///////////////////
WSU
unveils uniform combo for Saturday opener in Laramie vs. Wyoming. Combo
unveiling presented by Sunset Mart. See photo.
//////////////////
How
Washington State is coping with Tyler Hilinski’s death a season later
Originally
published August 30, 2018 at 2:33 pm Updated August 30, 2018 at 5:18 pm
The
Cougars are trying to find the right balance between moving on with football
and honoring their former teammate. "I don’t think Tyler would want us to
squander our opportunity," said Mike Leach.
By Scott
Hanson Seattle Times
You don’t
have to look hard in Pullman to be reminded of Tyler Hilinski, who likely would
have been Washington State’s starting quarterback this season but died by
suicide in January.
All over
town, businesses are selling Hilinski’s Hope wristbands, the symbol of the
nonprofit founded by Hilinski’s family to bring attention and support to the
mental-health needs of student-athletes.
Cougars
players will wear a No. 3 decal (Hilinski’s number) on their helmets, a No. 3
flag will be raised at Martin Stadium before home games and Hilinski’s locker
will be left untouched this season.
It’s all
part of WSU efforts to honor Hilinski and care for those left behind, while
also going ahead with life, college — and football.
Coach Mike
Leach is trying to achieve the right balance in a situation for which there is
no chapter in any coaching manual.
He’s
relying on his own feelings, his instincts and the guidance of professionals.
Everybody’s keeping a close eye on the players, knowing that each person
processes grief and emotion differently.
“The best
thing about a team, is that everybody can be supportive of one another,” Leach
said. “Then, of course, we have our medical team and the Jed Foundation that
advises us. The administration sets the course regarding mental health, and we
just follow the experts.”
Even
before Hilinski’s death, Washington State was working with the Jed Foundation,
a national nonprofit that, according to its website, “exists to protect
emotional health and prevent suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults.”
“We have
been working with their experts and making sure that we follow their guidelines
and their recommendations,” said Dr. Sunday Henry, WSU’s director of athletic
medicine. She is assisted by Jerry Pastore, a mental-health counselor, and Dr.
Kate Geiger, a psychiatrist, who are also part of WSU’s athletic department
staff.
Suicide is
the second most common cause of death among college students, and the numbers
are rising. According to the American College Health Association, the suicide
rate among young adults, ages 15-24, has tripled since the 1950s.
“We are
impacted, just like every other campus across the country,” said Mary Jo
Gonzales, WSU’s vice president of student affairs. “This is a national health
crisis that we are facing.”
Gonzales
said Hilinski’s death affected the “entire WSU community and the entire Cougar
family across the nation.” But among those most directly influenced, beyond
Hilinski’s family, were his teammates.
“We
continue to be very aware of their mental-health needs,” Henry said of the
players. “We feel like we are a high-risk place until a year or maybe even
longer, so we are focusing our efforts on making sure we give the support and
have the resources available — counseling, medical visits — that they need.”
While the
team must move forward as a unit on the field, there are differences in how
individuals have processed the tragedy.
“Some
people were ready to move forward a long time ago, and some people are still
having issues and still having
difficulty moving forward,” Henry said. “So we continue to talk to our student
athletes and educate our staff that there will be different ways in how they
handle it.
“It’s
natural to heal and move forward,” Henry added. “It’s a natural process, and we
let them know, too, that it’s OK to heal and move forward. But in our own way,
we will always remember Tyler. Everyone is going to work through this in a
different way and we just try to provide whatever support they need.”
Leach said
the months before summer camp began were an important time for his players.
“I think
in the offseason is where they really pulled together,” he said. “The more they
did together, the more active they were in going about their business … I think
it was a very good space for them to remember Tyler in their own way and also
absorb themselves in their work.”
Leach,
besides being the head coach, is also the offensive coordinator and
quarterbacks coach, and worked closely with Hilinski. Like his players, Leach
is processing the loss in his own way.
“It was
hard, but then you try to cherish the memories of Tyler,” Leach said. “On one
level, I was extremely lucky because I got to know him and was close to him. The
other part of it is — keeping in mind that Tyler kind of bounced in and lit up
a room — is that I don’t think Tyler would want us to squander our opportunity.
He always loved the team, and I think he would want us to be the best us we can
possibly be.”
Warning
signs of suicide
If you are
experiencing suicidal thoughts or have concerns about someone else who may be,
call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You
will be routed to a local crisis center where professionals can talk you
through a risk assessment and provide resources in your community.
The more
of the signs below that a person shows, the greater the risk of suicide.
Talking
about wanting to die
Looking
for a way to kill oneself
Talking
about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
Talking
about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
Talking
about being a burden to others
Increasing
the use of alcohol or drugs
Acting
anxious, agitated or recklessly
Sleeping
too little or too much
Withdrawing
or feeling isolated
Showing
rage or talking about seeking revenge
Displaying
extreme mood swings
Source:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Meanwhile,
work continues at Washington State to prevent more suicides. For
student-athletes, a mental-health screen is part of the physical examination
they must go through.
While
Henry works with student-athletes, Gonzales works with all WSU students.
Mental-health resources are discussed at orientation and there are
mental-health workshops in classrooms and residential facilities, and “there
are constant reminders of resources that are available,” Gonzales said.
“The
students of this age, they will talk about a lot of things, but the words, ‘I
need help’ are some of the most difficult for them to say,” Gonzales said. “So
we are trying to provide opportunities and avenues in different contexts and
different ways in order to help them say those words and get the assistance
that they need.”
Henry said
she has been seeing progress.
“I think
the feeling of, ‘Hey, we need to help each other, we need to be proactive,’ is
alive in athletics,” she said. “I think the student-athletes are more
comfortable now more than ever, helping their peers get some help or bringing
themselves in.”
///////////////
Cougar
FootballCougarsSports
Washington
State using uncoventional formula in preparation for playing at altitude
Originally
published August 29, 2018 at 10:13 pm
This
week’s situation, for the Washington State football team, is a nearly
5,000-foot change in elevation as the Cougars open their 2018 season Saturday
in Laramie, Wyoming.
By Theo
Lawson
Spokesman-Review
PULLMAN –
Lindsey Barkley knows which players are eating their vegetables this week, and
which ones aren’t.
Approximately
one month into her tenure as Washington State’s director of performance
nutrition, Barkley is still adjusting to a job that pulls her in many different
directions. She’s the one measuring the caloric intake of various Cougar
athletes, monitoring the nutrients they shovel into their body and, when the
situation calls for it, calling some necessary dietary audibles.
This
week’s situation, for the Washington State football team, is a nearly
5,000-foot change in elevation as the Cougars open their 2018 season Saturday
in Laramie, Wyoming. Barkley won’t make a tackle for WSU this weekend, but her
role in this particular game shouldn’t be overlooked. Perched at an elevation of
7,220 feet, you could say Wyoming’s War Memorial Stadium is the closest FBS
stadium to space.
“When I
got a hold of the schedule and found out Wyoming was at about 7,500 feet, we
began that talk of what can we be doing nutritionally to combat that without
getting too much in the player’s head,” Barkley said. “Without them going in
expecting to be more tired, expecting to not be performing optimally.”
“We’ve
been drinking some beet juice,” linebacker Peyton Pelluer said, conjuring up a
few blank stares from the reporters standing in front of him.
No,
really.
And if
anybody’s slipping on their daily intake, Barkley should be the first to know.
“We do
have to warn them that hey, your pee might be red,” she laughed. “Don’t be
alarmed, that’s totally normal with drinking the beets. I’m going to test USG
(Urine Specific Gravity) here in a second so we’ll see how many beets they’ve
been consuming actually.”
But why
beets?
Essentially,
because the bright red root vegetable is loaded with inorganic nitrates, which
can help with vasodilation and the expansion of blood vessels, allowing a
higher volume of red blood cells to pass through. So beets increase oxygen
transport and help the body replenish ATPs (Adenosine Triphosphate) at a higher
rate, which directly affects energy currency.
“Then
we’ll be able to perform at a higher intensity for a longer duration,” Barkley
explained.
At first,
Barkley and her staff introduced the juice straight up – no mixers.
“That
wasn’t as palatable, necessarily, as we would’ve liked,” she said.
To say the
least…
“Terrible,
kind of like dirt,” senior linebacker Peyton Pelluer said of the substance.
“Not enjoyable.”
A more
tolerable solution, Barkley found, was blending beet powder and beet
concentrate into the team’s “intro shakes” – which are consumed during workouts
– and post-lift/post-practice shakes. One of the beverages is a combination of
beet concentrate, dextrose and Gatorade. Barkley believes players probably
wouldn’t be able to detect the beet component of the drink if it didn’t take on
a bright red color.
“Straight,
by itself, it’s not fantastic,” she said. “You definitely have your guys that
are like, I don’t care what it tastes like, I’m going to get it down because I
know it’ll help my performance. Then you have on the other angle you have those
guys that you really have to work to make it palatable.”
She’s also
been coordinating with chefs in the team cafeteria to add beets to the salad
bar, and worked to educate players on what portions are necessary in order to
increase nitrate intake.
“We
started about 15 days out with this protocol and then with the nitrate intake,
you can usually see it increase in about 3-5 days, so you don’t need to be as
long but the more the better,” Barkley said. “So we’ve been adding in that
protocol for about 15 days and we’ll carry it right up to gameday.”
A handful
of the current Cougars were around when the team traveled to Boulder two years
ago for a Pac-12 game against the Colorado Buffaloes. Folsom Field sits at an
altitude of 5,328 feet – by contrast, Pullman is just over 2,000 – and some
Cougars remember being winded at different stages of a 38-24 loss to CU. After
leading 24-17 at halftime, WSU showed definite signs of fatigue in the second
half when the Cougars were outscored 24-7.
So, most
players have come to terms with the sacrifices they may need to take to get
over this high-altitude hump – bad as those sacrifices might taste.
“That was
kind of tough,” Pelluer said of the 2016 game in Boulder. “It’s just some more
adversity, another challenge so we’re going to attack it and keeping drinking
beet juice.”
Offered
senior wide receiver Kyle Sweet: “That’s something you’ve just got to
sacrifice, man. The taste isn’t very good, but that’s just something you’ve got
to do to make yourself play a little better.”
Barkley, a
WSU graduate who most recently worked as a Nutrition Services Field Manager for
the Renton School District, has also encouraged players to increase consumption
of foods rich in iron and Vitamin C. Red meats, poultries and various
vegetables and fruits have all taken on a more prominent role at the Cougars’
dinner table.
“We gave
them some images, told them to pick one from each group,” Barkley said. “One
food that’s high in nitrates, one that’s high in iron and one food that’s high
in Vitamin C at each meal.”
Of course,
there’s only so much the nutritional audibles can do. The Cougars feel they’re
in good enough condition to keep up on Saturday, but sometimes a low-oxygen
setting like Wyoming’s can psyche a team out mentally before it ever impacts
them physically – and is one reason is can be such an advantage for the home
team.
It was
mentioned in a Casper Star-Tribune last year that the Cowboys have won 66
percent of their games at War Memorial Stadium.
“I
remember in Boulder it was a long game, especially on defense, we couldn’t get
off the field on third downs, so we were out there a lot,” Pelluer said. “I
think I ended up playing 110-plus total snaps and so it jumps on your back
quickly. At the same time, I also feel like it’s mental, especially if you come
into it telling yourself you’re going to be tired, you’re going to be more
tired. So I’m going to make sure this team is mentally prepared as well as
physically prepared for Laramie.”
……………………….
Who is
WSU’s starting QB? It’ll be ‘a thrill a minute to discover,’ Mike Leach says
Originally
published August 28, 2018 at 12:04 pm Updated August 28, 2018 at 12:36 pm
Washington
State has four quarterbacks listed as potential starters against Wyoming, and
the starter won't be unveiled until game time.
By Scott
Hanson
Seattle Times
It was a
pretty sure bet that Washington State football coach Mike Leach was not going
to say during Tuesday’s conference call who would be his starting quarterback
Saturday in the team’s season opener at Wyoming.
But he did
have some fun when asked what he could say about his quarterbacks, with the
team’s depth chart listing the starter as Gardner Minshew or Anthony Gordon or
Trey Tinsley or Cammon Cooper.
“We’ve got
four quarterbacks and one of them will play, and it will be a thrill a minute
to discover which one that will be,” he said. “So I think everyone should show
up to the game and make sure they come watch. … It’s going to be one of those
things that isn’t going to be unveiled until game time and it’s one of those
few opportunities that happen every couple of years — or even this year — that
you want to be there when it happens, and I think this is one of them.”
Gardner
Minshew, a graduate transfer from East Carolina, has the most experience and
has been getting more reps at practice the past couple of weeks after sharing
them equally early in summer camp with Gordon and Tinsley. It seems likely then that Minshew will start
Saturday, with either Gordon or Tinsley as his backup.
Washington
State ended a five-game losing streak in season openers last year when it beat
Montana State 31-0.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
WSU
defensive backs have talent, but must assess depth
Cougar
kickers still battling for positions
By Dale
Grummert,
Trib of
Lewiston
Aug 30,
2018
Two
seniors at cornerback. A safety who believes he's the best defensive back in
the Pac-12. Another safety who's capable of stealing the show in practice.
Yes, the
likely starters in the Washington State secondary elicit confidence. The
backups? We'll see.
"They're
extremely competitive," first-year defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys said
of his defensive backs as a whole, "and they work hard every day. I'm
looking forward to the first game, obviously."
To
translate that last sentence, Claeys isn't ready to make definitive judgments
until the Cougars finally get on the field, starting Saturday at Wyoming (12:30
p.m. Pacific, CBS Sports). The Cougars are favored by 1 1/2 points.
Claeys'
confidence is no doubt bolstered by two veterans who've been keenly focused
since the day they first flew into Pullman from Southern California. Senior
cornerback Darrien Molton and junior safety Jalen Thompson have been starters
since their true-freshman seasons and offer a study in contrasts in DB
temperament.
Thompson
(6 feet, 190 pounds) took to heart the pleas for aggressiveness from
then-defensive coordinator Alex Grinch and has started all 26 games of the past
two years, landing first-team AP All-Pac-12 honors last season after leading
the Cougs with 73 tackles and adding four interceptions and three fumble
recoveries.
At Pac-12
Media Day in Los Angeles last month, he was asked to name the premier defensive
back in the conference.
"I
feel I'm the best one," he said in his low-key but self-assured way.
"I'm not trying to be cocky, but I have confidence in myself. I feel like
I work the hardest and I feel like I can be the best."
Patently
ambitious, Thompson said he chose WSU partly because of the early success of
Molton (5-10, 190), who brings agility, speed and a craftsman's pride to the
corner position, racking up 35 starts so far. The caveat: His mechanics are
more striking than his statistics. He has only one career interception, back in
2015.
"He's
been productive on the side of PBU's (pass breakups) and tackles and things of
that nature," first-year cornerbacks coach Darcel McBath said, "but
you've got to take it to the next level. We need those interceptions when you
get the opportunity. And he has that ability, I truly believe that. He has a
great skill set."
Claeys
said he never decides his starting lineup until two days before games, but
Molton will probably be joined at corner by fellow senior Sean Harper Jr. (6-2,
190), a rangy junior-college transfer who started twice last year and has
impressed this preseason.
He's been
dueling sophomore Marcus Strong (5-9, 185), who started six games last year and
is trying to prove his consistency to Claeys. On the same mission is the other
backup cornerback, soph George Hicks III (6-0, 180), who appeared in six games
in 2017.
One of the
team's most improved players in a practice setting is safety Skyler Thomas
(5-9, 185), who has shown a flair for stacking big plays and a penchant for
zone coverage. He'll probably make his starting debut this week and is one of
several safeties who'll be closely watched by new position coach Kendrick
Shaver for their response to live-game situations.
Others in
that category are true freshman Tyrese Ross (6-1, 180), sophomore Chad Davis
(6-2, 200) and junior Deion Singleton (6-2, 195).
"That's
the cloudy part," Claeys said. "Getting that all figured out - what
they do best, and what personnel groups we'll need."
Special
teams
With the
graduation of the versatile Erik Powell, the Cougars' kicking game has produced
some of the longest-lasting duels for starting positions on the team.
They're
still not settled. If the Cougs played a game today, new special-teams
coordinator Matt Brock would probably tab second-year freshman Blake Mazza to
kick field goals and sophomore Jack Crane to handle kickoffs. But that could
flip-flop by Saturday.
Equally
hazy is the battle at punter, where soph Oscar Draguicevich III maybe has a
slight edge over junior Oliver Graybar, but they're "neck-and-neck,"
Brock said Tuesday.
The coach
hasn't ruled out using rugby punts in some situations but he's unlikely to
enlist slotback Kyle Sweet frequently for such duties, as the Cougs have done
in the past.
Wazzu's
depth in the offensive skill positions bodes well for its return game.
Second-year freshman Travell Harris in particular has displayed good instincts
running back kickoffs and punts, and he's likely to be joined by Sweet in the
punt game and by Max Borghi on kicks. Also effective in these areas is Jamire
Calvin.
The
long-snapper candidates are incumbent Kyle Celli and true freshman Tyler
Williams, while kick holders are led by Trey Tinsley and Draguicevich.
//////////////
WSU football
coach Dave Nichol on Wyoming: 'They ain't scared of us'
ByBRIAN
STULTZ
Cougfan.com
PULLMAN –
Washington State might be in the Pac-12 and Wyoming in the Mountain West, but
Cougars inside wide receiver coach Dave Nichol said after practice on Wednesday
he's certain the Cowboys won't be intimidated by the team from the Power 5
conference. And Nichol has continued to remind his players of it all week.
"Guys
there have played in championship games and big non-conference games,"
Nichol said. "I told my guys it is real simple: that they ain't scared of
us."
The
Cowboys' defense is a veteran group led by a solid defensive front and strong
safety Andrew Wingard. In its opener this past Saturday, the group allowed just
144 total passing yards and a touchdown against New Mexico State, a team that
finished No. 6 nationally in passing offense last season. Nichol said he
expects the Cowboys to be physical with his inside receivers and try to take
them out of their game.
"They're
going to try and get after my little guys, as I like to call them," Nichol
said.
………………
With new
defensive coordinator, a different vibe but similar ideas at WSU
With
Grinch now at Ohio State, Claeys is calling the shots for the Cougars' defense
By Dale
Grummert, Lewiston Tribune
News Aug
30, 2018
In
practice drills during the past three years, Washington State defensive players
grew accustomed to an incessant, rapid-fire stream of pointers, plaudits and
critical jabs from an unmistakable voice behind them, aimed mostly at the
secondary but audible to all.
It was the
voice of then-defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, who is now presumably
showering the same sort of monologue on the Ohio State Buckeyes. His
replacement in Pullman could hardly be more different - temperamentally, that
is.
Tracy Claeys
finds a vantage point and watches, mostly silent and rather Buddha-like. The
difference is partly a function of his job title: He's strictly the defensive
coordinator, whereas Grinch also served as secondary coach (and is still
coaching safeties, at Ohio State, in addition to being co-DC).
But
standing back and analyzing seem to be Claeys' M.O. regardless.
"Let
me think about the ones I've had - I've had a bunch," WSU coach Mike Leach
said this week of defensive coordinators. "I'd say Claeys is more
characteristic of them. Grinch was a lot like some of the position coaches -
more fiery and more vocal. But everybody's got to do it their own way. If they
go out of character, I think it's not as good."
As far as
Leach can see, players have adjusted smoothly to the abrupt change in style as
the Cougars prepare for a season opener Saturday (12:30 p.m. Pacific, CBS
Sports) at Wyoming.
Everyone
connected to the WSU program seemed impressed by Grinch, who in his first
coordinator's job quickly raised the performance of a languishing unit with a
mobility-over-size philosophy that he eventually called Speed D. To Leach, the
dissimilarity in Claeys' and Grinch's personalities is less important than the
similarity of their X's and O’s. There are differences, but Claeys has
minimized them for players by retaining much of Grinch’s terminology.
“The
schemes are very similar,” Leach said. “With that said, Tracy has been running
this stuff for a couple of decades.”
Claeys,
49, came to WSU from Minnesota, where in 2016 he was head coach of a Gophers
team that defeated the Cougars 17-12 in the Holiday Bowl.
Shortly
after, Minnesota fired Claeys, despite an 11-8 record and back-to-back bowl
bids in his tenure, after he’d been promoted to replace an ailing Jerry Kill during
the 2015 season. The firing was connected to a sequence of events before the
bowl game, specifically, a team-wide revolt after 10 players were suspended in
connection to accusations of sexual assault.
When
players organized a boycott of the bowl to protest what they viewed as a lack
of due process, Claeys showed support of the move via social media, though he
later helped dissuade players from the boycott. He admitted some regrets,
saying he should have stayed in Minneapolis during a critical phase of the
controversy instead of traveling to San Diego for a Holiday Bowl news
conference.
After his
dismissal, he sat out a year before Leach hired him in January. He’s returning
to a coordinator’s role he previously filled at Minnesota and, before that,
Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois and Emporia State.
When
Claeys was a head coach, he and Leach were two of just a few collegiate bosses
who never played college ball. Yet he appears to be a player’s coach.
“He’s
pretty even-keeled,” said WSU defensive-line coach Jeff Phelps, who worked with
Claeys for six years at Minnesota, helping him beat the Cougars in that Holiday
Bowl.
“You know
(as a player) when you’re messing up — he’ll let you know. But he sits back and
takes it all in, and he looks at it from a player’s perspective. He’s always
asking if there’s something the guys aren’t getting. Especially on the
defensive line, if they can’t get a concept, if they can’t understand what
we’re trying to do in a certain defense, he’ll just take it out.”
Like many
longtime defensive coaches, Claeys has needed to adjust in recent years to the
proliferation of spread offenses of both pass- and run-oriented stripe.
“You can
play with smaller guys that are good tackling in space — that’s the biggest
adjustment,” Claeys said after a recent practice.
The
Southern lilt in his voice may be more from football coaching culture than his
roots, in northern Kansas, or the schools that have previously employed him,
all in the Midwest.
“The X’s
and O’s (of his defense) haven’t changed but you’re doing it with different
athletes that can tackle in space when guys spread the field. For a long time,
everybody wanted to leave the big ol’ linebackers in there, and the big
D-linemen. When you play the teams like we do on offense, it’s not a matter of
making a bunch of changes. It’s just doing it with faster guys.”
And
closely watching how they perform.
“He always
says, ‘Put them in a position to make plays,’ ” said Phelps, who’s
entering his second year coaching Wazzu D-linemen. “From a defensive-calling
standpoint, from switching guys in and out, from getting different personnel
groupings in the game to get your best 11 on the field — all of that provides
you with an opportunity to be successful on that particular play. That’s what
Claeys brings to the table.”
It’s what
Grinch brought, too.
……………..
China’s
Import Ban Strikes WSU Recycling, Forces Change on Campus
From
Pullman Radio News
Washington
State University blames a global shift in recycling for recent changes to
campus waste collection. U.S. recycling products are often shipped abroad, but
for waste-importing nations like China--who in January announced they would ban
the import of foreign wastes--no longer allow for some items, particularly
plastics, to be recycled.
Local
governments and agencies are forced to look elsewhere to export their
recyclables, or abandon the effort altogether and divert them to a landfill.
"Going
forward what needs to happen, not just at WSU, not just in Pullman, but
nationwide and worldwide, is we have to come up with clean recyclables that
have an end market," said Rick Finch, manager of WSU Facilities Operations
Waste Management.
Finch
believes waste on campus can be reduced if consumers buy items with less
packaging. Finch asks people on campus take note of new signs above waste bins
and that they make sure to throw items away in the right bin.
WSU will
no longer be recycling certain types of plastic or any type of glass.
Composting bins will continue to accept food and napkins in their designated
bins.
According
to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, 31 percent of America's
exportable recycling was sent to China in 2017. The Washington State Department
of Ecology stated in a report earlier this year that recycling regulations are
set by local governments, they are advising state agency's to be flexible as
the state's recycling system adapts to these international changes.
:::::::::::::::::
Cougars in
the NFL: Final Roster Cuts
2
Some are
safe, several are on the bubble
By Jesse
Cassino Coug Center 8/29/2018
The NFL is
in its final preseason week, which means teams are required to trim their
rosters to the 53-man limit by Saturday. In an article released this morning,
ESPN projected the final rosters for all 32 teams. It was good news for some
Washington State alumni, not so good for others, and for a couple of former
Cougs, their performance in the final week of the preseason may determine
whether they land on the roster, the practice squad, or back into free agency.
The
Veterans
Deone
Bucannon - A mortal lock to make the Arizona roster, the Cardinals’ 2013 first
round draft pick has thrived in the desert, operating in their “moneybacker”
position as part-safety, part-linebacker, part-human wrecking ball. Bucannon
has totaled 366 career tackles as he enters his fifth professional season.
NFL: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers
Deone
Bucannon has established himself as a key piece of the Cardinals defense. Kyle
Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Destiny
Vaeao - Fresh off winning the Super Bowl with the Eagles, Vaeao is in a solid
position to play in Philly for a third season. Playing time dipped a bit last
year for the defensive lineman due to a wrist injury, as he appeared in only
eleven games in 2017 after seeing time in all sixteen during his rookie season.
But the three postseason appearances and the new jewelry probably more than
made up for a few missed games early in the year.
Vince
Mayle - The former Cougar wide receiver has bounced around a bit during his time
in the league. He spent two seasons in Dallas as a reciever, primarily playing
on special teams, before heading to Baltimore where he saw a position switch to
tight end while scoring his first professional touchdown—on a rushing play, of
course. Mayle finds himself square on the bubble after Baltimore spent its 2018
first round selection on Hayden Hurst, a tight end from South Carolina. Hurst
is injured and out for at least two weeks. If the Ravens want to keep a fifth
tight end, that and Mayle’s experience on special teams may be enough to earn
him a spot. The Ravens play their final preseason game against Washington on
Thursday night.
Xavier
Cooper - Originally drafted by the Browns, Cooper is looking to stick with the
New York Jets in their defensive line rotation. Cooper has had solid numbers
for a defensive tackle, putting up 56 tackles and 3 sacks over his first three
seasons, but he may face a numbers problem as the Jets employ a 3-4 defense.
There are some injury questions in front of him, but the Jets seem pretty set
on Mike Pennel and Folorunso Fatukasi at nose. Cooper might find himself on the
outside looking in after Saturday.
NFL: Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions
Dahl’s
ability to play multiple OL positions makes him valuable to the Lions offense.
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Dahl -
The versatile offensive lineman goes into his third season as a backup interior
guy for the Lions. His ability to play three positions on the line (and, in
pinch, all five) is going to give him a good chance to stay in the league for
several more years, assuming no injury or personal issues. Dahl has been solid
throughout his career, and has seen a few spot starts. There’s no reason to
think that will change going into 2018.
Shalom
Luani - The secondary situation in Oakland is all over the place, with
suspensions and injuries and even a high 2017 draft pick that got cut in Obi
Melifonwu. Luani is likely to be caught in the crossfire and left without a
roster spot, but with that much uncertainty, the only people who have a real
idea are the Oakland staffers. Luani does have the bonus of playing well on
special teams throughout last season. Oakland closes out its preseason in the
PNW Thursday night.
The
Rookies
Luke Falk
- The curse of the Air Raid quarterback seems alive and well, as Luke Falk
looks to be the third wheel in Nashville. Falk didn’t do nearly enough to
unseat veteran backup Blaine Gabbert as the primary reserve quarterback.
Tennessee will likely only keep two quarterbacks on the roster. It would not be
a surprise to see Tennessee sign Luke to the practice squad as an insurance
policy against Marcus Mariota going down to injury. Regardless, Luke Falk will
probably not be on an NFL roster after Saturday. Tennessee hosts the Vikings on
Thursday night.
NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tennessee Titans
Luke Falk
may find himself on the outside of the Titans QB carousel. Jim Brown-USA TODAY
Sports
Daniel
Ekuale - The defensive lineman dealt with a calf injury early in the preseason,
but has played well when his number was called by the Browns. He recorded three
tackles and a sack as the Cleveland bullpen held up against Philadelphia in a
5-0 win. It remains to be seen whether that will be enough to get Ekuale in the
D-Line rotation, and he finds himself squarely on the bubble going into week
four. He’ll have his last chance to impress on Thursday night in Detroit.
River
Cracraft - Technically in his second stint with the Broncos, Cracraft is
looking to make his debut with Denver in 2018. He has received some positive
press during the preseason, but hasn’t received a great number of passes while
on the field, only recording two catches. He has seen a lot of run on special
teams, even dropping back as a punt returner on at least one occasion. It
remains to be seen whether River has done enough to land a spot, or whether
he’ll wind up on the practice squad. Which, as far as consolation prizes go,
isn’t too terrible. Denver heads to the desert Thursday to take on Arizona in
their final preseason contest.
Frankie Luvu
- The Cobra might be the surprise of the preseason. Luvu has played well
(sometimes a little too well) enough to earn a spot at outside linebacker for
the Jets. Strange things can happen in the NFL, but it would be a shock if
Frankie Luvu wasn’t in suited up against the Lions on the first Monday Night
Football of the year.
The
Unknowns
An ACL
injury derailed Hercules Mata’afa’s season before it got started. Can he
rebound next year? John Autey/Pioneer Press
Hercules
Mata’afa - The player many thought had the best chance of all the Cougs to
stick on an NFL roster (despite somehow not being drafted) ended up tearing his
ACL during the offseason, never even making it to the preseason with the
Minnesota Vikings. It remains to be seen if he can rebound from his injury and
resume his playing career, but he has a model to follow in former teammate
River Cracraft, who is walking the same path.
Cole
Madison - After being drafted in the 5th round by the Green Bay packers, the
offensive lineman ended up on the Reserve/Did Not Report list, after failing to
show up to camp while dealing with what has been called a “personal issue.” The
Packers front office has expressed support for Madison, but in a cutthroat
business, it’s difficult to determine whether that support will translate into
another opportunity to make the team.
……..
Block
buster: Peyton Pelluer, Washington State’s beloved middle linebacker, is
preparing for his swan song with the Cougars … again
Thu., Aug.
30, 2018, 6 a.m.
By Theo
Lawson
Spokane
S-R
Script
flipped: With several key pieces gone, Washington State must rebuild to stay in
Pac-12 title discussion
PULLMAN –
The pain sensors in Peyton Pelluer’s left foot started sending off warning
signals one week earlier, as the Washington State Cougars were gradually
chipping away at a 21-point deficit against Boise State at Martin Stadium.
It’s not
in Pelluer’s nature to let pain keep him down, so the middle linebacker didn’t
make much of the discomfort.
He went to
the sideline, wrangled a few pain-killers from the nearest athletic trainer and
let the medley of Ibuprofen and adrenaline carry him through the rest of a
47-44 triple-overtime victory. Pelluer was struggling, but you wouldn’t have
known as he mowed down the Broncos for 14 tackles and came up with the pick-six
that cut the Cougars’ deficit to seven points with under six minutes left in
the fourth quarter.
He admits
now, “We had no idea what was heading my way.”
That
interception return for a touchdown could’ve been the defining snapshot of Pelluer’s
senior season: the veteran linebacker lurking in pass coverage, lunging forward
to intercept Montell Cozart’s shovel pass and galloping 36 yards in the
opposite direction – his long brown locks dancing on his shoulders every step
of the way – to send Martin Stadium into late-night euphoria.
Instead,
it was the prequel to another jolting Martin Stadium moment – one that yielded
a much less positive result for Pelluer and the Cougars. Seven days later in
the first quarter of the Pac-12 Conference opener against Oregon State, the
linebacker hustled into the backfield to pressure Jake Luton, leaping at the
Beavers quarterback, who threw short for a 1-yard loss to bring up fourth down.
A textbook
play, had it not been the one that finally severed Pelluer’s navicular bone,
ending his season and, in that moment, potentially his remarkable college
career.
That
tingling foot pain he’d felt a week earlier? It was now throbbing at Pelluer,
placing him in more agony each time he tried to stand up. Walking was out of
question, so who knew how long it would be before Pelluer could get back to
playing the aggressive, passion-driven brand of football that had made him one
of the best linebackers in the Pac-12?
Maybe a
more pertinent question at the time: Who knew if he’d get the chance to?
A day
later, medical scans allowed Pelluer to view the graphic details of his broken
foot. Doctors compared the fractured bone to a paper clip, explaining that the
more it bent, the more likely it was to snap.
In other
words, the break was inevitable.
“It looked
like a solar system,” he said. “There was bone spurs everywhere. There was
literally one bone spur that was just loose in space in my ankle. Which is
pretty gnarly.”
From the
fourth floor of the Cougar Football Complex, Pelluer is comfortable speaking
openly and candidly about his injury – perhaps because he knows how much more
debilitating it could’ve been.
The only
reason Pelluer was eligible for a rare sixth season is because the injury was
sustained just three weeks into his senior year. Plus, WSU’s athletic training
staff had been thorough in charting a foot injury he’d sustained during his
redshirt season (2013), which allowed the Cougars to prove that Pelluer had two
years of denied opportunity, rather than just one.
“At the
end of the day, I knew it was the NCAA, and you really never know with them,
but I had a clean track record, there was no reason for them not to give it to
me,” he said. “It was pretty cut-and-dried. so I’d say I was about 95 percent
sure.”
Pelluer
credits WSU’s athletic trainers and compliance staff for strengthening his
case, which was presented to the NCAA in an extension-of-clock waiver and
approved on Jan. 25.
“Really,
my hat’s off to them,” he said. “I owe them a lot, for sure.”
During the
rehabilitation process, Pelluer watched muscle mass basically fall off his left
leg – “it was so demoralizing,” he said – but he and WSU’s other walking
wounded put in long hours at “Muscle Beach,” a quadrant of the practice field
where, according to Pelluer, “injured guys go and just get swole.”
Eventually
two other senior linebackers, Isaac Dotson, who missed four games with a
concussion, and Nate DeRider, who was shelved for the rest of the year with a
torn ACL, joined Pelluer for the body-sculpting sessions at “Muscle Beach.”
“We were
just going to town every day,” Pelluer said, laughing. “It was just meathead
sessions.”
The
rehabilitation period also served as Pelluer’s early, unexpected foray into the
coaching world. His father Scott, a former WSU linebacker who spent five years
in the NFL, was a college assistant for 18 years at Boise State, Northern
Arizona, Arizona and Washington. Pelluer is pursuing a master’s degree in
education this year, in part because he realizes how many parallels there are
between teaching and coaching.
“It’s just
a different side of the same coin,” he reasons.
While
Pelluer was healing his bum foot, he got the equivalent of an unpaid coaching
internship and an opportunity to shadow the Cougars’ defensive coaches on game
day from the press box. And when he wasn’t chiseling his biceps and triceps on
“Muscle Beach,” Pelluer was observing his younger teammates, offering his
wisdom and answering their questions.
He clearly
established some credibility, because to this day, they’re still asking.
“It was
just fun being that guy that guys could come to,” Pelluer said.
But the
real fun came during home games. Pelluer listened through a headset as graduate
assistants frantically relayed messages from the press box to defensive coaches
on the sideline, communicating pre-snap adjustments, personnel changes,
formational notes, etc.
“So if the
offense was busting out a new play that we didn’t see the week before in film,
we had to come up with kind of quick adjustments and help out (defensive
coordinator) (Alex) Grinch and the defensive staff on the field – kind of
overcome that stuff,” Pelluer said. “So it was just fun. It was just quick,
thinking on your feet and all the coaches working together. It was a fun
atmosphere.”
Pelluer
would be going into the right line of work if he eventually pursues a coaching
career, Mike Leach believes.
“He loves
football, he’s dedicated and he’s a big film guy,” the WSU coach said.
“Understands it, kind of gets everybody lined up. Also a real instinctual guy.”
Added
Leach: “Literally grew up in football with his fathers and uncles and all those
guys having played. He’s one of those guys that all the intangibles, he knows
those. And I happen to believe if you’ve got a guy like that, that rubs off on
the others.”
But
Pelluer, who’s on track to finish his career with more than 300 tackles – it
would place him in WSU’s top 10 all-time – hopes the helmet-to-headset
transition doesn’t come too soon. He’s a two-time All-Pac-12 honorable mention
choice and was fourth in the conference with 93 tackles last season. While
Pelluer doesn’t have the top-end speed that NFL scouts seek, he’s a strong,
fundamental tackler who has a dogged work ethic that could become a major
advantage if he’s able to get his foot in the door of a pro camp.
For now,
though, it’s all about year No. 6 in Pullman – a special opportunity that
almost didn’t exist for WSU’s (super) senior linebacker.
“I mean
honestly, it was just a blessing that it happened when it did,” Pelluer said,
“because the next week, if it happened then, I wouldn’t have gotten this next
year.
…………………..
WSU
FOOTBALL
Script
flipped: With several key pieces gone, Washington State must rebuild to stay in
Pac-12 title discussion
Thu., Aug.
30, 2018, 6 a.m.
By Theo
Lawson
S-R of S p
o k a n e
Predictions
Pac-12
North
1.
Washington
2.
Stanford
3. Oregon
4.
Washington State
5. Cal
6. Oregon
State
South
1. USC
2. Arizona
3. Utah
4. UCLA
5.
Colorado
6. Arizona
State
As
offseasons go, there isn’t a college football team that experienced a more
turbulent one than Washington State – and thus you won’t find a group more
eager to get into a real game setting than the Cougars.
“Everybody’s
looking forward to having a game,” coach Mike Leach said. “That’s the thing, in
college you have a long camp and so then everybody’s looking forward to playing
somebody else.”
After a
wildly successful 2017 campaign that saw them go 7-0 at Martin Stadium, stage
an upset of No. 5 USC and clinch their third consecutive postseason berth, the
Cougars, just 19 days after the Holiday Bowl, were rocked by the suicide of
quarterback Tyler Hilinski. His memory is sure to give strength to players and
coaches at different points, but all of them are still carrying heavy hearts going
into the upcoming season.
Leach was
tasked with replacing 60 percent of his coaching staff, not to mention an
All-American lineman on either side of the ball and a record-setting
quarterback.
And in
July, WSU was thrust into the national spotlight when Leach posted a doctored
video of a Barack Obama speech from his Twitter account, stirring up
controversy in both the athletic and political arenas.
But
football’s back now and it couldn’t have come any sooner for the Cougars.
CAST
Offense:
Simply put, there’s a heap of talent to replace. Luke Falk finished his college
career with the distinction of being the only Pac-12/10 quarterback to have
thrown for more than 14,000 yards, but don’t downplay the help he got from his
accomplices – namely All-American left guard Cody O’Connell, All-Pac-12 right
tackle Cole Madison, Swiss Army knife running back Jamal Morrow and
sticky-handed receiver Tavares Martin Jr.
Naturally,
QB is the position getting most of the buzz this preseason and the Cougars will
likely replace Falk, a four-year starter who knew every detail of Leach’s Air
Raid offense, with Gardner Minshew, a graduate transfer from East Carolina
who’s officially been in the system for a month. But Minshew was one of the
best passers available on the transfer market when the Cougars snagged the
one-time Alabama commit, and he’s no stranger to high-volume passing offenses,
having thrown the ball 219 times in his final four games at ECU last season.
Minshew
isn’t working with a bare cupboard, either. WSU’s receiving corps loses two
talented outside threats, Martin Jr. and Isaiah Johnson-Mack, but some think it
could still be the deepest unit in school history. By the end of his true
freshman campaign, “X” receiver Tay Martin wasn’t too far behind Martin Jr., an
All-Pac-12 player in 2016, and inside receivers Kyle Sweet and Renard Bell each
contributed more than 500 receiving yards last year.
It shows
how well the Cougars have recruited the running back position that fifth-year
senior Keith Harrington – a former starter – may wind up being the third man on
the depth chart this season. WSU returns shifty junior James Williams and the
most intriguing tailback on the roster could be true freshman Max Borghi, who
decided on the Cougars despite picking up heavy interest from Stanford.
Blending
in three new starters on the offensive line could be a season-long endeavor,
but at least WSU knows what it has in established left tackle Andre Dillard – a
future NFL Draft pick – and center Fred Mauigoa, who started in all 13 games
last year.
Defense:
There was a good chance WSU would return at least one of its top two defensive
stalwarts from 2017, though it seemed far more likely that would be Hercules
Mata’afa, a junior defensive tackle who still had one season of eligibility
left, rather than Peyton Pelluer, a fifth-year senior linebacker who was
supposed to finish up with the Cougars last year.
But
Pelluer’s back after receiving an extension-of-clock waiver from the NCAA and
Mata’afa’s gone after leaving for the NFL a year early. No surprise, then, that
the Cougars’ defensive line finds itself hurting significantly more than the
linebackers.
Behind
Mata’afa and nose tackle Daniel Ekuale, now with the Cleveland Browns, WSU
generated some of the strongest pass-rush in the Pac-12 last season. Without
both – and possibly also Nnamdi Oguayo, a quick defensive end who hasn’t
practiced most of the preseason – it’s hard to imagine the defensive line can
replicate its numbers from 2017. Defensive tackle Nick Begg will be the most experienced
starter on the D-line, with just 14 game appearances under his belt, while nose
tackle Taylor Comfort – a former walk-on – and D-end Will Rodgers III enter the
picture without any career starts.
Pelluer is
the veteran leader – or super veteran leader, if you will – of an otherwise
young, but also experienced, linebacker unit. The sixth-year senior from
Sammamish, Washington, and two other linebackers went down with long-term
injuries last season, giving way to then-redshirt freshmen Jahad Woods, Justus
Rogers and Dillon Sherman. All three of them are back in 2018.
The
Cougars have star power in the defensive backfield with returning strong safety
Jalen Thompson, whose instincts are every bit as impressive as his hitting.
Cornerback Sean Harper Jr. has been one of the best performers – on offense or
defense – during preseason camp and the lanky senior could be poised for a
breakout season.
Special
teams: If there’s a position more concerning than D-line at this point, it
might be kicker. As of last week, the Cougars hadn’t decided on one and the top
two options, Jack Crane and Blake Mazza, went just 7 of 13 on field goals in
the team’s last two public scrimmages. The good news is both have strong legs
if they can manage to straighten out their kicks. Transfers Oscar Draguicevich
III and Oliver Graybar are in a similar battle for the punting job.
CREW
Coaching:
It felt as though Leach spent as much of his offseason recruiting assistant
coaches as he did players. The defensive coordinator (Tracy Claeys) is new. So
are the offensive line coach (Mason Miller), the outside receivers coach (Steve
Spurrier Jr.), the outside linebackers coach (Matt Brock), the safeties coach
(Kendrick Shaver) and the cornerbacks coach (Darcel McBath). Oh right, the strength
coach, too (Tyson Brown). Leach has never dealt with this much turnover in a
single offseason – not at WSU at least – but he hasn’t whiffed on too many
hires in his time with the Cougars, and it’s not unlikely that at least a few
of the new guys will be better than the ones they replaced.
SPOILER
ALERT
Most
sports betting services seem to think four Pac-12 players have decent odds of
winning the 2018 Heisman Trophy. The Cougars may need to show some urgency
through their first six games because they’ll see all four in the final six.
First off, Oregon and rising quarterback Justin Herbert at home on Oct. 20,
followed by Stanford and star running back Bryce Love in Palo Alto on Oct. 27.
Three weeks later, Arizona and dual-threat quarterback Khalil Tate make their
visit and one week after that, Washington and steady signal-caller Jake
Browning will be in Pullman for the Apple Cup.
…………
Washington
State football chat transcript for Oct. 29
Wed., Aug.
29, 2018, 9 a.m.
The
Spokesman-Review
By Theo
Lawson
The full
transcript from our live chat this morning. Make sure to join every Wednesday
from 10-11 a.m.
srchat
(Admin): “All right, questions.” (Mike Leach voice) Thanks everyone for joining
me this week. Let’s get right into it!
Aug 29,
10:01 AM
Mark (Guest):
Hypothetically speaking while knocking on wood, can this d-line be serviceable
if there are no more injuries?
Aug 29,
10:03 AM
srchat
(Admin): Eh … serviceable … sure. We’ll have a lot better idea of what it looks
like this weekend. Obviously, Nnamdi Oguayo would be a massive boost. I think
Will Rodgers III has shown some potential and Nick Begg had a pretty good
spring. But obviously, the dropoff in talent/experience is pretty massive.
Aug 29,
10:03 AM
Harvey__Road:
Do you ever get put off by Leach’s snarky responses and general disdain for the
Press?
Aug 29,
10:05 AM
srchat
(Admin): Not really. Think it’s important not to take offense to that stuff
because with Leach it’s never personal. The Daily Evergreen reporter would get
the same responses as the New York Times reporter would. After a year on the
beat, I think I have a better idea of which questions elicit the snarky
responses and which ones don’t. I THINK.
Aug 29,
10:05 AM
Guest9351
(Guest): Should we worry about our defense?
Aug 29,
10:06 AM
srchat
(Admin): The defensive line, sure. The rest of it, no. I actually think behind
the D-line, the Cougars can be much better than they were last year, returning
Pelluer, Woods, Sherman, Rogers, Dale, Harper Jr., Thompson, etc…
Aug 29,
10:06 AM
JFM COUGS
(Guest): Who’s looking good on the D line that might surprise us this year? I
haven’t heard much from Kingston Hernandez or Hunter Mattox?
Aug 29,
10:08 AM
srchat
(Admin): Begg, like I mentioned, has had some nice moments. You can tell he’s
the experienced vet of the group. Keep an eye on Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei, as
well. Since Lolohea’s departure, he’s been getting a lot of work at NT with the
second unit.
Aug 29,
10:08 AM
Jon
Yerkes: Alex Brink hinted yesterday on Seattle sports radio that Gordon may see
some time tomorrow or down the road. Do you see Leach using more than one QB?
Aug 29,
10:10 AM
srchat
(Admin): Well, if last year told us anything, Leach isn’t hesitant to pull a QB
if he feels like he isn’t moving the offense. Best case scenario is Minshew
plays well enough to keep himself in the game, every game. But Leach has stated
his confidence in the other two (Gordon and Tinsley), so I wonder if Minshew
would have a short leash.
Aug 29,
10:10 AM
Whitworth-Coug
(Guest): #96 Preston Hendry DE, he was a juco kid who red-shirted last year.
Has he gotten any run since the injuries to the DL ?
Aug 29,
10:11 AM
srchat
(Admin): Observing mainly the first and second unit, I didn’t see much of him
during the open practices.
Aug 29,
10:11 AM
Cougzz
(Guest): What do you think is more important in this game— Coug O line vs Wyo D
line? Or Coug D line vs Wyo O Line?
Aug 29,
10:14 AM
srchat
(Admin): If I had to choose, Coug D line vs. Wyo O line. Tyler Vander Waal’s
making his second start and I think it’ll be important to make him
uncomfortable back there.
Aug 29,
10:14 AM
Guest5639
(Guest): With all the DL issues, no mentions of Mason Vineyard. Still with the
team?
Aug 29,
10:16 AM
srchat
(Admin): Yes, still with the team but the fact he didn’t show up on the
two-deep indicates he’s been beaten out by some other guys. Maybe the depth
there is better than we thought.
Aug 29,
10:16 AM
JFM COUGS
(Guest): Should we be concerned that we only have 4 verbals so far in
recruiting?
Aug 29,
10:17 AM
srchat
(Admin): That was brought to my attention the other day. You would think coming
off 9-4, there might be a few more, but it could be the result of the assistant
coach shuffling that took place this offseason.
Aug 29,
10:18 AM
Whitworth-Coug
(Guest): How Fast is Calvin Jackson Jr? Will his speed be able to get him on
the field more by seasons end? He reminds me of Sammy Moore (former Juco) and
by seasons end, he got the concepts down and got more playing time.
Aug 29,
10:20 AM
srchat
(Admin): He’s pretty fast. Not quick like Jamire Calvin, per se, but he’s hard
to track down once he gets going. I’ve been impressed with him throughout camp
and definitely think he’ll have a role more sooner than later.
Aug 29,
10:20 AM
Guest70
(Guest): Tay Martin has been getting a lot of hype in practice reports across
all units, yet his stats have been minimal during scrimmages. In your
experience, are scrimmages the best way to see who is going to thrive during
the season? And what is your opinion on Tay?
Aug 29,
10:23 AM
srchat
(Admin): I’ve said multiple times I think Martin could be one of the top WR’s
in the Pac-12 by the end of the season. I wouldn’t look into the scrimmage
stats too much. He’s been lights-out in a few of those practices and probably
had the two best catches in camp. He’ll be a tough cover for just about every
DB he faces this year.
Aug 29,
10:23 AM
JFM COUGS
(Guest): I’m not sure why I keep hearing Dillon Sherman as a quality LB, I’ve
re-watched many of the games and he was constantly being trucked or missing
tackles, he’s also a walk-on. Has he greatly improved or something?
Aug 29,
10:26 AM
srchat
(Admin): I actually thought he did a fine job stepping in last year. You can
tell he’s put in plenty of time in the weight room - just looks stronger and
more imposing this fall.
Aug 29,
10:26 AM
Guest9351
(Guest): What is your quarterback depth chart? (“Or” is not allowed) Pros and
cons of each?
Aug 29,
10:30 AM
srchat
(Admin): Minshew, Gordon, Tinsley, Cooper. Minshew’s experience is obviously an
advantage, but he’s still building chemistry with receivers. Tinsley’s
well-built (6-3, 215) for a quarterback, but doesn’t have the arm strength the
others do. Gordon throws the best ball of the group, but he can be pretty
inconsistent. Cooper’s ceiling is sky-high, but it’s easy to tell he’s just a
freshman at times.
Aug 29,
10:30 AM
Whitworth-Coug
(Guest): Have you been impressed by Fa’avae Fa’avae? Looks like he and Justus
Rodgers are in battle for #2 spot at LB. What do you like about his game?
Aug 29,
10:32 AM
srchat
(Admin): He’s really instinctual in pass coverage and hits hard for a smaller
linebacker. Think the depth at both inside LB spots is really, really strong.
Aug 29,
10:32 AM
JFM COUGS
(Guest): How are Ahmir Crowder, Jesus Echivera, and Dallar Hobbs looking? It
seems like they all of the body and talent to be legit pac 12 d lineman?
Aug 29,
10:35 AM
srchat
(Admin): You’re right, all have pretty good size, which is something the D-line
has definitely lacked these last few years. I think Echevarria has been the
most impressive of that bunch this spring.
Aug 29,
10:35 AM
srchat
(Admin): Err, fall*
Aug 29,
10:35 AM
Guest5639
(Guest): I keep hearing speculation about Cooper playing some at QB to take
advantage of the new redshirt rule, but playing someone who hasn’t earned it
doesn’t seem like a Mike Leach thing to do, your thoughts?
Aug 29,
10:39 AM
srchat
(Admin): Have thought about that, too. I certainly don’t think he’d be the next
guy in if the Cougars were plastering somebody - say SJSU week two - but maybe
he gets the last offensive drive in that game after Gordon and Tinsley have
each had a couple. Think he’ll benefit a ton from those Thursday Night Football
scrimmages.
Aug 29,
10:39 AM
wsuWR: Do
you think the offense will be more like 2013-2014 in terms of throwing the ball
60 plus times? It seems like from the scrimmages they rarely check to a run.
Aug 29,
10:41 AM
srchat
(Admin): I almost think they’ll run it more this year than they have before.
Once you guys see Max Borghi in person, you might agree with me.
Aug 29,
10:42 AM
Whitworth-Coug
(Guest): How are they using the transfer from WV during practice if he’s
sitting out the year? And, is he showing signs of being a future monster on the
DL?
Aug 29,
10:43 AM
srchat
(Admin): Good question. I was chatting with Jeff Phelps the other day and told
him he had one of the best scout team players in the country. He laughed at
that and indicated while they are using McDougle a lot on scout, he is also
getting some work with the first team defense. Yeah, I think he could be pretty
darn good.
Aug 29,
10:45 AM
JFM COUGS
(Guest): Do you think the offensive line could be better this year then last. I
know we lost a lot of experience but it seems like the O line and offense in
general took a step back last year?
Aug 29,
10:48 AM
srchat
(Admin): Given the experience and talent of that group last year, it seems like
they could’ve kept Luke Falk a little cleaner. Not sure this group can be
better right off the bat, but Minshew’s more mobile and decisive with his
throws so I wouldn’t be surprised to see the sack numbers dip in 2018.
Aug 29,
10:48 AM
Whitworth-Coug
(Guest): Cougs really haven’t had a true return game specialist for a while. Do
you see the new ST Cord getting more guys out there that have the break-a-way
ability rather than the safe choices we have had during Leach’s era?
Aug 29,
10:52 AM
srchat
(Admin): Most folks haven’t seen redshirt freshman Travell Harris (the No. 1 PR
and KR on the depth chart) yet, but he definitely has an explosive side and you
could see him breaking off a few throughout his career.
Aug 29,
10:52 AM
Guest5745
(Guest): How does Skyler Thomas look? Just seems like a guy you don’t hear much
about for somebody who is going to be a starter
Aug 29,
10:53 AM
srchat
(Admin): True, I haven’t noted him in many of the practice reports. He
certainly doesn’t make as many plays as his partner back there, but I also
can’t remember many instances where he was beat badly by a WR.
Aug 29,
10:54 AM
Whitworth-Coug
(Guest): Last year it felt like they had more rotation at the Corner, but
little movement at Safety. Can you talk a bit about the current state of Safety
and if you think we will see more of a rotation this year outside of Thompson??
Aug 29,
10:58 AM
srchat
(Admin): Secondary depth seemed to be a pretty significant concern for Tracy
Claeys, but I think they feel better about it now with a few of the freshman
who’ve arrived (Ross, Djibril, Nunn). I’ll get a better sense of how Tracy Claeys
rotates the safeties on Saturday, but obviously the more time Jalen Thompson
spends on the field, the better.
Aug 29,
10:58 AM
wsuWR:
Great coverage of fall camp! Question for you, are you almost just excited as
the players for the game??? Also if Cougs make a bowl game, do you consider
this season a success with all the turnover?
Aug 29,
11:01 AM
srchat
(Admin): Appreciate it. I am eager to see what this team looks like against a
real opponent. Practice reports are fun and all, but…. To answer your second
question, yes certainly. I’ve seen a few 3-9, 4-8 predictions the last few
days. I think 6-6 or better would be a nice achievement.
Aug 29,
11:02 AM
Whitworth-Coug
(Guest): Without saying the QB name. Do you see 1-of-the-3 willing to check to
the run more? Even more than Falk did ?
Aug 29,
11:04 AM
srchat
(Admin): I don’t think so, simply because Falk was probably more comfortable
checking by the end of his career than any other QB Leach has had at WSU. But
I’d suggest the others get comfortable with it, because there’s a lot of talent
in that backfield and you’d hate to see it wasted.
Aug 29,
11:06 AM
srchat
(Admin): Thanks everyone for joining me this week. I’d encourage you to pick up
a copy of tomorrow’s Spokesman-Review, which will include our annual college/HS
football preview insert. Lots of really neat stuff in there I’m excited for the
readers to see. And as always, Spokesman.com for all of our game-week coverage.
Until next time…
#
