Dawgman Radio: A Washington Huskies athletics podcast

Which true freshmen are set to make an impact in the Pac-12 in 2023? Andrew and Cooper go team-by-team discussing which newcomers are ready to hit the field!

USC - 2:00

Washington - 8:00

Utah - 13:30

Oregon - 18:45

Oregon State - 24:30

UCLA - 29:45

Washington State - 33:00

Arizona -35:00

California -37:20

Arizona State - 41:45

Colorado - 46:00

Stanford - 51:30

Host: Andrew Ivins & Cooper Petagna

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On Tuesday, the Washington Huskies audibled. Head Coach Kalen DeBoer was initially scheduled to talk Thursday after their 'mock game', but instead DeBoer met with the media today to make a couple of announcements, as well as take questions about the move of UW Athletic Director Jen Cohen to USC.

In some ways it wasn't a matter of if, but when. And we're not talking about Washington Athletic Director Jen Cohen leaving UW for USC, which was announced earlier today; we're talking about the idea of Jen Cohen leaving Washington.

The guys from Dawgman.com - Kim Grinolds, Chris Fetters, and Scott Eklund - talk about the news of Cohen's Montlake departure. Was it expected? Was it shocking? And if expected, why now? And what does it mean for Washington moving forward?

They guys start with the timing of the news, as well as the idea that the Huskies already have an heir apparent to Cohen in former Long Beach State Athletic Director Andy Fee already in place to take over, if that's the direction they go. They break down the reasons for why Cohen would leave Washington after 24 years, including the continual tug of war with upper campus for financial support, especially during the pandemic.

After a break, the guys talk about the immediate impacts for Washington's athletic department, as well as what Cohen might try and do if USC Head Coach Lincoln Riley departs for the NFL, as rumored. Would she try and lure Kalen DeBoer from Seattle to Los Angeles?

And what about the idea of former UW Head Coach Chris Petersen? Would he be a good fit as an athletic director?

The guys also talk about fan reaction, as well as how Cohen's UW legacy will be written in the history books, before offering their final thoughts.

Washington Head Coach Kalen DeBoer met with the media immediately after UW's second scrimmage of fall camp, their last major scrimmage as they start to taper down their work heading into their September 2nd opener against Boise State. He announced a second indefinite suspension of another true freshman, as well as his take on the 75-play scrimmage, how quarterback Michael Penix has bounced back from getting held out the previous week, position battles at cornerback and running back, and more. 

The Dawgman interns - Jack McCauley and Intern Emeritus Luke Mounger - are back with their own spin on how the Washington Huskies will do in 2023, and they are going to break down a number of the position groups.

Today they break down the receivers room, arguably the most talented single room in the entire Pac-12. But before they talk about the players in the room, they offer their postscript to those who have left; Lonyatta Alexander, Jabez Tinae, and Taj Davis.

But with Denzel Boston and Germie Bernard on the 'come up' (as the kids would say), the losses should be mitigated as addition through subtraction.

Then Jack and Luke break down the three freshmen that are currently going through fall camp - Keith Reynolds, Taeshaun Lyons, and Rashid Williams - and give their thoughts on whether they'll redshirt or not, and if there is one player that won't be redshirting, who would it be?

And before they take a quick commercial break, Jack and Luke then go back to the two main takers in the room - Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan.

After the break, Luke gives credit to Washington's Recivers Coach JaMarcus Shephard when it comes to managing the personalities in the room, as well as the high level of expectations and accountability.

Going back to the players in the room, Jack and Luke talk about Giles Jackson and Ja'Lynn Polk and how they can add their individual talents to the benefit of the whole.

The guys' final thoughts include their expectations for the room in terms of production for the 2023 season with a revamped roster and the improvement from year one to year two in Shephard's room and Ryan Grubb's offense.

The Dawgman interns - Jack McCauley and Intern Emeritus Luke Mounger - are back with their own spin on how the Washington Huskies will do in 2023, and they are going to break down a number of the position groups.

Today they tackle the running backs room, one that is losing a lot of production with Wayne Taulapapa's graduation, but they also have some veterans returning with Cameron Davis and Richard Newton, as well as a number of transfers. Will Nixon moved last year from Nebraska, and UW picked up two more transfers in Daniyel Ngata from Arizona State and Dillon Johnson from Mississippi State.

Jack and Luke start with the recent transfers and what they should bring to the mix, and then work their way toward the backs already on the roster.

Then the guys talk about some of the other newer additions, starting with true freshman Tybo Rogers. Without knowing the specifics of Rogers' situation and why he isn't practicing right now with the Huskies, both Jack and Luke proceed like he will be available for UW once the season starts. Will he play more than four games in 2023? How will the coaches like to use him? And what about sophomore Sam Adams?

After giving their initial thoughts on the players they expect to play this fall, they go more in-depth on how they think the room as a whole will be used. Will the coaches try and find a 1000-yard rusher? Will they go more by committee? Will they be transparent when looking to spring their running backs in the passing game? And how much will pass protection factor into playing time?

To finish up the podcast, Jack and Luke create their own pecking order and expectations for this year compared to last season.

Day 11 of Washington's fall camp is in the books and there were definitely some things to discuss. The guys from Dawgman.com -- Kim Grinolds and Chris Fetters -- were on hand for the two-hour (plus) workout and they went through everything that stood out to them.

For the first time in a week, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was behind center during the team periods of the practice. He didn't look like he missed a beat, making laser-like throws to his wideouts and connecting on some long passes that resulted in touchdowns.

Not to be outdone, Dylan Morris had another very solid practice and continues to impress with his poise and play-making ability.

Another player who has been easing his way into things is tailback Dillon Johnson. Since his return to full action, he's seen a few carries and reps with the first team, but he saw quite a few reps with the ones on Tuesday.

The guys then turned their attention to some of the different plays they saw and all of the ways the defense was changing their looks and disguising their coverages.

Dawgman.com recently spoke with Washington EDGE Coach Eric Schmidt about the offseason work that his players have put in to get themselves in position to impact the defense in 2023, and you might be surprised at what they worked on. Schmidt already has two veterans in Bralen Trice and Zion Tupuola-Fetui that he can lean on, but he also added another experienced player in Voi Tunuufi to his room.

Schmidt talked about the steps his veterans are making to round out their games ahead of their final season on Montlake, as well as things the room did as a whole to up their games. The work behind the scenes with Washington's Strength and Conditioning staff has really paid off, according to Schmidt, and it goes way beyond just getting bigger, stronger, and faster. Cross-training has become a real theme for the Huskies, and it's happening year-around.

Washington Head Coach Kalen DeBoer addressed the media Saturday after one of UW's big scrimmage days of fall camp, and he spoke the words that every Husky fans wanted to hear; Michael Penix was back and taking reps with the first team. After missing almost all the team period reps resting his arm this past week, the senior quarterback was apparently full-go for Saturday's scrimmage and took the number of reps you'd expect him to take in preparation for the 2023 season ahead.

DeBoer also took questions about both sides of the line of scrimmage, players that stood out to him during the scrimmage, the status of UW's kicking jobs, as well as the play of true freshman quarterback Austin Mack.

Dawgman.com spoke with Ryan Grubb a couple of times this week, once when Michael Penix Jr appeared fine, and then after the coaches shut Penix down from throwing during almost every meaningful session during the last handful of UW practices.

Grubb was candid and transparent about the decision to hold Penix back and give the reps to Dylan Morris and Austin Mack, and also spoke on the other positions on offense, and how well the team has dealt with the outside distraction of next year's move to the Big Ten.