Paymah now leader of the pack
PULLMAN — It’s said that cornerbacks live on an island. No teammates roam nearby, and wide receivers spend much of the day trying to embarrass them.
For Karl Paymah, 2004 has him on an island in every imaginable way. Last season, Paymah found himself the target of Pac-10 passers who were trying to avoid senior Jason David on the opposite side of the field.
Not anymore. In fact, Paymah is the only defensive back on the Cougar roster with a single career start to his name, isolating him in a sea of unproven talent.
“Cornerback is the hardest position on the field, mentally, physically. I feel you need experience. With experience the game starts to slow down,” Paymah said. “I’m preparing to make plays. Last year, I dropped too many picks. I could have made way more plays than I made.”
And it’s no secret that the Cougars are depending on Paymah to be a playmaker, with new starters all around him.
Safeties Jeremy Bohannon and Hamza Abdullah both have plenty of game experience in nickel and dime situations, but haven’t been three-down defenders. (Abdullah suffered a thumb injury on Saturday, and it’s unknown how long he will be out.)
The other cornerback spot is an even bigger question mark, with three and possibly four players competing for time. Junior Alex Teems has the edge now after emerging from spring practice ahead of the competition. But sophomore Don Turner and junior college transfer Tyron Brackenridge, perhaps the most gifted physically of the bunch, are close behind. And Omowale Dada, another junior, has remained in the picture as well.
“We know that if we have a bad practice, the other guy could have a good practice and the next day he’ll be ahead of you,” Abdullah said. “It keeps it competitive and makes you stay on your toes.”
The uncertainty across the field just reinforces Paymah’s importance. As last season progressed, secondary coach Ken Greene moved Paymah over to line up against other teams’ bigger wideouts, a group that included USC’s Mike Williams and Washington’s Reggie Williams. Paymah escaped unfazed, and Greene said that stretch could help turn him into a much better corner.
“After that, he had the mentality that he wanted to cover their best guy. And that’s what you need,” Greene said. “He can have an outstanding year. I’m excited to see how he progresses and what he takes in the challenge of the best receiver that we play each week, how he responds to that.”
Abdullah is a defensive captain, but Paymah is still faced with a new leadership role this season. To be sure, his counterparts will have some growing pains, and as he discovered in 2003, offenses — even your own — will pick on you at first.
“I’ve been through it last year. At the start of practice last year they came to me every play,” Paymah said. “I stepped up and now that’s what they got to do. Because at game time, (other teams) did the same thing. They came at me left and right, run and pass. Once you start to hold your own, they’re going to start going away from you, respecting you.”
And with the 16 career starts under his belt (Paymah recorded 55 tackles in 2003), the senior corner has more than the respect of his opponents. He has his teammates’ respect as well.
“Since he does have all that experience, he’s the man,” Abdullah said. “I’m a captain, but you wouldn’t know that he wasn’t a captain also. That’s the kind of leader he is.”