PULLMAN -- Washington State does not have much margin for error at 1-6, which is exactly why Owen Eshelman needs the freedom to keep pushing. That is the view of CouGreat defensive end Mkristo Bruce, who sees more upside in the second-year quarterback now that Eshelman has shown what he can do in his debut.
Against Boise State, Bruce believes the Cougars have a better matchup than they did last week against Oregon State. The Broncos play a slower, more controlled style than the Beavers’ fast-moving attack, and Bruce’s five keys all point to the same idea: make the game look nothing like Boise State wants it to look.
The first priority, in Bruce’s view, is simple - keep drives alive. Boise State leads the country in time of possession at 36:41 per game, while Washington State sits at 101st at 28:43.
That gap matters because the Broncos build games around steady rushing and ball control. WSU’s offense has struggled to string possessions together this season, and too many three-and-outs have left the defense stuck on the field.
Bruce says the Cougars need to keep moving the chains, convert on third down and find more ways to get the ball to Maxwell Woods. He also suggested that WSU may be better served by long, sustained drives than by living and dying on quick strikes.
That approach ties directly into his second point: let Eshelman loose. Bruce liked what he saw from the quarterback at Oregon State, but he also knows Boise State will have more film to study and more answers prepared. Even so, he does not want to see the offense get conservative again.
Bruce’s message is clear - the staff should expand the playbook, keep Eshelman involved as a runner and let him attack downfield. He expects mistakes along the way, but he does not want fear to shrink the offense.
The quarterback’s legs are also part of the third key. Eshelman ran 15 times for 136 yards and a touchdown last week, a surprise performance that could reshape how defenses have to play WSU. Bruce sees zone reads and read options as a way to stress Boise State, force the backside defender to respect the quarterback run and open up space for the backs.
That has been a major issue for Washington State through seven games. Bruce believes the current run game has not been enough of a threat to scare opponents, and he wants Eshelman’s willingness to take easy yards to change that.
From there, the Cougars have to make Boise State work on offense. Bruce wants WSU to win first and second down and force third-and-long situations.
That would put Maddux Madsen in more obvious passing spots and take the Broncos away from the rushing identity that defines them. Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines are the backs Bruce would rather force into long-yardage situations than let Boise State keep leaning on the ground game.
The final piece is pressure. Washington State’s pass rush has been quiet over the last two games, with the reasons varying from opponent to opponent. Bruce said the rush has to do more than just chase - it has to disrupt, even if that means finally getting some holding calls to go their way.
He pointed to the need for Kaden Beatty to be a force in the middle and for Linus Zunk and Matyus McLain to win off the edges. Bruce also likes the idea of Keith Brown blitzing from the inside to create tackles for loss and force Madsen into uncomfortable throws.
Bruce, one of the most productive sack artists in WSU history, finished his college career as a first-team All-Pac-10 selection and a second-team AP and Walter Camp All-American. The former quarterback from Renton started 34 straight games at defensive end for Washington State.
In Other News...
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Homecoming weekend had a chance to give Washington State a lift, but instead it turned into another harsh reminder of how far the Cougars have fallen this season. Playing Boise State on Oct. 24, Washington State stayed in the game for a while and had things level at 10-10 late before the Broncos pulled away for a 31-10 win.
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Boise State Is In A Grind It Didnt Expect At Halftime
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The drive that tied the game was as revealing as anything else on the scoreboard, stretching 73 yards over 16 plays before Kirby Vorhees finished it off in the end zone. Even after Boise State nudged back in front with a field goal before halftime, the Cougars had already made it clear they were willing to drag this game into a slower, more physical script and force the Broncos to earn every bit of separation. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Already Facing Early Pressure In Pac-12 Debut
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Boise State capitalized on those early chances and put Washington State in an immediate chase mode, forcing the Cougars to answer on both sides of the ball. Even as Eshelman continued to make noteworthy plays, Washington States issues on offense and defense lingered through the game, leaving the Cougars with plenty to sort through after a night that was supposed to mark a fresh start. [Read more 🡒]