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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

No quit in Cougars

Washington State defensive coordinator Robb Akey still gets encouraged in many cases. 
 (Christopher Anderson/ / The Spokesman-Review)
Glenn Kassas Staff writer

PULLMAN – The general assumption these days is that Washington State University is teetering on the edge of total collapse for the 2005 season. Two blown games in two weeks, a tough schedule up ahead, unproven players playing like unproven players – it all leads one to wonder if the ship can be turned around before it’s too late.

One, in this case, could even be head coach Bill Doba.

“I’m not confident. I think we can,” Doba said when asked how certain he was of a pending resurgence. “I wouldn’t bet the house on it. There are pretty good opponents coming up.

“I know our fans are frustrated by reading my e-mail. But we’re not going to quit and I ask our fans not to quit on us.”

Doba has said on multiple occasions this week that his primary concern lies on the defensive side of the ball, perhaps no surprise coming from a longtime defensive assistant.

Without captain Will Derting at his inside linebacker spot because of a knee injury, multiple coaches and players have acknowledged a leadership void, something that needs to be filled in a hurry if the Cougars defense is to improve from lackluster efforts the last two weeks.

“We’re searching for chemistry,” defensive line coach Mike Walker said. “Our defense needs to come together, and they know that. I think they’re going to work on that all week this week. Since we lost our big leader, which is Will Derting, we’re looking for somebody to step up and take charge in the huddle on defense. And if not one person, then everybody needs to step up and take charge.”

Said senior cornerback Alex Teems: “Our biggest issue right now is injuries. Guys are dinged up. … My main concern is trying to get the team up, trying to keep their spirits up.”

The Cougars could get a boost today with the return of tackle Ropati Pitoitua, who is expected to take part in his first practice since breaking a leg in the last week of August.

But Doba said that the sophomore starter isn’t likely to see more than 10-12 snaps Saturday even if he does well in practice. That means WSU will have to come up with something more if it’s to stop No. 12 UCLA, owner of an offense as good if not better than any the Cougars have seen thus far.

Defensive coordinator Robb Akey said Tuesday that major changes are not in the works with the teeth of the team’s schedule in the immediate future.

“The majority of (the time), things are pretty right,” Akey said. “And then there’s a play made. It’s polishing, more than anything else. We don’t need to scrap anything. We don’t need to change anything. We need to execute what we are doing and do it better.”

But already in the first five games, especially the last two, the Cougars are doing things on defense that mark a sharp departure from their normal modus operandi.

Instead of sticking in a basic 4-3 package, WSU has experimented with a nickel defense and with a 3-4 extensively. Unhappy with the pressure they’ve been getting on opposing quarterbacks, the Cougars coaches have – with the new schemes in particular – resorted to a more passive approach which focuses on making plays in the secondary and blanketing receivers.

“We’ve done some things we haven’t done around here in a long time. … In some areas I think that has helped us,” Akey said. “(But) if you’re going to steal from one part to help another part, then you have an opportunity to get exposed.”

Notes

Linebacker Steve Dildine, a standout of late on defense, took Tuesday’s practice off to rest a sore hamstring. … Fewer than 1,000 seats remain for this weekend’s game, according to a WSU official. … The Cougars have forced seven turnovers in five games, tied for the fewest in the conference. Their 13 turnovers on offense is also the second-worst mark in the league. … Kickoff time for the Oct. 22 game at California has been set for 7:15 p.m. FSN will televise the game.