Ailments Let Cougs Experiment
Starting linebacker Johnny Nansen continues to rest his sore right knee after surgery, giving the Washington State defense a perfect opportunity to implement coverage schemes utilizing an extra defensive back.
“We’re kind of resting Nansen now, knowing that he’s kind of proven himself,” defensive coordinator Bill Doba said Wednesday, after the Cougars concluded their first day of full-contact football practices. “And then hopefully, come game week, we can get him out there when we go to one-a-days and try to get him ready to go.”
That approach produced mixed results in the afternoon session. While quarterback Ryan Leaf connected with Bryant Thomas and Chad Carpenter for long completions, the defensive backs also had their moments. Left cornerback Terrell Henderson and strong safety Duane Stewart batted away passes, and LeJuan Gibbons, the backup to injured right corner Shad Hinchen, gathered an interception after a rare bobble by Carpenter.
The 5-foot-11, 188-pound Henderson was feeling especially feisty, and managed to survive a brief scuffle with a group of offensive players that included 6-foot-6, 309-pound lineman Ryan McShane.
Nansen’s absence also means additional practice time for reserve linebackers Tom Wagner and Kenny Moore. Moore, a junior, had been held out of practice while a question of eligibility was settled.
“Of course, he looked pretty good, with fresh legs on his first day out,” Doba said. “Everybody else was dragging and he looked real quick today. So that’ll give Kenny some time for more reps and it makes us look at a nickel package a lot more, too.
“We can take a linebacker out and put in another DB. We haven’t run it because our backup secondary hasn’t been faster than our linebackers. Why take out a fast linebacker and put in a slow safety to cover a guy? You got to look at the personnel that you have.”
Notes
Defensive tackle Leon Bender practiced for the first time this season, but defensive end Dorian Boose drew most of the attention. With starting left tackle Scott Sanderson taking the day off, Boose manhandled less experienced tackles and tight ends… . DT Takari Blash has a pinched nerve in his neck… . Receiver Shawn Tims suffered a sprained shoulder Tuesday and was expected to miss several days… . Receivers Jason Clayton and Kourtney Allen have been limited by sore hamstrings… . The first of five fall scrimmages is today at 4 p.m… . Former WSU offensive lineman Paul Wulff (1986-88), now an assistant at Eastern Washington, dropped by for Wednesday’s afternoon practice.
, DataTimes