PULLMAN -- Washington State wrapped up fall camp on Sunday night with a fan-friendly practice, then sent the offense and defense into a light-hearted water balloon fight to close the evening. Kirby Moore turned 36 on the same day, and after the final camp session, he pointed to the lines as the biggest source of progress.
“The physicality, just the amount of work at the line of scrimmage,” Moore said. “I think the defensive line and the offensive line making each other better.
Defensively, Coach Bray does a great job of challenging those guys on offense. And I think there's been good back and forth in certain situations.
“And yesterday, we did a good amount of crossover where I think it's really important for the staffs to work together on both sides of the ball. And we're all on the same team.
And if you did this on offense, how can this help out each side of the ball and vice versa? And I thought that was really good.”
That tug-of-war showed up throughout camp, with some practices tilting toward the defense and others featuring the offensive line in control. Moore said that kind of back-and-forth should pay off once the Cougars start lining up against opponents in different uniforms.
What still hasn’t been settled is the quarterback job. Moore said Washington State remains close to naming a starter, but no decision has been made between Caden Pinnick, Julian Dugger and Owen Eshelman.
“We have not made a decision,” Moore said. “We've got to meet with all those guys tomorrow, and then we'll get that out to you as soon as we can.
We're going to be close. We'll be close tomorrow and we have to meet with those guys tomorrow morning, and then we'll get that to you as soon as we can.”
Moore also addressed the finish to practice, saying the water balloon fight was a small reward after a demanding camp.
“They put in a ton of work. And fall camp is designed to be hard, and we want to make sure we reward them at certain times and finishing camp and everything that they've accomplished. I just got belted in the back by Kaden Beatty, so I appreciated that one.”
Looking back at Friday’s scrimmage tape, Moore said the defense did a good job limiting explosive mistakes and keeping things in front of them. He noted that interceptions often come from tipped balls or overthrows, and stressed that the offense needs cleaner execution from the quarterbacks and skill players - receivers, running backs and tight ends - to stay on schedule.
Moore said Monday will be a “role call day,” with the staff laying out each player’s spot on the team heading into the transition to Washington. He described it as a chance to make sure everyone knows exactly where they stand, whether that means starter, rotation player, backup or scout team.
“Does it mean that their role is going to stay the same throughout the season? No, but there's a starting point when we transition to Washington (with) where they're at, whether they're on the travel squad or they're not. And so look forward to those conversations with all the guys.”
Moore said the concept came from his time as a player at Boise State under Chris Petersen.
With the opener against the Huskies in Seattle set for Sept. 6, Washington State is also rolling out a stretch of events and activities called “WSU in the Puget Sound” leading up to kickoff.
In Other News...
Caden Pinnick Now Carries A Bigger Question For Washington State
Washington State has settled its quarterback competition, with Caden Pinnick emerging from fall camp as the Cougars starter under coach Kirby Moore. The announcement, made by the team on social media, gives the offense a clear direction heading into the season and confirms what had been a key battle throughout camp. Pinnick won the job after competing with several other quarterbacks, and the choice puts him squarely at the center of everything Washington State wants to do on offense.
Pinnick now carries more than just the title, because the next question is how he handles the expectations that come with it. Moore and a teammate both pointed to his performance and leadership during camp as reasons for confidence, but the real test begins when the games count and the scrutiny gets louder. For Washington State, the starter has been named, but the more important part of the story is just beginning. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Faces A Brutal Early Test At A Changing Big 12 Program
Washington State gets a tricky September assignment on Sept. 12, when it heads to face Kansas State in a first-time football meeting that already looks like one of the more demanding tests on the Cougars early schedule. The setup is hardly ideal, with short preparation time, a long trip and an early kickoff all waiting for a WSU team trying to settle in against a Power Four opponent on the road.
The challenge is made even more interesting by the version of Kansas State waiting on the other side. The Wildcats have a new look under Collin Klein after a coaching change, and the roster has also shifted with departures and injuries trimming some familiar pieces away. For Washington State, that means there is plenty to sort out before even getting to the matchup itself, and the first real scouting report on this opponent may end up mattering as much as the game plan. [Read more 🡒]