WSU not letting up on workhorse Harrison
PULLMAN – The Cougars have already found out the hard way what life is like without two of their best players, wide receiver Jason Hill and linebacker Will Derting.
So one can imagine how little they’d like to know about playing minus Jerome Harrison, currently No. 2 in the nation in rushing yards a game.
Harrison is healthy – though a dinged shoulder has him in a no-contact jersey in practice – but a question remains. How much is too much for the 200-pound back?
Before the season, Harrison guessed that he’d be good for 25 to 30 touches a game. But in Washington State’s three Pac-10 games, he’s gotten the ball 100 times (94 rushes and six receptions).
Asked after Tuesday’s practice if he remembered his preseason estimate, Harrison nodded then said he’s still OK, even at more than 33 touches a game.
“I can make it the whole season like this,” Harrison said. “We’ve got good trainers and stuff anyway. Mostly I leave the game with my shoulders sore and my (trapezius). Besides that, my legs, my lower body always feel great. As a running back, I don’t think you need anything else. I think I’ll hold up.”
The Cougars have shown no signs they’ll try to limit Harrison’s workload over the last five games of the season. In fact, head coach Bill Doba said they’d continue to use him as much as possible.
“I think Jerome was having a good ball game,” Doba said of Harrison’s 34-carry, 260-yard game against UCLA. “I don’t think he was tired. So to put in somebody fresh just for the sake of putting somebody in is not the way we do it. If we did that, we would have played (backup quarterback Josh) Swogger.”
But whatever the reason – and there hasn’t been any significant indication that fatigue is a factor – Harrison’s productivity has fallen over the course of games.
The first quarter has been by far the senior’s best in the Pac-10 season, good for nearly 10 yards a carry.
By the third quarter, that’s down to about four yards per rush.
It’s also a possible sign that opponents are adjusting to lock down the running game, as was the case last week when UCLA dropped down a safety to help limit Harrison.
Running backs coach Kelly Skipper said he’d use backup DeMaundray Woolridge only if he saw the need to get Harrison a rest. That hasn’t been the case often, as Woolridge didn’t play at Oregon State, got three carries against Stanford and played just a couple of snaps against UCLA when Harrison hurt the shoulder.
“I watch how he gets up off the ground. Then clearly he’s ready, or not,” Skipper said. “He makes a long run and he’s back to the huddle, ready to go. That’s a tough dude.”
Notes
Derting has been in the press box for the last two games to avoid any accidental sideline contact with an injured knee. But Doba said there’s a chance Derting could take one of the 64 travel slots for California this week – not to play, but for “moral support.” Doba said the senior could return for USC but is more likely to return against Arizona State on Nov. 5. … Kick returner Lorenzo Bursey is out for at least two, possibly four weeks with a shoulder separation. … Defensive tackle Ropati Pitoitua practiced Tuesday but is expected to take a rest day today as he continues his comeback from a broken leg. … Backup linebacker and special teamer Brian Hall is OK, but not yet practicing, because of a clavicle injury. He should be able to play Saturday, Doba said.