Left tackle leaves Cougars in limbo
PULLMAN – With almost five months left before the start of the 2007 football season, Washington State has four-fifths of a starting offensive line already assembled.
That’s the good news for the Cougars.
That the fifth spot, the piece of the puzzle yet to be filled in, is at left tackle – well, that’s the bad news.
“It’s more (important) in pro football than in college, but that’s true, it’s the quarterback’s blind side,” WSU offensive line coach George Yarno said, letting out a laugh when asked about the situation on his hands. “We’ve got some good athletes competing there.”
First, though, the known entities: The Cougars have four players, all with significant starting experience, back in the fold. Bobby Byrd, Kenny Alfred, Andy Roof and Dan Rowlands have all played and together they form a core group that Yarno should be able to count upon this fall, even after some position shuffling.
Most notably, Byrd is most likely going to move inside from left tackle to guard for his senior season, after playing the last two years on the edge of the offensive front.
“It was kind of an experiment at first (this spring) and I really think it’s what he’s more suited to do,” Yarno said. “So he probably will be our left guard in the fall, unless we can’t find a left tackle.”
Ah, that left tackle position again. With a four-year starter at quarterback in Alex Brink, protecting the passer will be of the utmost importance. Finding the blind-side bodyguard to do the job will be a big part of that process.
The Cougars aren’t left wanting for possibilities at the position. They just can’t see any of them play now.
Vaughn Lesuma, a junior college transfer who enrolled at WSU in January, can’t do any contact drills this spring because of a wrist injury.
Joe Eppele has spent much of his Cougars career, including all of last season, sidelined by injuries and is considered more of a project despite his significant physical talent.
Derek Hunter recently suffered an MCL injury, and the hobbled knee has him watching the rest of spring ball from the sidelines.
Rowlands, the team’s projected right tackle, is also out for at least a few more days and possibly all of spring with an ankle injury.
Add it all together and, as Yarno said, “There will be question marks going into the fall, no question.”
Notes
Running back Chris Ivory has left the team for the rest of the spring and returned to his family in Texas to take care of some family issues. Head coach Bill Doba said he expects the sophomore to return in time for the summer school semester, barring an unexpected setback. … Running backs coach Steve Broussard is expected back today after missing about a week as a result of his mother’s hospitalization in Southern California. … Wide receiver Charles Dillon missed practice because of a minor concussion, and Doba indicated that the wideout could return soon if he is cleared by WSU medical personnel. … Running back Ian Bell has yet to practice this spring, first because his wife gave birth and more recently because of a hamstring injury. … Walk-on wideout Andy Largent, who was on the peripheral of the playing rotation last season, is planning to transfer to Whitworth this fall.