Doba sees ups, downs
PULLMAN – After some games head football coaches are wont to spin things in a positive direction. (Usually after a bad loss.) And after others, the spin goes in a negative direction. (Usually after a big win.)
So what does Bill Doba say after his team beat a University of Idaho team that most everyone assumes is inferior, and doing so rather unconvincingly much of the way?
“I don’t know if I feel better,” the Washington State University coach said, asked if he had a different view of his team now that he’s seen them face another team. “I feel like we learned a lot and we have a lot to take to the practice field. I think we’ll have the attention of some of those guys, especially the young kids, a little bit more.
“If I was to write the scenario, that is what I’d like to have seen in our first game. It was something where we had to play 60 minutes and had to compete the entire time. I think that helps get your team ready better than a 42-0 midway through the second quarter like it was a year ago.”
As Doba suggested, Thursday’s 38-26 win against Idaho did leave plenty of room for improvement. A muffed punt, two interceptions in a quarter, five dropped passes, nine penalties – all give Doba something to work on after his team enjoys an extra day off this weekend and begins preparation for Nevada on Monday.
But the third-year head coach was also pleased that he was able to incorporate so many newcomers, especially on special teams, while still getting his Cougars to 1-0 on the season.
Nine newcomers covered kickoffs for WSU, seven participated in kick returns, four on punt returns and three on punt coverage, which resulted in some mistakes but also some revelations for the coaching staff.
Freshman safety Courtney Williams made five special teams tackles, though in what could be called a perfect summarization of the Cougars’ effort as a whole he was also tagged with a roughing-the-punter penalty that helped keep Idaho in the game early.
“Shoot, those young guys, they’re big and they can run,” Doba said. “Williams is as good a kickoff cover guy, I told him after the game, ‘You better watch out next week. They’ll be double-teaming or somebody will come in blindsiding you or whatever.’ He was really impressive.”
The head coach spent much of his Friday news conference going over the concerns from Thursday’s game, and tops on that list appears to be the play of the offensive line and the secondary.
Both looked shaky, although each unit flashed potential as well. Right tackle Charles Harris was pulled in the second half in favor of Spencer Hollison, possibly setting up a positional duel there this week. In the end, Doba said he couldn’t be too displeased given the fact that the scoreboard showed his team had done what was needed to start the year with a win.
“Thirty-eight points, that’s a good output. I don’t care who you’re playing,” Doba said. “And it should be enough to win most ballgames. But we haven’t played Southern Cal yet, and they’re supposed to be pretty good offensively.”
Notes
Coach Bill Doba said quarterback Josh Swogger spent much of the night before the game in the hospital after an allergic reaction, apparently the result of some shrimp he had eaten. The junior had blotches all over his skin and experienced shortness of breath, prompting the hospital visit. Still, he could have played Thursday night and probably would have if the Vandals didn’t go on a 5-minute, fourth-quarter scoring drive. … The Cougars escaped the first game healthy, save for cornerback Don Turner‘s bruised ribs which held him out only for a short while. … Doba complimented a pair of Pac-10 teams that were also winners Thursday in Arizona State and Oregon. The head coach called the Sun Devils his “sleeper” team and thought the Ducks have a good chance to rebound from a similarly disappointing 5-6 season. … Safety Husain Abdullah was in uniform Thursday night, but his injured ankle had been sore the day before and WSU decided not to play him when pregame warm-ups were problematic for the sophomore.