Rookie Quarterback Moves Up Kegel Switches From Scout Team To Counteract Gesser’S Injury

With Jason Gesser sidelined with a bum thumb, the maturation of Matt Kegel has been accelerated.

When Gesser went down with a torn ligament in his thumb, Kegel, the much-heralded recruit from Havre, Mont., was moved off the scout team and into the position of third-string quarterback. Sure it doesn’t sound like a huge leap, but now at least he is running Washington State’s plays instead of the Cougars’ opponents.

“I’m getting a great look at the offense,” said Kegel. “And I’m able to work with the receivers that I’m going to be working with next year. It helps as far as getting my timing down with them.”

Kegel showed that timing in a scrimmage between teams of reserve players on Thursday. After starting slowly, Kegel found DeAndre Douglas for a 65-yard touchdown pass, the only one of the afternoon. Kegel also showed some running ability as he got outside on a bootleg, gained close to 15 yards and tried to push his 6-foot-5, 215-pound body through three defenders.

But there is still one thing the freshman is learning that may not become apparent until the spring or the fall camp.

“Right now, I’m learning how to lead,” he said. “Being around the guys and in the huddle with the guys I’m going to be playing with next year has helped me a lot with leadership.”

Limited linemen

Right tackle Reed Raymond never put pads on this week. Neither did left tackle Phil Locker. And right guard Ryan Raymond, Reed’s 6-7, 310-pound twin, hobbled around practice with a bad leg. All three are starters on the offensive line and all three are questionable for next week’s game at Arizona State.

But finding bodies to fill holes on the offensive line is nothing new for the Cougars this season. The Raymonds have been hurt off and on all season, and senior Joe Criscione has not played up to what was expected.

So Price has been scrambling to solidify the line. Last week, he even converted two defensive linemen, Joey Hollenbeck and Brian Hollenberg, to offense.

“We would like (to get some continuity on the offensive line) but it is really almost impossible and improbable too.” Price said. “I’m assuming the Raymonds won’t be with us for the Arizona State game. So those young kids (Derrick Roche, Jason Hughes and others) have got to learn.”

Problem is nobody expected them to have to learn this early in their careers. Therefore, they were not given the same amount of work during two-a-days as the veterans. And this could account for the reason the Cougars have given up 19 sacks in six games.

“If we had five guys practicing against those stunts and blitzes and twists then they would have six weeks of total preparation on those and would be quite good,” said Price. “But we don’t have. We have got Jason Hughes who has had two weeks of it. He was just a thought in the back of our minds in two-a-days.

“We are missing a lot of continuity with the offensive line. That’s what the problem is,” the coach added.

Logo lore

Two games ago, Washington State switched the logo on its helmet from the cursive Cougars to the school’s WSU logo that was designed by Randall Johnson in the 1930s. Two wins later, the logo is still on the helmets and it is not about to be peeled off.

“It is going to remain on the helmet for as long as we win,” Price said.

BY THE NUMBERS Statistically speaking Washington State’s Steve Gleason, who is on the Butkus Award watch list, leads the Pacific-10 Conference in tackles with 11 per game. WSU safety Billy Newman is third with 10.2 tackles per game. But the Cougars do not have anyone in the top 10 in sacks, tackles for loss, fumbles forced or fumbles recovered. Freshman running back Deon Burnett is tied for 20th in scoring in the nation with an average of nine points per game. He is fourth in rushing in the Pac10 with an average of 81.3 yards per game. The only other freshman in the Pac-10 top 10 is Cal’s Joe Igber (eighth) with 49.8 yards per game. Washington State has 544 yards in penalties, more than any other team in the Pac-10. The Cougars have 12 turnovers through six games this year. And they have turned the ball over only three times in their last three games. Last year, Washington State led Division I with 40 turnovers.