Doba grants weary Cougs some rest

PULLMAN – At the halfway point of fall camp, the hard part is thought to be over. Of course, now the Cougars just have to get ready for the No. 4 team in the nation.

Coach Bill Doba is taking the time – as is the case with a number of coaches around the country – to back off and let his players rest for a day or two before launching into the final weeks of preparation for the season ahead.

Washington State has the day off today with classes beginning and Doba canceled the first of two practice sessions Sunday as well, excusing the Cougars from what would have been their last two-a-day of the fall.

“They looked leg weary; they looked tired,” Doba said of the scrimmage played on Saturday.

Just 12 days – and nine practices – remain before WSU travels to Auburn to open up the season on national television, but the head coach made it clear that he’ll wait at least another few days before beginning the true game preparation with his players.

“We need to get better,” Doba said, repeating an oft-heard phrase around Martin Stadium of late. “We’re going to stay with the Cougs and try to get better for Tuesday, Wednesday, maybe start to introduce some of (the game plan) Thursday.”

The receiving end

WSU offensive coordinator Mike Levenseller is still trying to figure out how he will round out the rotation at wide receiver, with a number of younger or newer players vying for time.

Injuries to Chris Jordan and Michael Bumpus have given Levenseller a chance to take a closer look at some of those players, most notably junior college transfers Charles Dillon and Finas Rabb III, along with sophomore Benny Ward.

“It gives them an opportunity to show what they can do and what they understand about what we’re doing,” Levenseller said. “Charles Dillon is a mature player. He’s an older kid that’s got to play this year, so we’re going to push him through. Finas Rabb is in the same boat.”

Evans struggles

Sophomore linebacker Cory Evans, who could end up as the team’s top reserve on the outside, admitted that he’s not been playing well since returning from a groin injury that held him out of the first week of camp.

“I haven’t been able to get back into it,” Evans said, shaking his head. “It’s tough, I had a couple of bad days. It’s no excuse – I should know what I’m doing.”

The Louisiana native, who played in all 11 games as a true freshman last fall, said most of the difficulties have been the result of mental lapses.

“Just getting the mental reps and knowing what to do, my assignment,” Evans said. “Knowing where to go and when to be there.”