WSU Vs. UNLV: 5 Things I Want To See From The Cougars
by Jeff Nusser on Sep 9, 2011 3:01 PM PDT
in 2011 WSU Football News
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PrintSo far, so good, as the WSU rose up last week against Idaho State to meet every challenge I set before them in my inaugural "5 Things I Want To See" column. The lowest grade I could bring myself to hand out on any of the five was a B, something I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to do at any point in the last three years if I could magically go back in time and evaluate a "5 Things" column that would have been written but doesn't really exist.
However, as part of a skeptical fan base that has been given a modicum of hope too many times only to have it crushed, I continue take a wait-and-see posture. Last week was great, and exactly what I wanted to see, but ...
Now I need to see more.
Like last week, I will celebrate a win no matter how it comes, but I need to see signs that this team will indeed be able to compete with conference foes. Show me this is real against an opponent that you should be able to beat by a couple of touchdowns without too much difficulty.
Help me believe, fellas. Showing* me these five things tomorrow will help.
Incidentally, I use the words "see" and "show" loosely, since I won't actually see any of it with my eyeballs. Here's to hoping for another nice package of highlights from the athletic department!
- 25 or more rushes for greater than 4.5 yards per carry from the running backs. As usual, it all starts up front, and putting Marshall Lobbestael into manageable down and distance will be imperative. I have a lot of faith in Lobbestael ... as long as he doesn't have to carry the team. UNLV was pretty awful against Wisconsin's rushing attack, but then again, you know, Wisconsin. That said, UNLV's front four didn't exactly pass the eye test either, and this is a battle I expect WSU to be able to win.
- Lobbestael playing within himself. That little flip to Logwone Mitz as he was being sacked was cute, but that's the kind of crap that when it goes wrong it goes really, really wrong and can lead directly to points for the other team. And trying to make lemonade out of rotten limes is the sort of stuff that got him in trouble in his first go-around as starter. Make the right reads, make the right throws, avoid unnecessary risks. He needs to have no more than one turnover.
- Control of the defensive line. UNLV was able to run the ball on Wisconsin, often times right into the heart of the Badgers' defense. There was some zone read mixed in (more on that in a second), but more often than not, there was no trickery involved -- the Rebels were just running it straight up into the line, as both Tim Cornett and Bradley Randle averaged greater than four yards per carry. Controlling the running game and forcing sophomore QB Caleb Herring into second- and third-and-long is the best case scenario for WSU.
- Discipline from the linebackers. Herring was able to gash Wisconsin a handful of times on zone reads. The linebackers played sound against Idaho State, and it's going to be doubly important that they do so against UNLV. They've got the speed to chase Herring down - and punish him, because he's lanky - if they stay home and make sure they're in the right spots.
- Field goals from Furney. I have a sneaking suspicion that this game will be closer - and more high scoring - than most people realize. A missed field goal or two could prove to be the difference, and I'd rather they come from UNLV's kicker (who missed two of his three chances last weekend) than Andrew Furney.
Those are mine. What are yours?
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My 5 would be similar to one of yours.
Punish Them
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agree, for the most part
i actually liked the flip from Lobbestael. Granted, there were risks involved, but that was the sort of play Oregon has used for YEARS, which almost always goes for big yardage. Boise State has also used that sort of play. It’s a matter of taking the opportunity and going with it. If we are to win games we shouldn’t this year, we have to take some risks, not stupid risks, but calculated risks.
. I liked it.
—-A key for me would be: creation of turnovers. Not just accepting a turnover, like the interception against ISU, which was mostly a crappy play by the ISU QB (although I give the LB credit; this is the sort of play that in recent memory the WSU player would have dropped); i mean pressure on the QB; a hard tackle which forces a fumble; punching the ball out on a heady play; we haven’t CREATED turnovers for a long time. That’s what I want to see. Defensive pressure creates turnovers.
That flip was most certainly not a play in anyone's playbook.
In fact, it wasn’t a play at all.
That interception was the definition of defensive pressure forcing a turnover, as well.
Yup
That INT was a pretty brilliant play all around. Washington off the corner, forces the QB to get rid of it, TE doesn’t break of his route, AHE drops right into where he knows the hot route has to be. Just awesome.
That wasn’t an INT because it was Idaho State; that’s an INT against a lot of teams.
by Jeff Nusser on Sep 10, 2011 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
Did anyone else read this in your head then go what???
“Lobbestael Playing With Himself”
Then I had to double-take and read Within.
It wouldn't make my list of "5 things I want to see"
But, you know, different strokes and all…
by displacedcoug on Sep 9, 2011 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions
I can't wait to LISTEN to the game tomorrow.
As the game gets closer I am starting to worry about these 5 things.
"Left hand, right hand, it doesn’t matter. I’m amphibious." – Charles Shackleford
Glad I wasn't the only one who thought the in-sack flip to Mitz was bad
I don’t want to see any of that nonsense. I think this will be a closer game than many think. The offense has improved significantly, even with Lobbestael, but I’m not convinced that it’s a juggernaut based on the Idaho State game. Similarly, I think the defense is better than last year, but it will still give up some points. I think we’ll see something like this: WSU 34, UNLV 31.
ya, it turned out good
But I also was not happy that he did that. Like Jeff said, that is the kinda garbage that can really hurt a team.
on that pitch
Did Mitz screw up his blocking assignment?
by Samsinite on Sep 9, 2011 6:05 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
How do you keep missing assignments as a 5th year senior
Held him back last year as well. Too many concussions? Ugh.
The good thing about that
Is if Mitz keeps doing stuff like that, it just will give Galvin and Mason more PT.
In his defense, it was a nifty little blitz
The LB blitzed off the edge, but dove into the line. MItz followed him, then the corner blitzed a second later. MItz never saw him. He should have, because the LB diving into the line was well blocked, but it wasn’t the worst blown assignment I’ve ever seen.
by Jeff Nusser on Sep 10, 2011 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions
WOOPS
Looks like I just repeated what someone wrote below. Sorry.
by Jeff Nusser on Sep 10, 2011 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions
This play was really weird to me.
It looks like Mitz tries to block a blitzing linebacker. This linebacker tries to tackle David Gonzalez. Seriously. Go look at the highlights. Then comes the corner. Then the linebacker realizes Gonzalez doesn’t have the ball so he goes after Lobbestael at about the same time the corner shows up.
34-31...
that would not be a good sign for things to come…in my opinion.
Hope you are wrong.
by westsidecougar1 on Sep 10, 2011 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions
Cohesive running of the no huddle
is crucial as that will wear down the UNLV fronts. One thing about Wisconsin is they don’t hurry – they just methodically run at you. The Coug O is a very, very different animal, and if run well will create gaps and opportunities in different ways than the batering of the Badger OL. I want to see this…
SACKS is the other thing I want a lot of… just because I want the blitzing LB’s legend to grow before PAC 12 play starts. ake teams prep for it, then use it or don’t— but it is in their head.
If you can't Go Cougs... don't go.
by hollyweirdcoug on Sep 9, 2011 6:21 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I only have one thing I would like to... hear about,
1. I wan’t it to look like a Pac 12 team playing a Mountain West team. If we do that it will result in a win of somekind with us looking like a good team.
by bliznair64@gmail.com on Sep 9, 2011 10:24 PM PDT reply actions
5 Things I Want To See From The Cougars
1. More reps for Connor Halliday.
2. More blocking for Connor Halliday.
3. More receptions for Connor Halliday.
4. More confidence from Connor Halliday.
5. More reps for Connor Halliday.
Are you Connor Halliday?
Attractive, Intelligent, Smart A**
by Neil Vincent Roberts on Sep 10, 2011 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions
The one thing I want to see:
1. The home team has more points at the end of the game.
by Kirt on Sep 10, 2011 12:00 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
BOOO!
Im Thinking a late 4th quarter come back by UNLV for the win. HAHAHA
by English Student on Sep 10, 2011 2:57 PM PDT reply actions
Only 3 out of 5 Nusser
But I have a feeling you’re still happy. : ) Our 2nd unit didn’t appear to run the ball too well, and only 1 FG from Furney. However, the other 3 were answered in spades..
No. 1 would have come true if the game had been closer.
Galvin might have run for 200.
by Jeff Nusser on Sep 10, 2011 11:26 PM PDT up reply actions
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