Experience at a high and low at RB

PULLMAN — At many positions this year, Washington State has lots of youth and little experience on the roster.

In the backfield, at least, one of those two concerns goes out the window.

Chris Bruhn is a fifth-year senior and the starter. His backup, Allen Thompson, is a fourth-year junior. And the third back expected to contribute, Jerome Harrison, is a junior college transfer.

That said, Bruhn is the only one who carried the ball at all for the Cougars last season, and he did so almost solely in a backup role.

Still, running backs coach Kelly Skipper thinks he has the ingredients for a backfield that can carry the load. And he really likes what his top back can do.

“The thing about Chris, he did play and start to come on last year, so he’s got some experience coming back in games,” Skipper said. “For a big guy he’s pretty agile and elusive.

“I think his greatest thing is he’s a north-south runner. He hits the hole quick and has good vision.”

Bruhn ran 78 times for 353 yards in his first season as a Cougar after transferring in from a junior college. But his time was limited with Jonathan Smith in front of him on the depth chart. This season, however, Bruhn and the other backs could be expected to play a big role in the offense. With little experience returning at quarterback and wide receiver, it’s altogether possible that WSU will turn to the ground game for help and consistency on offense.

And to do that, Bruhn will probably need some help, especially if his sometimes inconsistent play from the past resurfaces in 2004. Unfortunately for the Cougars, that’s when the known morphs into the unknown on the depth chart.

Thompson and Harrison are both talented, something that can be spotted quickly in practice. But Thompson has struggled to stay on the field, missing almost all of the 2002 season with a shoulder injury and then all of 2003 to have surgery on the same shoulder. Just when he appeared to be back at full speed this fall, a concussion and lower back strain sidelined him in the first week of camp.

The junior didn’t make his return until Tuesday, and even now the Cougars are showing caution.

“He’s a big part of our plans,” Skipper said. “He’s been hurt and out for a while. His back has tightened so we’re just trying to ease him back until he’s in football condition.”

Harrison, on the other hand, has been healthy but hasn’t proven he can contribute yet. The back impressed coaches when both Bruhn and Thompson missed practices earlier this fall, but Harrison said he expects more from himself.

“We’re getting better, but as an individual I don’t feel like I’m playing at my capabilities,” Harrison said. “My expectation level is higher than what I’m playing at. And Coach Skip is really training us and I’m not playing as good as he’s preparing me. I need to get better.”

Skipper said he appreciates the fact that Harrison is his own worst critic, and suggested that attitude could help him improve in the future. While age is in his backfield’s favor, Skipper knows there’s still plenty of work to be done.

“He’s picked up things pretty quick and is starting to get comfortable in our system,” Skipper said. “We want to speed up the learning curve. The (first) game’s coming close, and he wants to be at his best. He’s hard on himself because he expects more.”