Cougs Thinking Positive Some Things Have Gone Well In Pair Of Overtime Losses

Following Washington State’s 53-47 triple overtime loss to Arizona on Oct. 14, coach Mike Price was asked if he liked the college overtime system. He responded with a resounding “Yes.” Following Washington State’s 23-20 overtime loss to Arizona State on Saturday, Price was again asked if he liked the college overtime system.

He responded with a quick “No comment.”

Two weeks. Two overtime losses. It’s almost become too much to bear for the Cougars. “We got so much freaking talent and so much potential on this team,” said a frustrated Jason Gesser after throwing three interceptions in a 23-20 overtime loss to Arizona State. “We beat ourselves.”

Now the concern is the players beating themselves up emotionally this week.

“I don’t think we are in a slump right now, but if we continue to have negative thoughts about our execution and our playing in certain situations then we will go into a slump,” said Price. “I told the team today, `How do you expect to sack the passer if you have two bags of cement that you carry with you? How can you run with the football if you have a 20-pound leaded sack of weights on your back?

“`If we drag this overtime loss from Arizona, overtime loss to ASU, into the next game it is not helping you one bit,”’ he said to the players. “`You got to put those bags away.”’

So it’s focus on the positive time at WSU. There is plenty of that to focus on. The offense generated seven yards per play against ASU. Wide receiver Marcus Williams and Milton Wynn both had more than 100 yards and both appear to be hitting their stride. The run offense is averaging 134 yards per game. The defensive line is showing improvement. And Billy Newman is covering up everybody’s mistakes with stellar play from the safety position.

There is plenty of negative surrounding these Cougars as well. Washington State has 19 fumbles, 11 of those have been lost. There have been two missed field goals in the past two weeks. Both of them were potential game winners. And then there has been the play of Gesser in clutch situations.

Price said Gesser is pressing too hard in certain situations.

The sophomore has tried to make something out of nothing in the last two overtime games. Both times he has thrown an interception. Primarily because the slippery slinger who was so quick to tuck it and run last year and in the first game of the season, refuses to do so now.

Certainly nobody wants to see the quarterback revert to his running scared mentality of last season or the Stanford game. In fact, following the Stanford debacle, Gesser was coached to stay in the rolling pocket and allow his receivers more time to get open.

Gesser has had great success staying behind the line of scrimmage. He is 13th in the nation in passing efficiency (148.48), and 14th in offense (266 yards per game).

But in the last two games, on those last two plays, Gesser needed to rely on the instincts that earned him two high school state championships and scholarship offers from Pac-10 schools. Both times there was a clear running lane. Against Arizona State it looked as if he could make the first down marker. But because he only has eight starts, Gesser has trouble balancing what he has been coached to do with what comes naturally.

The coaches certainly wanted him to run in both situations. There is little doubt that when Price broke the film down with Gesser on Sunday evening he told his QB to go ahead and tuck the ball in that situation. Now it is up to Gesser to react to what he is being told. “It happened,” said Price of the overtime miscues. “It doesn’t mean that the next time he (Gesser) isn’t going to make the play.”

The plays are going to be harder to make from here on out. The Cougars have to travel to No. 18 Oregon State (6-1, 4-1) this week for a 7:15 p.m. game. After that, No. 7 Oregon comes to Martin Stadium.