There’S Beef On O-Line
WSU spring football
The Fat Five couldn’t hold a Twinkie to these guys.
“We’re huge,” Washington State offensive line coach John McDonell said.
WSU’s current line averages a belt-busting 309 pounds per man. That’s 21 more than the hard-scrabble group that nearly upstaged the Fab Five receivers last season.
Left tackle Rob Rainville, a meal card-carrying member of the Fat Five, is the only returning starter. At 6-foot-5 and 323 pounds, he’s 17 pounds heavier than a year ago.
Right tackle Ryan McShane, the heaviest member of last year’s group at 307 pounds, would surely be proud.
The biggest increases involve center Mickey Long (304) and right guard Mike Sage (318). Long replaces Lee Harrison (266) while Sage steps in for Cory Withrow (272).
New left guard Ryan Tujague could probably stand another trip through WSU’s fitness buffet. At just 292 pounds, he’s a full pound lighter than his predecessor, Jason McEndoo.
Right tackle Reed Raymond, barely heavier than McShane at 308 pounds, might also consider an extra helping.
It’s early, though.
This year’s line may be heavier, but it lacks the savvy that made the Fat Five so effective. That comes with game experience.
“We have a chance to be a real physical line,” McDonell said. “The difference right now is they’re still learning the offense a little bit and last year’s group kind of had that junkyard-dog mentality, that win-at-all-costs fight. Nothing rattled them.”
The Fat Five needed time to develop as well. They were tossed around by the defensive line during spring drills, and Harrison didn’t enter the lineup until two days before the season-opener.
Halfway through this spring, only Rainville has secured a starting job. Tujague and Long seem likely starters, while right guard and right tackle are less settled.
Sage has been slowed by a sore back, giving Reed Raymond additional opportunities. Ryan Raymond is battling Joe Criscione at right tackle
Experience is the key.
“That just takes time,” Rainville said. “I think once we get that down we have a chance to have a better offensive line than we did last year.”
Tujague may be the most talented of the group.
“He has skills like Scott Sanderson did as far as size and strength,” McDonell said. “He’s really a talent.”
Riley makes mark in secondary
Earl Riley, a junior-college transfer who redshirted last season, has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Duane Stewart at strong safety. Riley played linebacker in high school and cornerback at Merced (Calif.) Junior College. He’s in the process of trimming about 10 pounds from his 6-1, 217-pound frame.
“Earl’s playing real well,” defensive coordinator Bill Doba said. “He’s a strong kid, he run supports real well and he’s smart. He’s making all the calls right.”
Riley’s emergence has coincided with the loss of former starter Torry Hollimon, who will probably need arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Hollimon is out for the spring.
Matson finds role
Defensive end Austin Matson lacks the imposing physical presence of Dorian Boose or even Shane Doyle, last season’s starters. But he’s stronger than both, and his relentless approach to the game has made him impossible for coaches to ignore.
“He’s a real pleasant surprise,” Doba said. “We’re putting him on that tight end-side end and he’s got a great motor, great energy, flying around hitting people.”
The 6-2, 253-pound Matson can bench-press 460 pounds, highest on the team. He entered camp as a linebacker, but he lacked the patience needed to read and react. At defensive end, Matson is allowed more freedom to cut loose.
Matson, listed as the backup, will share playing time with Jonathan Nance. Matson is more of a bull-rusher while Nance, at 6-4 and 234, relies more on his speed.
“I need to start using more technique and using my quickness a little more,” Matson said. “I’m not saying I’m faster than everybody on the team, but I hope I’m faster than a 320-pound offensive tackle.”
Mencke shines
Sophomore Paul Mencke connected on nine of 19 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns Saturday as the Cougars went through the first of its three spring scrimmages in Martin Stadium.
Mencke, from Spokane’s Lewis and Clark High School, threw touchdown passes to Sean DeCambra and Nian Taylor and did not throw an interception.
Junior-college transfer Bryan Paul completed 5 of 13 throws for 50 yards and redshirt freshman Sam Baurichter went 3 of 7 for 53 yards.
Six running backs combined for 141 yards. DeJuan Gilmore, the secondmost productive back on the 1997 squad, led the way with 46 yards on eight carries.
Notes
Junior quarterback Steve Birnbaum resumed running this week and is making a quick recovery from off-season knee surgery. He has yet to participate fully in practice, although he takes part in passing drills. With Birnbaum limited, Mencke continues to impress. “He’s throwing darts,” said Rainville, the left tackle. “And when I go over to the coaches’ offices, he’s watching films, studying. He thinks this is his chance to play. He knows it. He sees that light.”
Long-snapper Erik Larson will have shoulder surgery next week and is expected to miss three months. Larson suffered the injury during Wednesday’s practice. Matson is the other long-snapper… . Linebacker continues to be a strength, as the offensive line has learned. “This spring, it’s the quickness of our linebackers that we’re having a harder time adjusting to, whether it’s with run blitzes or pass-blocking blitzes,” said McDonell. “Those guys seem to be on us a little bit quicker than what we’re used to. That’s been the biggest adjustment.”
James Price is getting practice time at all three linebacker positions.