OPEN GAME THREAD: WSU at No. 21 Arizona
by Jeff Nusser on Nov 7, 2009 11:45 AM PST
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PrintWashington St. Cougars at Arizona Wildcats, Nov 7, 2009 12:30 PM PST
Game coverage from around SBN: Here
Time: 12:30 p.m. PST
The place: Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Ariz.)
TV: Fox College Sports (live), FSN Northwest (delayed, 7:30 p.m. PST). Also -- potentially -- channelsurfing.net, although it can be unreliable at times.
Radio: Find your local station here. You can also listen to it via streaming for a fee at wsucougars.com.
The line: Arizona minus-32.5 (Fun fact! The Cougs have covered in five of their past six games.)
When the Cougs have the ball ...
| WSU | UofA |
|||
| Pos. | Name (# = Redshirt) | Pos. | Name (* = Redshirt) |
|
| X | Jeffrey Solomon (6-0, 195, #Jr.) | DE | Ricky Elmore (6-5 250 Jr.*) | |
| F | Gino Simone (5-11, 174, Fr.) | DT |
Earl Mitchell (6-2 295 Sr.*) | |
| LT | Tyson Pencer (6-7, 297, #Fr.) | NT |
Donald Horton (6-0 275 Gr.*) | |
| LG | Zack Williams (6-4, 293, #Jr.) | DE |
Brooks Reed (6-3 255 Jr.*) | |
| C | Kenny Alfred (6-2, 300, #Sr.) | SLB | Sterling Lewis (5-11 225 Sr.) | |
| RG | B.J. Guerra (6-3, 318, #So.) | MLB | Vuna Tuihalamaka (6-2 230 Sr.*) | |
| RT | Micah Hannam (6-4, 284, #Jr.) | WLB | Xavier Kelley (5-11 215 Gr.*) |
|
| TE | Tony Thompson (6-2, 241, #Sr.) | CB | Trevin Wade (5-11 182 So.*) | |
| Z | Jared Karstetter (6-4, 203, So.) | SS |
Robert Golden (5-11 190 So.) | |
| QB | Jeff Tuel (6-3, 207, Fr.) | FS |
Cam Nelson (6-1 202 Sr.) | |
| RB | Dwight Tardy (5-11, 204, #Sr.) | CB | Devin Ross (5-11 175 Sr.) |
When Arizona has the ball ...
| UofA | WSU | |||
| Pos. | Name (* = Redshirt) |
Pos. | Name (# = Redshirt) | |
| X |
Terrell Turner (6-2 190 Sr.) | LE | Casey Hamlett (6-3, 250, Jr.) |
|
| TE | A.J. Simmons (6-3 255 Jr.*) | DT | Bernard Wolfgramm (6-3, 291, #Jr.) | |
| LT | Mike Diaz (6-5 320 Sr.) | DT | Toby Turpin (6-5, 284, #Jr.) | |
| LG |
Herman Hall (6-3 303 Sr.) | RE | Travis Long (6-4, 247, Fr.) | |
| C | Colin Baxter (6-4 295 Jr.*) | SAM | Andy Mattingly (6-4, 255, Sr.) | |
| RG |
Vaughn Dotsy (6-5 335 So.) | MIKE | Alex Hoffman-Ellis (6-1, 233, #So.) | |
| RT | Adam Grant (6-6 325 Gr.*) | WILL | Jason Stripling (5-11, 225, #Sr.) | |
| QB |
Nick Foles (6-5 235 So.*) | LCB | Brandon Jones (5-9, 178, #Jr.) | |
| RB |
Keola Antolin (5-8 186 So.) | SS | Xavier Hicks, Jr. (6-0, 211, #Sr.) | |
| HB | Chris Gronkowski (6-2 235 Sr.*) |
FS | Jay Matthews (6-1, 205, #Fr.) | |
| RB |
Delashaun Dean (6-4 202 Jr.*) |
RCB | Terrance Hayward (6-1, 186, #Fr.) |
Special Teams ...
| WSU | UofA | |||
| Pos. | Name (# = Redshirt) | Pos. | Name (* = Redshirt) |
|
| K | Nico Grasu (6-0, 221, Jr.) | K | Alex Zendejas 5-11 190 So.* | |
| P | Reid Forrest (6-2, 193, #Jr.) | P |
Keenyn Crier 6-1 200 Jr.* |
Keys to the Game Competing
1. Tackle. Last week was better for most of the game in this area, but the few times when it wasn't, it resulted in huge plays for the Irish. Tackling will be even more critical this week, as Arizona runs a spread offense that's probably most similar to Texas Tech -- lots of short passes in a concerted effort to get the ball to their athletes in space. With all the injuries on defense, this will be critical.
2. Avoid giving up the big play. This kind of goes hand-in-hand with the first key. In general, Arizona is content to just take what the defense gives them -- see Foles' 70+ completion percentage and only four sacks allowed all year. The idea is to make you pay when you have that one breakdown. The Cougs have shown at times this year that they can play against this style and even force a mistake or two along the way. They'll have to be at their best in this one today.
3. Protect Tuel. Duh. But Arizona has been merely above average in terms of sacking the quarterback (2.57 per game on the year, just about a half sack above the national median). They don't typically blitz a ton, plus the line seems to be getting healthier by the week, so there just shouldn't be as much trouble keeping a reasonable pocket intact today. If that happens, we should be able to move the ball a bit.
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THIS IS MY SURPRISED FACE.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
by Craig Powers on Nov 7, 2009 12:02 PM PST up reply actions
I am so happy
Every time someone on tv said “they still have a shot at the NC” I threw up a little
by johnnycougar on Nov 7, 2009 12:30 PM PST up reply actions
There was a time when he got by on sexy alone.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
by Craig Powers on Nov 7, 2009 12:14 PM PST up reply actions
Not yet.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
by Craig Powers on Nov 7, 2009 12:34 PM PST up reply actions
Dear Fox Sports,
You’re biggest competitor has a cool thing where the offer games for free online. It would be cool if you did the same.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
Your*
I has a blog.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
by Craig Powers on Nov 7, 2009 12:39 PM PST up reply actions
That's what happens when the starters get hurt, then the guys on special teams have to start.
Not much left over for special teams.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
by Craig Powers on Nov 7, 2009 12:41 PM PST up reply actions
Another fast start for WSU
The kickoff return for a TD was their first since 1998. Therefore, WSU should not feel ashamed as UA was due.
We end a lot of droughts for teams.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
by Craig Powers on Nov 7, 2009 12:48 PM PST up reply actions
Just in time for a touchdown!
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
by Craig Powers on Nov 7, 2009 12:49 PM PST up reply actions
Is that one really slow for everyone else?
I’m wondering if I should try restarting my computer or something.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
by Craig Powers on Nov 7, 2009 12:50 PM PST up reply actions
Are you referring to the quality of the stream or the quality of the game?
Thank you, I’ll be here all afternoon … be sure to tip your waitress.
For anyone who has Wave cable
it is on channel 408.
14-0. Wow
This is scary already. But, if WSU continues their pattern, they will begin to play better in the second quarter.
Is it too late for a fast start?
3 min into the game…
When people complain about attendance in Pullman
They should look at other schools. Arizona is a top 25 team in a much bigger city, and they can’t even fill their 50,000 seat stadium.
meh,
we never sold out against crappy teams either.
Another 3 and out
Last week WSU had 3 and out’s the first three series
Two sacks already.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
by Craig Powers on Nov 7, 2009 12:55 PM PST up reply actions
It's our style of offense
We the run the 3 and out
Well, we are always hoping for consisency
And they have been consistent in that regard
That long?
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
by Craig Powers on Nov 7, 2009 12:57 PM PST up reply actions
10-0.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
by Craig Powers on Nov 7, 2009 12:58 PM PST up reply actions
It's a national FSN game.
If you are in Seattle you might have the UW game instead.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
i'm not really a rip on the players kind of person
but we have a redshirt better than Jones, right?
Someone please tell me Zendejas is related to the famous kicking Zendejas brothers
That would make my afternoon.
He is a nephew
Of Max and Tony if I remember correct.
You worry sometimes
That our team continually getting absolutely hammered will eventually break some of these players. We haven’t been competitive in a long long time and we are usually down 3 scores in the first 15 min (ND was somewhat close after 1).
Gotta be tough on those guys spirits, i don’t know how many times you can lose like this and still feel like you can turn it around.
In the lingere league, Seattle has a team called the Mist
Does anybody think like me and think the line would be a toss up?
toss up??
No way, we’d cover the spread, but we wouldn’t win.
Nuss, you are so smart
Using thems fancy words like entendre
Alabama v. LSU
Typical SEC game, no scoring, boring as hell. It may have the best teams, but they are the worst to watch after the Big 10.
Let's play Jeopardy. The answer is 145-3.
What is the question?
We have a winner
But, unfortunately, all the other answers were correct too.
cougar football
My color is embarrassment!
by Grady Clapp on Nov 7, 2009 1:21 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Well, there were signs we were going forward up through the Cal game
But last week was bad, and this is worse. It’s the mistakes that just are killers.
this is the first game i've seen on tv in a month or so
and i’m appalled at how poorly we tackle. we’re in position. we just don’t tackle.
that’s on wulff.
You know, it wasn't a big problem until Cal
Then it cropped up a few times against ND, and it’s there again today. Ugh.
I’m one of those people that tends not to blame coaches too much for tackling. Superior athletes tackle. Inferior athletes don’t. You show me a team filled with great athletes, I’ll show you one that tackles well.
i guess my point was
i’m ok with us not getting at jump balls…
but you can make a tackle if you’re an inferior athlete: hit low…wrap up and hold on til someone else gets there.
we don’t do that….ever.
Thats kind of what i was getting at earlier
These kind of starts and games are ultimately gonna break the players. You can recruit, you can be patient, but you can’t lose like this for two years and build a program. Young guys get discouraged and for good reason.
At what point do you decide that you can't just rush four guys and sit back in a zone?
The lack of creativity on both sides of the ball week after week never ceases to astound me.
I've said it before
I’m not sold on the gameday coaching. There’s just nothing going on. Talent is one thing, but they’re not maximizing talent they have
Couldn't agree more
We sit there, we aren’t creative, we don’t adapt, we do the same old thing. Reminds me of the Hawaii WR making fun of as after the game because we didn’t switch up our defense.
How about a screen pass?
Arizona D-linemen won’t notice the difference between when our o-line is supposed to be blocking or not, so it should work to perfection.
What WSU is going to spot Arizona
before WSU scores
Running the spread option is going to get Tuel killed at some point
Then again so is dropping him back to pass, so screw it
so my intern wanted to check the ore score
I open up my phone and boom… hoff’s crotch.
Almost as embarrassing as our team
by Grady Clapp on Nov 7, 2009 1:36 PM PST via mobile reply actions
You're welcome.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
by Craig Powers on Nov 7, 2009 4:00 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Nice run by Tardy
He could have gotten more if Karstedter (sp?) didn’t get in his way
I like Zack Williams
Someone tell me why he is woofing at anyone down 31-0 with 10 minutes to go in the 2nd qtr?
Tuel needs to learn how to slide
If he keeps on going into piles head first, he isn’t going to be healthy much longer
Once again
We don’t know if the cougars are finally playing well or if it’s arizona being asleep on defense…happens every game. Owell lets get a score here.
bit your tongue
WE’RE A 2nd QUARTER TEAM DAMMIT!!!
Arizona defence
Must be second stringers already.
Hopefully not a hand
Ankle, ok…don’t be a knee please!
Lobster
Gonna lead the comeback of the century!!
Rather than warming up the arm
He should be warming up his legs.
he looked great against portland state last year
so i’m sure it’s bound to happen.
Can anyone say
Medical redshirt? Yeah I know, about two months late for that.
Meh
I still think USC taking a knee before half was worse
Phew
Sprained knee. Might only miss one series.
I agree
hope they realize that the next one might be worse.
Waaaay too many tackles in the secondary
This is getting old
Need to show Tuel the hit Butler
put on Prince in the UW/UCLA game. Ugly!
UW beat this team...
are you pumped for apple cup???
Yeah I was gonna come up next weekend for UCLA
I think I’ll pass on that now, I’ll just play the new Call of Duty instead
No shame in that,
but I will go in the off chance it is interesting.
Vote for Butch!
by spencer peaty on Nov 7, 2009 1:50 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah it could be interesting
They might miss their flight or something.
You never know
We’ve showed signs of life before. We’re flat lined right now though.
The refs
Did you hear the ref there, even he sounds bored with this game already.
and if you want to know why the Cougs are always down 30-0 in the first quarter...
There is a map for that!
Bad players and a crappy gameplan?
Vote for Butch!
by spencer peaty on Nov 7, 2009 1:54 PM PST up reply actions
come on cougs! lets win the second half like we always do!
screw the first half, its like the bombshell in the club. You will never get her, go for the slightly over-weight red-head crying in her martini in the corner!
Jeopardy again, The answer is, "145 to 3"
What is the question?
I don't even need to watch the game
blah blah blah, we’re getting quality kids… blah blah blah i was good at EWU…. blah the program was in shambles… ARE YOU KIDDING ME! 24-0 in the 1st QUARTER! COMPETE ALREADY. USE WHAT YOU HAVE. JESUS
I appreciate your support
0-24 is unacceptable. 0-34 is also unacceptable. WE ARE IN THE PAC TEN, WE PLAY BIG BOY FOOTBALL. WHY DO PEOPLE STAND AROUND while we get 1 conference win in two years?!? Albeit one over the mutts, but the point bleeding needs to stop.
You gonna pony up the $2 mil it's going to take to get a new coach?
Because that’s what it’s going to take.
If Oregon played in the SEC, they'd be talking about how hard it is week in and week out to win in the SEC
Instead, they’re in the Pac-10, so it must mean they aren’t as good as everyone thought..
Navy is up against Notre Dame 21-7 in the fourth quarter
It is a good thing that WSU is not playing Navy
You know, that was going to be my upset special on the blog
But we ran out of time and didn’t get to do them.
You have to laugh
First half, KO for a TD, no a PR for a TD
You can feel free to blame the coaches for the special teams blunders of the last two weeks
I certainly won’t get in the way of that one.
Not on special teams.
Stanford, Cal and this have been pretty egregious. The rest have been relatively OK, I think.
I'm not going to watch the replay at 730.
It’s depressing enough looking at the score. I know it’s not ALL Wulff’s fault (and I’m usually in support of him) but with this many blowouts, I think we need some major coaching changes just so people might be interested in watching us again. Sadly, the football team is the biggest joke on campus and I can’t understand how they won’t factor into the team morality.
I think it's starting to
This team is not better than it was three weeks ago. That’s a problem.
Mostly, I get frustrated by what seems to be a real lack of creativity on either side of the ball. As someone said earlier, what’s the harm in bringing a blitz? We’re already getting creamed …
In Doba's last year, WSU won 3 of their last 5 games
and one of their losses was 20-17 at CAL. You could watch that year and see the improvement in the players. I have yet to see that in two years under this staff.
Nothing to hang your hat on
Terrible defense, worse offense, and even worse special teams. Seemingly no adjustments but maybe we are just that bad that adjustments are really not possible.
Something needs to change in the staff during the offseason.
ballers tip in 9 days
ballers tip in 9 days…ballers tip in 9 days…ballers tip in 9 days…ballers tip in 9 days…ballers tip in 9 days…ballers tip in 9 days…ballers tip in 9 days…ballers tip in 9 days…ballers tip in 9 days…ballers tip in 9 days…ballers tip in 9 days…ballers tip in 9 days…ballers tip in 9 days…ballers tip in 9 days…ballers tip in 9 days…
schadenfreude
i’ve moved on to rooting against uw…it’s all i have
Realistically
does Wulff survive year 3 with an overall record of something like 6-33?
apple cup
if jake l is healthy for the “dawgs” … this could be a very long afternon. i am sure glad i spent $150 for tickets. at least i will be in good company – as suffering loves company w/ the other cougs. just hope it is not raining.
Come for the party, stay for that game
That’s what I’ll be doing. The tailgate is going to be Thanksgiving for my side of the family.
Yes, I will be very drunk for the entire game
I don’t drink often anymore, but I will make an exception for the Apple Cup.
Unfortunately, I don’t black out when I drink, so I will remember the entire game
ok, anyone who knows anything about our young guys
do we have anyone better on defense that might start ahead of some of these guys next year? i know atofau is supposed to be a stud, but i figured he’ll take the spot hicks leaves…
thanks
3 more years of brandon jones might make me want to check out til 2012….but the world’s ending that year, so i can’t win either way.
Well, then you'll be happy to know that Jones is a junior.
You’ve only got to deal with him for one more year.
Carpenter?
Does he end up at safety or corner?
Pu’u Robinson is going to be a good one in time. Probably the same with John Clayton.
If they can keep Atofau eligible he’s a talent.
Simmons and Daniels come back to the secondary. I don’t know if Jones holds off all these dbs next year.
haha
at least we still have our sense of humor.
I still believe in PW and his system
We’re playing a young mans game, against young men. Problem is, we’re just kids. I’m willing to give PW two more years. Probably not the popular vote, but……..whatever. GO COUGS!
I'm willing.
I just don’t know how many games I’ll watch. The little to no improvement is what’s killing me. I’m used to blowouts.
I like the positive attitude
I with you on that. Let’s see you keep that positive attitude when I see you in the pac-12 playoffs.
ALL POSITIVE, ALL THE TIME
I’m positive PW will turn it around, and I’m positive Wazzu Willy doesn’t have a chance in the PAK12 playoffs:)
I hope your only dissapointed
in the pak12 results.
i don't think that's the unpopular opinion
i think most people are willing to give wulff the benefit of the doubt (some, for no reason other than we can’t afford to fire him), but it’s hard to find ANY positives lately….
hey, UW’s losing!
lou Holtz
great call lou – ND national champions and jimmy c heisman- navy just beat you. goodbye bcs game.
He must have huge mits
He makes those catches almost like an outfielder. It seems like an underthrown ball like Gesser would do would work pretty well with Karstetter.
I smell an upset
Only six touchdowns more to go before WSU takes the lead.
Your right
Stanford 45 and Oregon 28 just into the 4th quarter
Gerhart is really rumblin'
over the Ducks. They haven’t been able to contain him at all.
Final score Arizona 48- WSU 7
Last year WSU lost 59-28. Is WSU showing improvement?
nope
Arizona is better, we are about the same. Maybe a push but who cares. We are ridiculously bad. Please go out and hire a line coach and coordinator on both sides of the ball.
still not entirely sure why yarno wasn't retained
o-line seemed to be a strength during the doba era
Wulff wanted his own guy
Yarno was a good position coach and he’s one of the few coaches I remember recruits connecting with from the previous staff at least in articles. From what I have seen on message boards, Wulff did not like Yarno at all.
How about bringing in Gilby? His son walked on.
What about as both OC and OL coach?
I talked to Gilbertson at one of the games this year. Nice guy.
He's a good assistant coach
I don’t know if he has used the no-huddle before. He would definitely be a huge upgrade as a o-line coach.
I don't remember the uw using a no huddle when he was OC
But, so what. Let him run the offense. He was a great OC at the uw and he has learned more the last few years under Holgren.
agree
the staff needs an upgrade. I understand the need for recruiting right now but coaches either need to imrpve or find a better coach that can coach these kids up. I was worried about the staff when Wulff was hired and while the staff has done a good job recruiting I don’t know about any other aspect.
Gilby is definitely a very good coach with a ton of experience over the years. He sure as you know what couldn’t hurt.
Gilby in a living room with a recruit wouldn't be bad either
He does have jewelry and can say he coached in the NFL.
well...
last year we were at home, and last year arizona was a lot worse than they are now…
hard to tell.
still, there are several things wsu coaches could’ve done better.
chip shot field gold for uw to take the lead
line drive into the ucla cheerleaders behind the endzone
groundhog day
until next saturday – goodnite and good luck!
well, uw's going to lose....
schaudenfreude, indeed!
because we can't play real football, lets play hypothetical football....
(sorry have Groundhog’s day on my mind) Do you think the WSU football players and staff would want to take a mulligan and have another try at this season, or would they want to just get on to next year as soon as possible?!!
I can't wait for the year to end
Not much has gone right. I’m sure the players would like to do things differently. Another lost year.
Apple Cup
I think we are all tired of hearing about both the “terrible awful coaches” and equally “awful talent, no recruiting” arguments.- We’ll just have to wait and see. In 2012 we’ll be able to answer both of these.
We are where we are, so I ask this question. Is there any possible way that this team can upset Washington? Does anyone think they have a blueprint (given our talent, coaching, and injuries) to win the Apple Cup?
Maybe its an unpopular opinion, but if we go 2-10 and beat Washington I’d consider the season a success.
I know the problem
The athletic deparment screwed up again and only sent our band to AZ. Dang, the’ve been doing that all season…
by HugeBoobs on Nov 7, 2009 6:11 PM PST via mobile reply actions
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