Cougars open up QB competition

PULLMAN – There is an old-fashioned quarterback competition at Washington State, which is not to be confused with an old-fashioned quarterback controversy.

There is no controversy. WSU needs to get better at the quarterback position.

Everyone agrees on that, from the quarterbacks themselves, Gary Rogers and Kevin Lopina, to coach Paul Wulff.

“I need to make more plays,” Rogers said after practice Tuesday as part of his evaluation of his play last Saturday.

Everyone seems OK with a competition.

“I think competition brings out the best in us,” Rogers said. “Competition is great. It will bring out the best player. That player should be rewarded with the starting job.

“I would definitely like it to be me. We’ll see how the week goes.”

“It wasn’t mine or Gary’s decision, it was the coaches’ decision,” said Lopina when asked what he thought of the open competition. “I think it will bring out the best in both of us.”

Lopina ran the No. 1 offense most of Tuesday’s practice.

“He hasn’t had as many reps with the ones as Gary,” said WSU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Todd Sturdy. … It’s going to be a competition between those two young men. We’re going to try to get them to compete. Kevin’s done some good things and deserves an opportunity to compete for the position.”

“Who takes the first snap isn’t a big deal to me,” said Wulff, who said more than once Tuesday that decision would not be made until Saturday. “We’re just looking for someone to lead this football team.”

In the first 11/2 games, that’s been Rogers. The fifth-year senior, who patiently waited for four years as Alex Brink’s backup, has seen his dream of quarterbacking the Cougars turn nightmarish, no more so than the first half against California.

After having thrown for just 82 yards in the season-opening loss to Oklahoma State, Rogers’ first pass against the Bears was picked off and returned to the WSU 12. Two plays later, Cal scored.

His last pass, with a little more than 3 minutes left in the half, was also intercepted. This one was returned 90 yards to the WSU 5. One play later, Cal scored.

Lopina took over after halftime, drove the Cougars 57 yards to the Cal 13, then forced a pass that was intercepted. Two plays later – one an 86-yard run by Jahvid Best – Cal scored.

Those mistakes, more than the overall lack of offensive success – the Cougars are last in the Pac-10 in scoring, passing, passing efficiency and total offense – led to this week’s competition.

“That’s the No. 1 goal, period, with the quarterback. They have to take care of the ball,” Wulff said.

But then the first-year coach catalogued the Cougars’ injuries on offense, which he said have handcuffed the quarterbacks.

“We just haven’t had enough pieces put together to allow us to create any consistency,” he said. “That isn’t necessarily on the quarterback – it’s on everyone, all of us. That’s just the situation we’re in.”

Notes

There was good news on the injury front with Alfonso Jackson and Jason Stripling both returning to practice. Jackson, who suffered a hip flexor early in the Oklahoma State game, and Stripling, who injured his toe in the same game, are both from Texas, like five other Cougars. The chance to play before friends and family was, according the Jackson, a miracle cure. “The adrenaline is just taking over and numbing our bodies,” he said. … Offensive guard Andrew Roxas, who suffered a severe knee sprain last week, has already discarded his crutches and is hoping to return against Oregon on Sept. 27.