Washington State football live chat transcript - 10/10

Oct 10, 9:25 AM Uncle Larry (Guest): With injuries, back to back road games, short week, offense still not in rhythm. Any concern about Cal? Oct 10, 10:01 AM srchat (Admin): Thanks for joining. I see a bunch of questions in the queue, so let’s get the chat rolling. Oct 10, 10:03 AM srchat (Admin): There’s reason to be concerned. USC came up here with the exact same dilemma and lost for the first time in 14 games. But I don’t think that automatically gives Cal an edge. Oct 10, 10:03 AM JFM Cougs (Guest): Our glaring weakness seems to be special teams, the only thing we seem to do right is make field goals. Has anyone talked to Mele about our poor special teams play? Oct 10, 10:04 AM srchat (Admin): I caught the tail end of Mele answering a question about this last night, but can’t tell you what he said in full. I know it’s something that hasn’t gone unnoticed, though. Oct 10, 10:04 AM Guest8935 (Guest): Coach Leach keeps calling his time “young.” Seems like seniors dominate all position groups except reciver. What am I missing? there’s Oct 10, 10:07 AM srchat (Admin): Well, the linebackers are especially young right now. They’ll start two redshirt freshmen there, I imagine, if Dotson and DeRider can’t go. And “young” doesn’t necessarily mean young in age/class. B.J. Salmonson’s a senior, for example, but he’s still only a first-year starter. Oct 10, 10:07 AM Gowazzu02 (Guest): Im getting a little concerned about the injuries to the LB core. I know you can’t talk about injuries but let’s talk depth. Who is going to step into the void since Pelleur, Dotson and now Derider have gone out.’ Oct 10, 10:09 AM srchat (Admin): This is just me making an educated guess, but I’m thinking they get Dotson/DeRider back soon. But, Jahad Woods has been better than Jahad Woods probably even expected he’d be and Justus Rogers played admirably against the Ducks. Now, if Woods or Rogers go down, we can revisit this topic… Oct 10, 10:09 AM GoCougs (Guest): Renard Bell and Jahad Woods are my heroes. That’s all. Oct 10, 10:10 AM srchat (Admin): Noted. Oct 10, 10:10 AM Guest1 (Guest): Did Mastro say Wicks was injured? Or did Wicks say that? Something about pain free finally? Oct 10, 10:12 AM srchat (Admin): No, Wicks told us afterward he felt good for the first time this year. Clearly whatever was nagging at him wasn’t severe, because he’s played in the last few games. But this was the best he’d felt and it showed. Oct 10, 10:13 AM Guest4931 (Guest): Our corners have not been especially tested this season so far, are there any Cal offensive plays that are likely going to test the SpeedD and/or more specifically, the corners? Oct 10, 10:15 AM srchat (Admin): Cal has two receivers close to 400 yards this year, but the Cougs luck out for a third week in a row playing a team without its top target. Well, USC had its top WR, but he wasn’t fully healthy. Demetris Robertson was Cal’s top threat but he’s out for the year. Oct 10, 10:16 AM CougSchroed (Guest): Cal’s strengths and weaknesses? Where can Wazzu take advantage of Cal? Where can Cal take advantage of Wazzu? Oct 10, 10:21 AM srchat (Admin): Cal is really good at beating mediocre teams from other Power Five conferences. As far as I can tell, they haven’t shown many strengths since they started Pac-12 play. Wazzu should be able to take the ball away plenty (Cal is 121 in FBS with 14 turnovers). As for Cal? They can only hope Luke trips coming off the bus… Oct 10, 10:21 AM ItsMe (Guest): thoughts on Gary Anderson’s stunning departure? Oct 10, 10:22 AM srchat (Admin): Stunning is a good word for it. More stunning is that he waived the rest of his contract. Around $12 million I believe. But more power to him if he feels this is the right move. Takes a ton of courage to do something like that. Oct 10, 10:23 AM Guest4548 (Guest): BSU and UW (two former Wilcox spots) have had relative success in slowing the Air Raid. Does that give you any pause thinking about this matchup? Oct 10, 10:24 AM srchat (Admin): Eh, not really. I think personnel is more important than scheme. Plus, Cal’s second to last in the league in passing yards allowed. We’ll see… Oct 10, 10:32 AM Guest4801 (Guest): I thought we really had a chance to put Oregon away early if it wasn’t for Pippins stupid personal foul. He is also a liability on deep passes. Do you think Grinch is trying to work the young guys in more because he is such a liability? Oct 10, 10:35 AM srchat (Admin): I think it’s because they’re trying to establish depth. I know there isn’t much tolerance for personal foul penalties like that, which is why you saw Pip out for awhile when that happened. But … only three P-5 teams in the nation are giving up fewer passing yds. per game than WSU so there haven’t been many holes. Oct 10, 10:36 AM Uncle Larry (Guest): Jessamyn mentioned Luke Falk taking over the sideline meetings with the offense during the game and getting animated. Is that something he just started doing this year? Oct 10, 10:39 AM srchat (Admin): Can’t really speak to that as someone who didn’t watch every game last year. I’ll try to get a better read on that in Berkeley this weekend, though. Oct 10, 10:42 AM Guest4891 (Guest): Any chance we’ll see Robert Lewis this season? That would be a huge boost to add a guy as experienced as him back into the fold. Oct 10, 10:43 AM srchat (Admin): I agree with you, but I don’t imagine we will. Oct 10, 10:47 AM Uncle Larry (Guest): Think I saw Cal has given up 17 sacks. How does the Coug D line match up against the Cal O line? Oct 10, 10:49 AM srchat (Admin): I like their chances of dominating just about every O-line they play this season and certainly one that’s been as porous as Cal’s. Oct 10, 10:51 AM UCallItAnything: What are the coaches saying bout the OL consistently giving up sacks when the opponent only rushes 3 (besides the fact that Luke holds the ball too long) Oct 10, 10:53 AM srchat (Admin): Well, rushing three gives them another man in coverage and Luke isn’t one to force his throws. He’ll bide his time until he sees something. They haven’t addressed that question specifically, though. Oct 10, 10:54 AM UCallItAnything: I realize that there are new starters on the OL, but pretty much everyone thought they’d be a strength and watching them give up sacks to 3 rushers has been frustrating regardless of time holding the ball. Oct 10, 10:56 AM srchat (Admin): Right… I think that group expected to be performing a little better at this stage than they are. I’m sure they’d agree with your assessment. Oct 10, 10:56 AM srchat (Admin): Five more minutes on the chat. I can take a few more questions. Remember, there isn’t a dumb question. Oct 10, 10:57 AM GoCougs (Guest): A lot of those sacks shouldn’t be credited to the line, they’re on Falk. It’s his one weakness. Oct 10, 10:59 AM srchat (Admin): That’s fair. I also think he’s willing to take a few of those if it means he’s not throwing the ball into enemy arms. Oct 10, 11:00 AM srchat (Admin): His TD to int. ratio (19-2) is one of the best in the country. Oct 10, 11:00 AM Uncle Larry (Guest): Hard to see on tv but have the receivers improved on getting separation as the season has gone on? Who has shown the most improvement? Oct 10, 11:01 AM srchat (Admin): I think so. Renard Bell and Kyle Sweet have done a nice job of it lately, from my vantage point. Sweet’s had a few drops he’d probably like back, but he’s getting open often. Oct 10, 11:01 AM GoCougs (Guest): I don’t disagree. Falk is amazing and the weakness of taking some sacks is minor compared to what he brings to the table. Oct 10, 11:03 AM srchat (Admin): He also put on some weight this offseason, so he can take a few of those hits without feeling the aftereffects quite as much. Oct 10, 11:04 AM srchat (Admin): OK, that’s all the time we have for today. Be sure to follow along with our coverage throughout the week. I’m headed to California tomorrow. Lots of In N Out for this guy the next five days. We’ll be back next Wednesday at 10 a.m.