Washington State Cougars: 4 Big questions before Oregon
Ed Stein
|
Last week, the Washington State Cougars followed up their big win at Wisconsin by pouncing Colorado State. Pac-12 play starts on Saturday with a home game against Oregon. Here are four questions WSU needs to answer in practice this week.
Last week the Washington State Cougars soundly trounced Mountain West Conference opponent Colorado State. The Cougs begin Pac-12 play by hosting Oregon on Saturday at Martin Stadium. Here are our weekly questions WSU has to answer during this week’s practices.
1 – Was Wisconsin a fluke?
We’ll find out on Saturday. So far, the Washington State Cougars have played like they belong with the big boys. Jake Dickert has them believing in themselves.
Expect Wazzu to continue playing with intensity and passion. They will give Oregon a run for their money and have a decent chance to pull off another upset.
2 – Can Cameron Ward get time to throw?
Believe it or not, Oregon only has three sacks this season. They’ve had a hard time replacing Kayvon Thibodeaux‘s production from the edge.
If Wazzu’s developing offensive line holds up, Camron Ward will have a cadre of receivers to throw to. He’s been looking more comfortable each week. Given time and space, Ward can take advantage of Oregon’s defense.
3 – How will the Cougs contain Bo Nix?
Bo Nix is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback. Last week he threw for two touchdowns and ran for three more. The Auburn transfer also averages 224 passing and 30 rushing yards per game. He’s a tough man to stop, but the Cougs can do it.
Let’s start with the fact that Washington State and USC are tied for the conference lead in sacks with 14 through three games. If Nix isn’t seeing Brennan Jackson and Ron Stone Jr. coming at him from the sides, then linebacker Daiyan Henley should be in his grill up the middle.
Second, Oregon’s running game isn’t what it was in recent seasons. Keeping UO’s running backs in check will force Nix into bad down-and-distance situations. Wazzu can keep an extra man in coverage, creating limited opportunities.
Finally, the longer Wazzu holds the ball, the less often Nix can beat them.
4 – Will Wazzu try to establish the run again?
Nakia Watson hasn’t been able to fill the big shadow that Max Borghi and Deon McIntosh left behind. The Cougars need him to be much more consistent than he’s been so far.
The best solution may not be handing the ball to him. Watson has done a nice job in space. Maybe he can contribute more from the flat. If he can’t turn it up a notch, the Cou
Related Story: Takeaways from Cougs’ win over Colorado State
What questions do you have about the Washington State Cougars before their Pac-12 opener against Oregon this week? Let us know in the comments section below.