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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

2

Minute drill

Jeff Tuel will probably have to do a little running against Cal’s pressue defense. (Associated Press)

1 For weeks Washington State had seemingly found the formula it needed to compete. The Cougars were playing with a passion not usually associated with one-win teams. Then last week it all disappeared in the desert. A listless group was blown out by a motivated team. The Bears should be motivated today because no one wants to be remembered as the team that allowed WSU to break a 15-game Pac-10 losing streak. So the Cougars must match that intensity and bring the fire they had against Oregon, Arizona and Stanford. Without it, the streak will grow to 16.

2 Though the Cougars’ offense has improved measurably this season – after six Pac-10 games last year, WSU had scored 63 points; this season it has 102 – scoring early hasn’t been marked off their bucket list all that often. In nine games this year, WSU has 28 first-quarter points, half of those coming against Oregon. It was that quick start that allowed the Cougars to stay in the game with the Pac-10-leading Ducks, but since then WSU has scored just seven first-half points. If the offense can click early today, it takes a tremendous amount of pressure off a beleaguered defense.

3 It’s obvious Washington State has to do a better job against California’s running attack than it has the past two seasons. Giving up 350 yards, which is what the Bears have averaged on the ground against WSU, just won’t be acceptable. But the defense also has to find a way to make Brock Mansion uncomfortable. The redshirt junior is making his first start at quarterback and, with Oregon, Stanford and Washington still on the schedule, Bears coach Jeff Tedford probably will want him throwing enough to get comfortable with the offense. If the wind is blowing, if pressure can be applied, if the coverage is sound, maybe the Cougars can force a couple errant passes and earn some extra possessions.

4 Last year Jeff Tuel had what is still the game of his short career against California, torching the Bears’ porous pass defense for 354 yards and two touchdowns. But Cal has shored up that aspect of its defense, leading the Pac-10 with just 188.4 yards yielded per game. It’s part of, statistically, the conference’s second-best defense. The defense starts with pressure up front, applied from different angles and different spots. That’s led to 18 sacks, second in the Pac-10 to Arizona. Look for the Cougars to try to take advantage of that pressure by turning Tuel loose, allowing the sophomore to use his legs more.