Gesser: Cougs must transition from hunter to hunted
Opponents are changing the way they look at Washington State, so the Cougars must adjust the way they look at themselves.
Coming off a nine-win season and possessing possibly the best quarterback-wide receiver tandem in the Pac-12, WSU is viewed by some analysts as a legitimate threat to win the Pac-12 North.
Today, Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports revealed his preseason Top 25 and the popular author (co-writer of ‘Swing Your Sword’) ranked Washington State at No. 21.
Folks, people are paying attention.
As a result, the Cougars must tread carefully and always keep in mind different levels attract different devils.
In Washington State’s case, they must prove this season they’re able to handle the pressure of wearing a target on their back.
“These guys have to go out and be ready to play and line it up. They were excited about how they finished last year, no doubt,” former WSU quarterback and current IMG Sports Network analyst Jason Gesser said Monday in the first edition of Cougar Calls for the 2016-17 year.
“But there is a difference between being the hunter and the hunted. Right now, we’re going to have guys coming after us. I don’t want to look too far ahead, but we have Oregon and UCLA coming here into our house and they want some revenge from last year.”
Not only does Washington State possess plenty of firepower on offense, the Cougars continue to demonstrate dramatic improvement on defense and look to take another positive step or two in the second year of Alex Grinch’s tenure as defensive coordinator.
“Some of the things Alex Grinch wanted to do defensively was get more athletic, get faster and be more versatile,” Gesser said. “He did that by bringing in guys like Robert Taylor and Garret McBroom from JUCO and bringing in freshmen like Jalen Thompson, who graduated early and was able to be here all spring. He has solidified that starting safety spot as a true freshmen. That gave (Grinch) more versatility of moving guys around, which is what he wants.”
Thompson was listed as the starter at strong safety when WSU's depth chart for the Eastern Washington game was released Monday. Taylor was listed as a co-starter with Treshon Broughton at one cornerback spot, while McBroom is a backup defensive end behind Daniel Ekuale.
Thompson is the lone true freshman listed as a starter on the depth chart.
Gesser credits a pair holdovers on the defensive coaching staff – DL coach Joe Salave’a and LB coach Ken Wilson – for paving the way for Grinch’s smooth transition into the defensive coordinator job and a promising debut season.
“We saw the buy-in, and not just from the players, but from the assistant coaches too,” Gesser said. “It’s not easy. Coach Salave’a and Coach Wilson have both been coaching for a while and both are older than Alex Grinch. They weren’t Alex Grinch’s guys. Alex came in and said, ‘Here is the defense we’re going to run now.’
“They had to buy in to him and he had to buy into them in order to move forward. When the players and other assistant coaches bought in, it got stronger and stronger. We won nine games last year not just because of Mike Leach’s offense, but also because of the 24 forced turnovers and the defense.”
Offensively, the size and speed of true freshmen receivers Isaiah Johnson-Mack and Dezmon Patmon impressed Gesser in the preseason.
“They’re freshmen, but they look like seniors,” Gesser said. “They are every raw. At the same time, they have Gabe Marks and River Cracraft and all these guys on the onside.”
Washington State was stunned by FCS Portland State in the opening game a year ago, and the Cougars don’t want to commit the same mistake twice, regardless of the weather. Will WSU take out its frustration on Eastern Washington when the 2016 season kicks off Saturday at 5 p.m. PT?
It all boils down to leadership, Gesser said.
“The Cougs want some revenge from that first game against Portland State last year and they want to rectify that with this first game,” Gesser said. “The leadership Luke Falk has shown off the field and the chemistry they have will help them make the transition from the hunter to the hunted and having that bullseye on their back every game.”
Gesser anticipates Eastern Washington playing ferociously hard Saturday with a chip on its shoulder as many FCS players once dreamed of playing at the FBS/Pac-12 level. But they were denied.
“I’ve had good conversations with Luke about every guy on Eastern Washington wanting to be at Washington State and using this game to prove they are a better team,” Gesser said. “They have to be ready for that. And that goes for every single game as they move forward. But I think our guys are prepared and ready to make the transition. Now they have to go out and do it.”
NOTES:
-- Here is what Feldman wrote about Washington State after ranking them No. 21 in his preseason poll: “Luke Falk is back to run the offense after a huge 2015. Gabe Marks leads a deep group of wideouts, and WSU has four capable RBs. The left side of the O-line has been rebuilt, but the early returns are very favorable. The Cougars’ secondary has improved a lot since DC Alex Grinch took over before the start of the 2015 season. Wazzu has to go to Boise State in the non-conference and also has a trip to Stanford sandwiched by home games against Oregon and UCLA. On the bright side: They don't have to face Utah or USC in the regular season, and they get Washington at home.”
-- Moos emphasized the 2016 current roster consists of 100 percent of Mike Leach’s recruits.
