‘We have to get back to basics’
PULLMAN – There were no pronouncements of returning-to-training-camp practice sessions. No boot-camp-mentality quotes, either. No histrionics of any kind, actually.
Just a promise from Washington State football coach Bill Doba his defense would return to the basics this week in preparation for Saturday’s homecoming game against 18th-ranked Arizona State and former Cougars head coach Dennis Erickson.
“We’ve got to go back to some basics,” Doba said at his weekly news conference. “We want to make sure our secondary guys are reading their keys and not giving up those big plays. We’ve become kind of a ‘bend-don’t-break’ defense – as much as I don’t like to do that, but I think our talent dictates that. We’ve just got to keep reading their keys and keeping the plan simple enough the kids can execute it.”
Doba was noticeably more upbeat Monday than he was Saturday after Arizona had scored 28 unanswered second-half points to rout WSU 48-20.
“When I came off the field I was pretty depressed, to be honest with you, and I was disappointed, I guess,” Doba said, adding he felt better after watching tape and seeing the Cougars’ late effort.
A big part of Doba’s frustration came from the play of his – he’s also defensive coordinator – defense, a group he thought had been improving.
“I didn’t see a whole lot of progress last week,” Doba said. “Overall, I don’t think we got much better last week, but I didn’t see a real decline, either.”
But Doba knows his defense has to improve, as the Cougars enter a stretch against four ranked teams (ASU, No. 11 Oregon, UCLA, which is 25th in the coaches’ poll, and No. 3 Cal). Pull an upset this week, and the Cougars’ 0-2 Pac-10 start might just fade into the background.
“The good thing about football – all sports – is you’ve got another week to redeem yourself,” Doba said. “You have a chance to come back in a week, in front of your home crowd, and redeem yourselves.
“I’m not down on this bunch of kids yet, and I never will get down on them. They’re going to continue to strive to get better and we’re going to win some games.”
Notes
Safety Alfonso Jackson and linebacker Kendrick Dunn will probably not play Saturday due to the injuries they suffered against Arizona. Jackson is recovering from a concussion and stinger while Dunn’s hamstring strain is worse than initially thought. It is at the bottom of the muscle, near the knee, and should take a while to heal. … Christian Bass and Xavier Hicks will run at Jackson’s strong safety spot, with freshman Eric Block, from perrenial state power Bellevue, getting a look as well. Greg Evans moves from strongside linebacker to Dunn’s weakside spot and Andy Mattingly will take over at the strongside. Sophomore Brady Emmons will back up Evans. … Besides the on-field problems, there are some player issues that need to be resolved, issues alluded to by senior tight end Jed Collins who was quoted after the game saying, “Our locker room is going through some troubles right now. We have to stay together as a family.” “We’ll remedy those,” Doba said. “There was just some frustration afterward.”
“Despite having trouble handling one snap, freshman Reid Forrest has seemingly wrested the punting chores from returnee Darryl Blunt. Forrest had a 32.2 average against UA, though the punt after the drop covered just 14 yards. … Speaking of punting, the Cougars changed their look last week, going with three wideouts instead of four and keeping Collins inside. Then Forrest and Michael Bumpus, who took one snap and threw an interception, ran a rugby-style punt, sprinting right and running if the defense ignores them – Forrest picked up an early first down – or punting on the run. … One last Arizona note: At the Pac-10 media day, Doba said he thought the Wildcats had as much talent as anyone in the conference other than USC. He stood by that statement Monday. “They struggled early; they didn’t play well as a team, but they are a very talented football team. Probably more talented than the one we are facing this week that’s undefeated.”