Washington State football chat transcript - 9/12

Sep 12, 8:59 AM srchat (Admin): Let’s live chat it up. Rolling in 3, 2…. Sep 12, 9:00 AM Guest8354 (Guest): Enjoyed your article on Claeys being in the box. I know historically Leach has had an offense assistant that seemed to serve as his go to eye in the sky. David Yost seemed to be that guy for a while, who is filling that role now? Sep 12, 9:01 AM srchat (Admin): That’s a good question. Far as I’ve been able to tell, all of the offensive coaches have spent the games on the sideline, but I know there’s a handful of offensive GAs up there. Sep 12, 9:01 AM Guest4149 (Guest): Has anything about the team surprised you so far? Sep 12, 9:04 AM srchat (Admin): The defensive line. If the first two games are any indication of what that group’s capable of this year, they’ll be just fine. Wyoming and San Jose State aren’t USC and UW, but all things considered, I’ve been particularly impressed with the D-line. Sep 12, 9:06 AM bkransford: Nichol was in the booth last year, but pretty sure I saw him on the sideline last week, too. Interesting. Leach has *always* had someone up there. I’d be interested to hear about that change. Sep 12, 9:08 AM srchat (Admin): Ok, well there’s your answer. I’ll keep an eye out this Saturday, but yeah I also recall seeing Nichols down there. Sep 12, 9:08 AM srchat (Admin): Err, Nichol* Sep 12, 9:08 AM JFMCOUGS (Guest): I haven’t seen or heard much of George Hicks this year, is he still a back up corner back, saw him play multiple times last year? Sep 12, 9:11 AM srchat (Admin): Yes, Hicks is still listed as Sean Harper Jr’s backup. I don’t think you’re seeing as much rotation among the corners as you did last year. At least not at that spot. Marcus Strong has spelled Molton plenty, but we haven’t seen Hicks a lot. Sep 12, 9:11 AM Guest809 (Guest): How do you expect Tracy’s gameplan to differ from Grinch? Also how good are the EWU Receivers? Sep 12, 9:14 AM srchat (Admin): Claeys seems to be a little more aggressive with his blitz packages and while we haven’t seen the defense protect the red zone much (they haven’t had many chances to), you’ll see them bring much more pressure in those situations, too. Well, no Cooper Kupp/Kendrick Bourne/Shaq Hill this time, but keep an eye out for Nsimba Webster. He’s already at 388 yds (!!!) and 4 TDs through two games. Sep 12, 9:17 AM Guest8354 (Guest): We didn’t see much Big Gulp action this last week? Saving some more packages for conference play? Any more insight on who the mystery Microsoft guy Sep 12, 9:22 AM srchat (Admin): That could be the case. Wouldn’t make sense to unveil all your secrets in a game with fewer stakes, I suppose, but I think we did see it once. No further updates on the Microsoft man, who I’m convinced is Paul Allen until told otherwise. Sep 12, 9:22 AM JFMCOUGS (Guest): What unit offensively or defensively seems to be WSU’s biggest weakness so far in your opinion? Sep 12, 9:26 AM srchat (Admin): You have me stumped here. It’d be hard to pinpoint any position group as a “weakness” after 41-19 and 31-0 wins and I can’t think of one that’s been significantly worse than the others. Ask me again next week. Sep 12, 9:26 AM JFMCOUGS (Guest): Is Derek Moore still on the football team? If so, do you expect him to play at all this year? Sep 12, 9:27 AM srchat (Admin): Still on the team, yes. I’m not able to watch practice, so I can’t lend much insight on if he’ll play this year. But I have seen him around the facilities. Sep 12, 9:27 AM Guest8354 (Guest): If it’s Paul Allen I think I’d rather just have a large donation to the football program than a trick play formation Sep 12, 9:28 AM srchat (Admin): You’d rather have a new indoor practice facility over Big Gulp Left? Sep 12, 9:28 AM Guest7135 (Guest): Zero receptions this year for Robert Lewis. Is he buried on the depth chart or did I miss something? Sep 12, 9:29 AM srchat (Admin): Lewis is technically the third choice at “H” behind Renard Bell and Travell Harris, so there hasn’t been a lot of opportunity for him so far. Sep 12, 9:30 AM Jason Childers: How have the running backs seemed this week. Curious how they respond to Leach’s seventh graders comment after the last game. Sep 12, 9:32 AM srchat (Admin): I laughed when Eric Mele, after Sunday’s practice, said “I think we have the seventh grade All-American team of the world if that was the case.” He seemed to think the backs played OK on Saturday. 126 rushing yards is never bad in the Air Raid offense… Sep 12, 9:35 AM srchat (Admin): OK, my turn. Player you’ve been most impressed with/surprised by through two games is…? Sep 12, 9:36 AM Jon Yerkes: Silvels Sep 12, 9:37 AM srchat (Admin): Great choice. Definitely impressive for somebody who learned that position midway through camp. Sep 12, 9:37 AM Jason Childers: Not surprised, but impressed with Borghi. Surprised by D line. Sep 12, 9:38 AM srchat (Admin): Had a feeling about Borghi from the first time I saw him in a practice setting. Part of me wondered how it’d translate. Clearly it has. Sep 12, 9:38 AM JFMCOUGS (Guest): Minshew Sep 12, 9:38 AM srchat (Admin): Spoke to Ryan Leaf for a Q&A that’ll be online later today. He had some nice compliments for Minshew. Sep 12, 9:38 AM Guest3408 (Guest): Max Borghi. I know he came in pretty highly touted, but I was still surprised by his immediate impact/production. Sep 12, 9:39 AM srchat (Admin): Much more physical than he appears. Sep 12, 9:39 AM Jon Yerkes: and Skyler Thomas Sep 12, 9:40 AM srchat (Admin): Tracy Claeys said he’d made the most progress of any defensive player between spring and fall camp. And look who’s leading the Cougs in tackles now… Sep 12, 9:40 AM Guest6427 (Guest): Borghi Sep 12, 9:42 AM Jon Yerkes: I’ve noticed both tackles pulling this year. Speaks to their athleticism. Is that new? I don’t remember that in past years Sep 12, 9:43 AM srchat (Admin): I don’t remember seeing it much last year. We haven’t interviewed Mason Miller but would definitely be something to bring up next time we do. Sep 12, 9:43 AM JFMCOUGS (Guest): Shocked that people are saying Borghi, he is arguably the most touted recruit to come to Pullman in years! Sep 12, 9:45 AM srchat (Admin): To be fair, half of the question was “most impressed with.” Sep 12, 9:50 AM Jon Yerkes: Jesus E looks good for a walkon. Hope he continues to improve and gets on scholarship Sep 12, 9:51 AM srchat (Admin): I think he’s well on his way. Didn’t expect him to be as much of a factor on the D-line, but it shows that group is deeper than we thought it’d be. Sep 12, 9:54 AM Jon Yerkes: How bad will our basketball team be? Sep 12, 9:55 AM srchat (Admin): Lot of new faces. Interested to see how the JC guys blend in with Franks, Daniels, Skaggs, etc. And if guys like Chidom/Cooper can make a big leap this year. Oh wait, I avoided your question didn’t I? Sep 12, 9:56 AM Jon Yerkes: very diplomatic answer Sep 12, 9:56 AM srchat (Admin): Ernie might be watching… Sep 12, 9:57 AM JFMCOUGS (Guest): The basketball team is going to be horrible. Sep 12, 9:59 AM srchat (Admin): We’ll call it a few minutes early today. We’re taping a live edition of the “Press Box” podcast this afternoon at the Spokane County Fair, so if you happen to be both in Spokane and at the fair, feel free to stop by the S-R’s booth between 1-2 and say hello. This also means I won’t be at WSU practice today, but keep an eye out for Pac-12 picks and a Q& with Ryan Leaf later on. Thanks for chatting as always. Sep 12, 9:59 AM srchat (Admin): Q&A*