Like Springsteen might say, off with another set. ...

Q: When does the freshmen bridge program begin?

A: It is scheduled to begin July 13. All incoming freshmen are expected to participate. Some may be here earlier, but they aren't really required to be here before then.

Q: Do you think under Steve Sarkisian that Jake Locker will be much more deceptive with the ball? In the past he seemed to do very little to hide the ball, or fake hand offs, or pump fakes. It seems that the top QBs are much better in being deceptive.

A: It wouldn't surprise me if Locker looks better in everything he does this year, in part because of the new coaches but also because he is now in his fourth year in the program and at a point where everything he has been taught should begin to click in. These coaches may emphasize that deceptiveness a little differently than the old staff, however. Under Sarkisian, one of the biggest areas of emphasis is play-action, something that wasn't a real priority under the old staff. So Locker will have to refine his technique in faking the hand off and dropping back. Under the old staff, the spread option and fakes out of those kinds of formations were more of the emphasis. I think you'll still see some of that stuff, but indications are that not as much of it as the past few years.

Q: After a recruit gives a solid verbal commitment to the UW, may the coaching staff make any kind of direct communication with the high school student, such as weight training, diet, exercises on a regular basis, making good life choices, etc until they sign their commitment letter? And if not, what is the legal method of communication, if any, during this one-year wait period?

A: Even though a player has given a commitment, UW coaches are still bound by the same rules regarding contacts with that recruit as with any other recruit. A commitment doesn't become binding until a player signs an LOI in February, so the rules don't change until then, commitment or not. Until a player signs an LOI, he is still regarded as a recruitable athlete. So that means there are times the UW coaches can talk to the players, and times during quiet and dead periods when contact is limited or not allowed. I don't know of any rules limiting what they can talk about, so I would imagine the coaches talk about some of those things. However, all of these players still have a year left of high school, many at high-level programs that have their own conditioning programs and all of that that they are already following. And much of what you are saying is basic common sense that any coach --- high school or college -- would emphasize. But these are players in their senior year of high school, which brings with it all kinds of temptations that are ultimately up to the player to deal with on his own.

Q: Can you shed some light on if any of the incoming Husky junior college players are qualified at this point, and if possible if there any that may still have significant work to do?

A: Dawgman.com recently reported that S David Batts is already on campus and enrolled. It sounds as if all of the others are still finishing up work. I corresponded recently with the coach of Daniel Mafoe who said he thought the player was on track but gave the usual caveat that until it's done, it's not done. TE Dorson Boyce is thought ready to arrive by the end of the month. The other three are said to be on track to arrive in late July. However, as the Charles Garcia story indicated again, getting JC players into UW can sometimes be a tricky deal. They not only have to get all of their work done at the JC but then they have to be admitted into UW, as well. So until that part of it is done, it's really not done. That's why I'm reluctant to make any grand proclamations on these guys until we see them in uniform and on the field when fall camp starts.

All for now.