5 Big Questions Before California

Last week, the Washington Condition Cougars started Pac-12 participate in with a 44-41 loss to Oregon. Below are 5 queries WSU wants to response this 7 days.

Very last 7 days the Washington Point out Cougars misplaced their Pac-12 opener to Oregon in a 44-41 shootout. The Cougs host California on Saturday at Martin Stadium. Right here are our weekly questions WSU has to answer for the duration of this week’s methods.

1 – Which path will the team go?

When a team is winning, it is extremely quick to forget about issues or brush matters aside. With the Washington Condition Cougars’ 1st decline of 2022, the workforce comes to a fork in the road.

There are two approaches this can go. They can just take losing to Oregon in stride, not like it, but settle for it, and increase as a crew to triumph over this adversity.

Or the loss can be their justification to be mediocre. Maybe they do not consider as tough for the duration of the weekly grind of practice, permit the particulars slip, or turn out to be complacent.

In other text, how the Cougs tackle past Saturday’s video game is a character look at. The coaches will discover out in apply this week about this team’s maturity.

2 – Can the Cougs play 4 quarters?

Final weekend, Washington Condition was in a 10-round heavyweight slugfest. They went blow-for-blow with a person of the prime college soccer packages in the nation.

Regretably, by the final spherical, the Cougs punched by themselves out. It is not the initially time they’ve slipped in the closing minutes.

No matter if it is intensity, psychological focus, or conditioning, one thing has to improve. Only a 3rd of the way by this time, it’s far better to address this challenge now than kick the can down the street.

3 – Is it time to make some alterations to the operating recreation?

Sport by match, it is getting to be obvious that Nakia Watson is not the response as a guide working back again. Which is not to say he does not do some good factors on the field.

When Watson has some room to perform with, he does wonderful factors. He’s carried out a great position on monitor, and small passes to pick up yards. Which is an significant aspect of the Air Raid Offense.

On the other hand, he’s obtained to be ready to get a handoff and make a enjoy. If not, defenses can (and have) acquire a gentleman out of the box to defend the Washington Condition Cougars’ broad receivers.

It may not be all Watson’s fault the offensive line also has to do its position. But it’s noticeable this dynamic isn’t doing work.

4 – Will the Cougars coaches use Oregon as a measuring stick?

If nothing else, Saturday’s decline really should present the Washington Point out coaches the gap in between their team and just one of the Pac-12’s greatest. They have to tackle this difference on two fronts.

Initial, is to increase the expectation ranges and competency of the players they have. The next is a minor tougher and will take lengthier. It’s on the coaching staff to elevate the team’s in general talent degree, particularly the Cougs depth.

5 – How does the Cougars’ defense dial up the strain?

There is no gentle way to place it Oregon quarterback Bo Nix shredded the Washington Point out Cougars’ defense. It started out in the trenches. Wazzu received practically no pressure on Nix, who threw for 428 yards.

The D had no sacks, 6 hurries, and 3 quarterback hits. As a consequence, Nix had time to select out his receivers. WSU’s secondary was burned out by the stop.

The Cougs weren’t significantly superior towards the run, possibly. UO ran for 5.8 yards for each carry, totaling 178 rushing yards. Influence players like Brennan Jackson, Ron Stone, and Daiyan Henley had been mostly non-factors.

Each and every team still left on WSU’s schedule is heading to look at the film and use it as a blueprint to quit the Washington State Cougars’ defensive entrance. By match time, California’s coaching workers will have a approach to choose advantage and give their quarterback Jack Plummer time to throw.

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What queries do you have about the Washington Point out Cougars in advance of their Pac-12 opener from Oregon this 7 days? Permit us know in the remarks section underneath.