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How the Cougars fared in Week 1 of the NFL Preseason

Oakland Raiders v Arizona Cardinals Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The NFL preseason doesn’t provide the same level of entertainment as the regular season, and many would probably prefer it doesn’t exist, but it is a great chance for players to prove their worth as they try to make NFL rosters.

That includes several former Cougars. Many took the field for the first time this season as the NFL kicked off the first full week of the preseason. Let’s run though how they all did, thanks to Jeff Collier for collecting the list.

Deone Bucannon - Arizona Cardinals - Linebacker/Safety

Bucannon didn’t play in the Cardinals’ preseason opener while he continues to recover from offseason surgery on his ankle.

Xavier Cooper - Cleveland Browns - Defensive Line

Cooper played 34 snaps on defense and four snaps on special teams for the Browns. He did record one tackle, but also committed one offsides penalty.

Joe Dahl - Detroit Lions - Offensive Line

Dahl started at right guard as he continues to push for a starting job in his second season.

John Fullington - New Orleans Saints - Offensive Line

Fullington got a huge opportunity to show what he is capable of, playing 62 snaps at guard for the Saints, the second most of any Saints offensive player.

Shalom Luani - Oakland Raiders - Safety

Luani’s NFL debut was very similar to his time at WSU. He was all over the field recording five tackles on defense and one on special teams. He broke up one pass and even recovered a fumble. He wasted no time making an impact, recording the tackle on the opening kickoff. Luani played 43 snaps on defense and 10 on special teams.

Gabe Marks - New York Jets - Receiver

Marks did not play in the Jets’ first preseason game. He has been nursing an injury.

Marquess Wilson - New York Jets - Receiver

Wilson was targeted four times and caught three of the four passes for 20 yards. He made productive work of his 15 snaps.

Vince Mayle - Baltimore Ravens - Tight End

Mayle played eight snaps on offense and 12 snaps on special teams, but was not targeted.

Kache Palacio - Seattle Seahawks - Linebacker

Palacio led the Seahawks with seven tackles, including two on special teams. He also broke up a pass.

Destiny Vaeao - Philadelphia Eagles - Defensive Line

Vaeao played 27 snaps on defense and three on special teams and recorded one tackle.

*****

Football:

Pac-12 football preview: USC, Washington the favorites | The Press Democrat
Luke Falk, QB, Washington State. The Cougars’ big-armed passer needs 27 touchdown passes to match the conference record set in 2012 by USC’s Matt Barkley. There’s little doubt he’ll get them in Mike Leach’s high-octane offense.

(Stanford football 2017) Potential Trap Games for the Cardinal - Rule Of Tree
I’m not sure if this counts as an under-the-radar game anymore. I can’t imagine that the Washington State Cougars will catch Stanford sleeping.

Washington State coach Mike Leach attacks Texas Tech on Twitter - Standard Republic
Late in the evening last Thursday, the Twitter account of Washington State coach Mike Leach (@coach_leach) bounced from YouTube clips of his old Texas Tech teams to pictures of The Beatles to a recommendation for the horror movie “Annabelle Creation” to articles about dinosaurs and Croatia.