Updated Apr 11, 2012 - 3:46 pm
ESPN's Ted Miller likes WSU's bowl chances in 2012
Ted Miller's recent conversation with Steve Sandmeyer and Jim Moore should be of interest to Washington State fans hoping to see the Cougars in a postseason game for the first time since 2003.
Miller, who covers Pac-12 football for ESPN.com, thinks Washington State will reach the six-win threshold to become bowl-eligible in Mike Leach's first season.
"I don't think they can make much more of a jump because I still think they have questions on the lines and the defense, but I think they're going to get to a bowl game," Miller said.
Below is a sampling of Miller's thoughts on Washington State.
Linebacker concerns. Leach has dismissed starters Sekope Kaufusi and C.J. Mizell following separate arrests since last season. With Alex Hoffman-Ellis graduating, the Cougars aren't returning any of their starters. Miller: "That's not a really good recipe when you also have questions on the defensive line. They're adopting a 3-4 defense so they even need more linebackers. So I think the defense is going to struggle to keep up."
Jeff Tuel's development. Miller said that while senior Jeff Tuel possesses NFL talent, he doesn't have the accuracy that Leach typically likes in a quarterback. Tuel, who will compete with sophomore Connor Halliday, has completed just under 60 percent of his passes during his three-year career. Miller: Maybe he's going to develop that in Leach's system, which is a more controlled passing game."
Leach was a 'great' hire. Miller called Leach's hiring "great" and said he is the "perfect" coach for Pullman, citing the success Leach had while coaching in a similarly remote environment in Lubbock, Texas. Miller said Leach's personality should remind some fans of former Washington State coach Mike Price. Miller: "I think people like the quirkiness. I think that will play well and get attention for a school that sometimes doesn't get [it]."
You can listen to Miller's conversation with Moore and Sandmeyer here.
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WShadow206 wrote...LOLApril 12, 2012 9:00 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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cordaco wrote...Cougs win 8April 12, 2012 7:45 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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HockeyMom wrote...Agreed, cardacoApril 13, 2012 1:06 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Rick1 wrote...niceApril 13, 2012 9:08 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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dragonmeteor wrote...delusional CougsApril 18, 2012 3:25 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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HockeyMom wrote...Delusional?April 27, 2012 1:33 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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AKAF wrote...Cougar news vs NHL...April 23, 2012 11:11 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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awbitf wrote...if nothing elseApril 27, 2012 2:06 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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southi5 wrote...All you have to resort to is a stadium?August 23, 2012 11:14 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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Brock Huard has co-hosted the show since 2009. After earning Gatorade Player of the Year honors at Puyallup High School, Brock went on to a record-setting career at Washington and then spent six years in the NFL, including four with the Seahawks. Brock also works for ESPN as a college football analyst in the booth and the studio. He makes his home on the Eastside with his wife Molly and their three young children.
Danny O'Neil, the new co-host of "Brock and Danny", is the son of a logger, a graduate of the University of Washington and has been a working journalist in Seattle since 1999, first at newspapers and since 2012 at 710 ESPN Seattle. He is married to Sharon Pian Chan, associate opinions editor at The Seattle Times. They live on Capitol Hill with their wrinkled, smelly dog.
