SEATTLE – With 103 players in fall camp, it is impossible for Tyrone Willingham to keep track of everything and every player at all times in every practice. But as a head coach, he has to know what’s going on with everyone.
So, how does he decide who gets his attention on any particular day?
“It depends on our needs at that time,” Willingham said. “Much of it I get at night or in the morning when I sit down and watch film and see the pace of practice. I may determine if I move to another area or another group based on how it’s going at practice, what I can sense out of a group, who needs my attention. There are a number of things that go into it.”
Some of the problem of too much going on at once should be relieved by the Huskies splitting the players into two separate practice groups, which happened for the first time Wednesday. Though the main reason for the split is to get more repetitions for the players, it will also help coaches get a better look at the players.
Willingham said he rarely moves from the main practice field to the auxiliary field.
“I’ve found it’s much easier to stay on the main field,” Willingham said. “Because of the location, it gives you pretty good angles on everything. I can follow the guys best from there.”
Good condition not enough: Willingham said he was happy with the shape that most of his players came in off of their preseason conditioning program. But he also said it isn’t enough to be fast or strong.
“What’s functional for football is the question,” Willingham said. “That will be demonstrated to us when they play football. That’s where we’ll get the answers. How well they take their bodies and move them in the game of football. Bench pressing 400 pounds is great, but if you don’t use that the right way to move the guy across from you, what good is it?”
Love for Sims: Both Willingham and offensive coordinator Tim Lappano raved about senior fullback James Sims Jr. on Wednesday.
“From his testing, his numbers are eye-popping,” Willingham said. “We have to find some manner to use him.”
Sims is believed to be the leader for the starting fullback job. After moving from safety to fullback last season, Sims was second on the team in rushing with 212 yards.
“He had outstanding numbers,” Lappano said, noting Sims had a 44-inch vertical jump and ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash in preseason testing. “He was really strong on the bench (press). And he’s a smart kid. We’re going to find ways to use him.”
Good first day: Lappano said he was happy with what he saw from Tuesday’s 11-on-11 drills. Though his quarterbacks made some poor throws, he said the decision-making was solid.
“We didn’t have a lot of assignment mistakes out there,” Lappano said. “Guys are doing a good job of knowing what they’re doing. We’re throwing a lot at them and they’re doing a good job of picking stuff up. I’m really encouraged by the intelligence level we have here.”
Making strides: Isaiah Stanback continues to stand out in the four-man competition for quarterback, and Lappano said he’s been impressed by the junior’s willingness to progress at the position.
“The biggest change has been his studying of his position,” Lappano said. “I don’t think he ever bought into really learning how to play quarterback. I think he knows the time and effort and film study it takes to play his position. You can’t be out there guessing.”
Lappano wouldn’t go so far as proclaiming Stanback the front-runner for the starting job and says there is no timetable to name a starter.
High hopes for Chambers: Lappano said he believes Craig Chambers, the former Jackson High star, could be a dominant receiver.
“He has a chance to be pretty good,” Lappano said. “He can play pretty fast when he wants to. He tested really well. When he wants to, he can run right by you. He’s a big target, he can go up and get a ball. When he wants to do those things, he can be really good.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
