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WSU Football chat

Nov 9 2016, 10:03 AM
Guest3460 (guest): How do you think WSU will defend California since their offense is a mirror image of WSU's?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:04 AM
srchat: I doubt WSU will drastically change much from their base nickel defense, although you might see some speedier personnel. I think it's fair to say Nnamdi Oguayo will play a lot after his three-sack week, and maybe you see more Kirkland Parker at nickel, stuff like that.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:04 AM
Guest8793 (guest): Does this coaching staff ever give insight when a guy thought to be on a track to redshirt gets in for a few plays this late in the year? I think and Freshman WR got his first snaps against AZ. Just seems strange to burn it this late.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:05 AM
srchat: The only WR who debuted against Arizona was Kainoa Wilson, a walk-on who redshirted last season. The only freshmen I can really remember burning their redshirts late in the season was all those cornerbacks in 2014. That was under a different defensive coordinator, and he was sort of forced to by injury.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:05 AM
srchat: Quick programming note: WSU is holding its men's basketball signing day press conference at 11 a.m. so we're going to have a shorter chat than usual today.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:06 AM
Guest2152 (guest): Name a couple players that aren't play much or are redshirting this year who will make large impacts next year
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:07 AM
srchat: Frederick Mauigoa will almost certainly start at center. I expect D'Jimon Jones to see the field somewhere, whether it be cornerback, safety or maybe even on offense. Jahad Woods will probably get playing time next seson.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:07 AM
Guest2736 (guest): Do you know if the team is recruiting Thomas Toki again?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:07 AM
srchat: I have heard that they are.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:08 AM
Guest6782 (guest): Does Cody O'Connell seem to be back to full health?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:08 AM
srchat: I do not think he's 100 percent yet, but he's close enough to play as much as they need him to.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:08 AM
Guest68 (guest): Do you think having Morrow as kind of an up man on punt returns against Arizona a new wrinkle and something Mele saw on Arizona's game film? Do you expect it to continue?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:09 AM
srchat: I think that's a good insight and obviously it worked. It will continue if Mele sees the same things on tape.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:09 AM
Guest8793 (guest): Also why is the Hoop game starting at 4:00pm. Just can't get there in time. Seems like a weird time.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:10 AM
srchat: The Pac-12 Network is staggering broadcasts throughout the day to get as many games on TV as possible as the season tips off.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:10 AM
Guest3436 (guest): How would you rank the the bowls available to WSU by how much you think you will enjoy covering it?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:10 AM
srchat: 1. College Football Playoff (yes, it's still available) 2. Rose Bowl 3. Alamo Bowl 4. Holiday 5. Foster Farms
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:11 AM
srchat: I know that ranking is the exact order the bowls select in,but I promise that's also my preference in terms of wanting to see the cities, cover the specific bowls, opponent interest, etc.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:11 AM
Guest9435 (guest): Why is there no hype this year for Luke and the Heisman? Is what he has done and is doing not seen as special?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:13 AM
srchat: It does seem these last two weeks that Falk has now done enough that he should be getting some Heisman love. Here is what I think the answer is, and I know it's unsatisfying: The top candidates established themselves really early on and none have done anything to diminish their candidacy. Lamar Jackson is going to win. That's a fact, and he should. Browning, Watson,Peppers, Foreman all dominated early -- back when WSU was starting 0-2 -- and continue to play well.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:15 AM
srchat: Now, I certainly think one can argue that Falk over the last couple months has played as well as the aforementioned players - and his team has won continuously - but to leapfrog a candidate already ranked ahead he needs to significantly outplay him and all the candidates are playing really well.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:15 AM
Guest9896 (guest): What do you think attributed to Oguayo's breakout game? Just played a great game? Hercules being double teamed? Or what?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:16 AM
srchat: A combination of him having played enough games to be comfortable on the field and Arizona being terrible.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:16 AM
Guest3504 (guest): Looks to be a shoot out between the Bears and Cougars. What can the D do to keep the Bear passing attack under control. Say 28Pts. or less?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:17 AM
srchat: The WSU defense will need to force some turnovers,which is something the Cougars pretty good at. Mostly they'll need to contain Chad Hansen and put pressure on Davis Webb.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:19 AM
TrumpDoom (guest): Hey Jacob do you think last weeks meeting with the board of Regents helped Barbers case in any way and do you seem him being able to suit up in our last 2 conference games?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:21 AM
srchat: My feeling at the time was that if the meeting was going to have any impact, it was going to happen quickly. The Barber advocates had a passionate, partisan room full of people making their case. That was when the president or regents might have acquiesced, if they were going to. Now I think him playing is a long shot.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:21 AM
CougSchroed (guest): Cal's strengths and weaknesses?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:22 AM
srchat: Strength is the passing game. Davis Webb can really throw it and Chad Hansen can really catch it, plus they have some other athletic playmakers. Weakness is defense.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:22 AM
Guest2152 (guest): Do you agree with CU, Utah, and USC being ranked above WSU in the CFP rankings?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:23 AM
srchat: Put it this way: I agree with USC being ranked ahead of WSU (I have them ahead in my Power Rankings), but I don't agree with USC leapfrogging WSU based on last week's games. I don't really have a problem with CU or Utah being ranked ahead.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:23 AM
JesseCoug (guest): Noticed you put USC above WSU in this weeks power rankings, not sure where the logic is behind that,also LSU played Alabama tough, would you have moved them up in the rankings as well?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:25 AM
srchat: I would have moved LSU up, just like Utah rose a spot in the rankings after losing to UW. The logic is that I believe USC would be favored over WSU on a neutral field right now. Regular rankings are cumulative, power rankings are current and currently I think USC is playing at the second-highest level in the conference.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:25 AM
Guest9435 (guest): Aren't most of the Heisman candidates mentioned freshman? Do Cougs need to run the table for Luke to be serious candidate?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:26 AM
srchat: I don't believe any of the serious candidates are freshmen. WSU probably needs to run the table, yes. But even then, Lamar Jackson is going to win the Heisman. That is just a thing that is going to happen.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:26 AM
TrumpDoom (guest): Do you expect both UW and WSU to arrive undefeated in Apple Cup? Either way what do you think each teams strengths/differences are that will make them succesful in the game.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:27 AM
srchat: I think it's basically a coin flip. I could easily see UW losing to USC or WSU losing at Colorado. If they both win those games, I think it will happen. As to the second part, UW can win because its secondary is good enough to stop the Air Raid and WSU can win because it has the better offensive line and that's really important.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:28 AM
Sid (guest): Leach seemed the most happy with his team after Arizona than he has ever been in his time at WSU, agree?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:28 AM
srchat: Yes, I can't really recall any other game where Leach seemed so satisfied with how the team played in every aspect.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:29 AM
Guest9435 (guest): weather game time Saturday?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:29 AM
srchat: Cloudy, cold and the the sun will have set.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:29 AM
Guest9914 (guest): Grinch seemed to send a lot more blitzes last week than I can remember in a long time. Sign of things to come or just a gameplan for AZ?
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:30 AM
srchat: I would think of every change you see like that as a team-specific game plan and probably not a profound new adjustment for the team.
 
Nov 9 2016, 10:30 AM
srchat: Alright, everybody. Sorry for the short chat but I have to head to campus for Ernie Kent's signing day press conference.Thanks for joining us today and we will of course do it again next week.
Jacob Thorpe
Jacob Thorpe joined The Spokesman-Review in 2013. He currently is a reporter for the Sports Desk covering Washington State University athletics.

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