Cougars will kick it up a notch with full-contact practice sessions
PULLMAN — For four days the Washington State football team moved about its two practice fields without full pads, allowing only for limited contact and quick whistles when collisions near.
That ends today.
Still in their first week of camp, and two days from their first scrimmage, the Cougars plan to workout today without leaving any equipment in the locker room, perhaps a welcome relief as the intensity in practice has grown significantly as the week progressed.
“With helmets on, it’s more review. We do a lot of new insertions,” WSU center Nick Mihlhauser said. “With pads on, it’s a lot more of running plays.”
The Cougars have worn shoulder pads for their last two practices, so today’s additions may not make much difference for much of the day. But head coach Bill Doba said he may take things a step further if practice goes well.
“There’s not a whole lot of difference between full pads and just helmets and shoulder pads,” Doba said. “The thing we might do at the end is five minutes and have a little live contact.”
Doba did say he’s been pleased with the way his young team is progressing, though he reiterated his concern about the left guard position on offense, where the Cougars have a number of players competing for the starting job.
“I liked (Thursday’s) practice,” Doba said. “I think it’s the best we’ve had so far. Offensively we did some things we haven’t been. I like this team’s attitude and their work ethic. You ask them to do something and they try to do that.”
Another minor scuffle broke out on Thursday, during 11-on-11 drills, though it ended within 10 seconds. Mihlhauser tried to shift blame for the extracurricular activities from the offensive side to his defensive counterparts.
“All the guys jump in and it just becomes a big wrestling match. They should leave it one-on-one,” he said. “The defense likes to swarm. They’re all about ganging up on people.”
Then there was one
With junior college transfer Jerome Harrison and freshman Andy Roof of East Valley taking the practice field on Thursday for the first time, just one player remains in limbo in terms of eligibility.
Freshman wide receiver Charles Dillon of Oxnard, Calif., had to retake a standardized test after his score went up dramatically from one session to another. The results of that final test have not yet arrived in the Cougar offices, and the team can’t clear Dillon to play until they do.
“He’s already taken it and they were supposed to send it (Tuesday),” Doba said. “We should know something the next couple of days.”
Notes
With the stiffening of unsportsmanlike conduct rules this season, Doba has a student assistant on the field wearing a referee jersey to get his players used to handing the ball to an official after each play. … The Cougars have been throwing highly touted freshman wideout Michael Bumpus in the fold quickly, getting him the ball in almost every way imaginable during practices — except, it was pointed out, for putting him under center. Doba’s wry response: “Well, that’s next week.” … Freshman Bryan Baird of Vancouver, Wash., has been moved from wide receiver to tight end, though it may be a long-term project for Baird to bulk up from his current 217 pounds. Baird’s high school teammate, Eddie Vickers, is a freshman offensive lineman. … Practice today is once again at 9 a.m., with Saturday’s two sessions coming at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.