WSU comes out of scrimmage healthy
COUGARS
Sometimes Paul Wulff will answer a question about spring practice with a quick statement about injuries. As in, the Cougars didn't have any so it was a good day. I confess, it happens often enough I sometimes do the mental equivalent of rolling my eyes. I have just heard it so many times. Well, I vow never to do the mental eye-rolling thing again. Not after reading the links today, especially the ones from the Arizona schools. We have said links, plus more from Washington State's scrimmage, so read on.
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• Washington State: By the way, WSU came out of Saturday's scrimmage with no injuries I could see. Thus far this spring, other than Brandon Rankin's shoulder and the ensuing surgery, the Cougars have suffered only minor injuries. ... There were a couple things I wanted to pass on from yesterday's scrimmage I just forgot in the post-scrimmage post. ... I asked defensive coordinator Chris Ball which defender has been a pleasant surprise thus far this spring. He dropped about 10 names – I asked for one – but the first one was safety Casey Locker. He praised Locker's intelligence, his ability to deliver a blow and the strides he's taken. Looking back, though he wouldn't be listed as a starting safety (that would be Deone Bucannon and Tyree Toomer), Locker was on the field for a lot of plays yesterday. ... The starting offensive line had a new look this week, though the players were the same. It was, from left to right, David Gonzales, John Fullington, Andrew Roxas, B.J. Guerra and Wade Jacobson. This lineup does a few things, including putting the two quickest offensive linemen – Gonzales and Fullington – together on the Jeff Tuel's blind side, where most defenses concentrate their speed rushers. Plus it gives Jacobson a chance to prove he's best at tackle, a position he feels more comfortable playing. With the 6-foot-6, 305-pound Jacobson teaming with the 6-3, 315-pound Guerra, the Cougars also have a strong side, though not in the football sense of the side with the tight end. It's the bigger, stronger side of the offensive line. And in the middle, Roxas, a fifth-year senior, seems more fit and it showed yesterday. He was able to win a lot of battles up front with Anthony Laurenzi and Toni Pole, plus he got to the second level quicker than I remember. He seems to have pulled ahead of junior college transfer Taylor Meighen in their individual battle. ... We have more on our post and with our story. ... Cougfan has this piece from Braulio Perez. ... And Bud Withers has some thoughts about Klay Thompson's future.
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• Around the Pac-12: Again, not a lot from the conference as a whole. ... Washington: Gig Harbor's Austin Seferian-Jenkins enrolled early at UW and the 6-6 tight end is making an impression. ... Oregon State: Nothing here. ... Oregon: A lot here, including George Schroeder of the Register-Guard with a column on the Matt Court half-court line. ... LaMichael James comes to the defense of a friend, which might not be the best thing for the Ducks. ... D-line depth is a spring goal. ... Colorado: The Buffs don't have to worry about the quarterback spot. ... Utah: Former Montana coach and star Larry Krystkowiak is the Utes new basketball coach. ... California: Nothing here. ... Stanford: Same with the Cardinal. ... USC: Running back Dillon Baxter is ready to put his freshman year behind him. ... UCLA: Injuries are slowing the Bruins for the second consecutive spring. ... Arizona State: The Sun Devils may have lost two starters with knee injuries this week. Omar Bolden, who went down Saturday, is their best secondary player. ... Arizona: The Wildcats lost starting free safety Adam Hall to a knee injury suffered Wednesday. He could be out seven months, which puts his return sometime late in the season. ... And Derrick Williams' future is the most talked-about subject in Tucson this week.
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• That's all for this morning. We'll be back only if events warrant. Until later ...
