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WSU football chat (transcript)

Aug 24 2016, 1:18 AM

srchat: Welcome to our WSU football chat. I'll sign on at 10 a.m., but feel free to submit your questions early.

Aug 24 2016, 11:03 AM

srchat: Alright, let's get started.

Aug 24 2016, 11:03 AM

Guest7932 (guest): How have Tavares Martin and Isaiah Johnson looked in camp? Do you think they'll be the leading receivers this year after Marks and Cracraft?

Aug 24 2016, 11:04 AM

srchat: Both have looked very good. I would go so far to say that Martin will be the second-leading receiver this year, because the X is usually second only to the Z in touches. Next year I would imagine Johnson starts at Z (unless Martin does) and yes, they become the two leading receivers.

Aug 24 2016, 11:04 AM

cubsfan7331: Haven't heard much about Dimry in the practices lately. Can I speculate that the same fate he has had in the past Fall camps has surfaced again?

Aug 24 2016, 11:05 AM

srchat: Speculate away. It's your right as a speculator.

Aug 24 2016, 11:05 AM

Guest4469 (guest): What are the odds that Harrington red shirts to save a year?

Aug 24 2016, 11:05 AM

srchat: Very low.

Aug 24 2016, 11:05 AM

SKramerWrites: If Mike Leach had a cat what would its name be

Aug 24 2016, 11:06 AM

srchat: Verticat Routes

Aug 24 2016, 11:08 AM

Guest6954 (guest): Shalom Luani... great.

Aug 24 2016, 11:08 AM

Tyler (guest): If you were drunk at Domino's and your order was taking a long time, how would you react?

Aug 24 2016, 11:08 AM

Hello (guest): It seams like wsu players get in more legal trouble than at least every other pac12 program. Is that a fair assumption?

Aug 24 2016, 11:09 AM

srchat: I think it would be a pretty fair assumption from, maybe 2007-13? The Cougars then had about an 18-24 month period with few if any arrests, and had some of the least amount of legal trouble of any team. With the recent fight and now Shalom Luani's arrest, this recent reversal has to be troubling for the coaches.

Aug 24 2016, 11:09 AM

jonthecoug: What's up with Luani?

Aug 24 2016, 11:09 AM

cubsfan7331: What does the depth chart at safety look like?

Aug 24 2016, 11:09 AM

Guest6734 (guest): Do you think Taylor moves back to safety with this mornings news?

Aug 24 2016, 11:11 AM

srchat: I think Guest6734 is probably on to something. If Luani is unavailable, right now Hunter Dale and Willie Roach are behind him. But Robert Taylor was probably a better option than either before he moved to cornerback and the recent move may necessitate a move back.

Aug 24 2016, 11:12 AM

Guest2720 (guest): How many receiving yards do you think Dimry will have this season?

Aug 24 2016, 11:12 AM

srchat: Maybe a couple hundred. A few touchdowns later in the year would not surprise me.

Aug 24 2016, 11:13 AM

Guest9584 (guest): UCLA seems to be getting a lot of hype.lost of lot of good players, many high NFL picks, did not do well last year considering the talent, Rosen is supposed to go number 1..well we get to see them on the Palouse,thoughts on the game ?..fyi...not a Mora fan, what a whiner in their loss to the Cougs last year..

Aug 24 2016, 11:14 AM

srchat: It will be a tough one. Though it may feel like UCLA usually underperforms their talent, they are usually still a pretty tough team to beat. I didn't think Josh Rosen did that much against the Cougars last year, but he has incredible talent and will obviously be more experienced this time around. I like WSU's chances, but that's going to be a tough out.

Aug 24 2016, 11:15 AM

Guest8832 (guest): How does Dotson look at linebacker? Any concerns about the depth behind him

Aug 24 2016, 11:16 AM

srchat: He has looked pretty good. I think it's a more natural position for him than safety, where he had the skill set but maybe wasn't quite quick enough to keep up with some of the Pac-12's best receivers.

Aug 24 2016, 11:16 AM

FergalDeavitt (guest): How is the competition coming along at KR?

Aug 24 2016, 11:16 AM

srchat: They've got three good ones. Right now I would rank them 1: Tavares Martin 2: Robert Taylor 3: James Williams

Aug 24 2016, 11:18 AM

Guest2680 (guest): How has the D line progressed?

Aug 24 2016, 11:19 AM

srchat: The starters look very good. I think the coaches are still pretty nervous about the backups, although Nnamdi Oguayo has been making plays lately.

Aug 24 2016, 11:19 AM

Guest853 (guest): Jeremiah Mitchell was a highly touted recruit coming into WSU, why hasn't he made a bigger impact on the DL?

Aug 24 2016, 11:20 AM

srchat: He's a good run stopper, but I don't think he brings the speed Alex Grinch requires. If you look around the defense, Grinch often prefers to play down a position. Safeties have become linebackers, linebackers have become ends, ends have become tackles, etc. Mitchell may just not be a great fit.

Aug 24 2016, 11:21 AM

Guest3509 (guest): Thanks for all your hard work covering the cougs! Which WSU seniors do you see having NFL potential? Do you see any underclassmen leaving early for the NFL? Thanks!

Aug 24 2016, 11:23 AM

srchat: My pleasure, guest. Gabe Marks definitely has a shot at the NFL. River Cracraft could get drafted or make a team in camp, and he isn't hurting himself at all by showing he can play special teams. Robert Barber or Riley Sorenson could have big seasons and get in there. The only underclassman I could really see leaving early at this point is Hercules Mata'afa. That's not a prediction, just saying I could see him having the option. Maybe Luke Falk if he gets an early-round guarantee.

Aug 24 2016, 11:24 AM

Guest994 (guest): What do you see In walk on Riley Krenz he has made some plays in the scrimmages

Aug 24 2016, 11:25 AM

srchat: Yeah, he's made some nice plays. The Cougars have a few walk-on receivers playing well. Wilson Kainoa has been good for a while, and Brandon Arconado has also been good.

Aug 24 2016, 11:25 AM

Hello (guest): How is the team looking now vs. where they left off last season?

Aug 24 2016, 11:26 AM

srchat: A little behind, but that's to be expected. It takes quite a few practices to get a football team humming. The offense is a little clunkier than it was toward the end of the year and will be in a few weeks. The defense looks good, though the potential loss of Shalom Luani would be pretty damaging.

Aug 24 2016, 11:26 AM

Guest8442 (guest): How would you compare this year's OL at this point in camp to last year's?

Aug 24 2016, 11:27 AM

srchat: A little worse. The players and coaches seem to truly think the left side has the potential to be even better, but until those guys get more seasoning it's hard for me to say you can trust them more than a pair of three-year starters.

Aug 24 2016, 11:27 AM

Guest8832 (guest): Has Broughton locked up a starting job at corner?

Aug 24 2016, 11:28 AM

srchat: I sort of expected Broughton to start until maybe the bye week, but eventually get passed by Robert Taylor. Not a knock on Broughton, Taylor is really good and will continue to get better as he learns the defense. But if Taylor moves back to safety, yes I think Broughton is the starter.

Aug 24 2016, 11:28 AM

Jeremy Brown: Will James Williams end the season as our top RB?

Aug 24 2016, 11:29 AM

srchat: Hard to say. Jamal Morrow is in no hurry to let the spot go.

Aug 24 2016, 11:29 AM

FergalDeavitt (guest): What player do you think will be the biggest surprise this season?

Aug 24 2016, 11:30 AM

srchat: Well, players fans have not yet seen like Nnamdi Oguayo and Isaiah Johnson could have big years, but that's not necessarily a surprise, per se. Of players who have been around for a while, I think Paris Taylor might be the most likely to break out.

Aug 24 2016, 11:30 AM

Guest853 (guest): Is the defense going to be better at stopping the run this year?

Aug 24 2016, 11:32 AM

srchat: I kind of doubt it. The defense lost two All-Conference defensive linemen, and is going with a smaller front-seven this year. That might help against the Christian McCaffrey types, but could be detrimental when Royce Freeman comes to town.

Aug 24 2016, 11:32 AM

BenBarhan: What happened to Darius Lemora? Looked promising early on in his career at WSU but haven't seen much of him lately on the depth charts.

Aug 24 2016, 11:32 AM

srchat: He's another guy who Mike Breske seemed to think a lot more highly of than Alex Grinch does. That said, he played with the twos a bit during a recent scrimmage, and Grinch made a point of saying that he's been making the most of the opportunity he's been given, when other guys have not.

Aug 24 2016, 11:32 AM

Guest994 (guest): How big is the drop off after Luani.

Aug 24 2016, 11:33 AM

srchat: It will be big if Luani is unable to play. How big, in my opinion, depends on whether or not Robert Taylor gets moved back to safety. Either way though, losing Luani would be a significant blow to the defense.

Aug 24 2016, 11:34 AM

Guest8442 (guest): What ever happened to Calvin Green??

Aug 24 2016, 11:34 AM

srchat: No longer a part of the team. Possibly related to a hit-and-run incident.

Aug 24 2016, 11:34 AM

Guest2005 (guest): Do you think that Falk will keep plays alive with his feet, resulting in an improved record?

Aug 24 2016, 11:34 AM

srchat: If the Cougars win 10 or more games it will be the result of a lot of things more important than Falk's feet.

Aug 24 2016, 11:34 AM

jonthecoug: How has Erik Powell been looking?

Aug 24 2016, 11:35 AM

srchat: Really good, in my opinion. He missed a kick he should have made in the last scrimmage, but seems confident out to 55 yards and beyond.

Aug 24 2016, 11:35 AM

BenBarhan: I have hear that Trey Tinsley may be winning the 3rd string QB spot over Gordon. Do you agree with that? Also, did Jorgenson leave for playing time?

Aug 24 2016, 11:36 AM

srchat: I've been pretty consistently saying that I think Tinsley is the third QB right now. That could change when Gordon gets a better grasp of the offense. That's probably a good guess.

Aug 24 2016, 11:36 AM

Guest2005 (guest): Do you think that Falk feet could help the defense if he moved to linebacker?

Aug 24 2016, 11:36 AM

srchat: I bet they'd help the most on the track team.

Aug 24 2016, 11:36 AM

Hello (guest): Do you agree with how the AP rankings stack up for Pac12 schools?

Aug 24 2016, 11:38 AM

srchat: For the most part, yeah, I thought the order of Pac-12 schools made since. Keep in mind that over 100-plus schools, the ranked teams are all bunched together pretty closely. I don't know that I think so many spots should separate WSU and UW, but I think it's fair to think the Huskies are a little better, that Oregon is somewhere in between, and that all the games between those three should be very close.

Aug 24 2016, 11:40 AM

Guest9584 (guest): did not seem 6'4 to me..they lost a lot.Alex and Joe seem frustrated with the younger DL not stepping up..could be a interesting year in the trenches.

Aug 24 2016, 11:40 AM

srchat: I do think the backup defensive linemen have been concerning to the coaches. Those guys are going to have to play.

Aug 24 2016, 11:40 AM

Guest3509 (guest): Who is playing on the 2 team offensive line and how are they doing? Who would you expect to come in in the event of an injury?

Aug 24 2016, 11:42 AM

srchat: Drew Norvell, Frederick Mauigoa and B.J. Salmonson are the guys running with the twos (starting guards Cody O'Connell and Eduardo Middleton actually back up the tackle positions). I expect Salmonson would be the first off the bench for a G/T injury (if tackle, the starters probably slide outside). Mauigoa is the backup center.

Aug 24 2016, 11:42 AM

FergalDeavitt (guest): What punishment do you expect Luani to receive from the WSU football coaches? Has there been a precedent for this crime with Leach at WSU or Texas Tech?

Aug 24 2016, 11:43 AM

srchat: If the coaches give him a punishment, we won't hear about it. If they were to suspend him some games, I guess we would just have to count how many halves he did not play in. I think the bigger concern with regards to him playing is whether or not the school does something.

Aug 24 2016, 11:43 AM

Guest8290 (guest): Do you think the assault charge for Luani going to result in expulsion from school or the team?

Aug 24 2016, 11:44 AM

srchat: I doubt it would get him kicked off the team, since it doesn't violate one of Leach's three rules. I'm not sure about the school. I'll be brushing up on its policies today.

Aug 24 2016, 11:44 AM

BenBarhan: Do you think there will be a drop off from Dom Williams to Martin/patmon/dimry? Important position for the offense I think.

Aug 24 2016, 11:44 AM

srchat: Maybe initially, but I think Martin is capable of matching Williams' production.

Aug 24 2016, 11:45 AM

Guest9584 (guest): Singleton in the 2 deep depth chart ?...and yes like I said last year and it was questioned, Falk won at least 3 games in the last minute by moving in the pocket versus the previous qb who would bail...came from 3 ex NFL qb's not me ! 2025 you are sooo funny !....keep it up !

Aug 24 2016, 11:45 AM

srchat: Singleton is not currently in the two-deeps at cornerback, though I like his game quite a bit and expect him to be a player for them down the road.

Aug 24 2016, 11:45 AM

jonthecoug: Any chance Charleston White steps in for Luani and they keep Taylor at corner?

Aug 24 2016, 11:46 AM

srchat: Yes, that scenario is also possible.

Aug 24 2016, 11:46 AM

Guest3509 (guest): What offensive player would you like to see play defense, and vice versa (sorry, no Falk at LB)?

Aug 24 2016, 11:48 AM

srchat: I'd be interested to see what Andre Dillard could do if he dropped some weight and played as a defensive end. On defense I could see Robert Taylor being an effective running back.

Aug 24 2016, 11:48 AM

Guest8832 (guest): At the end of the year do you think the Cougs finish in the top 25?

Aug 24 2016, 11:48 AM

srchat: Hmmm I'll say yes. But they have to start out 3-0 so they can sustain a couple losses during their brutal start to Pac-12 play.

Aug 24 2016, 11:48 AM

BenBarhan: Bowl game prediction for this year?

Aug 24 2016, 11:49 AM

srchat: Holiday Bowl

Aug 24 2016, 11:49 AM

Guest242 (guest): Do u expect Frankie luv u back by the first game on top of the depth chart?

Aug 24 2016, 11:50 AM

srchat: Frankly, I'm not sure about Frankie. I don't think it will take him much longer than that, though.

Aug 24 2016, 11:50 AM

Guest9584 (guest): frankie and logan start ?...see article on Kaleb from UW a couple weeks ago. a country boy at heart, hates the concrete in Seattle per his mom..yet he picked the huskies, makes me wonder with his heart condition that he needed to be close to UW hospital

Aug 24 2016, 11:51 AM

srchat: I actually thought the same thing while reading Jude's article about him. I recall McGary sounding like he felt more at home at OSU or WSU, but feeling like he should play at UW. Given what Jude reported about the facilities and treatments available to him there, it makes a lot of sense.

Aug 24 2016, 11:51 AM

wsucougarbill: Do you care if I remind you each chat session of something I said last year that proved out to be true?

Aug 24 2016, 11:51 AM

srchat: I thrive on it.

Aug 24 2016, 11:52 AM

BenBarhan: Any incoming freshman that may red shirt this year looking like they can make an impact in the years to come? I excited about jahad wood.

Aug 24 2016, 11:53 AM

srchat: Wood is a good call. Marcus Strong, D'Jimon Jones, Renard Bell have all done some good things.

Aug 24 2016, 11:53 AM

jonthecoug: When does the spokesman cfb preview appear? I'm so excited for your predictions, I can hardly sleep at night.

Aug 24 2016, 11:54 AM

srchat: Preview publishes Sept. 1. Buy 100 copies and give them to your friends!

Aug 24 2016, 11:54 AM

Guest2680 (guest): Ever been invited to the Cougar training table? What did you eat?

Aug 24 2016, 11:55 AM

srchat: I have not, although the coaches have graciously offered me power bars a few times. Jim Mastro had some protein bar that I've been trying to find online for months because it was so tasty.

Aug 24 2016, 11:55 AM

BenBarhan: Mason Vineyard? His recruiting videos made me think he is a freak athlete. Seen much from him?

Aug 24 2016, 11:56 AM

srchat: Not really, but I know the coaches are excited about him. I should also add Chima Onyeukwu as someone from the recent recruiting class who is probably going to make some plays for the Cougars.

Aug 24 2016, 11:56 AM

Guest9584 (guest): I wonder what makes wsu cougar bill tick !..read a magazine the other day, did not even have falk in top 20 for Heisman..you got to be kidding...Lindy's is pretty fluffy in my opinion

Aug 24 2016, 11:56 AM

srchat: I've always been more of an Athlon man, myself. And only mostly because I write the WSU preview for that fine publication.

Aug 24 2016, 11:57 AM

jonthecoug: The new basketball recruit seems to have some skill but is pretty light at 190. Does Kent plan on red shirting him?

Aug 24 2016, 11:58 AM

srchat: I have not asked Kent about it, but I doubt it. Those springy forwards never put on much weight, but their game isn't really based on their strength relative to other players.

Aug 24 2016, 12:01 PM

Guest9584 (guest): hard to believe Bone did not do more with klay, motum, guard from Africa names escapes me and other...wulf, sterk, bone...ouch !

Aug 24 2016, 12:01 PM

BenBarhan: They have stud RBs. Romelo Harris gotten many looks with scout? First impressions?

Aug 24 2016, 12:03 PM

srchat: He'll redshirt, play with the scouts. Honestly, I can't give you very accurate impressions from scout because the running backs get swarmed immediately. He's a quick player. I can give you more on his skills/instincts/whatever after we watch a Thursday Night Football or two.

Aug 24 2016, 12:04 PM

cubsfan7331: From an article dated 08/10/12 by Adam Lewis from sportspressnw.com regarding Leach on discipline. May provide some insight. “It becomes difficult when you see talent walk out the door,” he said.If you have a problem with somebody’s behavior the first thing is can I change it? If you can’t change it then can you tolerate it? If you can’t tolerate it than you have to get rid of him. It’s about as simple as that really.” You’d like to save everybody. That’s why you’re in coaching.

Aug 24 2016, 12:04 PM

wsucougarbill: Remember last year when I told you that the BB guards name was Faisal Aiden

Aug 24 2016, 12:04 PM

srchat: You'll never let me forget it.

Aug 24 2016, 12:05 PM

srchat: Alright, folks. That's the hour. See you next week. Tip your journalists.

 



Jacob Thorpe
Jacob Thorpe joined The Spokesman-Review in 2013. He currently is a reporter for the Sports Desk covering Washington State University athletics.

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