Cougars face wide-open options in replacing wideouts

PULLMAN – Washington State has had two days of practice to try and sort out its wide receiver situation after seeing both Jason Hill and Michael Bumpus go down with high ankle sprains against Arizona on Saturday.

So, have things sorted themselves out yet?

“No,” offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Mike Levenseller said.

Welcome to life without the top two threats on offense for the Cougars. But Levenseller is actually far along in the process of figuring out how he’ll replace his two stars at wideout.

Brandon Gibson, who has already been a starter for the Cougars, remains in that role but will probably be seen playing in the spot often occupied by Hill. Charles Dillon, who has spent most of the year as the team’s fourth wideout, becomes its second.

That much is known. What remains to be seen is how much the Cougars can get from Chris Jordan and his ever-suspect knee. Jordan hasn’t yet practiced since playing more than expected on Saturday, but the senior is still on track to contribute and likely start at Arizona State.

“I think he’ll give us quite a bit,” Levenseller said. “We’re just being cautious. (Today) he’ll be out and doing everything.”

But if Jordan can’t go for the full game – and he almost certainly won’t – receiving duties could fall to a consortium of players. That’s where the uncertainty lies.

Finas Rabb, Benny Ward, Scott Selby and possibly even Andy Largent are all potential contributors. Even more unlikely, Michael Willis might be an option in a pinch after switching over from safety in the last two weeks.

Realistically, though, the few established threats remaining at wideout will have to shoulder a greater burden.

“I’m not going to lie, there’s probably a need that I’m going to have to make some plays come Saturday,” said the sophomore Gibson. “Levy told me at the beginning of each season to learn every position and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

One other possibility exists. The Cougars have used two-tight end sets with some success this season, and either Cody Boyd or Jed Collins could replicate the consistent threat Bumpus posed over the middle of the field.

Using both players simultaneously would mean playing with two wide receivers and not three, thereby alleviating the problem with sending someone other than Jordan onto the field.

“It is a bigger role for me this week,” Collins said. “I usually come in and get a couple of blocks, some short-yardage stuff. But this week Cody and I will have to step up for five, six catches that our go-to guys aren’t going to be able to make.”

“We’re not going to throw in a whole new game plan,” said head coach Bill Doba. “We might emphasize the tight ends a little more, but there’s not going to be a wholesale change. It’s too late in the season.”

Notes

Defensive tackle Ropati Pitoitua again suited up for practice. Although he has not participated in any team contact drills, he could be available for five to 10 plays against the Sun Devils on Saturday. The junior’s return from a knee injury might make it possible to play the 4-3 defense in limited situations. … Doba has not said how he’ll handle backup kicking and punting duties on this week’s travel squad, since Bumpus had occupied a role in both.