Cougars take the field for final spring practice

WSU held their spring game on Saturday. So... Why are they on the field for a final time just 2 days after their big spring finale? Not every team practices after their spring game, but Mike Leach likes to use it to try and iron out some final kinks. Overall, Leach said, the final adjustments went well:

"[We] watch some film, make the corrections and adjust some stuff. It went good."

"[We tried to] just overall polish things up, I guess. It's not one glaring thing. I thought we tackled really well in the spring, so it gave us another chance to improve on that."

A lot of the time this spring, the defense was the main talking point in post practice interviews. Looking back on the spring as a whole, both Leach and new defensive coordinator Alex Grinch seemed impressed with how far the squad has come as a whole, but still felt there was a long way to go. Leach remarked multiple times how much the tackling has improved and also felt that "collectively, they all played a lot faster."

As for Grinch, he wasn't exactly impressed with the team he inherited. Jacob Thorpe from the Spokesman Review spoke with Grinch on Tuesday:

I asked him after practice today if he was feeling good about the defense and he said, "No, quite honestly. But by the same token, they're getting better. The work that we'll do both on their own and this summer will be crucial." He emphasized that the defense needs to be better on the first day of fall camp than they are today...

You can read Thope's full review of Tuesday's practice and camp as a whole here. WSU also has their practice report video and the media interview with Leach up on their website.

Spring football is over, but actual football is around around the corner... Now, that corner is, like, 4 months away, but once we reach that corner, WSU football is right around it...

Cougs in the NFL Draft

Filling every team's biggest need in the NFL Draft, early and late - SBNation.com
Baltimore Ravens: Wide receiver - Late Round: Vince Mayle (Washington State), Tre McBride (William & Mary) -- Mayle and McBride aren’t finished products coming out of college, and because of that there is perceived upside. If that’s true and they develop, they could be a good No. 2 or fringe No. 1 receiver for a team.

2015 NFL Draft: Top 300 prospects with analysis | Lindy's Sports
79. *Xavier Cooper, DT, rJr, Washington State, 6-3, 293, 4.82, 2-3, Relies on initial quickness over discipline and technique; fits best as quick-footed 3-tech penetrator.

150. Vince Mayle, WR, rSr, Washington State, 6-2, 224, 4.65, 5-6, Still learning tricks of trade, but size, athleticism and upside projects him as down-the-line starter.

Pac-12 Golf Championships in Pullman

Men’s Golf Looks to Finish Strong in Championships - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Senior Michael Anderson sits tied for sixth place with 18 holes to play in Pullman, Wash.