SEATTLE – University of Washington head coach Keith Gilbertson said he may name a starting quarterback as early as today.
Gilbertson said he needed to see how injured quarterbacks Carl Bonnell (groin) and Casey Paus (ankle) performed in full gear in Tuesday’s practice before he decided on a starter for Saturday’s game at top-ranked USC.
Monday night’s practice usually is a relatively easy one, one in which players do not wear pads. Gilbertson said that, had the Huskies played an actual game Monday, Isaiah Stanback would have started.
Mobility and freedom of pain would be the obvious factors.
“Carl was about 85 percent, maybe 90 percent,” Gilbertson said. “I’m anxious to see what he’s like (Tuesday). I think Isaiah will probably get most of the work with the (first-team offense Tuesday).”
Practices are closed to the press and general public.
Gilbertson said all three quarterbacks were able to move around Monday, that all three could play in an emergency, but that “I want to see them in pads.”
Gilbertson denied that he wants to keep the Trojans guessing which quarterback will play.
“I don’t know how much guessing they have to do,” he said, smiling. “They kind of keep you guessing. Those kids are great players. I’m very impressed with them, all across the board.”
Riley calls Gilby: Concerned that Gilbertson was angry about a block by an Oregon State lineman that ended defensive tackle Dan Milsten’s season, if not his career, Oregon State coach Mike Riley phoned Gilbertson on Tuesday.
Gilbertson characterized the conversation as civil and that he respects Riley, but that they disagreed on the legality of the block. Gilbertson added that the game must be made safer to protect players.
“I think there has been more cut-blocking and chop-blocking now than I’ve seen in a long time,” Gilbertson said. “I think something, eventually, is going to have to be said about it and done about it, whether I’m coaching or not.”
A chop-block, which is illegal, is one in which one player holds an opponent up while a teammate blocks, or “chops” the victim’s legs out from under him. A cut-block, which is legal, involves one blocker blocking low, at an angle that cuts a player’s legs out from under him.
“We have two defensive tackles that are out for the season because of that and we have three other linemen walking around here in knee braces because of those kinds of blocks,” Gilbertson said. “We’ve got to do more for the safety of the kids during the game.”
Milsten suffered a dislocated ankle and broken fibula in his left leg. His foot was pointed 180 degrees the wrong way before medical personnel got to him on the field.
“That’s a tough injury, but guys have come back,” Gilbertson said.
Short bursts: Gilbertson said wideouts Charles Frederick (hamstring) and Quintin Daniels (knee) almost certainly will miss the USC game … USC’s Matt Leinart is 18-1 at quarterback.
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