April 3, 2007
By Joshua Mayers A deafening Husky Stadium. Top 25 rankings. Rose Bowls. Once familiar pieces of the Washington football program, the 2007 team hopes to remind Husky fans what winning feels like. But first comes spring football. Entering his third year at the UW, coach Tyrone Willingham recently numbered a couple of priorities for this spring season. "The first one never changes. It doesn't matter what year it is, in reference to spring practices; you want to come out of the drills healthy," he said in an interview on KJR radio. Quarterback Carl Bonnell is still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, but players like Jordan White-Frisbee, Quintin Daniels and Greyson Gunheim should be able to practice and train with no physical restraints. "We [also] have to solidify the quarterback position," Willingham told KJR. With last year's starting quarterback Isaiah Stanback training to play in the NFL, and Bonnell getting back into playing shape, all eyes are on redshirt freshman Jake Locker. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound youngster is one of the most touted recruits in recent history and has all his coaches raving. "He's got it, whatever `it' is," said offensive coordinator Tim Lappano on KJR radio. Lappano went on to compare his intangibles as a leader to another quarterback he coached at Purdue: Drew Brees, the current quarterback for the New Orleans Saints. The third and final priority Willingham addressed in the interview was the necessity for younger players to emerge as playmakers, particularly in the secondary and the offensive line. Defensive coordinator Kent Baer, in an interview with the Seattle Times, said that lack of experience in the secondary and having to replace C.J. Wallace and Dashon Goldson will be an immediate concern for the 2007 team. On the offensive line, the Huskies return three starters. Lappano hopes to see some more consistency out of the group and expects some great position battles between Morgan Rosborough, White-Frisbee, Casey Bulyca and Ryan Tolar for playing time. At the skill positions, Washington returns many contributors from last year. Running back Louis Rankin will hope to build upon a dominant Apple Cup into his senior year and J.R. Hasty is expected to contribute as well. "He is not necessarily the 4.3 guy, but he finds a way to gain yardage," Willingham said of Hasty on KJR. At wide receiver, Lappano and Willingham each praised the development of junior college transfer Marcel Reece. The position, as a whole, runs deep for the Dawgs. "This is by far the fastest group of receivers that we've had," Lappano said on KJR. Redshirt freshman D'Andre Goodwin is a newcomer with blazing speed and great big play potential, Lappano said. In the radio interview, Lappano also noted that all the Husky tight ends are returning. The pieces appear to be in place for a successful season, but not even a difficult schedule will excuse another year without a bowl game. "I'm hopeful that we have the mentality that understands and accepts that," Willingham said about postseason aspirations on KJR.
Spring position battles
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