Deon McIntosh, Washington State Cougars.
When Nick Rolovich was hired to take over the Washington State Cougars football program last year, it was a shift in offensive philosophy. The Cougs went from Mike Leach’s “air raid” to the “run and shoot,” favored by new coach Nick Rolovich. Some may see it as semantics because they are both considered open offenses. But the differences are very real.
In 2021, the offense needs to change a little more. Wazzu needs more of the run and less shoot to maximize their chances to win. As a former quarterback, it may go against Rolovich’s instincts. Then again, as a head coach, it’s what his team needs to do to be successful and head back to a bowl game.
Starting with the good stuff, Washington State’s strongest position is running back. Max Borghi and Deon McIntosh make for a formidable one-two punch. Both are good with the ball in their hands from scrimmage or catching it out of the backfield.
Borghi is back in Pullman for his senior season. Injuries limited to only one game in 2021. In the season finale against Utah, he had 95 yards and a score on 10 carries. Not a surprise to anyone who saw him play the two previous years. In 2019, he finished with 871 rushing yards (10th in Pac-12), 1,414 yards from scrimmage (2nd), and 16 touchdowns (2nd).
While Borghi was out, McIntosh seized his opportunity. The transfer from Notre Dame gained 323 yards and three TDs on 52 carries. He’s a threat to break any run. Together, the duo should be able to gain yards and play a good game of keep away.
Since Rolovich arrived, there has been an exodus of receivers. Last summer Tay Martin (Oklahoma) transferred out of Pullman. After the season, Jamire Calvin (Mississippi State) left as well. Their production isn’t easily replaced. Even one of the coach’s big recruits, Jay Wilkerson, entered the transfer portal after last month’s Crimson and Gray Game.
That leaves the Cougars with a few veteran producers Travell Harris, Calvin Jackson Jr., and Renard Bell, and many more question marks. To make the “shoot” part of the offense work, they need five or six viable receivers. That may still happen.
Both Borghi and McIntosh are effective weapons as receivers. They can make even bigger contributions by using their ground game talents to open up the pass.
For good measure, keep in mind that Harris carried the mail five times last season, on jet sweeps and end-arounds. He picked up 61 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
This a very unsettled Cougars’ quarterback room right now. After the first two games last season, it seemed like WSU was Jayden de Laura’s team for years to come. The true freshman QB from Hawaii showed all of CougNation why he was such a heralded recruit.
But things when south. Rolovich pulled de Laura from each of the next two games for ineffectiveness. After the season, things went from bad to worse. Arrested for DUI in February, de Laura was suspended from the team. Spring practice came and went without him participating.
During the spring session, redshirt junior Cammon Cooper and graduate transfer Jarrett Guarantano shared first-team quarterback duties. Neither one separated himself from the other. Guarantano has more experience, but Cooper has more experience with the players and system. When de Laura gets reinstated, the competition is on once again.
The bottom line here is that none of the three established themselves. Running the ball more gives whoever the quarterback is in 2021 a break. Opposing linebackers have to respect the ground game so it keeps them from blitzing or breaking off into coverage until they read the play.
The offensive line did a good job opening holes last season. If it weren’t for the running backs, Washington State’s biggest strength would be their O-line. Four of the five hog mollies from that squad are back again for 2021.
The group is headlined by Second-Team All-Pac-12 right tackle Abe Lucas as well as center Brian Greene and left tackle Liam Ryan (both All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention). All three could have declared for the NFL Draft but decided to come back for another season.
WSU has decent personnel on the defensive side of the ball. Jahad Woods and Ron Stone Jr. are quality performers and likely headed to NFL careers. They also return ten players from last year’s squad. Usually, that would be a huge plus.
Despite the experienced players, WSU doesn’t stack up. In their four 2020 games, the Cougars’ defense yielded an average of 462 yards and 39 points per game.
Their defense isn’t on the level of USC, Oregon, or Utah. Those other teams have bigger and deeper defenses than the Cougs. Moreover, the talent differential on defense isn’t something Rolovich can fix in a year or two.
One thing he can do immediately is to limit their exposure. That comes from controlling the ball and eating up time on the clock. The longer Washington State’s offense has the ball, the less time their opponent has it, which means the Cougars’ defense isn’t on the field as long. For a team struggling with depth, that’s very important.
Do you think the Washington State Cougars need to rely on the run game more in 2021? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.