James In or Out?

Published 9:00 pm Monday, October 23, 2006

There is still no news on senior running back Kenny James. Tyrone Willingham said during the Pac-10 coaches teleconference that UW trainers and doctors are still looking at the results of James’ MRI and there is no determination on the severity on the senior’s ankle injury. Willingham does tend to let injury issues draw out, so this isn’t a big surprise. And he’s not meeting with the media on Tuesday’s anymore so I don’t know that we’ll get any more of an update than that. Possibly offensive coordinator Tim Lappano might know more (whether he tells us or not, who knows?).

I think it has to be assumed that James isn’t going to play this week, which leaves the ball in Louis Rankin’s hands, with Shelton Sampson behind Rankin. If that’s the case, it will be interesting to see if Rankin is more physical this week than last. He and Tyrone Willingham both seem OK with his style (dancing a lot, waiting for a hole to open) while Lappano seemed frustrated with Rankin (and the offensive line’s) inability to be more physical.