Cougs Have Conservative Coalition Quarterbacks Deeds, Leaf Given Simplified Game Plan Against Stanford
Washington State football fans who have been critical of the predictability and conservative nature of the Cougars’ offense the past two seasons, might not like what they see in Martin Stadium this afternoon.
With starting quarterback Chad Davis benched after 21 consecutive starts because of a bad attitude, coach Mike Price is expected to keep things simpler than normal against Stanford.
Shawn Deeds, a rusty fifth-year senior, will make only his second career start under center for the Cougars when the teams kick it off at 3:30. But redshirt freshman Ryan Leaf will undoubtedly take the majority of snaps in a game that will be televised live on KXLY Extra in the Spokane area and KLEW in the Lewiston area.
Just how the Cougars (2-4 in the Pac-10 and 3-6 overall) react to the quarterback change and the inexperience of Leaf and Deeds could go a long way in deciding the outcome of WSU’s home finale.
Price said he has scripted the first 10 plays against the Cardinal (3-3, 5-3-1) and will have Deeds run the first five and Leaf the second five.
“Both (Leaf and Deeds) have responded real well,” Price said. “You can feel their enthusiasm and spirit. They’re real upbeat. It’s a good spark. We hope it’s going to spark other people, and it should, because these guys are excited about getting the chance.”
Price said he thinks he can win with either quarterback, and he hopes the rest of the team feels the same way.
To cut down on the potential for confusion, however, Price has narrowed the number of plays available.
“One of Chad’s strengths was his mental ability,” Price explained. “So we had more than enough in our playbook to go to when he was the quarterback. But it’s not going to be that same way with these two guys.”
Price refused to say just how simple the offense might be, opting to let Stanford’s defense find that out on its own. And he stressed that having relatively untested quarterbacks in the game is not necessarily a sure recipe for disaster.
“I’d rather not be in that situation,” he said, “but the quarterback is just one of the 11 guys on the field. He’s an important piece of the puzzle, yes, but just one piece.”
When asked how Davis has responded to his demotion during practice this week, Price said, “He’s been quiet and, I think, supportive of Shawn and Ryan. He’s attended everything that he’s supposed to attend - chalk talks, meetings and practices, but there’s not a lot of activity for a third-unit quarterback.”
Players to watch
Stanford’s Mark Butterfield is a quarterback with a linebacker’s mentality.
The rugged 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior has thrown for 2,006 yards and 15 touchdowns but sometimes prefers running over defenders to passing over them.
“How many quarterbacks do you know who try to run over DBs?” running back Mike Mitchell asked. “The quarterback’s not supposed to be the tough guy on the team. People had to tell him to slide. He doesn’t believe in it.”
Senior wide receiver Jay Dumas is one of 15 WSU seniors making their final Martin Stadium appearance today. Dumas has been one of the most exciting and consistent members of the Cougars offense and would like nothing better than to break one more big play before he bows out.
He currently ranks seventh in the Pac-10 in receiving and punt returns.
Key matchup
With very little experience under center and running back Frank Madu nursing bruised ribs, WSU will need a big effort up front if it hopes to generate any offense.
The O-line hasn’t been as consistent as Price had hoped, but it has had its moments. And it will need a bunch of those this afternoon in trying to handle a huge Stanford defensive front that Price ranks among the “meanest and toughest” in the Pac-10.
Cardinal tackles Pete Swanson, at 6-5 and 305 pounds, and John Hebert, at 6-5, 280, are bona fide loads. And there is also good size at the ends, which are manned by Jason White (6-3, 250) and Carl Hansen (6-5, 265).
“On average, they might the biggest we’ve faced,” said WSU senior right tackle John Scukanec. “So, it might mean a little more Tylenol after the game. But it’s nothing more than than. We’ve seen big guys before.”
“It’s not a question of if they have the meanest defensive line in the league or not,” added Scott Sanderson, the Cougars’ left tackle, “because they’re about to meet the meanest, baddest offense line in the league.
“How big and mean they are doesn’t matter to us.”
Injury update
WSU received good news at mid-week when Madu, the Pac-10’s third-leading rusher, was cleared to play, despite lingering problems with bruised ribs.
Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Gary Holmes remains doubtful, however, because of an ankle sprain.
No injury report was released by Stanford, but backup nose tackle David Carder and backup defensive end Bryan Werner have been dropped off the Cardinal depth chart because of injuries.
Third-and-shorts
Former Gonzaga Prep all-stater Justin Strand will be on the Stanford sidelines working as an undergraduate assistant coach after having his playing career cut short by a knee injury. … Stanford is 4-1 on the road, having won at Oregon, Arizona State, Utah and San Jose State. … WSU is 3-1 at Martin Stadium this year and has won 15 of its last 20 home games. … With 86 punt returns, Dumas is only four short of the Cougars career record held by Kitrick Taylor. … Stanford receiver Mark Harris is 25 years old, having attended both Southern Utah State University and Ricks Junior College and completed a twoyear Mormon mission in Barcelona, Spain, before transferring to Stanford in January 1993. … Damon Dunn and Marion Evans have each returned a kickoff for a touchdown this fall.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Cougars vs. Stanford