August 27th,
1. What is the biggest difference about the Cougs under a new coaching staff, led by head coach Paul Wulff?
One thing is certain: Things will be done Wulff?s way, or not at all. The head coach was considered one of the toughest players to don the crimson and gray. And while he knows he won?t get the same from each and every one of his players, he is asking for an increased level of toughness and accountability from each player. It may take a few years to truly see the difference, but Wulff has remained steadfast in sticking to his high level of intensity and expectation, and his demand for the players to have the same.
2. What other players can help Brandon Gibson shoulder the playmaking load on offense?
It?s something that offensive coordinator Todd Sturdy was hoping to find this fall. Unfortunately, many of those players with that potential have been dinged up or injured and missed several practices. Realistically, wide receiver Jeshua Anderson has the best chance. The reigning NCAA 400-meter hurdles champion has the speed and size (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) to be a great bookend for Gibson. However, a hernia has kept him out of most of fall practice and possibly until the third game of the season. Fellow wide receiver Daniel Blackledge (6-0, 170) has been bothered by a sore knee this fall and missed several practices.
That leaves true freshman Jared Karstetter as the best option. The Ferris standout has tremendous hands and a big frame (6-4, 190), but is prone to freshman mistakes. Out of the backfield, running backs Dwight Tardy and Chris Ivory also have been slowed by injuries in camp. In their absence, junior college transfer Chantz Staden has gotten plenty of reps with the first team. He?s shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and some elusiveness, but doesn?t quite possess the breakaway speed.
3. What exactly is Andy Mattingly?s role with this team?
It really seems to be a bit of an unknown. Mattingly moved to defensive end to help add some much-needed pass rushing help for the defensive front. He had eight sacks last season from his linebacker position.
But at a bulked-up 251 pounds, Mattingly is still a little light to be playing on the line. His transition to the new position has been a little slow. It?s a good bet Mattingly will come in on passing downs while Matt Mullenix, a starter at the end of last season, rotates to tackle.
It appears that the Cougars are committed to the change, even with depth at linebacker being a little thin. If Mattingly ? a one-time high school safety ? can use his speed and agility to overcome his lack of size and girth to beat offensive tackles, he could be extremely disruptive for opponents? passing games.
4. Will the Cougs have any consistency from the kicking position?
Nothing that happened last spring says they will. The trio of Wade Penner, Nico Grasu and Patrick Rooney did little to separate themselves from the others. One day the group would seem almost automatic, and the next they would struggle on chip- shot field goals. Wulff will go with Penner to start. He has plenty of leg, but accuracy is still a question. Wulff has mentioned that he won?t hesitate to make a mid-game change if necessary.
5. Does WSU have enough depth at linebacker to withstand an injury to Greg Trent or Cory Evans?
Officially, the Cougars have plenty of players behind those two, but lack experienced players. To that end, defensive coordinator Chris Ball kept Trent and Evans out for most of the final scrimmage, instead playing freshman Mike Ledgerwood (6-1, 215) and sophomore Halston Higgins (5-10, 211) with the first-team defense to help speed their progress. Still, Trent and Evans bring more than tackles and experience to the field; they also bring leadership that can?t be replaced.
1. What is the biggest difference about the Cougs under a new coaching staff, led by head coach Paul Wulff?
One thing is certain: Things will be done Wulff?s way, or not at all. The head coach was considered one of the toughest players to don the crimson and gray. And while he knows he won?t get the same from each and every one of his players, he is asking for an increased level of toughness and accountability from each player. It may take a few years to truly see the difference, but Wulff has remained steadfast in sticking to his high level of intensity and expectation, and his demand for the players to have the same.
2. What other players can help Brandon Gibson shoulder the playmaking load on offense?
It?s something that offensive coordinator Todd Sturdy was hoping to find this fall. Unfortunately, many of those players with that potential have been dinged up or injured and missed several practices. Realistically, wide receiver Jeshua Anderson has the best chance. The reigning NCAA 400-meter hurdles champion has the speed and size (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) to be a great bookend for Gibson. However, a hernia has kept him out of most of fall practice and possibly until the third game of the season. Fellow wide receiver Daniel Blackledge (6-0, 170) has been bothered by a sore knee this fall and missed several practices.
That leaves true freshman Jared Karstetter as the best option. The Ferris standout has tremendous hands and a big frame (6-4, 190), but is prone to freshman mistakes. Out of the backfield, running backs Dwight Tardy and Chris Ivory also have been slowed by injuries in camp. In their absence, junior college transfer Chantz Staden has gotten plenty of reps with the first team. He?s shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and some elusiveness, but doesn?t quite possess the breakaway speed.
3. What exactly is Andy Mattingly?s role with this team?
It really seems to be a bit of an unknown. Mattingly moved to defensive end to help add some much-needed pass rushing help for the defensive front. He had eight sacks last season from his linebacker position.
But at a bulked-up 251 pounds, Mattingly is still a little light to be playing on the line. His transition to the new position has been a little slow. It?s a good bet Mattingly will come in on passing downs while Matt Mullenix, a starter at the end of last season, rotates to tackle.
It appears that the Cougars are committed to the change, even with depth at linebacker being a little thin. If Mattingly ? a one-time high school safety ? can use his speed and agility to overcome his lack of size and girth to beat offensive tackles, he could be extremely disruptive for opponents? passing games.
4. Will the Cougs have any consistency from the kicking position?
Nothing that happened last spring says they will. The trio of Wade Penner, Nico Grasu and Patrick Rooney did little to separate themselves from the others. One day the group would seem almost automatic, and the next they would struggle on chip- shot field goals. Wulff will go with Penner to start. He has plenty of leg, but accuracy is still a question. Wulff has mentioned that he won?t hesitate to make a mid-game change if necessary.
5. Does WSU have enough depth at linebacker to withstand an injury to Greg Trent or Cory Evans?
Officially, the Cougars have plenty of players behind those two, but lack experienced players. To that end, defensive coordinator Chris Ball kept Trent and Evans out for most of the final scrimmage, instead playing freshman Mike Ledgerwood (6-1, 215) and sophomore Halston Higgins (5-10, 211) with the first-team defense to help speed their progress. Still, Trent and Evans bring more than tackles and experience to the field; they also bring leadership that can?t be replaced.
