Inexperienced Cougars begin fall practices
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Washington State coach Bill Doba appeared calm as he picked through a goulash and rice lunch after putting the Cougars through a three-hour practice.
If there are any jitters about filling the holes left by the graduations of 16 starters from last season's 10-3 team, the second-year head coach didn't show it as he joked with reporters Monday.
Doba said he was pleased, overall, with what he saw as the Cougars completed their first practice of the 2004 season. But there were some drawbacks.
”There's a lot of bad habits that they picked up over the summer that we've got to correct. We've got to pick up the intensity just a little bit,” Doba said. ”I thought they were in good shape, but it's a mental thing. You've got to run back to the huddle. You've got to run to the line of scrimmage. But the tempo will pick up as practices continue.”
Doba is sprinting to fill holes in the offensive and defensive lines and will have to bring sophomore quarterback Josh Swogger quickly into the scheme.
Senior tackles Sam Lightbody and Calvin Armstrong anchor those positions and junior center Nick Milhauser started nine games last season, but injuries have left the Cougars a bit light at guard, where senior Patrick Afif is coming off knee surgery and sophomore Sean O'Connor had back surgery.
Senior running back Chris Bruhn had just one start last season, but spelled starter Jonathan Smith frequently.
The Cougars lost three top receivers to graduation or the NFL, but Doba said this year's group caught the ball well at practice and the position is well stocked.
Swogger, who spent the summer throwing to Chris Jordan, Marty Martin, tight end Troy Bienemann and others, predicted the receivers would be just as good as last year's crop by midseason.
Except for linebacker Will Derting and safety Karl Paymah, the defense is inexperienced and young, Doba conceded. But many who are competing for starting spots ”had some good minutes when it counted” last season, he said.
Among those competing for the interior line positions, only junior defensive end Adam Braidwood actually started last season — one game. Seniors Hamza Abdullah and Jeremy Bohannon have plenty of substitute experience at safety.
Swogger said he feels more comfortable this season, knowing he is the starter and with another summer of workouts under his belt.
Swogger replaces Matt Kegel, who led the Cougars to a Holiday Bowl victory over Texas last year for the Cougars' third consecutive 10-win season.
Swogger is only the second Cougars sophomore to be chosen team captain. Record-breaking quarterback Jason Gesser was the first.
With just 11 games on the schedule, it will be hard to repeat 10 wins, Doba conceded, adding the Cougars' success over the last three seasons ”adds a little pressure” to try.
”It doesn't matter what we did the last three years,” Doba said. ”It's what we do this year that counts.”