Washington State's defense faced a surprising challenge last season: tackling. Despite maintaining a borderline strong defensive unit, the Cougars struggled more with tackling than they did in 2024.
According to Pro Football Focus, their tackling grade dropped to a concerning 37.4 from 45.9 the previous year. What does this mean?
Simply put, it’s a call to action for defensive coordinator Trent Bray to make tackling a top priority, starting this spring.
The numbers tell the story. WSU missed 198 tackles last season, 25 more than in 2024, marking the highest number since PFF began tracking in 2014. This isn't just a stat to glance over-it's a challenge that needs addressing.
The Cougars managed to mitigate some of these issues by swarming to the ball, a strategy that covered up potential costly mistakes from missed tackles. This collective effort often saved the day, preventing what could have been game-changing errors.
As the new season approaches, the focus for Washington State will be clear: tighten up those tackles. If they can combine their aggressive ball pursuit with improved tackling fundamentals, the Cougars could transform their defense from borderline strong to truly formidable.