Cougars anticipate better backs

PULLMAN – The numbers last year weren’t pretty. The Cougars yielded a Pac-10 worst 243.1 yards a game through the air.

And that was with three senior starters, two of whom are still in NFL camps.

So how will WSU replace Tyrone Brackenridge, Eric Frampton, et al and still improve the pass defense?

Before that question is answered, veteran WSU assistant Leon Burtnett wanted to clarify the numbers.

“Sometimes I don’t think stats are as important as how those things happened,” said Burtnett, in his first season coaching safeties. “Sometimes we would make a great play last year, but then we would turn around and get killed in a critical situation. I think one reason you give up that many yards is because you give up too many big plays.”

Burtnett has a point. Last season Washington State yielded a Pac-10 worst 13.6 yards per completion and 7.6 yards per passing play.

Part of that occurred because the Cougars suffered an inordinate number of injuries to its front seven, forcing a change in defensive philosophy, slowing the pass rush and leaving the defensive backs exposed.

With a healed defensive line and a young but aggressive group of linebackers, Burtnett doesn’t anticipate a repeat of last year’s big plays.

“You have to adjust to what your people can do,” he said. “Our best people on this side of the ball, right now, are our linebackers. So we are going to try to put more pressure on the linebackers to try to take some pressure off the secondary. We also need help from the front people.”

That’s part of the answer to the original question, but to get to the full, complete resolution you have to examine the roster. The Cougars could possibly trot out three defensive backs making their first Division I start when they take the field at Camp Randall Stadium on Sept. 1 – corners Chima Nwachukwu, Devin Giles and safety Alfonso Jackson.

It’s not that the trio isn’t talented. They’re just green.

“We have so much potential,” said defensive captain and starting safety Husain Abdullah, the only returning secondary player who has cemented a spot. “For young guys they are really doing good. Chima asked me ‘how do I look?’ I told him ‘you look good for a freshman, but as a starting corner in the Pac-10 you’ve got to pick it up.’ He said ‘OK, I’ll work to accomplish that.’ “

Abdullah, a senior, has taken huge steps since the end of last season. That’s how Burtnett sees it, anyway, but he can offer another set of eyes as evidence.

“I guess it’s good when somebody comes in from outside your program and reinforces that,” Burtnett said. “We had a pro scout in the other day and he said ‘that’s the best I’ve ever seen him play.’ ”

Abdullah knows a little about the NFL since brother Hamza, a WSU alum, is with the Denver Broncos.

“If you have a chance to go to the next level, of course you want to do it,” he said. “The young guys see a pro scout here and they talk about it, but you just try to block it out and just play. You don’t want to be looking over your shoulder the whole time. If you play well, it will all work out.”

But next year can wait. Right now the whole goal is to shut down the opposition’s passing game. And Abdullah has instituted a pro-style system to ensure that result.

“We’ve set goals,” he said, “and in everybody’s locker we have goals set out and we are going to accomplish those goals. We have season goals and everyone knows those and then we will have week-to-week goals, and everyone will have those in their lockers. It gives us something to strive for. Last year we just went out and said ‘I hope I have a good practice today.’ We want to have something to work toward.

“Talking to my brother, we were talking about setting goals and he said, ‘it works for individuals, so why shouldn’t it work for a team?’ “

Set a goal and reach it. That’s the simple answer.

Position outlook

For the Cougars to improve their pass defense, this group will have to play well beyond its experience level. The three newcomers are getting a crash course in Division I football against one of the better receiving corps in the West and it shows. Of all the units on either side of the ball, this one may have more to say about WSU’s ultimate success than any. There will be mistakes early, but expect improvement as the season wears on.