2-minute drill: Stanford at WSU

1 Cover, and slow down, Stanford’s stable of tight ends. The Cougars did a good job last week accounting for UCLA’s tight ends, but no one has a group quite like the Cardinal. Starter Coby Fleener is big (6-foot-6, 254 pounds), but he’s not the largest on the depth chart. That would be 6-8, 262-pound Levine Toilolo, who is third string behind Fleener and 6-6, 252-pound Zach Ertz. All three may be on the field at the same time, and all run well enough to split wide if need be. Of Luck’s 14 touchdown passes, the trio has caught nine of them. They also average almost 19 yards per reception.

2 Stay ahead of the chains – then finish. Stanford’s first five opponents have only converted 26 percent of their third-down attempts, mainly because the Cardinal run defense is so stout, it’s usually third-and-long. The Cougars’ short-passing game serves as part of the run game, so accuracy and efficiency on first and second down by either Jeff Tuel or Marshall Lobbestael will help keep drives alive. Once in the red zone, WSU has to score touchdowns. Field goals aren’t good enough this week.

3 Don’t let the Cardinal special teams get going. In their first five games, Stanford has returned just 10 kickoffs, but Chris Owusu (a Cougar killer two years ago) and Ty Montgomery are averaging more than 25 yards a return, with Owusu having a 59-yarder to his credit. The WSU coverage team has been stout, and has been excellent when the kickoff is in the right place. Another danger zone: Punt returner Drew Terrell is averaging 14.3 yards.

4 Use the crowd. It’s homecoming in Martin Stadium and the 30,000-plus fans that show up will want to support the Cougars with their voices. Give them something to be shout about. Start quickly and stay in the game while Stanford institutes its wear-you-down game plan. Then let the crowd help in the second half, when the Cardinal usually put the game away.