Numbers game forces Cougs’ O’Connor to move to tight end
PULLMAN — Sean O’Connor was still wearing his No. 73 at practice on Tuesday. Having played every position on the offensive line while at Washington State, it makes sense. This week, though, it’s causing problems.
With it becoming increasingly likely that starting tight end Troy Bienemann won’t be able to play on Saturday, and with backup Cody Boyd out, the Cougars needed a second tight end desperately to go along with Jesse Taylor. O’Connor, who has moonlighted at the position before, was their man.
“Coach keeps telling me I need to change my number because I’m getting looked off of late,” O’Connor said. “They see the 73 running across and, gosh, I’m thinking maybe the defensive guys aren’t covering me when they see the 73 running. They figure I don’t know what I’m doing and I’m in the wrong spot.”
O’Connor, for the record, will be switching to No. 89 by kickoff against the Ducks. The Cougars are still praying that Bienemann can recover from a bone and deep tissue bruise suffered against Arizona, but the junior starter remained in a protective boot as of Tuesday afternoon and head coach Bill Doba suggested the most WSU could hope for was 10-15 snaps. Boyd is out for at least another month with a third-degree shoulder separation, an injury that could require surgery and become season-ending.
That means O’Connor and especially Taylor take center stage, at least for the short term. Against the Wildcats 11 days ago, Taylor served as the Cougars’ top tight end in the second half, as both Bienemann and Boyd went down early.
As a result, WSU went to more four- and five-wide receiver formations so Taylor wouldn’t end up on the field for more plays than he might have been ready for. While a similar strategy remains a possibility for this week’s game, Doba also conceded that the multiple-tight end set WSU has used on occasion this year is more or less out for the time being.
“The three tight end set, the goal line heavy set and all those things are probably a thing of the past right now,” he said. “If one of those guys gets nicked — I’m not going to spend time practicing with two tight ends and if one of them gets hurt in warm-ups, I have no other guy to throw in there.”
Tight end coach Robin Pflugrad has been dealt the responsibility of trying to prepare Taylor and O’Connor for the increased workload this week. And while he admits it isn’t an easy task, having the two normally atop the depth chart out of practice has given their replacements more chances to improve during the week.
“They’re getting all the reps. So you have a tendency to get better the more reps you have,” Pflugrad said. “My goal is that they’re comfortable and they’re productive. If we get to that point with them by Saturday at 2 o’clock, then we’re in great shape.”
Taylor is a little smaller than Bienemann and Boyd at 230 pounds, but the sophomore said he’s happy with his ability to make plays at the current weight. At one point, Taylor said he was carrying as much as 260 pounds, but the difference has given him greater ability to make plays in the passing game, something the Cougars may need from time to time against Oregon.
And while it was a surprise to end up playing against Arizona, that experience — along with the bye week — has given him a leg up in preparation for his likely job as a starter.
“I was rusty, but after a series or two I was good to go,” Taylor said. “I was a little shocked last week that both Troy and Cody went down, but Coach Pflugrad prepares all of us equally to go in there and play.”
Notes
Doba said quarterback Josh Swogger will probably have to play with pain for the rest of the season because of his partially torn MCL, but the sophomore captain continues to participate in practice without a hitch. … The head coach also said Bobby Byrd and Patrick Afif are likely to be the starters at guard, a repeat from Arizona. Norvell Holmes, who started on the right side for the season’s first two games, has made progress from back problems that had slowed him down and is pushing for playing time once again. … The Cougars received a fourth verbal commitment during their bye week for their 2005 signing class. Kenny Alfred of Gig Harbor chose WSU over Washington and Northwestern, and is expected to play on the offensive line. WSU has also received verbal commitments from Shelton Danzy of Seattle, Brandon Gibson of Puyallup and Arkelon Hall of Fresno, Calif.