WSU’s Wulff talks about spring
COUGARS • UPDATED: 3:20 P.M.
We got out of Paul Wulff’s pre-spring-practice press conference, ran and bought some lunch and now are ready to dump out the notebook on the blog. Read on.
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• The video from Wulff’s press conference might be available by the time I finish this and, if it is, I’ll pass it along (it is now, see below). For now, though, you’ll have to take my word for all that follows. … The best thing Wulff said came when asked about what key spots he was looking at this spring. The answer was simple. “Really every position,” he said. “Here’s how this works. Just because somebody started a year ago on a 2-10 team doesn’t make them a starter going into 2011.” With that being said, Wulff did point out the offensive line and running back on offense and defensive line and linebacker on defense as places where questions have to be answered. … In the offensive line, Wulff said there is going to be some experimenting in the spring, especially as it concerns the center spot, vacated by a graduated Zack Williams. Though senior Andrew Roxas is listed as the starter, any of a number of guys, including B.J. Guerra, could end up playing the spot, Wulff said. …. On the other side of the ball, though the Cougars are thin at defensive end this spring without Long and Robinson, it looks as if Brandon Rankin will stay at tackle. Rankin told me the other day he was north of 285 and felt stronger. … JC transfer Ian Knight is listed as a d-end starter, but Wulff said that’s just because he’s the most experienced guy they have this spring. Walk-on Justin Mann and freshman Xavier Cooper, who came in as a grayshirt, are listed behind Knight. … There’s no shortage of bodies at the linebacker spots, but there will be some sorting out down this spring. The listed starters are Sekope Kaufusi, C.J. Mizell and Alex Hoffman-Ellis. … There will be a few guys sitting out or extremely limited this spring, including defensive ends Travis Long (shoulder surgery) and Jordan Pu’u Robinson (knee), running back Arthur Burns (left wrist injury), fullback Jared Byers (knee) and offensive lineman Dan Spitz (shoulder). Linebacker Louis Bland (domestic violence arrest) is also still suspended and his status for spring is yet to be determined. Everyone else, including defensive back Tracy Clark (burglary arrest) who has been reinstated, is good to go. Receiver Kristoff Williams’ toe is improving, though he’s still not doing full, 100 percent workouts. … No one will sit out due to academics this spring, Wulff said, because there has been improvement in that area and football players need to be on the field playing football, earning their scholarship money. … I asked Wulff if he saw Zach Enyeart’s video and he said yes. That Enyeart did it did not surprise Wulff in the least. … As for Enyeart’s replacement, Wulff said Long and Alex Reitnouer have done it here before, Zach Koepp, who walked on last season, is also a possibility and, if need be, they may go find some one this summer. A couple of guys coming in have done it before as well, Wulff said. … The Cougars early March start to spring ball is for a reason, Wulff said. First off, starting this early will get it done a couple weeks before finals, giving players more opportunity to prepare for the tests. Also, the workouts will be spread out to allow for weight lifting. But it also means the players will go a week, take spring break week off, then return to the field. Yours truly will miss most of the first week due to the Pac-10 basketball tournament. … By the way, James Montgomery won’t be around for spring and has not taken any steps toward a possible sixth year. I will say it’s not going to happen. … And that’s the highlights.
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• UPDATE: Here’s the video highlights of Wulff’s press conference …
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• That’s all for now . We’ll be back if events warrant. Until then …
* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "SportsLink." Read all stories from this blog