Cougars’ offensive line hit its stride against Ducks’ defenders

PULLMAN — Things did not go well for the Washington State offensive line early this season. The running game was stuck in neutral and quarterback Josh Swogger wasn’t always getting the time he needed to throw the ball on target.

It didn’t help that both guard spots were being shuffled on an almost weekly basis — as evidenced by the three different combinations in four games.

But, lost in the shuffle in a 41-38 loss to Oregon last week, was the much-maligned unit’s best performance of the season. WSU has now allowed one sack in the last three games, and the Cougars seem to have discovered a running game as they racked up 143 yards on the ground.

“That helps, having continuity in there. I think we’re pretty settled right now, unless something drastic happens like an injury or something,” offensive line coach George Yarno said. “We’ve got some experience as a group now, so things aren’t surprising us like they were early in the season.”

But while the now-stable lineup at guard has helped (Bobby Byrd on the left side and Patrick Afif on the right), the play of left tackle Calvin Armstrong has done just as much if not more to spark the Cougars.

Armstrong played what was almost certainly his best game of the season against Oregon, squaring off against Ducks defensive end Devan Long, whose older brother Rien is a former Cougars standout. Long was atop the Pac-10 heap in tackles for losses coming into Pullman, but Armstrong limited his production all day, and the junior had just two assists and one hit on the quarterback.

“Before I missed with my hands a little bit and would get off-balance a little bit, but my hands were good so that helped me keep my balance a little bit better,” Armstrong said of the upgrade in his game over the course of the season thus far. “I felt really comfortable against him. He’s a good player; he’s big and physical. Things were just working for me.”

Yarno praised Armstrong’s work ethic in getting back to a point where he can dominate defenders. As a sophomore, Armstrong put in a year worthy of All-American honors, before slipping a bit as a junior. But in this, his senior season, he appears to be regaining some of his form.

“He’s really tried to do the things I’ve asked him to do and has never questioned anything I’ve asked him to do, even though he’s a four-year starter. I’ve just seen great improvements in him,” Yarno said. “The athleticism and all that is something he’s always had. The tenacity and the finishing, understanding the game of football, those are the things he’s kind of had to work on and he’s really worked hard at them. It shows in his play and he’s really improved. He’s playing at a very high level right now.”

Injury update

The Cougars received a large dose of good news on Tuesday when 6-foot-8 defensive tackle Ropati Pitoitua returned to practice for the first time since sustaining a high ankle sprain against Colorado on Sept. 11.

“I feel pretty good,” Pitoitua said at the end of practice. “It’s been a long time, so that’s nice.

“I talked to the trainers and they said I just got to get my mind ready.”

Pitoitua is still listed as questionable, but trainer Bill Drake indicated that he might be upgraded to probable as the week progresses if things continue to go well for the freshman in practice.

Pitoitua was able to participate in all drills after successfully completing running regimens on Thursday and Saturday.

While the team had hoped for Pitoitua’s return, the appearance of wide receiver Marty Martin at practice was a bit more of a surprise. Martin went through practice wearing a no-contact jersey usually reserved for quarterbacks, but Drake said Martin will be cleared for light contact today and is probable for Saturday, two days after being called doubtful.

Running back Jerome Harrison, the Cougars’ leading rusher in the last two games, missed practice with an ankle sprain that didn’t swell up until the day after playing Oregon. It’s still in doubt as to whether he will be cleared to practice today, but Drake said the junior college transfer is probable to see the field against Stanford on Saturday.

Finally, tight end Troy Bienemann, who missed all but one play last week after bruising a shin against Arizona, is making progress and could attempt to practice as soon as today if things go well. The junior has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable, although Drake cautioned that Bienemann still has a way to go before being able to play.