Probably the most attention-grabbing prospects within the 2024 NFL Draft is Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.. The lefty with the rifle arm captivated the eyes of school soccer after transferring to Seattle two years in the past, and now could be going to the NFL with hopes of being part of a really small listing of left-handed QBs who had success within the NFL.
Due to the great of us at Panini, I used to be in a position to meet up with Penix Jr. to speak about playing cards, passing progressions and QBs he enjoys watching. Panini America is internet hosting Michael Penix Jr. together with a number of different NFL gamers and draft prospects on the Panini Prizm VIP occasion in Las Vegas forward of Tremendous Bowl Weekend.
J.P. Acosta (JA): So what are you doing with Panini throughout the Tremendous Bowl?
Michael Penix Jr (MPJ): Proper now I’m on the Panini home, you already know, simply spending time with them. They obtained loads of cool issues occurring in right here, been doing autographs, I obtained buying and selling playing cards and stuff like that popping out quickly, you already know. So I’m simply having fun with my time right here in Vegas, you already know? I’ve been with them [Panini] since earlier than the season. So it’s been an actual good course of. And I’ve been having fun with it to this point.
JA: So once you have been a child, did you gather participant playing cards like Panini has? And for those who did, did you have got a favourite participant rising up that you simply tried to gather their card?
MPJ: I didn’t actually gather participant playing cards that a lot rising up, you already know, but when it was anyone that I wished a card from, I imply the greats like quarterback stuff, you already know, for me, I watched Mike Vick, Tom Brady.
JA: Throughout Washington’s run this previous season, going undefeated, making it to the nationwide championship, you obtained loads of love and appreciation from Indiana followers. How did that make you are feeling, seeing that love and appreciation even after transferring?
MPJ: I didn’t actually see it an excessive amount of. , I don’t actually be on social media quite a bit. However I did see a few of it, you already know, however it’s good to know that someplace the place, you already know, I spent loads of my time at, placing loads of laborious work and dedication right into a program nonetheless exhibiting me help, you already know, despite the fact that I needed to transfer on. It’s nice to have help like that.
JA: What was that technique of studying quarterback mechanics left handed when all the pieces on the earth appears to be like, it’s taught in direction of proper handed quarterbacks or proper handed folks?
MPJ: So far as the entire left hand, proper hand factor, you already know, I really feel like that didn’t actually occur. Like, it didn’t actually have an effect on me. If it feels laborious on anyone, it’s most likely tougher on my coaches, just like the trainers, that was coaching me. For me, I used to be at all times in a position to, you already know, I’ll see him do a proper handed and it was at all times straightforward for me to choose it up and flip it to the left hand aspect, so it wasn’t actually that tough for me.
JA: One of many issues I love about your play is throwing off platform, so I used to be questioning sort of the way you prepare your self and having the ability to have the ability to throw exterior the pocket so that you simply’re in a position to get the ball not solely downfield, however precisely.
MPJ: I really feel like loads of that got here naturally. Clearly, you already know, simply going by way of quarterback coaching and stuff like that, they put in drills which are comparable and stuff like that, too, however after I first began taking part in quarterback I used to be throwing sidearm, you already know. I performed baseball, and I didn’t actually have the mechanics, I didn’t actually know learn how to throw it, so I actually began off throwing sidearm simply naturally, however, um, I really feel like loads of is pure.
JA: At Washington you had three nice receivers in Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillian and Ja’Lynn Polk. How does your passing development change when you have got receivers like them on the surface?
MPJ: It wasn’t actually a change in any respect, you already know, it’s all constructed into the play. I really feel like I do a superb job of making an attempt to verify I get the ball to anyone who’s open. And if I really feel like everyone seems to be gloved (coated), and I belief any of them to simply put the ball in the fitting spot, you already know, and so they’ll make the play for me. So, it simply made it simpler for me to be trustworthy.
JA: Say you’re constructing out a playbook for your self. What are two or three of your favourite passing ideas that you must have? Like, if it will get known as you’re like, ‘Oh, I’m cooking on this.’
MPJ: First one I’ll say is 4 verts. 4 verts is nice towards something, and clearly I like to point out off my arm. So 4 verts is primary, then I like choice ideas, you already know. Possibility routes and stuff like that throughout the board. Simply looking for some methods to offer the receiver a number of choices or other ways to get open. I really feel like with my fast launch and my means to make throws off platform, I’m in a position to regulate and react rapidly to any route.
JA: So on these choice routes, are you studying the leverage of the defender, or how do you learn it out?
MPJ: I’m studying my receiver, like you possibly can have choice proper and the defender has inside leverage and the receiver nonetheless breaks inside and get open. It’s simply primarily based on movie or the best way he [the defender] is taking part in it, the method he’s taking part in at. So with choice routes you gotta learn your receiver.
JA: What would you inform 18-year-old you concerning the technique of going by way of faculty the best way you probably did, primarily based on all that you simply’ve been by way of?
MPJ: Simply maintain preventing. Adversity is gonna present, so simply be prepared for it and be able to assault it, you already know, with a mindset that, you wish to proceed to get higher and are available out on the higher aspect of it.
JA: While you take a look at guys who’re both at the moment within the NFL or traditionally, who’re some QBs that you simply attempt to emulate or mannequin your playstyle after?
MPJ: I wouldn’t say I attempt to emulate anyone, I attempt to be the very best model of me. Rising up, I used to observe Mike Vick. I watched Teddy Bridgewater, when he was at Louisville. , earlier than he obtained the accidents and stuff like that, I really feel like he was an amazing quarterback as properly, however it was actually these two guys.
JA: My final query for you Michael, once you get to the NFL, who’s the NFL getting in Michael Penix Jr.?
MPJ: They’re gonna get a confirmed winner. I’ve been in a position to win in every single place I’ve been and, you already know, circumstances weren’t at all times the very best. I really feel like, you already know, to me collectively with my workforce simply discovering methods to win every time I used to be on the sphere. I’m the very best quarterback on this draft, for a number of causes, however I simply know I could make any throw at any time.
I additionally obtained to interrupt down certainly one of my favourite passes by Penix in his total profession, this 76-yard landing towards Oregon in 2022. It completely dominated, and listening to Penix speak about it was even cooler.
