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With Washington State taking the day off from practice, we’re taking a little time ourselves. We have the unedited version of our defensive line preview story on the link along with a couple of web-only notes. Click the link.
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• Here’s the defensive line preview …
PULLMAN – You look down the two-deep for Washington State University’s defensive line and three letters stand out. DNP. As in “did not play” last season.
Which could be considered a bad thing or a good thing. It all depends on your perspective.
It could be bad because the Cougars are in a rebuilding mode in one of the key positions up front, with only 10 starts combined last year for the eight guys who will probably play a lot in the Sept. 5 season opener against Pac-10 rival Stanford.
But it might be good if you consider Washington State’s rushing defense was worst among all 119 Football Bowl Subdivision schools in 2008.
The Cougars yielded 247.6 yards a game, nearly 6 yards a carry and saw the opposition cross the goal line 50 times on running plays.
“Last year was such a rough season all the way through,” said the group’s most experienced returning player, senior defensive end Kevin Kooyman. “People were looking down at the d-line and we’ve got to step up.
“We’re supposed to be the core of the defense, so we really look at it as a challenge.”
The group that’s taking up that challenge includes just two guys who played last season, Kooyman and tackle Toby Turpin, and Turpin didn’t see extensive action until the season’s second half.
There are six newcomers, from senior Jesse Feagin, who sat out last year due to academics, to junior Casey Hamlett, who transferred in last spring after Division II Western Washington dropped its program. There are two junior college transfers, a redshirt freshman and a true freshman.
“We definitely have made a lot of improvements since last year,” Kooyman said. “We are a lot bigger inside than last year and we’re going to be a lot more aggressive.”
Defensive line coach Malik Roberson, in his second year, especially agrees with the latter part of that statement.
“We’re asking the guys … to play sideline to sideline,” Roberson said.
It’s a bigger, stronger group of Cougars Roberson is asking to “fly around and to move.”
Turpin and Kooyman each added 18 pounds of muscle over the off-season while redshirt freshman Dan Spitz and JC transfer Bernard Wolfgramm each added more than 20 during their non-playing season.
There’s also the introduction of freshman Travis Long, who is running with the first string less than three months after graduating from Gonzaga Prep.
Asked what Long has showed in his first 21 collegiate practices, Roberson answered, “speed, great pad level and … we get the real good pass rush, real good pass rush.”
But he is a freshman.
“He’s going to be a great player,” Kooyman said. “I’m trying to lead him in the right direction. … My freshman year, I felt kind of lost. I was playing, what 230 (pounds)? I was getting pushed around.”
Long is bigger, at 247 pounds, though still the lightest of WSU’s top eight. But after last year, any type of reinforcement is welcome.
“I’m excited to see how he plays,” Kooyman said. “We need big guys, we need athletic guys, to compete at this level.”
•••
The depth
As determined by me, so take it for what it’s worth …
(Height, weight, year and 2008 starts in parentheses)
Right end
Kevin Kooyman (6-6, 260, Sr., 6)
Casey Hamlett (6-3, 250, Jr., dnp)
Right tackle
Bernard Wolfgramm (6-3, 291, RS Jr., dnp)
Josh Luapo (6-0, 311, RS Jr., dnp)
Left tackle
Toby Turpin (6-5, 284, RS Jr., 4)
Dan Spitz (6-6, 268, RS Fr., dnp)
Left end
Travis Long (6-4, 247, Fr., dnp)
Jesse Feagin (6-4, 258, RS Sr., dnp)
•••
• OK, so that’s the d-line story. Though there was one thing line coach Malik Roberson said that I couldn’t work into the story, but felt was interesting. I ended the interview asking him if he thought the group was better than last year, a lot better, worse, what. “I’ll tell you this right now,” he said, “what we have that we didn’t have last year that’s going to make all the difference in the world, talent, speed, size, it doesn’t matter. We’re closer. Really bonded this off-season. There’s a lot more trust and guys are playing for each other better than they did last year.” Which doesn’t answer the question, really, but gives you an insight into the dynamic at work last year. … The Cougars got in 21 practices before school started and will have 10 more before the Stanford game. We’ve got three more previews to finish up: linebackers, defensive backs and special teams. So I thought it would be a good time to ask you to begin formulating your thoughts on the upcoming season. On the previous post I wrote that people interested in the WSU program would consider four wins a success. Am I wrong? Would that not be enough to satisfy you? What do you think the season holds? You don’t have to put it all down now. Think about it and get back to us. It’s a subject that can be discussed all week here. … One final note. Maybe Wulff shouldn’t have given the Cougars the day off. Freshman safety Jamal Atofau was arrested by Pullman police after midnight Sunday for an alcohol violation. If you’re wondering, a WSU spokesman said he’s been suspended pending investigation.
•••
• That’s it for today. We’ll be back tomorrow as the practice week starts anew. Until then …
Steve Bergum covers EWU football and men's basketball, college baseball, and writes weekly golf column during the summer.
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Vince Grippi covers WSU sports and invites readers to share their thoughts on the sports news of the day.
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Greg Lee covers high school sports throughout Inland Northwest.
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Jim Meehan covers Gonzaga basketball, Whitworth football, Spokane Shock football, college volleyball and prep softball.
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Dave Trimmer covers a variety of high school, college and professional sports and is the primary writer on the weekly Then & Now series.
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jimmyball on August 24 at 8:28 p.m.
Great job Vince! I followed Travis Long in high school sports and the kid is a stud. MVP of both football and basketball teams IMO. Now he gets to play with the big boys and I don't think we will be disappointed. All Pac-10 by the end of next year and will be an All-American in one of his last 2 years.
Cougars may have trouble with 4 wins but they will be competitive all year, no 50 point blowouts. I honestly think they will be the surprise of the conference this year and after that watchout.
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EllensburgCoug on August 24 at 8:54 p.m.
It's tough to think of 4 wins as a measure of success. Looking at the schedule right now I have a hard time seeing the Cougs being favored in any PAC-10 games. Even Stanford and the Huskies would be heavy favorites right now and probably at least 9 or 10 point favorites.
Non-conference, we will probably be an underdog to Hawaii. God help us if we can't beat fellow bottom feeder SMU at home. Notre Dame? Get Serious!
A 4 win season would have to include mostly upsets which do happen.
Go Cougs
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85coug on August 24 at 9:26 p.m.
2, 3, 4, 5 wins? I will be happy if the team is competitive, plays with heart, and intelligence.
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Ned on August 24 at 9:33 p.m.
I would be elated with 4 wins. I expect 2, but I'm with 85coug - as long as they play hard and smart and are competitive, I'll be happy. With so many young players, next year is the year I hope to start seeing some W's.
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Seth on August 24 at 9:47 p.m.
I'm looking for improvement and being more competitive as well. That been said, less than two wins would be very dissapointing. Four or more wins would show great improvement. I can't believe I am typing this after the early 2000's. I would also like to see flashes of good/great players to come from the underclassmen. I still think we are going to have major problems in Pac 10 play with our defense this year. Also, our WR's are very inexperienced and a little banged up. Our RB's should be good if they can get some holes to run through.
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garlandcoug on August 24 at 9:49 p.m.
In years past Hawaii has had a hard time playing on the road. Lets hope that holds true this year.
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wazzuwyatt on August 25 at 6:26 a.m.
Four victories would be doubling up over last year. I hope, and even think because the fellas have said things of confidence, that they might succeed in winning 50% of the games, 6 of them. Only 5 games in Pullman will be a detriment, though.
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MikeOCoug on August 25 at 7:37 a.m.
Can't they just put the booze away for awhile? Doesn't give me the warm fuzzies about level of committment. This IS one of Wulff's guys. No excuses on this one.
If that kid is not running stadium stairs for the entire next couple practices, the coaches are missing a big teaching opportunity.
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coreyb on August 25 at 7:42 a.m.
4 wins would be a success based on last years results and all the predictions. I think 5 would give us all a little more hope going into next year though. Two or less would not be a good thing.
What's the deal with safeties, or the secondary all together? Chris Ball and Jody Sears need to make those guys run non stop if they can't stay out of trouble. Are the Pullman cops former UW receivers?
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Coug Mania on August 25 at 8:14 a.m.
Hoping to be bowl eligible —so are the players and coaches, my glasses are crimson —upseting UND in San Antonio if we stay healthy
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bson25 on August 25 at 8:36 a.m.
I don't think you can measure this season by wins and losses.
I would like to see us keep things close into the second half on a regular basis, and get wins vs. SMU and possibly Hawaii.
Cutting down the mental mistakes dramatically is a must, as it was brutal to watch all the stupid penalties we got last year.
Also, would like to see much more from the offensive line, to at least give our offense a chance to move the ball.
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GaryRCox on August 25 at 8:55 a.m.
Hey….for those of us whose blood pumps Crimson, this year is like soooooo many years in the past whereby the 'Sports Writers' who know it all, (just ask them), don't even attend Wazzu practices, yet pontificate as to how bad things are in Pullman and predict a last place finish.
Whoa nellie, me thinks that things were horrid last year in Pullman, but Coach Wulff took the bad medicine (loss of eight schlorships, playing a game after just getting off the plane at Baylor so they can beat a Hurricane, bouncing all the riff-raff Yabba Dabba Doba had brought in, and a generally bare cupboard of PAC-10 caliber players), red shirted a lot of talent, recruited like a rabid Banchee, and will right the ship this year.
However to predict a Bowl Game is a bit premature, to say the least. If this were the WAC, perhaps, but the PAC-10 is an elite conference with top flight talent across the board. Ten years ago Saint Mike had us at the top of the heap, yet remember it took years of hard work and a lot of disappointment along the way beforehand to get there.
Coach Wulff has laid a foundation (ala' Bennett Ball) which will pay dividends down the road, but the formula for success at Wazzu is redshirts and uncovering hidden gems upon which we build a winning tradition again. In this case a more competitive year sprinkled with a couple of upsets equates to 4 wins and a future so bright, we gotta wear shades.
Go Cougs!!
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Wazzukev on August 25 at 9:10 a.m.
Waiting for this season to begin is like waiting for a root canal at the dentist. You dread the thought of the whole thing but just want to get it behind you. I've supported my dentist's lavish lifestyle with plenty of root canals, but you know, in the end, with the help of plenty of drugs it wasn't too bad. I am hoping for the same with the cougars this year. Let's stop talking, get this season started, and hopefully come out the other end saying it was not as bad as we thought it would be. GO COUGS!
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Bretterson on August 25 at 9:23 a.m.
What's the reason we are hiding yet another arrest at the bottom of the online-only note section, Vince?
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Dan Gibbons on August 25 at 9:39 a.m.
I would set the over under at 3.5. When you look at WSU on paper, and look at the 12 teams they will play, it's hard to see more than 3 wins.
I think the team is moving in the right direction, but all the comments about the great offseason, trust, hard work, etc. is a song I've heard before. Every team in the country is saying the same thing right now.
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will90 on August 26 at 8:30 a.m.
Two wins - max. This team is still undersized and not talented enough to compete in the Pac-10. I have some doubts concerning the QB position and d-line. With the question marks surrounding those positions, Coug fans will still be cringing on Saturdays - hopefully not as much as last year. I'm with Seth…it's sad that WSU has fallen so far after the 3 10-win seasons just a few years ago. Hopefully this team competes and avoids the blowouts. Stay in games and improve, that's not too much to ask.
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206Coug on August 26 at 1:15 p.m.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SEASON TO START!!! My prediction is for 4 wins and I will be happy with that. I'd also like to see our games be closer and more competitive. I respect Pete Carroll a lot for how he coached against us last year: keeping the ball on the ground, playing everyone on the traveling squad, and trying to not run up the score. I expect USC to handily beat us again, but I hope that we can look like a college football team against them. I think our wins will come against some combination of these teams: UW, Hawaii, Southern Methodist, Notre Dame, Arizona, or Arizona State. I'd also like to see Wulff redshirt more of the freshmen this year than he did last year.
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