SportsLink

First practice over for WSU

Posted by Vince Grippi

Aug. 13, 2010 11 a.m. • 7 comments

COUGARS

The first of two practices today has ended and we have some notes about what occurred out at Rogers Field. Read on.

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• Coach Paul Wulff said the first practice would feature more emphasis on the running game and he wasn’t lying. The Cougars started off with an Oklahoma drill – one offensive lineman lined up vs. a defender, trying to clear a path for a running back between two pads – that featured some interesting individual battles. The best of those were between center Zack Williams and tackle Anthony Laurenzi. Both players have a knack of getting under the skin of their opponents, so it was little wonder their two go-rounds were physical. Laurenzi dominated the first one, shedding Williams and making a crunching tackle. The second was a draw, with the running back getting by, thus a win for Williams. The biggest hit came from Kevin Kooyman who threw David Gonzales aside. Another defender who won his battle was freshman tackle Kalafitoni Pole, who continues to impress. … Speaking of tackles, Brandon Rankin and Bernard Wolfgramm sat out drills again, giving Laurenzi, Pole and Steven Hoffart more opportunities to show what they can do. All in all, they took advantage of them. In one 9-on-11 drill (two defensive linemen do not rush), the defense earned a coverage sack with Pole getting a hand on Jeff Tuel. … Alex Hoffman-Ellis returned to the field and went full bore all morning. … The Cougars scrimmaged the final 25 minutes of the hour and 20 minute practice, with the offense getting the better of it. In the first 1 vs. 1 matchup, Tuel connected with Daniel Blackledge for 13 yards and Chantz Staden for another 7. The defense stiffened, however, and Tyree Toomer knocked down a third-down pass intended for Gino Simone. … The 2 vs. 2 scrimmage started with a Marshall Lobbestael 14-yard connection to Isiah Barton, but then stalled when Casey Hamlett stacked up Carl Winston on third-and-2. … The ones came back on for three plays, the last of which was Kevin Kooyman sacking Tuel. … The practice ended with goal line scrimmaging (the ball started at the 5). In 1 vs. 1, James Montgomery scored on the first play, bouncing off right tackle and into the end zone. In 2 vs. 2, the defense held until fourth down when Winston outran Eric Oertel around the left end for a 1-yard score. The ones returned and Logwone Mitz took two plays to find the end zone.

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• That’s all for now. We’ll be back after the second practice – that will start at 3:30 and WSU will be in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts …

Seven comments on this post so far. Add yours!

ECoug01 on August 13 at 11:37 a.m.
Vince - Haven’t heard much about Markle this year. Do you know anything?

After being so hyped last year (especially Cougfan) and possibly burning a redshirt by Wulff cause he looked so good I never hear his name.

And in my opinion who cares about the WR anymore!! All the articles you hear about praise the WRs.. I am pumped we have talented WR on the team now but we have to be able to run, protect and actually throw the ball first before they even matter!! Lets focus on those OL/DL and defense.. get those areas solid and you are a 6 win team easy… A great WR does you nothing when you can’t even get them the ball.
rufus on August 13 at 12:12 p.m.
sporting news magazine - college football preview ( 8/16/10- issue >>> for what it’s worth >>>>
wsu : 1 &11
“Another awful season will cost Washington State coach Paul Wulff his job. Idaho’s Robb Akey , a former Wazzu assistant , will be his replacemrt,”
bcougd on August 13 at 2:32 p.m.
rufus- I still think that Paul Wulff gets one more year, BUT if he is let go after this season…(Just remember where you heard this first) MIke Bellotti will be the next coach at WSU. He was forced into the AD role with the threat that Kelly was going to leave. He didn’t want the AD role, Moos got the AD job at WSU, Bellotti unexpectantly quit as AD to take the ESPN broadcast job with Brock Huard (Yeah right) he just wanted to distance himself from Oregon, so that he can get back onto the field. He would then take over the reins of a young and talented team, whose QB has started for two years and is now an experienced Junior, Moos (who Bellotti had a great relationship with at Oregon) has already laid out the plan to build a state of the art football facility to help recruit on the west coast, which Bellotti has owned in recruiting for his past umpteen years, steps right back in wins atleast 6 games in his first year, is also Pac-10 coach of the year, all in Pullman a place that will love him and treat him like a god forever!
dickkenn on August 13 at 5:52 p.m.
What are you guys smoking anyway?
BeaconHillCoug on August 13 at 9:50 p.m.
If the offense struggles as badly as last year, Todd Sturdy will befall the axe. We looked completely out of sync all year. Now we have a proven offensive line coach, so there will be no excuses for poor play calling and general lack of preparedness.
rufus on August 14 at 7:08 a.m.
I am just relating what was printed in “sporting news magazine “
(8/16/10-issue - this is a direct quote )
TommyCoug on August 14 at 12:08 p.m.
I will be in Martin Stadium, each and ever home game Saturday, pulling as hard as I can for Wazzu, the players and Paul Wulff!

The majority of the posters here should…or are probably some of those that have dropped their (or never had) season ticket(s)…stay home and bitch/moan/groan and complain in your misery (and MAYBE watch some Cougar games on TV or listen on the radio, however I doubt that either)…then proclaim your “half hearted loyalty” later when things go better than expected.

Akey, Bellotti…what baloney…Paul Wulff is here for 2 more years and probably many more after most you are gone!

No “rose colored or over optimistic glasses here”…just the perception of a job being well done and the hard work that has gone into the Cougar football reserection will begin to show substantial improvement and progress this year!!

A couple of upsets…3-4 wins this year…the unexpected, underestimation by opponents and surprise are our advantage.

GO COUGS!!…GO PAUL WULFF!!