Huskies try new pieces, not just at QB

Thursday marked the halfway point of a Washington football spring practice that is destined to be remembered mostly for springboarding Jake Locker's Huskies career.

But unveiling Locker isn't all the Huskies have done so far.

Here's a look at where a few other key positions stand:

Weakside linebacker

The battle to replace the graduated Scott White has revealed the only significant depth-chart change of the spring. Chris Stevens was listed No. 1 heading into drills, but former Bellevue High star E.J. Savannah has replaced him in the starting lineup.

"The reason you make a change is one guy is playing better than the other," said UW coach Tyrone Willingham.

Savannah has emerged as a big-play linebacker — he had a safety in a scrimmage Saturday and an interception in another practice — which is critical for a UW team that finished last in the Pac-10 last season with just 14 turnovers caused.

"When he hits, balls and body parts seem to go flying in different directions, and that's a great thing to have because we've got to be a defensive team that starts to create some turnovers," Willingham said.

Coaches may also prefer Stevens in the utility role he has inhabited the last two years, lining up at times as a defensive end in passing situations, for instance.

Punter

JC transfer Jared Ballman was signed to replace the graduated Sean Douglas and has so far proven to give the Huskies a potentially different look.

"Where Sean would just kick some rockets that go 80 yards, Jared gets more of that kick that seems to hang up there a long time," Willingham said. For now, Willingham said Ballman needs to work on his consistency.

Ballman also has designs on the kicking job, but Willingham said that won't be settled until the fall when high-school recruit Erik Folk arrives.

Secondary

With just six scholarship players available, this remains an area that will have a lot of uncertainty until the fall.

"The real competition, especially at probably two of the four positions, is yet to come," Willingham said. "The real competition arrives in the fall."

The two that seem most set are Jason Wells at free safety and Roy Lewis at one cornerback spot, with Mesphin Forrester running as the starter at strong safety and Jordan Murchison the starter at the other cornerback spot.

Defensive tackle

Both of the players who were the main starters at the end of the season — Wilson Afoa and Jordan Reffett — return, so there is no real battle there.

But the Huskies need some backups with the graduation of Donnie Mateaki. Defensive line coach Randy Hart said that if the season started today, the two backups would be redshirt freshman Cameron Elisara and senior Erick Lobos, who has battled injuries throughout his career.

Hart said Lobos had one of his best practices of the spring on Tuesday. "He's improved and engaged in what's going on," Hart said.

Tight end

Michael Gottlieb, Johnie Kirton and Robert Lewis are listed as co-starters, and all three figure to see significant time in the fall. But Kirton appears to be making a move this spring to take on an even bigger role.

"I think he's picked his game up a little bit," said UW offensive coordinator Tim Lappano.

Right guard

Casey Bulyca has been running with the starting unit ahead of Ryan Tolar, but Willingham said "there's still a contest at that position."

Notes

• Willingham said he didn't think the proposed ban on text messaging by coaches to recruits would impact recruiting all that much.

"If they make a ban on it, you'll find another way to communicate as much as you can, so that doesn't change," Willingham said.

• Receivers Anthony Russo (hamstring) and Quintin Daniels (knee inflammation) remain sidelined, and with walk-on Sho Yoshinaga nursing a shoulder injury, the team has been down to seven receivers in recent practices.

• Willingham said cornerback Matt Mosley got kicked in the back in practice Tuesday but shouldn't miss much time.

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com.

Read his blogs on Washington football and basketball at www.seattletimes.com/huskies.