Washington State got a confidence boost from Saturday’s 48-7 win over Duquesne, but Kirby Moore knows the Cougars still have some sharp edges to sand down before Arizona shows up in Pullman.
Moore said he saw a little more bounce around the program after the victory.
"I think our guys have some confidence from that (Duquesne (game)," Moore said. "They made some good plays on the field."
That confidence is going to get tested quickly. Arizona, a team receiving votes just outside the weekly Associated Press top-25 poll, is next on the schedule for WSU’s first night game of the season Saturday.
The Cougars’ offense showed some real life against Duquesne, especially after a rough opening sequence that started with a bad snap for an 11-yard loss and then Caden Pinnick’s interception into double coverage. Moore answered by dialing up a direct-snap play for Maxwell Woods on the second drive, a call he said he used often while serving as Missouri’s offensive coordinator.
It worked. Woods burst for 45 yards, and that set up Kirby Vorhees’ 8-yard touchdown run to get WSU on the board.
From there, the pace and execution picked up. The Cougars strung together three straight touchdown drives in the second half to build a 35-7 cushion, and Moore came away more pleased Monday with the offense’s ability to create explosive plays and complement itself.
Still, the penalty count was ugly. WSU was flagged for six offensive holding penalties Saturday, and five were accepted.
Three of those came against tight end Jack Pedersen. Against a defense like Arizona’s, that kind of sloppiness can wreck a drive in a hurry.
Moore has talked repeatedly about the importance of staying in favorable down-and-distance situations, especially against quality opponents, and Arizona’s defense figures to make that a major issue. The Wildcats bring heavy pressure, and Moore pointed to defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales’ background running those schemes at Arizona State and San Diego State as part of what makes the unit so challenging. He also described the scheme as having real “complexity”.
That means the Cougars’ offensive line has to be cleaner than it was against Duquesne. The expected starting group remains Ashton Tripp at left tackle, Jonny Lester at left guard, Noah Dunham at center, Nick Bakken at right guard and Jaylin Caldwell at right tackle.
The kicking game is another problem area WSU can’t ignore.
Jack Stevens is deep in a slump after missing a 30-yard attempt early in the second quarter Saturday. He’s now 1-for-5 on field goals this season, the worst mark in FBS. He also missed his first PAT in the second half after a Cougars touchdown.
Moore was asked Monday whether a change at kicker was on the table, especially after he acknowledged Stevens’ latest miss was on the sophomore. For now, the coach is staying with him.
Stevens, the South Carolina product, made his first eight field goals last season to tie a program record and finished 16-for-19. Moore wasn’t with the Cougars then, but said he saw enough in offseason work to trust the kicker moving forward.
“Looking forward to seeing him make a bunch of kicks this week in practice, and building up to Saturday,” Moore said.
In Other News...
Washington State Faces A Brutal First Conference Test Through The Air
Washington States first conference test in Pullman arrives with a clear focal point: Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita. The Wildcats enter at 2-1, and their offense runs heavily through the arm of a passer who has already set the Arizona career passing record, making this a revealing early snapshot of where the Cougars stand against a proven aerial attack.
For Washington State, the challenge is less about guessing what Arizona wants to do and more about whether it can slow it down. The matchup in Pullman puts the Cougars against one of the Pac-12s most polished passers, and how they handle that pressure through the air should say plenty about their readiness for the rest of conference play. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Sticking With New Offensive Line As Another Concern Lingers
Washington State came out of its recent game with a fresh look up front, and Kirby Moore said the Cougars are going to stick with it when they face Arizona. Jonny Lester has been moved to left guard, Jaylin Caldwell has taken over at right tackle and Kyle Martin is no longer in the starting mix, a sign the staff is still searching for the right combination to steady an offensive line that has needed help.
The line shuffle is only part of the larger picture, though, because placekicking remains an issue and injury updates are still hanging over the week. Moore said cornerback Jalil Tuckers status is uncertain, while also pointing to the work of several defensive players and stressing that the Cougars still have room to improve in a few key areas as they head into another conference test. [Read more 🡒]
DJ Warners Position Switch Is Giving Wazzu One Big Defensive Test
DJ Warners move from defensive end to linebacker has given Washington State an early-season personnel puzzle, and it is one the Cougars are still sorting through as they head into conference play. Warner has already shown up in the tackle column with 12 stops through three games, but the bigger adjustment has been the speed of the new assignment, with defensive coordinator Trent Bray able to coach him directly from the sideline as he settles into a different spot on the field.
Arizona is next, which adds a little extra edge to the transition because it is a familiar name for Warner from his recruitment days. Washington State has also been juggling things up front on offense, where Jonny Lester slid to left guard to work next to Ashton Tripp in a recent win and Nick Bakken has handled his move to right guard well. For the Cougars, the bigger question now is how quickly Warner can turn a promising conversion into something even more reliable against a tested opponent. [Read more 🡒]