Next stop L.A. for Cougars
COUGARS
FROM PULLMAN -- After the Friday walk-through, that is. But Washington State's week of real, official practices is over, and the team will board a plane for Los Angeles tomorrow as it prepares to face USC on Saturday. We have a few notes from today's practice.
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--- Nothing has changed on the Nolan Washington/Anthony Carpenter front. Neither attended or participated in Thursday's no-contact practice, so it seems all but certain now that freshman Daquawn Brown will make his first career start.
Defensive coordinator Mike Breske said Brown is "still working on his technique. Not going to back down from anyone. Just got to refine his technique. And that’s just going to come from reps and reps and reps."
Breske said Brown's attitude will help him.
"As a corner you’ve got to forget in a hurry and go to the next play like we preach here," he said. "And just make routine plays."
--- Taylor Taliulu was not at practice, but I'm told he is still expected to start at safety on Saturday, so the status quo hasn't changed in that regard.
--- Isaac Dotson got a bit of work at safety in Taliulu's absence, and Breske said afterward that Dotson will play Saturday, whether it be on defense or special teams. That means no redshirt.
"He’s just got to learn. He’s getting better each day," Breske said. "He’s going to help us on special teams, he’s going to help us on defense. He’s going to play on Saturday under the big lights of the Coliseum. So he’s going to help us."
--- There were a few highlights during today's Thursday Night Football session. The most noteworthy was probably Tyler Bruggman's long touchdown pass to junior walk-on receiver Daniel Lilienthal, who drew loud praise from the receivers on the two-deeps who stuck around to watch.
Gerard Wicks had a pretty brutal shake of Jamal Morrow in the open field.
David Bucannon intercepted walk-on quarterback Cody Ennis, and almost came up with another pick on the next play after reaching to deflect a pass and diving to try to haul it in.
Walk-on defensive back Beau Glover also made an interception earlier in the scrimmage, snagging a pass from Bruggman intended for Robert Lewis.
That's all for today.
Christian Caple can be reached at christianc@spokesman.com. Twitter: @ChristianCaple