PULLMAN - Washington State’s offense has soaked up most of the criticism after two games, and for good reason: the Cougars sit last nationally in total offense at 408 yards and points per game at 8.5. That kind of production is hard to ignore at a place built on the memory of explosive attacks.
But the other side of the ball has its own questions now.
WSU’s defense looked sturdy in the season-opening Apple Cup loss to Washington, holding the Huskies to 10 points through three quarters and 24 overall while delivering a key goal-line stop just before halftime. Linebacker Keith Brown, back for his first game after a season-ending injury last fall, led the Cougars with six tackles and helped spark that fourth-down stand with the first hit on the play.
The picture changed in Manhattan. Kansas State put up 34 points in a lopsided win over the Cougars, and that performance put Trent Bray’s defense under a brighter spotlight. WSU was already dealing with injuries at cornerback, with starters Khamari Terrell and Jalil Tucker both out, and that forced more work onto reserve Kai Rapolla and redshirt freshman Jamarey Smith, who shifted from nickelback to corner in a pinch.
Kansas State took advantage. Avery Johonson threw for 192 yards, the Wildcats’ running backs added 295 more on the ground, and Rodney Fields Jr. did the biggest damage with 105 yards and a long touchdown run. Joe Jackson chipped in 68 rushing yards, while Johonson added 78 on the ground, including a 26-yard burst.
The biggest concern so far is on third down. Kansas State converted 10 of 16 chances, and Washington turned 4 of 12 in the opener. That leaves WSU having allowed 14 conversions on 28 tries, a 50 percent rate that is tied for No. 107 nationally.
“The third downs, we can execute better,” Moore said. “When we need a pass rush, it’s gotta show up.
There was times where we didn’t get home. The quarterback extended.
He was able to find guys or run. And then in the second half, just gap integrity.
We had a couple misfits there, and then it broke right there on the first run to open the second half. We gotta play team defense in those situations and play top down.”
That lack of consistent pressure was a major part of the problem. Pro Football Focus credited WSU with just six pressures, including one from defensive end Matyus McLain and none from fellow edge rusher Linus Zunk.
If the Cougars were going to pull the upset, that duo needed to make life miserable for Johonson. Instead, the pressure never really turned into the kind of disruption WSU needed.
There were flashes inside, though. Paul Hutson III had two pressures and Damarjhe Lewis had one, but Johonson escaped and kept plays alive downfield.
“Quarterback had some scramble runs and scramble opportunities finding guys downfield,” Moore said.
One bright spot came from safety Jaylen Thomas, who earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors after intercepting two passes, including a pick-six to end the half. It was WSU’s first pick-six in two seasons.
Another name starting to matter is linebacker Isaiah Hung. Against Kansas State, he played a career-high 41 snaps and recorded a career-high eight tackles. Right now, he looks like the Cougars’ No. 3 linebacker behind Brown and DJ Warner.
That could make Saturday interesting, with winless FCS team Duquesne coming to Pullman. The matchup gives WSU some room to test things on defense, and Hung appears likely to be part of that plan. It may also set him up for a bigger role the following week, when Arizona comes to town for a primetime game.
“Isaiah’s done a great job throughout the whole off-season,” Moore said. “The weight room piece, I think, attacking the schematics with Coach Bray and what he does with those guys at the linebacker position.
Going into your second year, sometimes your first year, things are moving a little bit fast. I think the game slowed down for him, and his talent and ability has shown up there.”
In Other News...
Washington State Enters Home Opener With One Issue It Can't Ignore
Two losses in, Washington State is already staring at a familiar early-season problem: an offense that has not found enough rhythm and a protection unit that has left too much on the quarterback. Kirby Moore said the Cougars need collective improvement and hinted at changes in player rotations as the staff looks for answers before the home opener, a game that can steady things quickly or deepen the concern if the same issues follow them back to Pullman.
Caden Pinnick has become part of that conversation too after brushing off questions in his postgame session, then later acknowledging the mistake and saying he needs to grow from it. Washington State is trying to clean up more than just the passing game, because the defense has also been asked to carry too much of the load and fatigue is starting to show after so many snaps in recent games. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Suddenly Has Two Position Battles It Cant Ignore
Washington States early season has already turned into a test of depth, and the pressure is showing up in two places the Cougars can least afford it: cornerback and wide receiver. Multiple starters are sidelined, the defensive backfield has needed reshuffling, and the passing game is leaning on players with far less experience than the staff probably wanted at this point.
The timing makes the next game against Duquesne especially useful, if not ideal, for sorting through the options. It could give younger Cougars a chance to log meaningful snaps and start separating themselves in roles that suddenly look open, while the coaching staff keeps trying to patch together two spots where the margin for error is already thin. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Home Opener Puts Kirby Moore's Biggest Early Test Front And Center
Washington States first game at Martin Stadium under Kirby Moore arrives with a little less polish and a lot more urgency after the Cougars opened with a loss at Kansas State. The home opener against Duquesne should give Moore and his staff a cleaner look at where this team stands, but it also comes with the kind of early pressure that can shape a first season fast, especially with injuries already affecting key pieces.
Duquesne comes in carrying its own concerns, having started the year with two losses and sitting last in the FCS in total offense. For Washington State, that makes this more than a routine September matchup. It is a chance to steady the tone, get healthier where possible and show some growth in front of a home crowd before the schedule starts asking tougher questions. [Read more 🡒]