WSU secondary expects better results vs. Stanford
PULLMAN — There are seven days between games on the college football calendar. For Washington State University cornerback Karl Paymah, it feels like much more than that.
“It’s the longest week ever after a loss,” Paymah said. “You just can’t wait for the next opportunity to put that behind your back.”
Paymah — and the rest of the WSU secondary — are still licking their wounds after Kellen Clemens and the Oregon offense lit them up for 437 passing yards and 41 points. They won’t get much relief this week, as Stanford comes to town willing to throw the ball all over the field.
“They’ve had 200 plays we’ve looked at now, and of those 200 plays they’ve thrown it 130 times,” WSU head coach Bill Doba said about Stanford earlier this week. “Since we gave up 400-some odd yards passing, I imagine they will throw it.”
Of course, the first issue the Cougars had to face this week, before even considering what Stanford will do, is what happened against Oregon.
WSU’s defense allowed nearly as many yards to the Ducks as it had in the three previous games, a shocking departure for the then-16th ranked defense in Division I-A. Defensive backs coach Ken Greene said he accepts much of the responsibility for the problems last week, and thinks he has addressed them with his players.
“We played a little softer and that’s my fault. I should have gotten them up there and pressed and got them after it a little bit more,” said Greene, who added that more substitutions might have helped as the Ducks finished with more than 100 offensive plays on the day. “We’ve put that completely behind us. It’s not even a thought right now. We’re ready to move onto the next challenge.”
Both Greene and Paymah said the Cougars secondary is upbeat about Stanford’s tendency to throw the ball. While a rushing team might put up less impressive numbers in the air, the Cardinal will give WSU a chance to make plays and prove how much they have improved in the week off.
The Cougars will also get a chance to be aggressive with Stanford’s receivers, who are bigger than Oregon’s but not quite as speedy.
“Our secondary, we’re up for a challenge,” Paymah said. “There’s nobody on Stanford’s team we feel we can’t cover man-to-man. Be up there, be aggressive, be physical. Just do our best to get the job done.
“Anybody coming into our house and throwing the ball that much — there’s a chance for a lot of turnovers.”
With a little extra resolve provided by the embarrassment of watching their mistakes on film from last Saturday, the Cougars secondary is looking to make sure that the seven days after playing Stanford aren’t nearly as painful as the ones leading up to it.
“It shouldn’t have happened,” Greene said of the Oregon game, “and it won’t happen again.”
Notes
WSU received about 300 tickets back from Stanford for this weekend’s game and those tickets are on sale. Fans can purchase them in person at the Cougar Depot in Pullman or over the phone by calling 1-800-GO-COUGS, then choosing option three. … Tight end Troy Bienemann, who missed all but one play of last week’s game with a bruised shin, returned to practice on Wednesday, but his official status remains questionable. … Wide receiver Marty Martin, out last week with a sprained shoulder, was able to participate in some contact drills after practicing the day before with a no-contact jersey. … Backup offensive lineman and field-goal snapper Riley Fitt-Chappell is practicing after missing the Oregon game with a strained foot. Barring further injury, he is expected to play.