WSU football: Turnovers key to Alex Grinch’s defense

PULLMAN – A collection of loud roars emerged from the west end zone inside the towering shadow of the Cougar football complex.

Senior linebacker Jeremiah Allison came away with the football during team red-zone drills near the end of practice, prompting defensive players in white jerseys to party like they’d just came away with a game-clinching fumble recovery in the Apple Cup.

Having a nose for the football isn’t just an emphasis for new Washington State defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, it’s the emphasis for the defense.

It showed during Washington State’s first spring football practice Thursday afternoon at Rogers Field and Martin Stadium with two interceptions of redshirt freshman Peyton Bender and multiple fumble recoveries.

“He’s a phenomenal individual,” Allison said of Grinch. “He’s high-energy, he’s backing his players, he’s behind us 100 percent. He simplifies the whole game plan so we shouldn’t come out here confused because he makes sure to drill it into us.”

“That’s what coach is drilling. That’s the emphasis of spring ball and carrying over to fall ball,” Allison said. “Get the ball out by any means necessary.”

Grinch, who arrived in Pullman after a three-year stint coaching safeties coach at Missouri, will spend his first couple of days roaming Washington State’s practice facilities simplifying the Cougars’ defense. Less thinking, more doing, he says.

“The less you’re thinking the faster you can play,” Grinch said.

“What we do today as we structure this thing in the first three or four days of spring football, that’s who we are as a defense,” Grinch added. “What we are this first week is what we’re going to be next October and November.”

Allison called it intensity. Head coach Mike Leach said he saw enthusiasm on defense, and Grinch feels he has a buy-in from players, which showed when players celebrated after every turnover and stop.

Intensity may have boiled over when Peyton Pulluer got into a shoving match with offensive players, mixing it up with Cody O’Connell.

“It’s always good to see a fight,” sophomore quarterback Luke Falk said jokingly. “It means we’re competing.”

Falk, who started the Cougars’ final three games last season, looks to have a lead in the quarterback competition over Bender. Reps were even between the two, seemingly meaning that Bender will be given every opportunity to oust Falk for the starting job.

“I thought they were good,” Leach said. “We didn’t run too many plays and I thought they were pretty effective.”

Bender looked sharp with good arm strength, despite the two interceptions. Falk’s advantage is his experience and control of the huddle.

“Luke does a good job commanding the offense and is really knowledgable and just steps up and takes control of things,” Leach said. “Peyton has a really good arm, the ball comes off his hand really quickly and it’s really explosive when he throws the ball.”

Falk’s humble beginnings as a walk-on isn’t lost on the now-favorite to take the starting job.

“It’s a little different scenario where I’m not third or fourth on the depth right now,” Falk said.

“So it’s just, it’s new, it’s fun. Just trying to get everybody for the common goal of where we want to be in the fall. I think the guys did a nice job this winter and should show out here on the field in the spring.”