Cougars fail to execute

Execution wasn’t the strong point during Washington State’s football contact drills Thursday, with many dropped passes and both units guilty of multiple line-of-scrimmage violations.

The offense put together two long drives, with Gary Rogers finishing one with a 12-yard pass to Devin Frischknecht and Kevin Lopina finding Ben Woodard from 7 yards out for another score.

The defensive high point was an interception by defensive end Matt Mullennix.

Part of the lack of execution might be explained by the numerous injury-related changes, especially on the offensive line. With tackles Dan Rowlands (shoulder) and Vaughn Lesuma (back) not practicing, only center Kenny Alfred was in his original fall position. Right guard Micah Hannam was playing right tackle, left guard Andrew Roxas moved to the right side and the left side was manned by guard B.J. Guerra and tackle Stephen Ayers.

Brandon Gibson had a stiff neck and took the day off, which meant the receiving corps was even thinner, with five players not participating in drills.

“When you don’t have your top three or four receivers on the field, that’s what you’ve got,” WSU coach Paul Wulff said of the drops.

On the healing front, defensive tackle Andy Roof said he expects to be practicing again today, despite an ankle sprain suffered Tuesday.

This and that: Wulff said today’s scrimmage will probably pit the No. 1 offense against the No. 2 defense in a “thud” tempo – live hitting but no tackling to the ground. The one defense will go against the two offense in live tempo. “We’re looking for the defense to get a lot of tackling in,” Wulff said. “That’s more important right now than our offense having to be tackled.” … The punting competition may have moved closer to being decided as Pat Rooney, battling with Dan Wagner to fill the spot until injured Reid Forrest returns, dropped three snaps through the course of drills. After the third, Wagner took the rest of the snaps. … The kicking battle is still up in the air, with Wade Penner and Nico Grasu connecting on 3 of 4 attempts ranging from 40 to 51 yards. Rooney only hit his longest attempt. … A group of about two dozen watched practice from the top level of the new five-story elevator tower in the southwest corner of Martin Stadium. The tower, ringed with stairs, allows entrance into recently remodeled Compton Union Building and provides a great vantage point for not only the practice field but the stadium as well. The school plans to have security guards keeping people moving on the structure, already dubbed “Tightwad Tower,” during games. … The players will have an off day Monday, the first day of classes, but the practice field will be in use. Walk-on tryouts will be held at 3 p.m.

Today’s schedule: A practice at 9 a.m. followed in the afternoon by a free scrimmage in Martin Stadium open to the public at 2:30.