Cougars Defenders Line Up Players Stage Daily Battles For Precious Playing Time
Jonathan Nance lasts longer. Delmar Morais tries harder. Dorian Boose runs faster.
Everywhere Washington State football coach Mike Price looks, another defensive lineman is challenging for playing time. If it isn’t Morais, Nance or Boose, then it’s Shane Doyle, Mickey Long, Eboni Wilson or Da’vid Evans. The competition will only escalate when potential starters Gary Holmes and Leon Bender join the fight.
“I’ll take any combination of those guys,” Price said Monday afternoon, as the Cougars wrapped up their fifth practice since two-a-days began Saturday. “Jonathan Nance is playing as well as we thought he might. He hasn’t seemed to hit the wall yet like some of the other kids have, and gotten tired. He just keeps going. And Delmar Morais is a hard, hard worker.”
Holmes, who entered camp as a projected starter at tackle, is the only concern. He missed his third and fourth straight practices Monday with a nagging back injury that is beginning to worry Price.
Bender, meanwhile, is ready to make his first appearance as a Cougar in nearly a year. An academic casualty last season, the junior tackle watched the afternoon session Monday and may practice as early as today.
Rough stuff
Players are gearing up for full-contact workouts, which begin Wednesday. Bodies were flying during run-blocking drills, and Price even interrupted one such exercise when he sensed the action was getting too physical.
“Without leg pads, we have to be extra careful,” he said.
Best in the West
Pass-protection drills were only slightly less physical. Left tackle Scott Sanderson proved nearly impenetrable, and was the only offensive lineman to consistently handle the speed-rushing Boose.
“Sanderson is the best offensive tackle on the West Coast,” Price proclaimed, ranking his 6-foot-6, 296-pound senior ahead of highly regarded Arizona State tackle Juan Roque. “Scott Sanderson will run circles around Juan Roque. Scott can pull and Scott can pass block. If you’re just going to run, maybe Juan Roque is better.
“We don’t play Arizona State this year, so you can print that,” Price joked.
McEndoo returns
Junior left guard Jason McEndoo, attending his first practice since his wife was killed in an auto accident last month, received a warm welcome from teammates. And while McEndoo didn’t participate fully, his presence was unmistakable.
“It’s great to see Jason McEndoo back,” Price said. “It’s great, great to have him out here. It’s good for him and I’m sure everybody’s welcoming him.”
McEndoo attended the afternoon session, as did his parents and younger brother.
QB update
With Ryan Leaf and Steve Birnbaum locked in as the top two quarterbacks, Price intends for freshman Paul Mencke to redshirt. That leaves junior Josh Lucca as the third-stringer.
“Josh and Paul will be our scoutteam quarterbacks,” Price said. “We want to redshirt Paul and I think he’s really going to be a good quarterback. He needs the redshirt year. If we got in a situation where we had to get through the game and Josh was the only guy left, I wouldn’t blow Paul’s redshirt year.”
Mencke played basketball and football at Lewis and Clark High last year.
Notes
Tight end Love Jefferson, a sophomore transfer from Pacific, was cleared by the WSU compliance office and practiced in the afternoon… . Contrary to previous reports, Bender spent last school year at the Clarkston campus of Walla Walla Community College… . Senior cornerback Shad Hinchen has been limited by knee trouble. “He’s got a little tendinitis in his knee and I’m a little worried about him,” Price said. “That’s something that is kind of really a recurring thing. He’s worked so damn hard, I want him to have a great senior year.”
Junior Brandon Moore holds a narrow lead over freshman Steve Gleason for the third linebacking spot. James Darling and Johnny Nansen are the other starters… . Junior Ray Jackson and senior Derek Henderson are battling at free safety… . Junior-college transfer Michael Black continues to lead Miguel Meriwether at running back, but Price said both will play.
Junior Duane Stewart made an impressive interception in the afternoon session… . Defensive tackle Brad Lawson continues to nurse a sore right shoulder.
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