Very few people are giving Washington State much of a shot Saturday when the Cougars head to Corvallis to face Pacific-12 Conference co-leader Oregon State.
That’s the backdrop for a game that could say a lot about where this WSU team is headed under first-year coach Kirby Moore. A win would snap Oregon State’s four-game streak and give the Cougars a much-needed jolt. A loss would likely keep the gloomy projection intact.
For WSU to have any real chance, it starts with finding a way to slow down true freshman Jesse Legree, who has become the engine of Oregon State’s passing game. Legree leads the nation with 38 catches for 932 yards and 12 touchdowns on 53 targets from quarterback Braden Atkinson, according to The Football Database. He has topped 100 receiving yards in six straight games, and the Beavers’ offense clearly feeds off the explosive plays he keeps delivering at all three levels.
Moore’s answer for defending him was straightforward when he spoke with reporters Monday.
“It’s about playing team defense,” Moore said. “Obviously, communication is going to be really important on where he’s at, whether it’s in the slot, whether he’s outside left or right. The pass rush has to help out the coverage, and the coverage has got to help out the pass rush.”
If Legree is getting loose all afternoon, WSU’s secondary is going to be in for a long one.
The Cougars also have to avoid letting Oregon State dictate the game on third down. During the Beavers’ four-game winning streak, opponents have converted only 15 of 50 third downs, a 30-percent rate that would sit inside the top 20 nationally. That kind of defensive control is a big reason Oregon State has been rolling, and it puts extra pressure on WSU to stay ahead of the chains.
That means the Cougars may need a cleaner passing rhythm than they’ve had during their rough stretches this season. Caden Pinnick had trouble consistently hitting receivers in the intermediate game, with too many throws missing the mark.
Moore now has redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman available, and Eshelman has been praised for his accuracy in practice. To help him settle in, Moore may need to vary the first-down approach and get him connected with Darrius Clemons, Daniel Blood, Tank Hawkins Jr. and tight ends Trey Leckner and Jack Pedersen early enough to build manageable down-and-distance situations.
If WSU can’t move the sticks, it’ll spend too much time watching Oregon State’s offense work.
On the ground, the Cougars are going to have to be selective. The interior of WSU’s offensive line doesn’t match up well with Beavers defensive tackle Tevita Pome’e and nose tackle Daniel Matagi, so the inside run game figures to be a tough sell. Instead, WSU needs to lean hard into outside-zone concepts and get Oregon State’s front moving sideways.
That stretch play has become a staple for Moore, who used it effectively at Missouri as the play-caller. Last week, it produced a 54-yard run from Leo Pulalasi against Utah State, and it accounted for the Cougars’ lone touchdown. Oregon State’s coaching staff noticed the emphasis on that run game immediately when asked Monday what WSU has been doing well.
Moore is still looking for the best way to unleash running backs Kirby Vorhees, Maxwell Woods and Pulalasi, all of whom came into Pullman with outside-zone experience. If that part of the offense starts hitting, the Cougars can at least make Saturday interesting.
In Other News...
Oklahoma State Suddenly Has A Secondary Concern Oregon State Should Watch
Oklahoma States availability report for its game against Houston brought a new wrinkle into focus, one Oregon State fans will note because it reflects how quickly a defense can shift during a stretch run. Safety Mose Phillips is listed as doubtful with a shoulder injury, and that comes after he started the past four games. Defensive tackle Landon Dean is also out, while freshman receiver Dayvon Standard is probable to make his college debut.
For Oregon State, the interest is in how the Cowboys manage those absences if the report holds through game time. A secondary missing a starter can change the way an opponent handles coverage and run support, and Oklahoma State is already dealing with a thinner look up front with Dean unavailable. Houston has its own issues on defense, but the biggest question for the Beavers to track is whether Oklahoma States back end can hold up without Phillips available. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Freshman Is Forcing His Way Into A National Debate
Jesse Legree has gone from promising freshman to one of the most talked-about receivers in the country in a hurry. The Oregon State wideout has been producing at a level that belongs in the national conversation, and his numbers are hard to ignore when the discussion turns to the best young pass-catchers in college football.
What makes the start even more eye-opening is the consistency. Legree has topped 100 receiving yards in every game this season while working with quarterback Braden Atkinson, who has been piling up passing yards at a historic pace of his own. The result is a Beavers offense with a rookie star pushing his way into a debate most expected to be led elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Could Get A Huge Boost In A Crucial Washington State Test
A couple of key pieces are lining up for Oregon State as it heads into a tricky test against Washington State, with offensive linemen Josiah Timoteo and Carter Guillaume expected back after sitting out because of foot injuries. Receiver Xayvion Noland is also expected to play, giving the Beavers a better chance to stabilize an offense that could use the reinforcements in a game that already carries plenty of weight.
The availability report still has some notable holes for Oregon State, though, with inside linebacker Kord Shaw, cornerback Kai Wheaton and safety RJ Whitten listed as out. Washington State is also dealing with its own uncertainty, as offensive lineman Ashton Tripp and defensive players Michael Hughes, Malachi Wrice and Kyle Peterson are among those marked questionable, adding another layer to a matchup where the margins could matter a lot. [Read more 🡒]