Just like last year, Oregon win could catapult Cougs to big season

When Washington State flew to Eugene, Ore. for last year’s matchup with the Oregon Ducks, the Cougars’ season was hanging in the balance.

Losses to Portland State in the season opener and California in the Pac-12 opener gave the Cougars a 2-2 record when they arrived at Autzen Stadium, regarded by many analysts as one of the loudest and most raucous venues in the country. In short, a very difficult place to win for any visitor.

Thanks to a clutch last-minute TD drive and a thrilling overtime capped by Shalom Luani’s interception of a Jeff Lockie pass, the Cougars pulled out a 45-38 victory over the Ducks.

The dramatic win jumpstarted a successful stretch in which Washington State won six of seven games prior to the Apple Cup, and reached the eight-win plateau before the Sun Bowl.

One year later, the Cougars find themselves in a similar position heading into the annual gridiron battle against Oregon following a bye week. A win in the Pac-12 opener on Saturday night would even WSU’s record at 2-2, while a loss could have devastating consequences with surging Stanford in Palo Alto, Calif. on deck.

“The bye week this year happened at a perfect time,” Washington State quarterback Luke Falk said. “I think we really needed it this year. It was good to have. Right now, we’re 0-0 with nine conference games ahead. It’s a whole new season with a clean slate.

“The game (at Oregon) last year showed the resiliency of our team. We have it in us to be a tough group. We scored 10 points in about three minutes down there and has a real tough road winning in double overtime. That gritty effort was the turning point for us last year. Hopefully, we can get some rhythm back.”

While the Cougars look to demonstrate the same resiliency as they did at Oregon a year ago, Mike Leach contends looking back to 2015 is dangerous.

“Our group may be a little too much about last year than they should be,” Leach said. “Our focus should be on us and this group right now. That (win at Oregon) was great for last year. It was all the guys last year who made all those plays. That wasn’t any of the guys this year. We have some of the same people, but this is 2016. They need to focus on this year or otherwise (Saturday) won’t be a productive, happy experience.”

This time around, Oregon might be just as desperate as Washington State for a victory as the Ducks carry a rare two-game losing streak into Saturday’s showdown, which is set to be televised by Pac-12 Networks.

Leaky defense has been the major culprit for Oregon despite hiring former Michigan head coach Brady Hoke as defensive coordinator after last season. The Ducks allowed 1,021 total yards and 76 points in losses to Nebraska and Colorado the past two weekends.

“They are a pretty aggressive defense, a lot of tricks with the front, twists and blitzes,” Leach said Monday. “They are a very talented team. They have played both man and zone and try to bring pressure. So, we have to operate quickly.”

After four weeks, Oregon ranks ninth in the Pac-12 in total defense (450.2 yards per game), 10th in scoring defense (32.5 ppg) and passing defense (257.8 ypg), and have yielded the most first downs in the league (106 in four games).

“They play a lot more man (coverage),” Falk said. “They let their athletes be in one-on-one coverage and try to do a bunch of stuff up front. It’s a different look from what it was last year, but we’ll take a look at it more this week. But they always have a bunch of athletes at Oregon. They are known for their speed. We’ll find the best way to attack it.”

Falk leads all Pac-12 quarterbacks in completion percentage (74.1 pct) and ranks second in passing yards per game (374.7) behind Cal’s Davis Webb and third in passing efficiency among league quarterbacks with 100 or more pass attempts.

Statistically, Falk has had a solid start to the 2016 campaign, but he believes the Cougars’ 1-2 record negates some of his numbers.

“Even with (my) numbers, we have a lot to improve on as an offense,” Falk said. “We have left a lot of meat in the table. During the bye week, we did a nice job of finding ways to maximize our performance and get our offense even higher. The win-loss column is all I’m concerned about.

“If I throw for 20 yards or have a completion percentage of 5 percent and we win every game, I’d be happy. Frankly, the only stat I look at is how many reads I missed. If it’s a low percentage, I gave us the best chance to win. If it’s higher, I definitely have room to improve on.”

NOTES:

-- Falk acknowledged slow starts offensively have plagued Washington State so far this season. The Cougars have been outscored 24-21 in the first quarter of the first three games, including 14-0 at Boise State. Even against Idaho, the Cougars led only 7-3 after the first quarter. “Coming out fast was something we struggled with in the first few games,” Falk said. “But we’re addressing it now. We’re getting it going. The coaches have been on us about our tempo and energy early and doing our job.”

-- Falk described himself as “calm, even keeled guy” and not a firebrand. “It’s not within my personality (to be an ‘energy booster) for my teammates, but I can definitely do it. I have to step up in that role. During the bye week I looked at some things we can improve on and positive energy is one of them.”

-- Leach said he was happy with how the Cougars practiced during the bye week, but now they had to “transfer’ the solid workouts into the game.

-- Leach said special teams coordinator Eric Mele “does a real good job and brings a lot of energy.” Leach said the Cougs have been more aggressive on special teams in 2016 and, as a result, has blocked more kicks.

-- Falk said the first three opponents have typically dropped eight defenders back to defend the pass, resulting in smaller windows to throw the ball. “We’ve definitely see a lot more ‘drop eight’ than we have in the past,” Falk said. “Teams have been playing three safeties in a shell. It would dumb for us not to run the ball.”

-- Former Washington State assistant David Yost is now quarterbacks coach at Oregon. He left Pullman after last season. “I was happy for Yost because he wanted to coach quarterbacks and that’s kind of tough at our place,” Leach said. “I was happy for him and his family that he got the opportunity to do something he wants. I thought he did a good job here. He’s a very organized guy.”

-- The Pac-12 Network will televise Saturday night’s game with Roxy Bernstein (PxP), Anthony Herron (color) and Lewis Johnson handling the broadcast.