Spring football musings — Kirton, Hasty, Savannah

  • John Sleeper
  • Thursday, April 3, 2008 10:21am
  • Life

Attended the press conference that marked the start of spring football at UW Monday and was struck by two things.

One, are they jerking Johnie Kirton around? He’ll be a senior next school year and they still can’t find a position for him. My memory has him starting his time at Washington at tailback, then fullback, then tight end and now defensive tackle. I also heard a rumor that they were considering the 270-pound Jackson High grad to play linebacker, but nothing came of it.

Coach Tyrone Willingham says the move was a mutual decision and I suppose I’ll take him at his word. Willingham also said he thought it would be the best move for Kirton to “move to the next level.” Well, I don’t know of many NFL defensive linemen who played one season at defensive tackle in college. It will be interesting how Kirton takes this. The Huskies have only D-lineman with any meaningful playing experience, Daniel Te’o Nesheim. Maybe Kirton can break through and make the rotation.

Two, what’s the deal with J.R. Hasty and E.J. Savannah? Willingham’s holding them out of spring ball until they “fulfill their obligations.” He said it was neither an academic nor legal issue. A logical conclusion is that they didn’t complete all their winter conditioning workouts. Whatever it is, it does nothing good for the team.

Why is it that these two are the ones most often in Willingham’s doghouse, especially Hasty, who missed a season because of academic issues? You’d think he’d want to put all that behind him and go all-out to show what he can do. There’s a lot of talent wasted here. I hope the kid wakes up, but I’m not holding out any hope.

Savannah was the team’s leading tackler last seasaon. He’s in a position of leadership, of which he’s showing little. I don’t get it.

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