Turning back clock

PULLMAN – If you’re wondering what type of season Washington State University’s football team is going to have, look no further than head coach Bill Doba.

The 66-year-old mentor – he’ll turn 67 on Sept. 7, the day before the San Diego State game – has been flying around the practice field this fall like a not-yet-eligible-for-Social-Security 55-year-old. He’s re-energized and it shows.

All because, after four years as the Cougars head coach, he discovered he needed to get back to his roots. Back to when he was a position coach. Back to being the defensive coordinator. Back to when he was 55.

“It’s just fun coaching again,” Doba said in a recent interview, then explaining why. “Before I was an administrator, an observer, much like a fan. Now I’m involved in the actual teaching, No. 1, being with the players in a meeting room, which is special, I think you draw a certain bond.

“And then being in the planning of game plans, looking at the opponent, looking at how you’re going to attack them, what kind of protections do they use, what kind of routes are they going to run, how we’re going to scheme them, what coverages would be the best.”

Did he miss that the past four years?

“Yes, very much so,” he said, before pausing and then continuing with the demands of the new role. “It’s time consuming with the head coaching position. I have to limit some of the time I’ve spent with the media, writing letters to alums and those kind of things, but I think it’ll mean just a little bit more, I’ll be here a little later, burn a little more midnight oil, but, on the personal side, there’s not a whole lot to go home to anyway.”

Doba was referring to the death of his wife of 43 years, Judy, who passed away in April of 2006 after a four-year battle with cancer. The hole in his life is still there and it’s a space nothing can fill.

But football goes on and so does Doba.

“Even when he was just the head coach, he was always active out there, but he’s even more involved now,” said tight end Jed Collins, part of Doba’s first recruiting class as head coach. “He’s with his linebackers, but he’s really involved with every aspect, from special teams to offense to defense.

“He just loves the game and it shows. He love’s being on the field, you can tell that in practice. He’s happier on the field and he’s juggling both hats real well.”

With Doba in his fifth season – the Cougars are 25-22 – his recruits are either seniors like Collins or redshirt juniors. So what type of team has Doba put together for 2007? What are its strengths and weaknesses? And what lies ahead?

Strength: Quarterback Alex Brink

This is obvious. Talk to outside observers of WSU’s program and they marvel at Brink’s numbers. And why shouldn’t they? The senior from Eugene, Ore., should end his career as, statistically at least, the most accomplished quarterback in Cougars’ history.

“We’ve got a trigger,” Doba said about Brink. “I expect a great year from Alex, but it depends on a lot of things, it depends on how much protection he gets, it depends on his receivers. But he should have a great year.”

Such praise – and the accompanying pressure – doesn’t seem to faze Brink.

“It’s an honor to be a guy that people look to as kind of a barometer of this team,” he said. “To be a guy that people know needs to play well. There is pressure there but it’s a good kind of pressure because I want to be a guy who steps up every week and plays well.”

Weakness: The offensive line

This was one of two worry spots for Doba coming into fall. It still is, but not to the same extent. The center is strong, with returning starters Dan Rowlands, Bobby Byrd and Kenny Alfred. And tackles Vaughn Lesuma and Micah Hannam have fit in, molding a core Doba is beginning to admire. But most of the top reserves are either true freshmen or redshirt freshmen, two of which, Andrew Roxas and Steven Ayers, will travel to Wisconsin.

“It has come together some, but if a couple guys get hurt,” Doba said, his voice trailing off before continuing. “The depth of the offensive line is a concern as much as anything.”

Strength: The receivers

With a group that includes senior Michael Bumpus, who caught more balls than anyone on the team last year, and Brandon Gibson, ditto but with yardage, and a promising four or five others led by Charles Dillon, this might just be the deepest group of Cougars. And we didn’t even mention Collins, who had 22 catches last season.

Gibson has missed most of fall camp, however, with a bad knee and his availability for Saturday is still uncertain.

Weakness: The secondary

When the fall started, even the returning starter, free safety Husain Abdullah, was something of an enigma. But the senior has emerged from the large shadow cast by last year’s strong safety Eric Frampton and is the unquestioned leader of this group.

But the other three starters – strong safety Alfonso Jackson and cornerbacks Chima Nwachukwu and Devin Giles – will be seeing their first major college action on Saturday when WSU opens at Wisconsin. And the backups, including Gonzaga Prep graduate Ryan Kensok, Christian Bass, Markus Dawes and Xavier Hicks, have exactly zero WSU starts combined.

“We’re going to start a freshman corner (Nwachukwu) and he’s good, but he’s going to make mistakes, freshman mistakes,” Doba said. “We have to try to keep it as simple as we can so we don’t confuse him, to let his athleticism take over, he and Giles both.

“The other safety position is a concern as well. So the secondary is the biggest concern on the defense.”

Strength: Defensive front seven

Injuries limited this group last year so its full potential was never realized. But, whether it is luck or good planning, the Cougars should head into Madison with all but defensive end Lance Broadus (shoulder) and linebacker Alex Hamill (foot) healthy. And they’ll head in with a new look.

The tallest defensive lineman, 6-foot-8, 290-pound Ropati Pitoitua, has moved from tackle to end. Aaron Johnson (6-7, 318) and A’i Ahmu (6-foot, 292) are inside, with Liberty High’s Matt Mullennix (6-4, 210) filling in at Broadus’ spot. All are veterans, though Mullennix missed last season with a knee injury.

Not so at linebacker. Only Greg Trent – the junior in the middle is a captain after finishing last season with 77 tackles – returns. Cory Evans, who played starter’s minutes last season, and junior college transfer Kendrick Dunn man the other two spots, with Mead High School alum Andy Mattingly and possibly Jason Stripling – he should know by Thursday whether the NCAA has granted his academic appeal – seeing a lot of time.

“The defensive line is tough and we’ll be even better when we get Broadus back,” Doba said. “The linebacking corps, there’s a little bit of depth there and, if we can get Stripling back, that will help.”

Weakness: Depth

This should come as no surprise. From the Pac-10 media day in June, Doba has made it clear the Cougars need to stay healthy to be successful. They have strong starters – in some cases superb – but there is a precipitous drop off at some positions.

“We have to stay healthy,” Doba said with no qualifications.

So far the news hasn’t been great, with nine projected starters missing at least some practice time.

“We had an unusual amount of just minor nicks and pains, it seemed like,” Doba said. “I counted 29 kids one of the practices standing there, not in full gear.”

Strength: Kicker Romeen Abdollmohammadi

OK, get back in your chair. It’s been a while since a WSU field goal kicker has been listed as a strength.

But Abdollmohammadi, who finished last year as the guy and cemented himself in the role in the spring, worked on leg strength and accuracy over the summer. The senior has connected on a 52-yarder and a 47-yarder (into a stiff breeze) in fall scrimmages. He also seems relaxed and confident heading into the season, two excellent traits for a kicker.

“That will be a shock to everybody,” Doba said of his confidence in Abdollmohammadi. “I’d hate to put the hex on the kid, but Romeen has done an outstanding job. And (Darryl) Blunt has been punting well.”

Weakness: A tough schedule

Wisconsin on the road. USC on the road. Arizona in Tucson. Oregon in Eugene. Apple Cup on the west side. Only five games in Pullman.

As schedules go, the Cougs aren’t getting any breaks. Their toughest opponents, including Cal, are all away from the Palouse, making an upset all that harder. Both Arizona State and UCLA travel to Pullman in October, when the weather usually isn’t a factor.