Editor's note: Don Ruiz filled in for me at today's practice – in time for true freshman and other newcomers to be allowed by UW coach Steve Sarkisian to talk to the media. He filed a story on receiver James Johnson. Here are some interesting tidbits:

Did you know the talk of the Husky receiving corps, the 18-year-old who got 20 more snaps in the first game against No. 11 Louisiana State (which did not move up in the top-25 poll this week) – the weapon who has created more buzz in Montlake than any first-year player – has 13 brothers and sisters?

"Eight brothers, five girls, and everybody kind of went their own way," Johnson told a large contingent of media after practice.

Johnson lived in dangerous neighborhoods in Los Angeles – until his mother moved him down to San Diego to live with his oldest brother, Greg Taylor. Taylor is now Johnson's legal guardian.

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Not much happened in the hour-long workout the Washington Huskies held in the indoor Dempsey Center – the first of its kind since the preseason and regular season began.

With coach Steve Sarkisian stating earlier Monday that a secondary shake-up was underway, particularly at safety, four guys shuffled in and out with the first-string unit – Nate Williams (who can start at both), Greg Walker (who did not play in the fourth quarter Saturday), Victor Aiyewa (the biggest impact defensive back Saturday as a reserve) and Justin Glenn (moved from cornerback).

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Predictably, coach Steve Sarkisian was still pretty wound up late Saturday night, after his Huskies dropped a close 31-23 decision to No. 11 Louisiana State, and into early Sunday morning.

And, like coaches tend to do, Sarkisian went over the game's critical plays. And he didn't have to just in his head – he went home and watched a replay of it.

"A lot of energy and emotion goes into a ballgame, and there is a tremendous natural high about competing at that level and the energy from the stadium and I didn't want to go to sleep," Sarkisian said.

What time did he finally settle into bed?

"4:30," he answered. "My wife woke me up the next morning because we had family in town and the kids were up. We'll catch up with sleep in the next week or so."

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A template is finally in the books. Opponents now have an official scouting report on the Washington Huskies football team under new coach Steve Sarkisian.

Plan on giving our insight about what unfolded in 60 minutes, a few grades. But first, one journalistic explanation about late deadlines.

A 7:38 p.m. start might be fan-friendly, but is no ally to the deadlines. On Saturday, four reporters were in the press box to write two pages worth of content – with 90 percent of it quote-less. In fact, three of the stories were filed before the game ended right before 11 p.m.

As far as the game story, in last night's situation, I know going that in a nationally-televised game on ESPN, the best-case scenario for an ending is what happened – 11 p.m. Consequently, I had been writing a running account of the game, with a few minutes to polish it up before sending it at a strict deadline of 11:15 p.m.

Two TNT reporters were on the field at the end of the game, with hopes of grabbing a player/coach quote for the main bar. Nobody was talking, but Don Ruiz fetched a quote from UW athletic director Scott Woodward, which was the best we could get (and I'm not complaining … Woodward is a pretty accommodating guy).

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This report was filed by The News Tribune's Doug Pacey, who was part of the four-man coverage team Saturday night in the UW's season-opening 31-23 loss to No. 11 Louisiana State:

Coach Steve Sarkisian just finished up his first post-game press conference. The outcome of the game – a 31-23 LSU victory – might have been closer than what many Huskies fans had dared to hope for, but Sarkisian made it clear that wasn’t the priority.

"I’ll say first that there are no moral victories, but I’m very proud of our football team," he said. "They played hard, they played physical, they fought through adversity, they competed until the last second on the clock. That’s all we could have asked for coming into this ball game. I think the initial goal I set earlier in the weeks is that when this game was done, that other football team respected us. I have a feeling they respect the Washington Husky football team."

He was right-on. Washington earned the Tigers’ respect.

"I’ve got to give props to Washington," LSU running back Charles Scott said. "They came out played a hell of a game, they made a stand against us, and they dominated. We just had to fight back, make a few adjustments, and overcome some stuff that we’re not used to seeing."

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Wow, the crowds are large. What was I expecting? Not sure. But a trio of News Tribune reporters - myself, Don Ruiz (men's basketball writer and Doug Pacey – went down to the east-side practice field where food and beer booths, suites and a whole lot of goodness was set up for Husky (and LSU fans, for that matter) to enjoy as a pre-function event.

Former players were parading around as if this was the norm – and it should be. Excitement brimmed over. And UW and LSU fans, alike, behaved.

At 5:45 p.m., another tradition unfolded – the UW team arrived on buses on a side street just east of the Dempsey Center. And as players waited to get off the bus, the began to rock the buses. And when I mean, rock them, I mean swaying you'd see in a Kansas twister.

Coach Steve Sarkisian got off in a three-piece grey-colored suit, bombarded by television cameras (and he wore a tie). Rows outlined the path the players came through on, maybe 5- or 6-deep. And they appreciated the energy. In fact, when quarterback Jake Locker made his way through, he raised his arms and encouraged the volume to be louder.

And in a few minutes, they made their way through a private entrance onto the field at Husky Stadium, where they are now. It's getting closer. …

Counting down the final hours of first-week preparation, if there were things University of Washington coach Steve Sarkisian wanted to tidy up – like a heavy dosage of special-teams drilling – he did just that Thursday.

And there were plenty of things that sure looked sharp in the final practice before No. 11 Louisiana State rolls into Seattle for the Saturday kickoff at Husky Stadium:

• A day after quarterback Jake Locker pressed, misfired and looked out of whack, the junior from Ferndale came back poised, relaxed and arguably had his best day since preseason started throwing the ball.

Not only did his passes have zip, they had touch and accuracy.

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Senior Harry Coleman is "The Hitman" of the Louisiana State University defense. He comes in at ball-carriers from all angles.

And he can do it from two lines of defense.

Right now, the Franklin, La. native is playing the position he came in to LSU as in 2005 – outside linebacker – under new defensive coordinator John Chavis.

At 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds, he's a bit of a tweener, especially in the rough-and-tumble Southeastern Conference. But the Tigers have depth in the secondary, leaving Coleman to do what he does best – roam, stick and finish off plays.

"The switch back has been no problem for me," Coleman said. "I feel like I'm at home playing linebacker."

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Editor's note: I was not at practice Tuesday, instead finishing up some UW season preview work in Tacoma. Ryan Divish, who has staffed some Husky football and basketball games in the past, and is regularly our national baseball writer, spelled me. Here is his report:

• Tight end Kavario Middleton (hamstring) and cornerback Justin Glenn (knee) were back practicing at full speed. Both took part in contact portions of the practice.

Glenn and Desmond Trufant and Adam Long all took turns rotating in with the second-team defense along as Vonzell McDowell and Quinton Richardson took first-offense repetitions.

• Defensive tackle Cameron Elisara (shoulder) was still wearing the red practice jersey.

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Steve Sarkisian came from Southern California, with lots of background and history with one of the elite programs in college football, to the University of Washington where he has no track record as a play-caller.

John Chavis spent more than a decade at Tennessee before moving to Louisiana State last winter in an effort to return the Tigers' defense to prominence.

So, what scouting film does LSU watch this week? USC, of course. And some UW.

And the Huskies? The Vols and LSU.

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If you somehow sneaked into Husky Stadium to watch the University of Washington's football practice (and I'd recommend hiding if you did. Security is tight), you saw a lot of different-numbered jerseys being worn.

Like Keith Price donning a No. 9 jersey, not his usual No. 17.

And Luther Leonard was not a slimmed-down Kavario Middleton wearing No. 80. He was playing speedster Terrance Toliver of the Tigers.

Welcome to regular-season football.

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Long before coach Steve Sarkisian came in for his inaugural regular-season press conference as the Washington Huskies' football coach on Monday afternoon at the Founders' Club, he'd already made waves.

Sarkisian firmed up his ever-changing depth charge heading into the opener Saturday against No. 11 Louisiana State.

The biggest shocker came with the reshuffling of the Huskies offensive line:

• Ben Ossai has been a left tackle. That is where he spent his first three seasons before Sarkisian and the staff moved him inside last spring to left guard. That is where he spent most of the preseason camp as well.

And as of Monday, that is where he'll return.

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