Cougars must overcome inexperience at most positions

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — As a young and inexperienced Washington State team began fall practices last week, coach Bill Doba was asked which player he could least afford to lose to injury. His answer was automatic:

”Middle linebacker.”

That would be junior Will Derting, a Pacific-10 Conference first team defensive pick last season and one of only two returning defensive starters. Then Derting dislocated his left wrist on Sunday.

Doctors plan to evaluate the injury in about 10 days, but Derting likely will play with a cast this season because the Cougars don't have many options.

”We've got to stay healthy,” Doba said. ”We don't have a lot of depth.”

Doba must replace 16 starters from last season's 10-3 team that beat Texas in the Holiday Bowl, including the quarterback, the three top receivers and most of the offensive and defensive lines.

It was the third consecutive 10-win season for the Cougars, but Doba concedes a repeat will be difficult.

”I'm sure it adds a little pressure. I jokingly said: 'I'm tired of those 10-win seasons, we need 11 or 12.' But I'd take another 10-win season and never tee it up,” Doba said.

Starting quarterback Josh Swogger, a sophomore who backed up Matt Kegel last year, said preseason poll disrespect is a given at WSU.

”Every year that the polls come out, not a lot of people expect much from Washington State University and every year, we feel we have to prove them wrong and we have a chip on our shoulder,” Swogger said.

Swogger was named the No. 1 quarterback after spring drills, but freshman Alex Brink had good numbers and is expected to push for playing time.

”Our quarterbacks are all inexperienced, but they've had good work at crucial times,” Doba said, noting Southern California's Matt Leinart had not started before last season, when the Trojans became national champions.

Swogger played in nine games last year, completing 41 of 81 passes for 545 yards, a touchdown and five interceptions.

The Cougars lack experience in the offensive and defensive lines, where only two of nine interior linemen started 12 games last season.

”We need to find a couple of offensive guards,” Doba said.

Seniors tackles Calvin Armstrong and Sam Lightbody, junior center Nick Mihlhauser and junior guard Riley Fitt-Chappell are the only offensive linemen who started last season.

The Cougars running game centers around Chris Bruhn, who had one start last season, and who has been hobbled by a bruised quadriceps muscle.

The Cougars' top three receivers from last season are gone, including Devard Darling, who left for the NFL after his junior year.

Sophomores Chris Jordan, returning after knee surgery, and Jason Hill, who had shoulder surgery in the offseason, are the top receivers. They join Marty Martin and tight end Troy Bienemann, both juniors, as pass catchers.

Freshman Michael Bumpus and junior college transfer Greg Prater have impressed coaches in fall practices.

Swogger said there is more depth among receivers this year.

”When all is said and done, the starting three, by midseason are going to be just as good as the three we had out there last year,” he predicted.

Doba, a former defensive coordinator, said he's worried most about defense.

”My main concern is the young kids, especially in the defensive line,” Doba said. ”We lack senior experience, but we've got good athletes in those positions that will mature and improve as the year goes on.”

Among those competing for the interior line positions, only junior defensive end Adam Braidwood started a game last season.

Derting and cornerback Karl Paymah are the veterans on a defense sprinkled with reserve juniors and seniors with lots of playing time.

Safeties Hamzah Abdullah and Jeremy Bohannon are seniors, but have never started. Abdullah underwent surgery on a torn ligament in his left thumb and was questionable for the season opener Sept. 3 at New Mexico.

”They're a little bit inexperienced and fairly young, but they had some good minutes when it counted,” Doba said, noting Hamzah and Bohannon frequently played in nickel and dime packages last season.

Sophomore Scott Davis and senior Pat Bennett played a lot at linebacker, so ”we're solid there,” Doba said.

Alex Teems, a junior, transfer Tyron Brackenridge and sophomore Don Turner are battling for the other cornerback spot, Doba said.

Junior Graham Siderius is expected to replace record-setting Drew Dunning as placekicker, but freshman Loren Langley has impressed coaches this fall.

Swogger said quarterbacks coach Timm Rosenbach urged him before fall practices started not to push things.

”He's being patient because I'm the oldest guy we have and I'm a sophomore,” Swogger said. ”There are going to be times I make mistakes, but I have to get past that stuff. He said to take every practice seriously.”