Cougs offense needs to step up
PULLMAN – Up is down and down is up for Washington State these days.
A defense riddled with question marks and beaten down after two full seasons of struggles is holding the Pac-10’s best in check. And an offense that should have been firing on all cylinders with veteran talent and weapons galore can’t get in the end zone.
And everyone on the outside looking in is forced to wonder: What gives?
That defensive coordinator Robb Akey and the rest of the defensive staff has been able to get WSU to play so well on that side is a testament to creative planning and dogged determination. Against California on Saturday, the Cougars were getting mashed defensively, but the defense managed to adjust and held the league’s best offense to three touchdowns.
Going into the game, WSU would have been crazy not to take a scenario where Cal would score 21 points. But on Saturday, the visitor’s very first touchdown was enough.
That’s because the Cougar offense, once feared not that long ago, has taken a turn towards ineptitude.
It’s not an irreversible slide – WSU is moving the ball down the field with ease at times – but the Cougars have found themselves running into a brick wall when they get close to the end zone, and that’s no way to win Pac-10 games.
Against Cal, WSU showed some signs of distress, really for the first time all season. They abandoned the running game in the first half when it was clear that WSU’s offensive line wasn’t opening holes and Cal’s defense was set on closing any that existed in the first place.
They switched quarterbacks to open the second half even though Alex Brink’s first-half numbers weren’t all that bad. And they suggested after the game that sticking with backup Gary Rogers might have been an option even after an interception had the sophomore not separated his shoulder.
They also went for six fourth downs, although it could be argued it was out of necessity since WSU went 0 for 11 on third.
More than anything else, the switch to Rogers – and more significantly the mere thought of leaving him in for a prolonged period of time – could signal a sea change in the way the Cougar coaching staff is approaching this team.
It’s possible that the move is a signal to the team that playing it safe, just doing things by the book, is no longer acceptable. As many Cougars said after a narrow loss to No. 3 USC, coming close isn’t good enough. And the way WSU went through the loss to Cal indicates that was more than just lip service.
As poor as the Cougars looked against the Golden Bears, it’s worth noting that they are, at 4-3, still right where they need to be to qualify for a bowl game. They haven’t lost to an inferior team yet, and if that’s still the case on Thanksgiving they’ll be traveling for the holidays.
But the Cougars also may have proved, even if they’re not willing to accept it, that they’re far removed from prime time, too.