The Red Zone Report

Last year saw the end of an era at Washington State. Not exactly that it was a bad thing, as Bill Doba’s last four seasons produced three losing records and no postseason berths after 30 wins and three straight top-10 finishes from 2001-03.

To help get the program steered back towards the top of the Pac-10, the administration went to another member of the Washington State family, hiring Easterhington head coach and former Cougar center Paul Wulff.

With a new system and a new outlook, can the Cougars return to winning ways under their new leader?

Washington State Cougars

Coach: Paul Wulff (1st year at Washington State, 53-40 at Eastern Washington)

2007 Record: 5-7, 3-6 Pac-10 (tied for 7th)

Starters Returning: 16 (6 offense, 9 defense, punter)

Key Returnees: RB Dwight Tardy, WR Brandon Gibson, WR Jeshua Anderson, DE Andy Mattingly, DE Matt Mullenix, DE Kevin Kooyman, DT A’i Ahmu, LB Greg Trent, LB Cory Evans, LB Kendrick Dunn, CB Alfonso Jackson, FS Xavier Hicks, Jr., SS Chima Nwachukwu, P Reid Forrest

Key Losses: QB Alex Brink, WR Michael Bumpus, WR Charles Dillon, TE Jed Collins, DT Ropati Pitoitua, FS Husain Abdullah, CB Devin Giles, CB Ryan Kensok

2008 Schedule

8/30 vs. Oklahoma State
9/6 vs. Cal
9/13 at Baylor
9/20 vs. Portland State
9/27 vs. Oregon
10/4 at UCLA
10/11 at Oregon State
10/18 vs. USC
11/1 at Stanford
11/8 vs. Arizona
11/15 at Arizona State
11/22 vs. Washington
11/29 at Hawaii

Key Game: Aug. 30 vs. Oklahoma State - Not a lot is expected of the Cougars this season, but that could change if they could knock off the Cowboys in their season opener.

2008 Outlook

Doba didn’t leave Wulff with a team full of inexperienced also-rans, so the new head man won’t have to exactly start from scratch in terms of personnel.

There is however, one gaping hole to fill,, and that’s at quarterback, where Alex Brink is gone after throwing for 10,913 yards and 76 touchdowns over a stellar career. Taking over for Brink is 6′6 senior Gary Rogers, who will be running a new no-huddle offense that could produce big numbers from a unit that produced 25.7 points and 435.6 yards per game last year.

Rogers has completed 24 passes in 52 career attempts in the last three seasons, and there’s a good chance he could match that total in the season opener against Oklahoma State. While Rogers is set as the starter, junior Kevin Lopina, a transfer from Kansas State, will get regular snaps from the outset.

It may be a new offense with new quarterbacks, but the duo will be commanding things with some experienced pass-catchers to throw to, led by senior Brandon Gibson. Last season, Gibson (who was on my fantasy team) caught 67 passes for 1,180 and nine touchdowns on the way to first-team all-Pac 10 honors.

Besides Gibson, the Cougars have another big-play threat in sophomore Jeshua Anderson, who averaged 31 yards per catch (12 catches for 372 yards) last year, and those numbers will rise this season with him assuming a starting role.

Senior Devin Frischknecht will start at tight end and be a regular target through the air, and senior Ben Woodard should get regular opportunities in a backup role.

Rogers and Lopina won’t have to worry about protection, as four full-time starters return on the offensive line.

That’s good news for the ground game, which should flourish with the return of a healthy Dwight Tardy. Last year, Tardy was on pace for a 1,000 yard year, as he ran for 676 yards and 6 touchdowns through eight games before missing the final four due to injury. Behind the talented sophomore is junior Chris Ivory, who ran for 313 yards and two touchdowns in 2007.

All in all, the offense should be very balanced, provided there aren’t too many bumps and lumps in the passing game, and if Tardy can stay healthy.

If the Cougars want to avoid the conference basement, they’ll have to be better on defense, where they gave 32.4 points and 421.2 yards per game last year. On the bright side, several guys with significant starting experience return. But, on the down side, several guys with starting experience return.

That being said, there’s potential for the Cougars to have a very solid defense.

Along the front line, three of the positions looked to be filled by players with starting experience. At left end, offensive linemen will have to contend with the duo of promising sophomore Kevin Kooyman (10 tackles, 3.5 sacks in 2007) and senior Matt Mullenix (33 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack). Mullenix started 10 games last season, and is the more experienced player, but Kooyman has a great deal of potential.

At the other end position is perhaps the Cougars’ best defensive player, junior Andy Mattingly. Last season, Mattingly registered 91 tackles, 11 TFL, and eight sacks, and he also forced four fumbles. College football fans nationwide might know him as a hard hitter for off-the-field reasons, but he’ll be bringing the pain on the field this season.

Wulff’s first recruiting class was heavy on junior college defensive ends, and the best one of the bunch looks to be Bernard Wolfgramm, who’s quite a load to handle at 6′3, 270, and is slated to make an immediate impact this fall.

Slowing down the run is a must, and a big part of that will be the two big bodies in the middle of the line. Two seniors are slated to start at the tackle positions in A’i Ahmu and Matt Eichelberger.

The strength of Washington State’s defense will be the linebackers, where three full-time starters from last year return. Seniors Greg Trent (89 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 forced fumbles), Cory Evans (84 tackles, 10.5 TFL), and Kendrick Dunn (81 tackles, 3 sacks)

The secondary, like the defensive line, has some retooling to do, as corner Devin Giles and free safety Husain Abdullah are gone, but two reliable starters are back in corner Alfonso Jackson (65 tackles, 2 INT) and strong safety Chima Nwachukwu (73 tackles, INT). Replacing Giles at the other spot looks to be senior Markus Dawes, who’s been bogged down by injuries throughout his career in Pullman. Replacing Abdullah won’t be an easy task, but junior Xavier Hicks, Jr. (53 tackles, INT) is more than capable.

The amount of returning bodies in the defense won’t mean a lot if they can’t produce, and besides being better against the run, pass defense must also improve, as the Cougars allowed 258.5 yards per game through the air last season. Intensity is a big part of what makes a good defense, and when you have a coach that says things like ‘Cougars hunt and kill,’ then that area should be covered.

While I don’t think they’ll make their first bowl since 2003, they will be very competitive. With a lot of returning talent and a fresh outlook, the Cougars might be able to surprise some people and make strides towards being a winning program again.

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