WSU Football Depth Chart: Cougs Release First Two-Deep

by Brian Floyd on Aug 30, 2010 1:10 PM PDT in College Football

With the Oklahoma State game coming up fast, the Cougs released their initial depth chart for the season this morning. As Vince Grippi said this morning, there was a depth chart floating around this weekend that had some errors. With the release of the official depth chart, we now have a clear picture of who will see action this weekend.

You can find the official depth chart here, in PDF format.

Now, for a quick breakdown.

Aire Justin has been nursing an injury, leaving Nolan Washington and Damante Horton as the first and second-stringers for the OSU game.
Six true freshmen are listed on the depth chart. John Fullington, Marquess Wilson, Horton, Deone Bucannon, Andrew Furney and punt-returner Rickey Galvin are all listed as backups at their respective positions.
Three positions have backups listed as either/or. Chantz Staden and Logwone Mitz are both listed as the backup running back, Alex Reitnouer and Tyson Pencer are listed as the backup at left guard and Reitnour is also listed as the backup at right guard with Elliott Bosch. It's pretty safe to say Reitnour will see time on the line.
Both Casey Locker and Bucannon passed up Jamal Atofau at the safety position. Edit: Grippi with the answer. Atofau has been moved to the SAM spot.
James Montgomery is the second return-man for kickoffs. This scares the crap out of me. Please, Paul, put Galvin back there instead.

That's really all I got. Anything else surprise you? Drop it in the comments.

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I had the same thought about Montgomery on kickoffs.

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by Craig Powers on Aug 30, 2010 1:28 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

Interesting note from Grippi on Atofau

FYI, Jamal Atofau, though not listed on the two-deep, has been moved to the Sam spot.

5-9 180 OLB? Seems like an odd position switch especially with our depth at LB. There is, however, a precedent for such a move just look at Myron Beck.

by Mark Sandritter on Aug 30, 2010 1:37 PM PDT reply actions

Just updated it with that.

He’s got some weight to put on to be a factor at SAM. Sure looks like he’s following in Beck’s footsteps. If Wulff wants fast backers, Atofau fits that.

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by Brian Floyd on Aug 30, 2010 1:40 PM PDT up reply actions

That's a lot of weight to put on.

Not sure if he would be as fast after 40 more pounds.

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by Craig Powers on Aug 30, 2010 1:42 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

At least he knows the SAM position

But boy is he undersized.

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by Brian Floyd on Aug 30, 2010 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Not sure if this says more about Atofau or our linebackers.

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by Jeff Nusser on Aug 30, 2010 1:48 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Bingo.

Wulff is just looking for a way to get all of his best players on the field.

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by Craig Powers on Aug 30, 2010 1:51 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

I'm thinking he's more worried about the depth than we realized

Without Barrington and Bland, the depth at linebacker isn’t look as good as it did a month ago.

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by Brian Floyd on Aug 30, 2010 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions

You got that right

It’s probably going to take some time for the light to go on for Mizell as well.

by BornCoug on Aug 30, 2010 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Good point.

This “depth not looking as good as a month ago” is started to pop up too much. Ugh.

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by Craig Powers on Aug 30, 2010 1:55 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

I could see that.

But long term I don’t get it. Next year you would lose Beck and Higgings but add Bland, Barrington, Mizell, Oertel, and possibly good recruits in Sua and Mayes, Monroe and Hersey. Depth at LB is not a long term issue and I cant imagine Atofau would help out much this year at his current size.

by Mark Sandritter on Aug 30, 2010 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions

coverage on TE's

is also a factor. Might be the weak spot for hyphen frankly. Add that LEO aspect that occasionally plugs in situationally, coupled w/ the down up tendencies of our DE’s and it makes some of our coverage set ups real interesting. I have watched a ton of fall Coug work outs over the years, and am rarely confused by positioning- but a few times this fall I wondered if the O-line knew who their assignment was. Bland had huge success in this little LB slot late in ‘08. My guess is that they want that same ’hard to p/u LB’ thing to happen again.

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by hollyweirdcoug on Aug 30, 2010 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Seems strange

but Atafou can definitely hit for his size. Maybe this is the long awaited move to the 4-2 even though Ball said “we are a 4-3 defense”!

Bosch (Ferris walk-on) is listed as the backup RG. I know they think a lot of him but that surprised me although Roxas is probably the backup at Center and RG when it comes down to it.

by BornCoug on Aug 30, 2010 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Is Simone ready to go?

seems like he’s been sitting out for a few weeks

by coug2828 on Aug 30, 2010 2:21 PM PDT reply actions

I believe he's been practicing and is good to go

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by Brian Floyd on Aug 30, 2010 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Overall this probably doesn't mean much but...

If you take the 22 starters on last seasons opening depth chart vs this year you get.
2009: 6-1.5, 243 lbs, 3.5 years of experience
2010: 6-2, 239 lbs, 3.6 years of experience

The size numbers can be misleading, would I trade Tony Turpin’s 311 lbs for Rankin’s 271? Not a chance. Ideally, the players involved now are in better shape and more skilled even if they weigh a bit less as a collective group.

Also for reference here are Oregon’s numbers before their first game last season. 6-2.5, 235 lbs, 3.6 years of expereince.

by Mark Sandritter on Aug 30, 2010 2:43 PM PDT reply actions

The move to SAM confuses me a little.

To be honest, I think our depth at safety has had a bigger dropoff from a month ago than the LB position, now that Atofua is headed to the LB corps. Physically I think he can do it, I know Jamaal fairly well and he looks bigger than 180. The 5’9 is legit though, he is far from a tall dude. Would 5’9 205 be big enough for the SAM spot? He could be there by next year, but I can’t see him getting much bigger than that comfortably. I do think he is one of our more talented guys, and likely the coaches have a good reason for moving him, at least i hope.

By my count there 15 true or redshirt freshmen on the two deep, which I love. I love it because these guys are the best players on the team, and represent the foundation for future consistent victory. When the 9 RS and true Frosh on the defense are RS and true Seniors (not to mention the additions of Mizell, Oertel, Sua, Mayes, David Davis, etc…) and this looks more like the Palouse Posse than the team that couldn’t tackle a dummy for the last two years.

Offensively, I still have big concerns. The offensive line, and I hope I am wrong, just does not seem overly talented. I could be wrong as there are lots of unknowns about this group, the effect of a year of growth, maturity and Morton’s influence could well make this a passable group, but color me skeptical. The skill positions are improved, but are definitely a year off. If the line works, then maybe our offense can work, but I would say it is still at least a year behind the D.

by Fightfightfight on Aug 30, 2010 3:12 PM PDT reply actions