.

He had four season-ending injuries (two ACLs, two shoulder issues) before transferring to UW prior to the 2022 season.

However, he’s been sturdy enough at Washington, dodging any injuries during two spectacular seasons.

SO, IF we assume his body has proven it will hold together, is this young man going to be something special in the NFL?

Monday night was a great test, not only because of the pressure that comes with trying to win a national championship, but because Michigan has the athletes — up front and in the secondary — to make any quarterback miserable.

What I’d seen previously suggested that Penix, on the plus side, played with no fear, moved well in the pocket and threw lasers to any level of the field.

They were accurate, too.

Meanwhile, I’d read personnel gurus like Mel Kiper Jr. push Penix into the second or third round of next year’s draft.

But there were other scouts who thought he’d go higher, just on sheer accuracy and arm strength.

All those mixed reviews made Monday night’s showdown with Michigan truly fascinating.

Would Penix solve the Wolverines’ shifting defenses — occasional blitzes, but more often soft zone coverage with DBs flying up to make tackles?

Right, so let’s go back to the very start of this column.

I watched every snap of that title game, and I CAN’T tell you much more about Penix than we knew last week.

Yep, he throws rockets (in fact, there are times when he’d be better off putting more air under the ball) and when he’s on the same page as his receivers, he’s deadly accurate.

The reason we can’t get a fair decision from the blowout against Michigan is that Penix never really had a fair chance.

I’m not sure Patrick Mahomes could have had a fun night against the Wolverines.

HOWEVER, one thing that Mahomes (or most top-tier quarterbacks) could have done in the title game is escape some pressure.

Michigan is tough, but we’re not talking about the Baltimore Ravens.

Which presents the big problem.

Penix is slick in the pocket, stepping up and sideways, buying a little time and trying to get his body reset to throw.

The key word in that last sentence, though, was “trying.”

Penix’s knees have taken such a beating in six seasons of college football that he now has very little quickness — or any real speed if he can somehow wiggle free of pressure.

I’ll say that when he has any time at all, Penix can keep his eyes downfield.

Unfortunately, when the heat is on, he makes quick reads and just cuts the ball loose — trusting his arm and his receivers’ skills (which are significant) to create something good.

And Michigan truly put the heat on him.

The defensive line was getting home (or close) with a four-man rush, leaving a gifted secondary to lurk in throwing lanes.

In this game, he also got the worst of it from the officials, who let the Wolves’ defenders grab, pull, tug and tackle receivers with just one interference flag thrown all night.

Anyhow.

Sorry, if you wanted to hear that Michael Penix Jr. was a future all-pro.

Or that he’ll be a bust.

Can’t answer.

Michigan ruined our scouting mission.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”