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Punt coverage team on high alert for WSU

WSU special teams are under the microscope after allowing two touchdowns on punt returns in each of the last two games, including this one against Arizona. (Tyler Tjomsland)
By Jacob Thorpe jacobt@spokesman.com(509) 710-8070
PULLMAN – Washington State’s last two games have gotten rolling when an opposing player fielded a punt deep in their own territory and finished the play in WSU’s end zone, putting the Cougars on their heels without the defense ever having a chance for the stop. “It’s been two plays and it’s just guys maybe trying to overcompensate, trying to do too much instead of just worrying about executing like they did in practice,” interim special teams coordinator Eric Mele said. “If they just focus on doing their job we’ll be in good shape.” The Cougars are the only team in the country to have three kickoffs returned for touchdowns against them. They are also the only team to have three punts returned for touchdowns by opponents. The coverage has been so bad that WSU ranks No. 123 nationally – ahead of just Georgia State and San Jose State – in net punting despite a 42.4 punting average from freshman punter Jordan Dascalo, which is good enough to rank No. 5 in the Pac-12. “There’s been some hesitation and that’s what we had talked about,” Mele said. “When an opportunity presents itself you have to take a shot and make the play when it’s there. Really other than two plays the last two weeks I’ve been happy with the effort, but obviously we can’t have critical errors and we’re going to do everything we can to fix it this week.” Saturday’s game at Oregon State is an opportunity for WSU’s coverage units to get back on solid footing. There is no Nelson Agholor back there returning kicks for OSU, no Kaelin Clay or even DaVonte Neal. The Cougars have caught the worst of playing in a conference filled with electric kick returners. So far no one on Oregon State has proved to be so exceptionally adept at turning changes of possession into big gains or scores, although the Cougars have had a way of giving opposing return men breakout performances. Such a breakout could come from Ryan Murphy, who has one score on a kickoff this season and averages a solid but not spectacular 22.7 yards per kickoff return.