WSU comes out of scrimmage healthy

COUGARS

Sometimes Paul Wulff will answer a question about spring practice with a quick statement about injuries. As in, the Cougars didn’t have any so it was a good day. I confess, it happens often enough I sometimes do the mental equivalent of rolling my eyes. I have just heard it so many times. Well, I vow never to do the mental eye-rolling thing again. Not after reading the links today, especially the ones from the Arizona schools. We have said links, plus more from Washington State’s scrimmage, so read on.

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• Washington State : By the way, WSU came out of Saturday’s scrimmage with no injuries I could see. Thus far this spring, other than Brandon Rankin’s shoulder and the ensuing surgery, the Cougars have suffered only minor injuries. … There were a couple things I wanted to pass on from yesterday’s scrimmage I just forgot in the post-scrimmage post. … I asked defensive coordinator Chris Ball which defender has been a pleasant surprise thus far this spring. He dropped about 10 names – I asked for one – but the first one was safety Casey Locker. He praised Locker’s intelligence, his ability to deliver a blow and the strides he’s taken. Looking back, though he wouldn’t be listed as a starting safety (that would be Deone Bucannon and Tyree Toomer), Locker was on the field for a lot of plays yesterday. … The starting offensive line had a new look this week, though the players were the same. It was, from left to right, David Gonzales, John Fullington, Andrew Roxas, B.J. Guerra and Wade Jacobson. This lineup does a few things, including putting the two quickest offensive linemen – Gonzales and Fullington – together on the Jeff Tuel’s blind side, where most defenses concentrate their speed rushers. Plus it gives Jacobson a chance to prove he’s best at tackle, a position he feels more comfortable playing. With the 6-foot-6, 305-pound Jacobson teaming with the 6-3, 315-pound Guerra, the Cougars also have a strong side, though not in the football sense of the side with the tight end. It’s the bigger, stronger side of the offensive line. And in the middle, Roxas, a fifth-year senior, seems more fit and it showed yesterday. He was able to win a lot of battles up front with Anthony Laurenzi and Toni Pole, plus he got to the second level quicker than I remember. He seems to have pulled ahead of junior college transfer Taylor Meighen in their individual battle. … We have more on our post and with our story . … Cougfan has this piece from Braulio Perez. … And Bud Withers has some thoughts about Klay Thompson’s future.

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• Around the Pac-12: Again, not a lot from the conference as a whole. … Washington: Gig Harbor’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins enrolled early at UW and the 6-6 tight end is making an impression. … Oregon State: Nothing here. … Oregon: A lot here, including George Schroeder of the Register-Guard with a column on the Matt Court half-court line. … LaMichael James comes to the defense of a friend, which might not be the best thing for the Ducks. … D-line depth is a spring goal. … Colorado: The Buffs don’t have to worry about the quarterback spot. … Utah: Former Montana coach and star Larry Krystkowiak is the Utes new basketball coach . … California: Nothing here. … Stanford: Same with the Cardinal. … USC: Running back Dillon Baxter is ready to put his freshman year behind him. … UCLA: Injuries are slowing the Bruins for the second consecutive spring. … Arizona State: The Sun Devils may have lost two starters with knee injuries this week. Omar Bolden, who went down Saturday, is their best secondary player. … Arizona: The Wildcats lost starting free safety Adam Hall to a knee injury suffered Wednesday. He could be out seven months, which puts his return sometime late in the season. … And Derrick Williams’ future is the most talked-about subject in Tucson this week.

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• That’s all for this morning. We’ll be back only if events warrant. Until later …