Thursday, February 2, 2012 @ 1:19pm
Don't sweat the recruiting rankings, they're idiotic
It's no secret that I hate recruiting.
Well, I don't hate recruiting, per se, I hate the fan-created business of recruiting.
You see, sites like Scout.com and Rivals.com and ESPN's recruiting site aren't created for coaches. They are created so fans have something to do while football is not being played.
Coaches don't care what "star rating" a player gets. Coaches don't consult some "scout" or "recruiting analyst" from these sites before asking a player to accept a scholarship.
If anyone sees that WSU is ranked 12th in the Pac-12 in recruiting rankings and gets worried, ask yourselves these questions:
1. Who is more knowledgeable about football, Mike Leach or some dude from a website who's likely never coached football at the college level, or any level at all?
2. Who is more successful in winning football games, Mike Leach or some dude from a website who's likely never coached football at the college level, or any level at all?
Those aren't tough questions, by the way.
Mike Leach went out and signed a kid named Brett Bartolone. According to Scout.com and Rivals.com, he's a "2-Star" player. That means, in their minds, he may make an impact as a senior, if he gets any playing time at all at the major college level. With a "2-Star" rating, they think he's more suited for FCS-level ball. More likely though, he was never actually "evaluated" at all. You see, there are just too many kids to evaluate and guys like Bartolone don't always get the attention. Mike Leach did evaluate him and knows that Bartolone will fit his system -- an FBS, major conference program. He believes that the kid has the tools to succeed at this level. So, who do you believe? Let's revisit this topic four years from now and see if Brett has made a contribution.
See what I'm getting at here? Recruiting rankings and sites are entertainment. Don't take it like it really means anything. If you're in the Top 10 in the nation, it means you got a lot of really, really, really impressive kids. After that, it starts to get murky. It means you got one or two really, really, really impressive kids.
After the top 30 or so, it gets really murky. In fact, there's not a lot of difference between a team like Arizona State, which was 37th in the Rivals.com rankings, and WSU, which was not in the top 50. ASU signed a total of 23 players, three of whom were "4-Star" players and 15 who were "3-Stars." The Cougs signed 26 total with two "4-Stars" and 14 "3-Stars." Not a major difference there. Yet, if you go by the rankings, it seemed that ASU pretty much clobbered WSU in the recruiting game.
Another factor is that due to the sheer number of kids, the "recruiting analysts" don't really get close to evaluating the junior college players. This season, Leach had to go for several JC guys to fill some holes and every one was designated a "2-star" player. Because the sites don't have the time to evaluate these guys they are given two stars, despite the fact that when coming out of high school, many of them were rated higher and only improved in size and skill while in the JC ranks.
Offensive Line recruit Sam Jones is a great example. He's a "2-Star" now, but coming out of high school he was a "4-Star" and was one of the elite linemen in the nation. Did he get worse in his years at Pima JC? Did he get smaller? Slower? Not likely. Niu Sale was a "3-Star" coming out of high school and so was Mike Bowlin (he was also considered the No. 3 kicker in the NATION), but now they are also both "2-stars."
I think you get it. This isn't an exact science. It's not even a "kinda science." I won't even go in to the number of "2-Stars" who went on to be NFL players (Pro Bowler Marcus Trufant, for example) or the number of "5-Star" kids who never did anything (anyone remember Randy Estes?).
Finally, let's not forget that Mike Leach had very little time to build this class. Recruiting is about relationships and Leach had to make up for a lot of lost time very quickly. Kids like Cedric Dozier out of Lakes have been getting love and affection from schools like Cal and UW for YEARS. Leach had to forge relationships in WEEKS. It's hard to do. For you huskies out there who don't believe me, go back to '09. When Sarkisian was hired, he had two months to put together his class. Where did it finish? According to Scout.com, it was 66th in the nation. Mike Leach's first class is 60th. That's not a dig, that's just reality.
The point, of course, is that recruiting rankings are fine and dandy for those hard up for entertainment, but they are rarely an accurate predictor of future success.
I'll leave it with this final bit of proof:
In 2004, WSU had the No. 21 recruiting class in the nation. UW had the No. 22 class in the nation. Great classes for both schools. Lots of guys with lots of stars by their names.
Four years later, when those incredible, can't miss, star-laden players should've been juniors and seniors, the two teams finished their seasons in "The Crapple Cup." UW was 0-10 and the Cougs were 1-9. (Just a reminder, the Cougs won and the UW became the only team in conference history to go winless throughout a season.)
Don't sweat the rankings, Cougar Faithful, trust in Mike Leach.
Go Cougs!
Thursday, February 2, 2012 @ 10:55am
Mike Leach targets OL in first WSU recruiting class
It would be natural to assume that Mike Leach's spread offense would lead the coach to make quarterbacks and receivers his top priority in recruiting.
His first recruiting class at Washington State, which was completed Wednesday with the addition of 28 players, suggests otherwise.
Leach and the Cougars received letters of intent from seven offensive linemen, a total that makes up a quarter of their total signees. That wasn't by accident.
"This is a little-know fact -- and part of it is because our quarterbacks have gotten tremendous stats over the years, we've got two marquee receivers in the NFL with Wes Welker and Michael Crabtree -- but the single position we have the most guys in the NFL is offensive line. It's probably the position I cherish the most because I coached offensive line for 10 years," Leach told "The Kevin Calabro Show" on Wednesday.
"Offensive line and defensive line is why they have football to begin with, so you can see huge people collide with others of various shapes and sizes."
According to ESPN.com, three of Texas Tech's 13 NFL players are offensive linemen. The most notable is San Diego's Louis Vasquez, a guard who has started in each of his three NFL seasons.
Leach said offensive and defensive line were top priorities, as was establishing a presence in southern California and the Hawaiian and Samoan islands. Washington State will lose at least two starters to graduation. A third, starting right tackle Wade Jacobson, is applying for a medical redshirt.
The offensive linemen who signed with Washington State on Wednesday include guards Denzel Dotson (Glendale, Ariz.), Alex Mitchell (Portland, Ore.) and Niu Sale (Wilmington, Calif.) and tackles Barrie Salmonson (Nooksack Valley HS), Samuel Flor (O'Dea HS), Pierson Villarrubia (Mandeville, La.) and Eduardo Middleton (Oceanside, Calif.).
The highest rated of that bunch are Mitchell and Dotson. Mitchell is ranked by Rivals.com as the 16th-best guard prospect in the country. The same site ranks Dotson 46th.
Here's video that includes Mitchell doing some pass-blocking drills:
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 @ 7:49am
Meet the 28 new Cougs
It's here again, that wonderful day where fax machines at schools across the nation start ringing and the National Letters of Intent start flowing in.
Today, Mike Leach and the Cougs expect to welcome 25 new Cougs in to the fold.
Here's the link to the official website that includes just about everything you want to know about these guys. Also, Coach Leach will be conducting an on-line chat here and then giving a press conference at 2pm, which you can watch live here.
Check back here all day as we'll be updating the blog with all of the new Cougs as they send in their letters.
1. Feddie Davey, 5-11 190, Safety, Miami, FL
Recorded 88 tackles as a SENIOR, helping NHS defense post a shutout in the Class 5A state title game to finish off a perfect 15-0 campaign and finish the season ranked No. 8 nationally by ESPN...made a season-high 11 tackles in season opener...finished the season with four sacks and one fumble recovery...also blocked four punts.
2. Pierson Villarrubia, 6-4 275, OL, Mandeville, LA
As a SENIOR named All-Metro District 7-4A by New Orleans Times-Picayune...rated a three-star prospect by ESPNU...led Lakeshore to its first playoff appearance last fall.
3. Austin Apodaca, 6-3 185, QB, Longmont, CO
Named honorable mention all-Tri-Valley Conference as a SOPHOMORE...as a JUNIOR named North Conference Offensive Player of the Year after connecting on 64 percent of his passes for 2,367 yards and 25 touchdowns...also ran for 256 yards and three scores...as a SENIOR named All-Colorado by The Denver Post, all-classifications all-state by PrepColorado.com and led SLHS to a 12-2 record and the school's inaugural trip to the state title game...earned North Conference Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for a state-high 3,849 yards with 44 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions...also rushed for 203 yards and nine touchdowns...named one of Denver Post's top 15 seniors...ranked the No. 58 quarterback prospect and received three stars from Scout.com...rated the No. 12 quarterback in the West by Scout.com...rated the No. 137 overall prospect in the West Top 150 by Scout.com.
4. Keith Ewing, 6-2 215, LB, Bellaire, TX
First verbal commitment for coach Mike Leach...as a JUNIOR finished with 54 tackles, nine sacks and three fumble recoveries...led team to 5A State Playoffs both junior and senior seasons...as a SENIOR was named Texas 5A District Co-Defensive MVP...racked up 44 tackles (34 solo) including a league-high 13 sacks through first eight games of season...rated three stars by Rivals.com.
5. Eduardo Middleton, 6-5 290, OL, Oceanside, CA
As a SENIOR was named all-San Diego Section, all-area and all-league...named Academic All-San Diego...awarded OHS Offensive Lineman of the Year...named Offensive Line MVP of Los Angeles Ultimate 100 Camp...ranked No. 93 offensive lineman by Scout.com...rated three stars by Rivals.com and Scout.com.
6. Niu Sale, 6-4 315, OL, Los Alamitos, CA
Attended Los Angeles Harbor Community College...earned unanimous first-team All-Central West Conference accolades as a FRESHMAN, blocking for current Utah running back John White who finished the season with 1,491 yards...as a SOPHOMORE earned second straight unanimous first-team All-Central West Conference honor, blocking for fellow WSU signee Theron West and helping LACC average192.5 ypg...rated three stars and the No. 24 JUNIOR college prospect by Rivals.com.
7. Robert Lewis, 5-10 160, WR, South Gate, CA
As a SOPHOMORE made 14 catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns and carried 137 times for 1,085 yards and seven scores...as a JUNIOR earned second team All-Los Angeles and first team All-Eastern League honors...rushed 142 times for 1,090 yards and seven scores...caught 14 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns...had two punt returns for touchdowns, one kickoff return for a touchdown and also scored once on a fake punt...as a SENIOR was named the Player of the Year in the division, league and region...led South East HS to a 13-1 record and its inaugural City Section D-II Championship...also played running back, safety and returned kicks...scored 36 total touchdowns...had 203 carries for 2,023 yards and 30 touchdowns, and 20 receptions of 338 yards...as a defensive back made 59 tackles, five interceptions and blocked three kicks...named All-Area First Team by the Los Angeles Times and was All-Los Angeles City Section Division II Team...ranked the nation's No. 10 running back prospect by Rivals.com...named No. 26 prospect in California by ESPNU...rated four stars by ESPNU...rated the No. 106 overall prospect in the West Top 150 by Scout.com...rated the No. 13 wide receiver prospect in the West by FoxSportsNext.com.
8. Jacob Tuivaiave, 6-4 250, LB, Tacoma, WA
As a SENIOR was named first-team Class 2A All-State by Associated Press...named South Puget Sound League Defensive MVP...named first-team All-South Puget Sound League at both tight end and linebacker... named to Seattle Times Red Chip list...rated a three-star defensive end and No. 16 prospect in Washington by ESPNU.
9. David Bucannon, 6-2 180, Safety, Fairfield, CA
As a JUNIOR earned all-region, all-city and all-league honors as a defensive back after making a league-high 108 tackles...also made 17 catches for 227 yards and three touchdowns...led the city with 114 tackles as a SENIOR... recorded two interceptions, nine pass breakups and forced two fumbles...caught 26 passes at wide receiver...named first team All-California by Fox SportsNext...earned Cal-High Sports First-Team All-State for medium schools...earned All-Solano County Athletic Conference accolades...played in the Holiday Classic, the Bay Area's all-star game...rated three stars and the No. 57 safety prospect in the country by Scout.com...rated three stars by ESPNU and Rivals.com...rated the No. 136 overall prospect in the West Top 150 by Scout.com...his brother, Deone, is a safety for the Cougars.
10. Kache Palacio, 6-2 225, LB, Gardena, CA
As a JUNIOR recorded 70 tackles including 16 sacks...made one interception and broke up eight pass...as a SENIOR was named co-MVP of Mission League after making 92 tackles (45 solo), 13.5 sacks, one interception five pass breakups and three forced fumbles...rated three stars by Rivals.com and Scout.com...ranked the No. 15 outside linebacker prospect in the West by FoxSportsNext.com.
11. Brett Bartolone, 5-10 180, WR, La Habra, CA
As a SOPHOMORE made 45 catches for 1,042 yards and 12 touchdowns...also had 21 carries for 179 yards and two scores...was named Freeway League Offensive Player of the Year and first team All-County as a SENIOR...made 50 receptions for 643 yards and eight touchdowns...averaged 7.0 yards-per-carry...rushed for 924 yards and nine touchdowns... earned all-CIF Southwest Division First Team honors ...rated a three-star prospect by ESPNU.
12. Gabriel Marks, 5-11 175, WR, Los Angeles, CA
Posted 53 tackles as a SOPHOMORE...as a JUNIOR was named MVP of Los Angeles Nike Football Training Camp...caught 35 passes and recorded 1,344 all-purpose yards...scored 13 touchdowns and made five interceptions...named league's defensive player of the year as a SENIOR...had 65 receptions and 10 touchdowns.... named All-Area First Team on defense by the Los Angeles Times... All-LA Times Southland Team... All-Los Angeles City Section Defensive MVP... four interceptions...rated a four-star prospect by ESPNU, Rivals.com and Scout.com...rated the No. 87 overall prospect in The Rivals 250 by Rivals.com...rated the No. 39 wide receiver prospect by Scout.com...rated the No. 5 wide receiver prospect in the West by FoxSportsNext.com...Rivals.com ranks him the No. 15 overall prospect out of California...named the No. 44 overall prospect in the West Top 150 by Scout.com...rated the No. 13 wide receiver prospect by Rivals.com...named to Tacoma News Tribune's Western 100...rated No. 16 athlete prospect by Superprep All-America...high school teammate of fellow signee running back Teondray Caldwell who signed with WSU in January, 2012
13. Khalil Pettway, 6-4 205, OLB, Culver City, CA
Three-year starter for CCHS...made 64 tackles and three sacks as a JUNIOR...as a SENIOR made 79 tackles (40 solo), two sacks and one interception...rated three stars by ESPNU, Rivals.com and Scout.com...rated the No. 36 inside linebacker prospect in the country by Rivals.com...ranked No. 14 outside linebacker prospect in the West by FoxSportsNext.com...ranked the No. 61 prospect in California by ESPNU.
14. Ioane Guata, 6-3 300, Nose Tackle, Anaheim, CA
Attended Fullerton JUNIOR College in Fullerton, Calif....as a FRESHMAN made 22 tackles (12 solo) including two sacks...earned first-team All-Southern Conference accolades as a SOPHOMORE after making 20 tackles (12 solo), 4.5 for loss including three sacks...also recorded one interception and recovered one fumble...rated three stars by Rivals.com...will have three years to play two seasons for the Cougs.
15. Alex Jackson, 5-10 175, WR, Culver City, CA
As a JUNIOR made 44 catches for 811 yards and 13 touchdowns...season-best game of six catches for 134 yards and three touchdowns against Inglewood...earned All-Ocean League First Team and All-CIF honors...as a SENIOR made 55 receptions for 1,083 yards and 12 touchdowns...also returned eight kickoffs for 238 yards...repeated as all-league first-team selection...earned all-CIF Western Division First Team honors...led team to 10-4 record while posting four 100-yard receiving games...season-high 166 yards on six catches against Santa Monica...rated a four-star prospect by ESPNU...the country's No. 43 wide receiver prospect by ESPNU...rated three stars and ranked the No. 77 overall prospect out of California by Rivals.com.
16. Sam Flor, 6-4 285, OL, Seattle, WA
As a SOPHOMORE named to Seattle Times' Players to Watch list...earned second team All-Metro League honors on offensive line...helped OHE claim Metro League title...earned first team all-league honors and led OHS to second straight Metro League title as a JUNIOR...as a SENIOR named all-classifications all-state by Seattle Times...named Class 3A all-state by Associated Press and all-area...earned first team all-league honors and Metro League Offensive Lineman of the Year...led OHS to third consecutive league title and an appearance in state title game...named to Seattle Times Red Chip list...ranked the No. 24 prospect in Washington by ESPNU...also lettered twice in basketball...will pursue an engineering degree at WSU.
17. Jeremiah Allison, 6-1 210, LB, Los Angeles, CA
As a JUNIOR tallied 88 tackles, 20 sacks and one interception...named to Los Angeles Times All-Southland Team... All-LA City Section Team... Wave Newspapers All-City Team...named to MaxPreps Division I All-California First Team..as a SENIOR recorded 23 sacks, including four in 7-6 win over Crenshaw...finished his high school career with 63 sacks...participated in Semper Fidelis Bowl last month...named to All-LA Times Southland Team... All-Los Angeles City Section Team... The Wave All-Area Team...repeated selection on MaxPreps Division I All-California First Team...rated three stars by ESPNU, Rivals.com and Scout.com...Scout.com has him rated as the No. 40 outside linebacker prospect nationally, No. 7 OLB in the West and No. 45 overall prospect in California...rated the No. 74 overall prospect in the West Top 150 by Scout.com... rated the No. 53 outside linebacker prospect in the country by Rivals.com...named to Tacoma News Tribune's Western 100...received straight A's throughout high school career...4.25 GPA.
18. Sam Jones, 6-6 295, OL, Bear, DE
Starting left tackle at PIMA CC during 2011 season...will have two years of eligibility at WSU...Spent 2009 season at NC STATE as a redshirt, he was named the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week prior to the Maryland game ... Originally signed with NC State in the spring of 2008, but attended Hargrave Military Academy...enrolled in January, 2009 and went through spring drills...PREP: Played offensive guard and tackle at Hargrave for Coach Robert Prunty ...was ranked as the nation's No. 11 Prep school player in the nation after his high school campaign...also earned the Military Order of the World Wars Leadership Award...an all-conference performer for David Riggs at Fuquay-Varina High School, where he played defensive end and offensive tackle.
19. B.J. Salmonson, 6-5 285, OL, Everson, WA
As a JUNIOR named first-team Class 1A all-state as a defensive lineman and all-state honorable mention as an offensive lineman by Associated Press...named all-classifications Whatcom County and first-team all-NWC on both lines...finished season with 78 tackles (30 solo) including 16.5 for loss and 9.5 sacks...as a SENIOR named to 2011 Ron Siegel Washington State Preseason SENIOR All-State Team...named first-team all-state on offensive line by Associated Press... named to Seattle Times Red Chip list.
20. Theron West, 5-8 170, RB, Compton, CA
As a FRESHMAN at LA Harbor rushed 61 times for 462 yards and five touchdowns...caught 10 passes for 112 yards and two scores...earned All-Central West Conference honors at special teams after averaging 36.0 yards per punt return, including two for touchdowns...also averaged 19.2 yards per kick return...backed up current Utah running back John White as a freshman...as a SOPHOMORE had 98 carries for 653 yards and six touchdowns...caught 12 passes for 126 yards...rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com.
21. Taylor Tailulu, 5-11 175, Safety, Aiea, HI
As a JUNIOR named all-State honorable mention...ranked No. 101 safety in country and rated three stars by Scout.com during SENIOR year...earned all-State second team honors...rated the No. 10 prospect in Hawaii by ESPNU, No. 4 by 247Sports and No. 7 by Rivals.com.
22. Destiny Vaeao, 6-3 255, DE, Pago Pago, American Samoa
As a JUNIOR helped team to Island Championship...SENIOR year team reach championship game...had eight touchdown receptions and 500 receiving yards...selected to play in the International Bowl all-star game for high school seniors from Samoa and Canada against seniors from other states...participated in 2011 Samoa Bowl, 2012 IFAF World Game and 2012 IFAF Samoa vs. Australia game...also plays soccer and volleyball.
23. Alex Mitchell, 6-2 309, OL, Portland, OR
MITCHELL'S HIGH SCHOOL CAREER
Attended Wilson High School his FRESHMAN year and earned a varsity letter under head coach Aaron Olson...as a SOPHOMORE transferred to Jefferson High School where played under head coach Anthony Stoudimiere...earned three additional varsity letters...played offensive and defensive line....first-team all-league...as a JUNIOR named first-team all-league...invited to Army All-American Junior Combine...as a SENIOR named first-team All-State defensive line...second-team All-State offensive line...registered 97 tackles and 10 sacks on season...also had interception, fumble recovery and three forced fumbles...season-high 13 tackles in 28-20 win over Portland...team went 10-1, advancing to third round of Oregon State playoffs.
PERSONAL
Alexander Mitchell...born in Portland, Ore...parents Matthew and Daria...brother Jacob...plans to pursue a business degree at WSU.
24. Rahmel Dockery, 5-10 170, WR, Tacoma, WA
Played under head football coach Clay Angle at Curtis...also was an outstanding high jumper, clearing 7-feet as a sophomore...JUNIOR season had 36 receptions for 1,077 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns...added 21 rushes for 211 yards and two scores, along with 21 total returns for 596 yards and 3 touchdowns...SENIOR year led team to a 12-1 record and a semifinal berth at the 4A State Championship...named to the Tacoma News Tribune's Western 100...TNT's All-State Player of the Year... totaled more than 2,600 all-purpose yards... finished with 73 catches for 1,443 yards and 17 touchdowns, rushed for 713 yards, averaging 14.6 yards per carry...in 4A state semifinal against Skyline, caught eight passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns, rushed for 31 yards and threw a 40-yard pass...All-SPSL 4A Offensive Back of the Year and first-team all-league wide receiver and special teams...named first-team All-State by the News Tribune and WashingtonPreps, the latter also naming him Most Valuable Overall...also named to Associated Press and Seattle Times All-State teams.
25. Robert Barber, 6-3 290, DT, Pago Pago, American Samoa
As a JUNIOR helped team to runner-up finish in Island championship game...SENIOR year team captured Island championship...participated in 2011 Samoa Bowl, 2012 IFAF World Game and 2012 IFAF Samoa vs. Australia game...also plays cricket.
26. Mike Bowlin, 6-4 210, K, Aliso Viejo, CA
BOWLIN'S JUNIOR COLLEGE CAREER
Attended Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif....enrolled at WSU in January, 2012, and has two years of eligibility remaining...earned Southern California Football Association First-Team honors as a SOPHOMORE after hitting on 11 of 15 FG attempts and averaging 64.1 yards per kickoff with 14 touchbacks....signed with Oregon out of high school in 2009 but transferred to Saddleback in spring, 2010.
BOWLIN'S HIGH SCHOOL CAREER
Was a Tacoma News Tribune Northwest 100 selection ... South Coast League Special Teams Player of the Year...named Second-Team All South Coast League Defense (Defensive Line)...played football, baseball and competed in wrestling and track and field.
27. Teondray Caldwell, 5-10 185, RB, Los Angeles, CA
As a JUNIOR rushed for 400 yards on 47 carries and caught 51 passes for 776 yards and eight touchdowns...as a SENIOR (2010) earned all-city honors despite playing just eight games due to injury...rushed for 1,085 yards and 19 touchdowns including a 290-yard performance in the season opener...originally signed with Nevada in 2011 but did not attend...enrolled at WSU in January, 2012.
28. Denzell Dotson, 6-3 305, OL, Peoria, AZ
As a SOPHOMORE helped CHS to a 13-1 record and a state title...earned all-conference honorable mention...as a JUNIOR earned second team all-state and first team all-division honors...as a SENIOR led CHS to an 11-2 record and an appearance in the State Championship game...earned first team all-state, all-conference and All-Arizona honors...participated in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl Game in Dallas, Texas, Dec. 29...rated the No. 18 guard prospect in the West by FoxSportsNext.com...rated the No. 46 guard prospect in the country by Rivals.com...rated the No. 134 overall prospect in the West Top 150 by Scout.com...graduated this past December and enrolled at WSU in January, 2012.
Friday, January 27, 2012 @ 1:33pm
With Faisal Aden out, who will step up?
Well, what now?
When Faisal Aden went down with a MCL sprain in the first half of the brutal loss at Arizona on Thursday, I felt his pain. No, not in my knee, in my gut. This is a tough one, folks.
It was no coincidence that the Cougs beat league-leading Stanford and Cal last week when Aden got hot. He finally opened up his game, took charge on the floor, started to create shots, and got to the foul line. When that happened, it opened up the floor for everyone and the Cougs were playing some very good ball.
Now that Aden's gone, someone else HAS to step up. If no one does then it's quite possible we'll be right back to the sub-par basketball we've seen for the majority of the season (and for three quarters of the game last night). There has been no official word on the outlook for Aden -- whether it's just a minor sprain and he'll be back next week or something more severe that will limit him for a while. Either way, it's safe to say that he won't be at 100 percent at any time soon and the Cougs are entering four crucial games in their schedule against ASU, USC, UCLA and OSU. Right now, three of these four teams are extremely beatable. Lose to ASU, USC and OSU and this season is completely, officially, dust.
I'm not assuming the team really is up for rolling over and dying, so who's going to step up? Ken Bone started Moore, Lacy, and Capers last night. Out of those guys, you can almost immediately rule out Capers as an offensive threat.
Moore has really taken to his role as a pass-first point guard, but we know that he can fill it up -- perhaps he'll be pushed to start taking the ball to the hoop a bit more? Unfortunately, Moore has seemed to become a little wild when he decides to try and take over a game, throwing up some crazy shots and passes rather than taking care of the ball. He plays far better when he's controlling the offense, rather than being the offense.
Lacy has been outstanding thus far, and asking the freshman to step up his game any further is a bit of a ridiculous request seeing that he's all ready playing out of his mind.
So, what about the bench? Mike Ladd, who is out with an injury but expects to return to the lineup soon, is a guy who we've been told can score in bunches. Unfortunately, we just haven't seen it. When he is on the floor, he rarely looks like a guy who demands the ball and creating opportunities. Bone needs to get in to his head. He's needed.
What about Dexter Kernich-Drew? The athletic Australian is another who we've heard great things about on the practice floor, but haven't seen much of it on the game floor. Supposedly the kid's a shooter and a slasher but when he's on the floor, he's definitely been a role player.
Finally, you've got Will DiIorio, the sophomore from Bainbridge who isn't afraid to dunk, swat and get in the middle of things. Unfortunately, he's not the type of guy who's going to step up and give you 15 points per night.
So where's it going to come from? I'm not ruling out some creative coaching by Bone and staff. It's not quite as dire as the situation last season against UCLA when the Cougs were without both Klay Thompson and Reggie Moore and due to Bone's strategy, nearly knocked off the Bruins, but it's going to require SOME sort of adjustment.
Bone hasn't seemed to be making many adjustments this season, and appears to simply be waiting for the team to catch up to his gameplan. It started to look like it was happening last week. Not so much this week. And now with Aden gone, it looks the time for waiting is over.
Go Cougs!
Saturday, January 21, 2012 @ 5:57pm
Cougs knocking off first place teams like it's going out of style
By Bert Klasey
A week ago, the Cougs played a great first half and a terrible second half, a perfect example of their play this whole season: Hot and cold.
Since that cold second half, they've been nothing but smoking, searing hot. In two games, the Cougs knocked Stanford out of first place and then knocked Cal out of sole posession of first and in to a tie with Oregon.
The difference? Well, it helps that they didn't have to travel to these games, something they've had to do in every game since mid-December, but the bigger reason simply comes from rebounding the ball, hitting free throws and having the guards step up.
Against Stanford on Thursday, the Cougs were even in the rebounding battle, 30-30, and hit 93.1% of their free throws (27-29).
On Saturday against Cal, the story was quite similar. The Cougs out-rebounded the Bears 33-30 and hit 77.3% of their free-throws.
The, there's the guard-play. Faisal Aden has finally woken up. Brock Motum has carried the scoring load for this team and he needed help. Aden scored 57 points in the two games - 33 against Stanford and 24 against Cal.
So does this mean that the Cougs have turned a corner? At 10-8, they will now charge right through to the post-season racking up wins, rip through the Pac-12 tournament and waltz in to the Big Dance?
Probably not.
Like I said before, they are hot and cold.
Still, having wins over two of the top teams in the conference does a little for the confidence of this team. Confidence can cure a lot of ills. If they can score inside and out against Cal and Stanford, they can do it against anyone. If they can rebound the way they did against those two teams, they can certainly do the same against the rest of the Pac-12.
Strangely, the Cougs have completed the "tough" half of the conference slate. Now, they'll have to take on the Arizona schools and the Southern California schools - all of whom have been struggling. Of course, this is a problem for the Cougs as they seem to beat the good teams (Cal, Stanford and Oregon) and lose to the bad ones (UW and Utah).
The Cougs now stand at 3-4 in the conference and 11-8 overall. If they keep playing the way they played this weekend, they could and should win all of their next five games.
But that's a big "if."
Personally, I'll just go with the idea that they've turned a corner and there's nothing that's going to get between them and the sort of late surge that gets you in to the Big Dance.
The Cougs are awake. Watch out Pac-12.
Go Cougs!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 10:48am
A crimson and grey look at Huskies' coaching changes
What's it been, three weeks since the Alamo Bowl and that glorious 67-56 loss that caused everything to go haywire with the Huskies?
I've had a hard time keeping up with the comings and goings at Washington since that Baylor butt-kicking, but thanks to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times, I think I'm up to speed. The details as I see them:
• Fairly maligned and vastly overpaid defensive coordinator Nick Holt was fired and replaced by vastly overpaid Justin Wilcox, who turned Tennessee into a 5-7 SEC powerhouse this season. Never mind that Wilcox played for the Ducks, the Huskies' most hated rival.
If I were a Duck fan, I'd be bothered by this. If I were a Husky fan, I'd be bothered by this too. But I'm a Coug fan, and I'm not bothered by this because I don't care where Wilcox played or where he came from or what his pedigree is because whoever the Huskies' defensive coordinator is, he's not going to be able to stop Mike Leach's Air Coug attack.
And if I'm Wilcox, I'm hanging my head in shame because I'm a Duck who has sold his soul to the Dawgs.
 Raise your hand if you're a former Duck who's selling his soul to Washington? Thank you, Peter Sirmon. (AP) |
• Then Dawg fans were all atwitter when it was announced that Tosh Lupoi was joining Coach Sark's staff because everyone knows that he might be the best recruiter in the history of mankind. Lupoi will apparently coach the defensive line as well, but his true value lies in making clueless 18-year-olds believe that Washington is the place for them.
• Somehow, the only defensive coach that survived the Coach Sark purge is Johnny Nansen, a Coug who should be really, really ashamed of himself. Somewhere between Pullman and Seattle, he lost his conscience but kept his job. If you buy what the Huskies are selling, Nansen was said to be the best recruiter in the history of mankind until Lupoi arrived. Now he's apparently second-best.
• Then offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier left the Montlake circus to take the same job at Alabama, prompting another Cal poaching of passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Eric Kiesau. As is the case with anyone hired by Washington, Kiesau is said to be one of the best assistant coaches in the history of college football, if not mankind.
And I, for one, don't doubt that for a second. I was at Husky Stadium when the Bears had a first-and-goal at the U-Dub 1-yard line with a chance to win the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion. Against that Husky defense, it would more than likely happen, and so would a victory in overtime. Baylor would have waltzed into the end zone on the first play, but not that Kiesau-driven Cal offense; the Bears were stuffed on four plays.
Some more random thoughts:
I understand that coaches come and go, but shouldn't there be some sort of moratorium on the hiring of new assistants in January? Letter-of-intent day for signing recruits is on Feb. 1 this year, and there are huge ramifications when coaches change jobs.
When Lupoi left Cal, Ellis McCarthy did too. Who's Ellis McCarthy? A five-star defensive tackle who will now sign a letter of intent with UCLA.
Wide receiver and defensive back prospect Kenny Walker verbally committed to Cal but might bail on the Bears now that Lupoi's gone. Where is he apt to end up? Washington, of course, because Lupoi's here.
The same thing could happen with Lakes wide receiver Cedric Dozier, who verbally committed to Cal but is apparently mesmerized by Lupoi's hypnotic powers too.
Recruiting is sleazy as it is, and when coaches switch schools, recruits switch schools. End result: everyone's dirty and no one wins. It's ugly stuff. If I'm Jeff Tedford and I'm in the position to run up the score on Washington next year, I'm so mad at Coach Sark that I'm calling one deep pass after another.
Here's the thing: Kiesau and Lupoi were each making $164,000 at Cal. Kiesau will make between $700,000 and $800,000 at Washington while Lupoi will make $500,000. Money doesn't talk; it screams.
From almost everything I've read about Lupoi, I think his arrival at Washington should be accompanied by the playing of "Stars and Stripes Forever" while we all put our hands over our hearts in his honor.
But let's not forget that this guy was suspended for one game this year for telling nose tackle Aaron Tipoti to fake an injury in an attempt to slow down the Ducks. How about slowing down the Ducks by simply having a better defense?
This tells me something about Lupoi that I like a lot -- he's willing to do anything to win. Heck, he hates to lose so much that he cried in his dorm room when Cal lost. So I'm guessing he'll do whatever it takes to win at Washington, and sometimes when you do whatever it takes, you operate in gray areas, and when you operate in gray areas, it gives me hope that Washington could restore its proud tradition of Probation Nation, complete with NCAA violations and reprimands.
I'm amused when I hear this stuff about Lupoi being such a great recruiter. At Cal, I'll bet he was. He grew up in Berkeley. He's a Cal alum. According to a story I read by Mitch Sherman of ESPN.com, Lupoi bled blue and gold. And all of a sudden he's supposed to bleed purple and gold?
Listen, I don't know much about football. But I'll tell you this: I would be a good recruiter at Washington State. No one would be a better salesman for all things Pullman and WSU than me. But if Cal hired me as its recruiting coordinator, I'd suck. So I doubt that Lupoi will be as magical here as he was at Cal.
The Go 2 Guy also writes daily posts for his website, www.jimmoorethegoguy.com, and Monday columns for the Kitsap Sun. You can reach Jim at jimmoorethego2guy@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @cougsgo.
Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 2:39pm
Peter Berg, Mike Leach, WSU and HBO?
Broadcasting and Cable, an industry trade magazine, had this article discussing the possibility of a Peter Berg-backed project covering Mike Leach and his return to college football.
This is huge news.
Of course, nothing is really for sure until the thing is on the air, but the fact that Peter Berg is behind it (click here for his IMDB ... bad actor, great director) means there's a pretty good chance this will go forward.
Anyone out there still questioning Bill Moos' genius?
I don't think so.
The march toward domination continues ...
Go Cougs!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 @ 3:59pm
Cougs Sign Three...and no one watches the BCS Championship
By Bert Klasey
Mike Leach signed three student-athletes at the start of the early signing period yesterday and also welcomes in a fourth, Rahmel Dockery, who didn't make it to school last season but has started classes this semester.
Although Dockery will certainly be a big play guy in the future, the most important piece of this group might be the kicker, Michael Bowlin. After years of miserable kickoffs, a guy who can consistently kick for touchbacks will be a welcomed sight, especially for the defense. I'm guessing having the opposing teams starting drives in your side of the field consistently had to get old.
The others are RB Teondray Caldwell and OL Denzell Dotson.
Here's more info from the school:
Bowlin, a 6-4, 210-pound kicker from Aliso Viejo, Calif., spent the past two seasons at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif. Bowlin earned Southern California Football Association First-Team honors in 2011 after hitting on 11 of 15 FG attempts and averaging 64.1 yards per kickoff with 14 touchbacks. Coming out of high school Bowlin signed with Oregon but transferred to Saddleback in spring, 2010.
Caldwell, a 5-10, 185-pound running back from Los Angeles, Calif., prepped at Venice High School where he was an all-city selection during his senior season (2010). After rushing for 290 yards in the 2010 season-opener, he finished the season with 1,085 yards and 19 touchdowns despite playing in just eight games due to injury. As a junior he rushed for 400 yards on 47 carries and caught 51 passes for 776 yards and eight touchdowns. Caldwell originally signed with Nevada in 2011 but did not attend.
Dotson, a 6-3, 305-pound offensive lineman who prepped at Cactus High School in Peoria, Ariz., graduated this past December following a season in which he led his team to an 11-2 record and a runner-up finish in the State Championship game. Dotson was a First-Team All-State selection, along with garnering all-conference and All-Arizona honors. He participated in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl Game in Dallas, Texas, Dec. 29.
Dockery, a 5-10, 170-pound wide receiver from Curtis High School in Tacoma, Wash., was named the Tacoma News Tribune's All-State Player of the Year in 2010. He led his team to the a 12-1 record and a semifinal berth at the 4A State Championship while also being named to the TNT's Western 100, and Associated Press and Seattle Times All-State teams.
In case you missed it, and by the television numbers, most of you did - LSU got skunked last night by Alabama 21-0 in the BCS Championship game.
The numbers were so low, they nearly set a new record, recieving only a 14.0 rating. They can be proud of beating Miami-Nebraska in 2002, though, as they received a 13.9.
So why was it so low? First of all, was anyone really that excited about seeing a rematch of two teams that had all ready played each other? If you're going to watch this game a second time, you're probably from Alabama or LSU. The rest of the country was busy watching The Bachelor. Had Okie State made it in, would it have made a difference? YES. See Oregon/Auburn from last year. You need a good offense to get people interested.
Secondly, it's January 9th, for crying out loud. If it keeps going this way, by 2014 the Championship is going to be played right before March Madness.
Finally, I think it's becoming clear that people don't care as much because there was no tournament leading up to this final. It seems empty. You didn't see these teams beat a couple of other teams in a tournament, so if you're not all ready a fan of them (or a fan of spectacle in general) this game has no interest to you. Can the NCAA pull their heads out and PLEASE set up an 8-team tournament? There's not a single fan anywhere who actually likes this garbage.
Go Cougs!
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Bert Klasey
Bert graduated from WSU in 1999 with a Bachelor's degree from the Murrow School of Communication. A die-hard Cougar fan while in Pullman, Bert's infatuation for all things Crimson and Gray turned in to an all-out obsession in the years since he's left. Bert is an unapologetic Cougar fanatic, and promises to provide crimson-skewed and completely subjective commentary about WSU teams and the world of sports as it relates to them.
