Pre Snap Read - #61 Wazzu

[dc4azcats]

Disagree with PM saying Wazzu has the best WR corp in the conference but I get it in the sense Wazzu knows who it will start at QB and what that QB can do.

Much like Utah, Wazzu is going to struggle in the secondary as they lost 3 guys from the worst pass Defense in the conf last year. The days of having 2 good corners are long gone. You need 4 solid cover guys if you want to have any success in stopping the pass.

In a nutshell: This is going to be very, very interesting. As we enter year three of the Mike Leach era, it's obvious that Washington State is at the point where this offense is set to enter high gear. Part of this is due to mere familiarity with the system: WSU's offensive personnel now grasps the offense from top to bottom, thanks to the experience of the past 20 months, and with this increased experience comes the potential for improved production. This thought is doubled by the returning personnel, with Halliday now a seasoned starter, the backfield perhaps four deep and the receiver corps loaded with more bodies and options than any other unit in the Pac-12.

Yet the defense isn't up to par. There's nothing WSU does particularly well, to be blunt. Rush the passer? Maybe, but only if Cooper fulfills his gargantuan potential. Stop the run? Not against good teams, as we saw last fall. Play in space? I don't see enough athleticism to go toe-to-toe with Oregon, for example, and not enough toughness to handle Stanford, USC or Arizona State. Defend the pass? For now, the less said of the secondary the better. Leach has had an enormously profound impact on the offense; now he needs to fix the defense. That won't happen in 2014.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc ... /12241787/

[azcat49]

This is a game both teams have marked down as a win

[CatsbyAZ]

You can divide the north into two equally sized halves - the contending Oregon, Stanford, and Washington teams, and the lesser Cal, Oregon State, Washington State teams. If Washington State can firmly win the lesser group and beat one of the three contenders that's a good season.

As for the defense being a worry, there's plenty of matchups in which the Cougs can get away with having a bad defense as long as the offense does its job. It's the textbook Leach team.

[ANGCatFan]

AZ Daily Star early look at Wazzu

Matchup vs. Arizona: Saturday, Oct. 25

Where: Martin Stadium

Last year’s record: 6-7

Projections: After a three-win jump from coach Mike Leach’s first year to his second, most analysts believe the Cougars will take another step this season — just not as big of one as last year. Phil Steele and Lindy’s both have Washington State finishing fifth in the Pac-12 North behind Oregon, Stanford, Washington and Oregon State. The Sporting News put the Cougars ahead of Oregon State and have Leach’s team slated for the Las Vegas Bowl. The Sporting News wrote: “A relatively soft early schedule coupled with missing UCLA in conference play suggests Washington State can get bowl-eligible again.” And Steele acknowledged that he may have put the Cougars too low in the conference: “This is dangerous putting the Cougars down here as Mike Leach has been a head coach for 12 years and 11 times has been bowl eligible, including last year.”

Three names to know

Quarterback Connor Halliday: Halliday has morphed into a prototypical Leach signal-caller and can make all the throws his coach needs him to. The senior threw for 4,597 yards last season with 34 touchdowns. He set school and Pac-12 records in completions (449), attempts (714) and yards. He has some of his favorite targets back at receiver and should be a nightmare for opposing defensive backfields this season.

Wide receiver Gabe Marks: Marks was Washington State’s leading receiver last season, grabbing 74 catches for 807 yards and seven touchdowns. His receptions were the second most in Washington State single-season history. His biggest game last season came against Oregon when he had 13 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown.

Linebacker Darryl Monroe: Monroe was third on the team last year with 94 tackles, with six going for a loss. He started all 13 games as a sophomore and was voted team captain for 10 games. One of his strongest performances last season came against Arizona when he totaled 11 tackles, including eight solos. The middle linebacker will be the clear leader of a defense.

Three numbers to know

102: The Cougars offense put up plenty of points last season, and needed to with their defense ranking 102nd in the country in total defense, allowing 458 yards per game.

89: Halliday attempted a remarkable 89 passes in a 62-38 loss to Oregon last season. He completed 58 for 557 yards and four touchdowns.

93: Leach, with 93 career victories, has a shot to reach 100 this season if the Cougars can post a winning season.

How they’re different than last time

They won’t be sneaking up on anyone this year. Last year, the Cougars came into Arizona Stadium as 11-point underdogs and left with a 24-17 win. The Wildcats weren’t ready for an early-morning battle and the Cougars outlasted them with some strong plays late. Rich Rodriguez and the UA will head to Pullman this season with a lot more respect for Leach’s team and won’t be surprised by anything. In fact, expect one of Arizona’s best games this season against Washington State. The UA has been thinking about a rematch since the disappointing home loss.

[Merkin]

He set school and Pac-12 records in completions (449), attempts (714) and yards.

Halliday had 68 more completions than Denker had attempts.

[MrBug708]

I think WSU will push for a bowl game this year

[Dkenner]

I think WSU will push for a bowl game this year

meet the staff this year, they have great talent but still working on chemistry. They will be in a bowl from here on out!

[Merkin]

Bowl tie ins:

http://cfn.scout.com/2/1409162.html

Pac-12

If No. 1 isn't in College Football Playoff
Note: The Rose is No. 1 in years when it's no part of the playoff


1. Rose Bowl (in years when it's not the playoff)
2. Alamo Bowl vs. Big 12 No. 2
3. National University Holiday Bowl vs. Big Ten No. 6
4. San Francisco Bowl vs. Big Ten No. 7
5. Hyundai Sun Bowl vs. ACC
6. Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl vs. Mountain West No. 1
7. Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl vs. Big 12 No. 5

[ASUHATER!]

This year the rose is a semifinal game so I'd still think the Pac 12 champ ends up in it if at all possible by the committee.