Banged-up Cougs struggle

PULLMAN – Washington State defensive coordinator Robb Akey was more than thrilled to talk about the improvement his defense made in the third and final scrimmage of the fall.

“There were some turnovers created,” Akey said. “And some of them may have been created by them not catching the ball, but sometimes I think that’s created by getting hit and stripped of the ball, too, so I was happy with that.”

“They weren’t creating turnovers,” head coach Bill Doba interrupted, leaning into the media gathering around his assistant. “We were laying the ball on the ground on offense.”

Truth be told, both coaches were correct, and both were straightforward in saying that many of the Cougars on the field Saturday weren’t running at full strength – if they were running at all.

This last tune-up on the Martin Stadium turf – 13 days now until the season starts at Auburn – was as notable for those who didn’t play as it was for those who did.

Out were wide receivers Michael Bumpus and Chris Jordan. So too for DeMaundray Woolridge and Derrell Hutsona, who could well be the team’s top two running backs this fall. Three other starters on offense and defense watched from the sideline along with them, and Doba said that caution is the word at this time of the year.

“We could have gone out there and been tough,” Doba said. “We could go out there (this) morning and have a full scrimmage again. We could go down to Auburn with about 20 guys sitting on the bench. You’ve got to use your sense a little bit, use your brain.”

So it was that many of the players seeing time during the sun-soaked afternoon session aren’t expected to see much playing time this fall, a fact that may have contributed to the sense that things weren’t quite in sync.

“It was a little sloppy, but that’s kind of the usual for this time of year,” said quarterback Alex Brink, who was 8 of 15 for 103 yards. “We’re getting late in fall camp. A couple of days are getting harder to get through.”

Cole Morgan, the third-string quarterback, threw for the lone touchdown pass of the day. Depending on who you ask Brink might have run for another – since no contact is allowed on the quarterback, he either got “tackled” at the line of scrimmage or ran 15 yards to pay dirt.

Following the scrimmage, however, it was obvious that the Cougars didn’t really care. The attention now, it seems, is focused on the looming opponent and the start of the season.

“We’re what, two weeks out?” Brink said. “I feel like we’re on schedule. I feel like we’re right where we should be.”

WSU avoided a scare after Jordan injured his left shoulder Friday night, an injury that at first looked like it might be serious. But Doba said there was no structural damage and that the senior wideout could be back soon. That being the case, the Cougars have apparently gotten through the most physical part of camp with just one starter, guard Andy Roof, going down with an injury that will keep him from playing against Auburn.

The coaching staff still has two more positional battles to figure out, one at cornerback and the other at kicker.

WSU has continued to rotate corners, although senior Don Turner has been a constant in the lineup and should Tyron Brackenridge return from his hamstring injury those two would seem like the probable starters.

Things became even more complicated at kicker when Loren Langley followed up some stellar practices with a 2-of-5 effort on Saturday that paled in comparison to Romeen Abdollmohammodi, who hit all five attempts between 31 and 37 yards.

“It’s driving me crazy, to be honest with you. Just driving me crazy,” Doba said of the search for a kicker. “I’m very undecided.”

Notes

Mead’s Andy Mattingly played on the kick return team Saturday, perhaps another indication in a growing list that the Spokane native might play this fall as a true freshman. … Ian Bell said before the scrimmage that he’s enjoying things after switching from cornerback to running back over the summer. On Saturday, he played like it, taking advantage of the injuries in front of him to run for 20 yards on five carries and gain 31 more on two receptions. … Cornerback Markus Dawes intercepted Gary Rogers on the final play, successfully defending a go route into the end zone.