Cougar Corner | WSU Football:Top Players For 2009: No. 3

(Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

The Washington State Cougar football team must improve its ability to both control and move the ball this season. Without an effective and efficient offense, it will be 2008 all over again.

Coach Paul Wulff  is looking to have the Cougs play his style of football. A significant element to his style is running a no-huddle offense. That allows his team to dictate the pace of the game and exploit the weakness of opponents' defense.

WSU will be much improved on offense in 2009 for a number of reasons. Four of those reasons are players already mentioned on my Top 10 list.

• Marshall Lobbestael
  
• Johnny Forzani
  
• Jeshua Anderson
  
• James Montgomery
  

Let me add a fifth reason why Coach Wulff will see much better numbers on the scoreboard this year.

No. 3 selection in my Top 10 is running back Dwight Tardy.

As one of the 12 seniors on the WSU roster, Tardy will not only be expected to be an offensive force, he will be counted on to provide leadership for the younger players.

Coming out of spring practice, Tardy is rightfully listed as the No. 1 running back for offensive coordinator, Coach Todd Sturdy. Though he didn't show the form last year that had him terrorizing defenses in 2007, Tardy is back to 100 percent.

WSU will have better size on the offensive line this season. The Cougs have more depth at quarterback. They have tremendous potential with their stable of wide receivers. Put all that together and Tardy should have fans and coaches watching the player that ran for 214 yards on 37 carries and two touchdowns against UCLA in 2007. That was the last game Tardy was really at full strength on an effective offense.

Take a look at his stats over the past three seasons at Washington State:

Had Tardy been able to play in all 12 games his sophomore year, no question the young man would have been a 1,000+ rusher on the season. An ACL injury on this final touchdown run against the Bruins cut the year short.

There was a healthy competition during spring practice between Tardy and James Montgomery. That competition will bring out the best in both runners, something that benefits the entire offensive unit.

Tardy can handle passes coming out of the backfield as well. Last year he hauled in 18 catches for 87 yards. The yardage he gained is deceptive because of the way the offense sputtered in 2008. It didn't do much good for him to catch dump offs when there was no blocking in front of him.

The season will begin with Tardy being overlooked by just about everyone outside of Pullman. Before the month of September is over, that won't be the case for the balance of the schedule.

Eight of the Top 10 players have been profiled for you.

The question is, "Are you ready for some college football?"

Originally published on Examiner.com

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