OL coach Dan Cozzetto talks about handling the lack of depth this spring

WR coach Jimmy Dougherty talks about his receivering corps

by Curtis Crabtree
KJR reporter
Twitter: @Curtis_Crabtree

MONTLAKE - The Washington Huskies were in half pads Friday with another practice upcoming at 1 PM Saturday.

An already thin offensive line got thinner with C Drew Schaefer (knee) out during practice with OL Mike Criste replacing him on the first team offensive line. It's considered minor and he should be back soon.

"I don’t think so," offensive line coach Dan Cozzetto said when asked if Schaefer's injury was serious. "He’s walking around. We’re just making sure. He’s a little stiff today."

With Schaefer on the sidelines, OL Mike Criste took the first team snaps at center in his place. The rest of the offensive line remained unchanged with LT Micah Hatchie, LG Dexter Charles, RG James Atoe and RT Ben Riva filling out the line.

Cozzetto said the lack of numbers won't keep him from being able to get everything accomplished.

"We're going to do everything," Cozzetto said. "Just move people, when the second group is up pull someone with the ones and say 'you go.' Just start developing as football players. As you guys know I'm going to move guys around. They are going to play a lot of positions and I'm going to treat it much like it was when I was in the NFL and you get seven guys or eight guys if you are lucky and all those guys have to learn how to snap a football and how to be position flexible."

Cozzetto also talked about the loss of OL Colin Porter to retirement due to degenerative arthritis in his shoulders.

"That's a big loss for us," Cozzetto said. "Colin, I think his labrums had been bothering him ever since high school and to find out he had that problem in the other one, he said, you've got to live the rest of your life. It's devastating to him but we've talked about keeping him involved as much as possible because he was such a great asset to our program."

Cozzetto said the team is probably one recruiting class from getting their numbers where they would like to be.

RB/FB Dezden Petty and WR Jamaal Jones were slowed and LB Scott Lawyer did not practice. No injuries were given. CB Greg Ducre didn't practice with a concussion. Also considered minor. S Sean Parker still did not participate in team stuff with a groin injury that kept him out Wednesday as well and RB Jesse Callier (ankle) was back to limited duty in team periods after missing Wednesday’s practice.

Cozzetto said that OL Erik Kohler is coming back from a staph infection that forced him to miss winter workouts. Kohler has been working the second team offensive line for the first two weeks of spring ball. Sarkisian had said Kohler was coming back from “a couple nagging issues” but never indicated what they were. He’s been running with the second team as he continues to build his strength up Cozzetto said.

S James Sample, S Travis Feeney, and FB/LB Cooper Pelluer remain in red non-contact jerseys with shoulder injuries.

WR Kevin Smith (knee), RB/LB Ryan McDaniel (knee), RB Deontae Cooper (knee), DE Hau'oli Jamora (knee), LB Alec Kimble (foot), OL Colin Tanigawa (knee) and DT Semisi Tokolahi (foot) remain unable to practice and likely won't during the duration of spring practice.