Weekly WSU football chat transcript: Recapping Cal, previewing Colorado and talking CFP rankings

Nov 7, 9:59 AM srchat (Admin): Hey everyone, thanks for joining me for another week. I’ll start taking questions now! Nov 7, 10:00 AM GoCougs (Guest): Is there a more clutch combo than Minshew and Winston? Nov 7, 10:01 AM srchat (Admin): In the Pac-12? I don’t think so. And I’m not sure how many QB-WR combos in the country have hooked up for two game-winning touchdowns this year. There ought to be some kind of award for that. Nov 7, 10:01 AM Guest5023 (Guest): Morning, Theo! Nov 7, 10:01 AM srchat (Admin): Howdy! Nov 7, 10:01 AM Guest6577 (Guest): Did Sean Harper play last week? If not, whats his status? Nov 7, 10:02 AM srchat (Admin): No, did not play. This is not official, this is just the beat writer’s hunch: I don’t suspect you’ll see him this weekend either. Nov 7, 10:02 AM CaliCougs (Guest): Knowing you can’t answer Cougar injury questions. Any update on the injuries for Colorado? (Shenault, Defensive Backfield, etc.) Nov 7, 10:04 AM srchat (Admin): From the Colorado video interviews I’ve seen, doesn’t seem like MacIntyre has given much clarity on their injuries. As far as I know, all are day to day. Nov 7, 10:04 AM Guest2125 (Guest): who do we need to root for in the next couple of weeks to increase our chances for final four? Outside and within PAC12 Nov 7, 10:09 AM srchat (Admin): If Utah can win out and move back into the top 15, that’d help tremendously. No matter who it is, you’d want to see a ranked team in the Pac-12 title game. Huskies beating Oregon State wouldn’t do a lot, but they’ll prob climb a spot or two if they’re 8-3 heading into the Apple Cup. As far as the rest of the country goes, you’d want Bama to beat Georgia, you’d want the Big Ten teams to beat up on each other and you’d want Notre Dame to lose one. Oklahoma, too. In other words, A LOT has to happen. Nov 7, 10:09 AM SeaStorm24: Moore hasn’t played this season and is obviously out for the remainder. Have you be able to find out what his injury was? Nov 7, 10:09 AM srchat (Admin): Have not, unfortunately. Nov 7, 10:09 AM GoCougs10 (Guest): Has Molten regressed or is this a matter of developing a reputation against top notch PAC-12 officials? Nov 7, 10:11 AM srchat (Admin): I’m not sure he’s regressed. Pro Football Focus metrics seem to like him a bunch. I also wouldn’t say he’s been one of the most improved defensive players… Nov 7, 10:12 AM Pdrisky (Guest): What’s the coldest weather Minshew has played in? Just wondering if the Pullman Freeze will impact him for the last two home games. Nov 7, 10:13 AM srchat (Admin): Going through his game log at ECU, it looks like he finished the 2016 season at Temple. Philly in November has to be pretty chilly. Nov 7, 10:13 AM Guest4105 (Guest): are you still sticking with your prediction for the cougs to drop two games by the end of the year? Nov 7, 10:15 AM srchat (Admin): Yes, without giving away which game I think they’ll lose, I’ll stick with the two-loss prediction. Nov 7, 10:15 AM srchat (Admin): And that’s two total games, not two more games. Nov 7, 10:15 AM Uncle Larry (Guest): Do you think the Cougs feel any added pressure this weekend knowing the east coast (CFP people) will be watching them being it is a 12:30pm start? Nov 7, 10:18 AM srchat (Admin): I’m not sure they think about the east coast deal as much as fans and media members do, and they’re on ESPN enough that I’m not sure how much of a factor that really is. Though, it is a big opportunity. Both for the Cougs and Minshew individually. Nov 7, 10:18 AM Guest10 (Guest): How about a way to early stab at d line depth for next year? thanks Nov 7, 10:20 AM srchat (Admin): I think the starting D-line will be Nnamdi Oguayo at DE, LaMonte McDougle at NT and Will Rodgers III at DT. I’d imagine Derek Moore and Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei will rotate in a lot. Nov 7, 10:21 AM CaliCougs (Guest): Would you classify the uptick of DPI against the Cougs as an emerging bias towards the Cougar Defenders, or just a lot of bad luck lumped into one season? Cougar Defenders have certainly played more physical and been flagged frequently as a result, but Travel Harris was essentially bear hugged off the line this last week on multiple occasions (with one finally being called) and the refs seemed to just look the other way. Sure seems like the Cougs are playing two teams every week. Nov 7, 10:24 AM srchat (Admin): I’m never one to resort to there being a “bias.” I’d have to go back and look, but I bet those big Stanford WRs force a ton of pass interference calls against just about everyone they play. There were a few more against USC, too, but I think it’s been blown out of proportion a bit. Nov 7, 10:24 AM Guest2125 (Guest): From what you know, has Leach loosen the reins on this team more than the past? Minshew’s sideline spike and Shivels tweet are very different from years past. If I remember correctly Leach didn’t allow any social his first year. Nov 7, 10:27 AM srchat (Admin): I wasn’t covering the team back then, but I seem to remember that, too. I didn’t make much of Minshew’s spike — just a fun way to get the crowd engaged and I’m guessing Leach didn’t see it til later. I do wonder if someone said something to Silvels. Can’t imagine Leach would enjoy seeing that. Nov 7, 10:27 AM Guest4105 (Guest): have you grown to like pullman as the cover guy for coug stuff or did the trip home during the stanford game make you want to go home more? Nov 7, 10:29 AM srchat (Admin): I like Pullman. I love the Bay Area. I’m just taking it one play at a time. That said, whatever happens the rest of my career, I’m sure covering this particular Coug team will be a fond memory. For a multitude of reasons. Nov 7, 10:29 AM Uncle Larry (Guest): Leach has yet to loose a game he should of won this year….I think this is the week. And there is a Husky on the broadcast. Curses! Nov 7, 10:30 AM srchat (Admin): And the Cougars haven’t won at Folsom Field under Leach. Hmm… Nov 7, 10:31 AM Sammy-Schroeder (Guest): Any word on how the younger D lineman are looking: Dallas Hobbs, Ahmir Crowder, Zeus? Nov 7, 10:32 AM srchat (Admin): I missed the last availability with Jeff Phelps, but I think he mentioned a few of those guys after a TNF practice before the Stanford game. But I could be wrong. Will try to get an update this week if we talk to him. Nov 7, 10:32 AM Guest10 (Guest): I think WSU is amazing on d line. I thought the sky was.dalking when that big JC kid left, Do you think they’ll go after another JC NT this year? Nov 7, 10:35 AM srchat (Admin): Most surprising part of this team, if you ask me. Cougars could finish with more sacks this year than last year. I wouldn’t have believed that in August after Lolohea’s departure/Oguayo’s injury. Nov 7, 10:38 AM srchat (Admin): And to answer your second question, I don’t think it’s a necessity. They knew they wouldn’t have Ekuale this year and Comfort wasn’t supposed to be back, so I’m guessing that’s why they went after Pono. Nov 7, 10:38 AM Uncle Larry (Guest): Colorado biggest strength on offense and defense? Nov 7, 10:41 AM srchat (Admin): On offense, when Laviska Shenault is healthy it’s him. No question. When he’s not, probably their running back, Travon McMillian (837 yds). On defense, they’re always pretty good in the back end. It seems like Evan Worthington, a safety, is their best DB. But not sure if he’s healthy right now, either. Nov 7, 10:43 AM Sammy-Schroeder (Guest): Is there a chance Sean Harper Jr could get a medical red-shirt this year and we could get him back for next season? Nov 7, 10:44 AM srchat (Admin): I’m guessing not, seeing as how he’s already played in six games. I’m also not positive his injury is season-ending . Nov 7, 10:46 AM Uncle Larry (Guest): What did you think of the one handed sideline catch by Minshew? Legend continues…….. Nov 7, 10:47 AM srchat (Admin): Yeah, sheesh, some of this stuff is just too good to be true. Next wrinkle of “Big Gulp Left” may be Minshew running a go route to the end zone. Nov 7, 10:50 AM Sammy-Schroeder (Guest): Do you think that if WSU beats Colorado and Arizona and loses to UW and finishes 10-2 we could still make it to a New Years 6 bowl game? Nov 7, 10:52 AM srchat (Admin): It’s possible, but I’d say it’s unlikely. UW would have to win the Pac-12 title game for that to happen, then they’d have to pick WSU over the South champ. Which wouldn’t be unreasonable, but I think there will be too many teams from better conferences vying for those spots. Nov 7, 10:52 AM Uncle Larry (Guest): Is Tay not getting open, double teamed or Minshew just has too many guys to throw to? Nov 7, 10:54 AM srchat (Admin): Leach didn’t think Tay had been playing poorly when we asked about it Monday, but Calvin Jackson is rotating in much, much more than he had been. Also think you have a a point: the consistency of Patmon and Winston at “Z” gives Minshew plenty of reason to go there more often Nov 7, 10:55 AM Guest10 (Guest): Why not! I’ve waiting for some kind of pass out of that formation. how does in Nov 7, 10:55 AM srchat (Admin): We haven’t seen “Big Gulp Left” since Oregon, if I’m correct. Could be time to bring it out again this weekend. Nov 7, 10:56 AM Sammy-Schroeder (Guest): After watching the Cal game I’m convinced we have a very small chance at beating UW given that Cal and UW defend WSU very similar, why don more Pac12 teams try to defend the air raid like Cal and UW, lots of teams are just as talented in the secondary as Cal? Nov 7, 10:59 AM srchat (Admin): You make a fair point. But … if you just look at the numbers, Cal’s offense hasn’t been much worse than UW’s. The Cougars may not need to score a bunch of points to win the Apple Cup this year. Yes, most teams have the talent, but I’m not sure if replicating the coaching and teaching those schemes is as easy as it sounds. Nov 7, 10:59 AM Jon Yerkes: what were your impressions on the bball team’s exhibition and and the team in general? Nov 7, 11:01 AM srchat (Admin): First impression would be that New Hope might be the least talented college basketball team I’ve seen. And I covered some NAIA games while I was at the Lewiston Trib. But … the Cougars still made 17-of-27 on 3-pointers and they looked pretty fluid moving the ball around. The JC players definitely looked competent. My early guess is this team wins more games than last year’s team. Not a lot more, necessarily … just …. more. Nov 7, 11:02 AM Jon Yerkes: The QB for the 2019 season is…? Nov 7, 11:04 AM srchat (Admin): Good timing. I was just getting ready to close up shop. I’m going with Cammon Cooper. Nov 7, 11:04 AM srchat (Admin): And with that, thanks to all those who asked questions this week. We’ll do it again next Wednesday at 10 a.m. Until then…