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.
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Boise State and Oregon State have spent much of this Pac-12 race looking like the programs setting the pace, and the numbers back that up. Boise State sits atop several statistical categories and rankings, and the Broncos are the current betting favorite to win the league title, while the Beavers remain in the mix as another team with a strong profile heading into a busy stretch around the conference.
For Washington State, the immediate challenge comes against an Oregon State team that is favored in its upcoming matchup, as the Cougars sort through the next step at quarterback and try to stay competitive in a league where every week seems to sharpen the hierarchy. Elsewhere, Fresno State visits San Diego State and Texas State hosts Colorado State, but the bigger Pac-12 picture still centers on whether anyone can close the gap on Boise State and Oregon State. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Turns To Owen Eshelman As Offensive Pressure Mounts
The quarterback picture at Washington State has changed, and Owen Eshelman is now the one tasked with trying to steady an offense that has struggled to find a rhythm. Head coach Kirby Moore pointed to Eshelmans preparation, leadership and readiness as the Cougars head into their next game, a sign the staff believes the offense needs a different spark after a stretch of uneven play.
The move follows a run of underwhelming performances with Caden Pinnick under center, leaving Washington State searching for more consistency at the most important position. Pinnick had six starts to get the unit going, but the offense never really took off, and the pressure now shifts to Eshelman to show the Cougars something different when the next chance arrives. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Heads Into Oregon State With Key Week 1 Decisions Looming
Washington States first injury report of the week offered an early look at how the Cougars are sorting through availability as they prepare for Oregon State. Linebacker Jack Ellison is no longer on the report, which is a welcome sign, while the Beavers have their own absences to manage with defensive backs Kai Wheaton and Ryan Whiten, along with inside linebacker Kord Shaw, all ruled out.
The bigger question for the Cougars is the cluster of key names still listed as questionable, especially up front and in the secondary, where depth can quickly shape a game plan. WSU also has a season-ending loss to absorb at linebacker, leaving the staff to balance what it can count on now with what it may have to patch together by the time kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]