SEATTLE – Like ham and eggs or Laverne and Shirley, wide receivers and quarterbacks are linked together. Generally, each needs the other to look good in order for it to look good.
Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald
That being the case, University of Washington football coach Tyrone Willingham said that it is possible to evaluate one without the other.
“You can, but they still have to go together,” Willingham said. “The play of the receivers is critical, because that fits it all together. But there are certain aspects of it that can be independent.”
While much of the focus of spring practice has been on the four-way competition at quarterback between Casey Paus, Isaiah Stanback, Carl Bonnell and Johnny DuRocher, the play of the young group of wide receivers is just as important. After all, somebody has to catch the passes.
“I try to make sure our quarterbacks understand this fact: There’s only been a few times during the history of the game that a quarterback has thrown and caught his own pass,” Willingham said. “I don’t expect them to worry about catching it. Their responsibility is to throw it and execute our system.
“If we throw it to the right spot and it’s not caught, we can’t do anything about that from their perspective. From the receiver perspective, yes, we can do something about it.”
Washington’s receiving group has no seniors in it. The listed starters going into spring ball are sophomore Craig Chambers, the former Jackson High standout, and junior Corey Williams. Chambers is the Huskies’ most dangerous receiver, averaging 21.5 yards on 19 catches last season, scoring two touchdowns. Williams had 10 catches for 128 yards. Sonny Shackelford, who led the team with 21 catches, and sophomore Charles Smith, are listed as the backups. Anthony Russo and Quintin Daniels are also expected to compete for playing time.
As with all other positions, Willingham wouldn’t say if any of the receivers stand out to him, nor would he comment on the progress of the quarterbacks.
“There have been good moments and not so good moments,” Willingham said of the quarterback situation. “And that will always be the case. And I’m in no rush to make that decision.”
Follow the leader: Willingham said the fact that everyone is trying to learn a new system and new personnel has slowed the process of players stepping into leadership roles.
“Sometimes when you’re immersed in (learning the system), it makes it difficult to show all your leadership qualities,” Willingham said. “Most important is that they get a handle on the system.”
The Huskies have 19 seniors on the roster. Linemen Brad Vanneman, Tusi Sa’au, Robin Meadow and Joe Toledo as well as quarterback Casey Paus are expected to lead the offense. Manase Hopoi, Evan Benjamin and Joe Lobendahn are the defensive leaders.
Willingham said the leadership that he has seen has been solid.
“The thing we try to do as coaches is not make the transition as difficult as possible,” Willingham said. Therefore we try to keep some of the things in the language and vocabulary from the past that they can carry over. You make that concession as a coach so you can help them along. But it’s always difficult learning something new, especially when you’re established.”
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