Off with another round. ...

Q: So, anything new on the AD search?

A: Officially, no. Scott Woodward is still the acting AD and said late last week his status hasn't changed. Many around the school are assuming Woodward will do the job for another year or so and that that could be announced sometime soon. However, at least one source indicated that Bill Moos may still be in the running. Moos has never commented publicly on the Washington position. Through his lawyer, he said several times earlier he had not been contacted. But his name has continued to circulate through the rumor mill. A UW official said this week that UW president Mark Emmert will not comment on the search until it is completed and said only that the search continues.

Q: You want a question? Please tell me why the Huskies won't be a surprise team this year? 7-5 or 6-6 is definetly possible with the development of Jake Locker.....even with the young RB's and WR's, I can see Jake's leadership gettting the Huskies at least 5, possibly 6 wins this season.

A: My first response would be that I don't think 5-6 wins would be viewed as much of a surprise. UW is being picked 6-7-8 in the conference, which is about in the 4-5-win range or so. But if you're asking me why not, I would say that UW is really young at three key spots --- WR, RB and DL. The latter is especially worrisome, but I wouldn't rule out the challenge that the youth at RB and WR may present. Sure, those guys look really talented and all, but there's still a learning curve there --- I remember Charles Frederick, one of the more heralded receivers UW has ever brought in, making zero catches as a freshmen. I know experience can be overrated at times, but I also think that college football is one place where it remains hugely important. There's a big difference between being 18 and never having played and 21 and having played in 30 games. I agree that Locker gives UW a fighting chance in every game. But as has been well-documented, he also needs to show that he is becoming a more accurate passer. That will be even more important this year, especially early, when the young guys will need to get some confidence. Locker and his receivers will need to take advantage of every opportunity. This is also now a program that hasn't had a winning season since 2003. There is nobody left on the roster who remembers going to bowl games and having winning seasons. The team will need some early success to get some confidence, and that obviously won't be easy against that schedule (and remember here, I'm not trying to be all doom and gloom, just answering the question).

Q: What is the status of Jason Wells?

A: He is expected to be ready to go for the start of fall camp after having surgery last fall to repair the knee injury suffered against USC. He sat out the spring but was often seen running stairs, etc., and I saw him during my trip up to a conditioning session. But the real test, as is the case with anyone coming off a major knee injury, is once the pads go on and the real hitting starts.

Q: How does Johnie Kirton like his new role at Dline and does he think he will have more impact there as a player? Any possibility Luke Kravitz plays DE?

A: Kirton said in the spring he liked it just fine. He was recruited by some schools to be a DL and there is obviously a lot of opportunity there, so he seemed intrigued by the possibilites. As for Kravitz, I can't imagine such a switch. He's a fifth-year senior --- guys usually don't switch in the fall of their final season. And he's the backup fullback, a pretty valuable position, so he's pretty needed there, I think.

All for now.