WSU Football | Coach Paul Wulff Points To Areas Cougs Will Build On

Early Sunday evening, Washington State football Coach Paul Wulff  talked about areas where the Cougars have improved.

The outcome of the game Saturday afternoon with Cal frustrates everyone around Cougar football. There isn't a single soul, players, coaches or fans who isn't anxious for another WSU victory. 

Judging by the demeanor of coaches and players after the game Saturday, they are visibly, shall we say, 'ticked' off by losing another game.

Rebuilding Cougar football is testing the patience of a lot of folks, not the least of which is the team.

"We want to take another step as a team and as coaches," Coach Wulff said. He went on to add, "I think in some areas we really did that Saturday and some areas we didn’t. We want to be sure we’re slowing raising the bar on our own expectations. Really that’s all it is so we can keep growing as a football team."

With the level of frustration building from losses, WSU is challenged to learn and grow under fire. Coach Wulff knew he faced a tremendous challenge when he took over Cougar football. However, he hasn't wavered or buckled to pressure associated with losing football games. He was succinct in offering a simple, obvious reminder.

"Right now we’ve just got to continue to grow and I feel like we’ve got a good attitude to do that."—WSU Coach Paul Wulff

Washington State dug themselves a deep hole to begin the game Saturday, something that will guarantee a loss to a good team every time. Coach Wulff, the players and coaches are all keenly aware that slow starts have sealed their fate in every game this season save the SMU comeback win in overtime. The answer to this problem is as basic as tackling and blocking.

"We have got to find some rhythm early on offense some how, some way and on defense we’ve got to be able to make a couple of plays early to force somebody to punt. That’s going to be the key way to turn around our slow starts."—WSU Coach Wulff

One of the components to turning around Cougar football is establishing a starting quarterback. Without a capable player to run the offense, WSU isn't going to move forward. It's looking more and more as though Coach Wulff has found his starter.

True freshman Jeff Tuel  put up some good numbers against Cal. Specifically, Tuel's 354 yards passing amounts to the second highest total in school history for a true freshman. That's heady stuff for just his third start. The last WSU quarterback to throw for over 300 yards in a game dates back to 2007 when Alex Brink  threw for 399 in the Apple Cup.

"Jeff (Tuel) did some really good things. The protection was just average to below. He still took too many hits. He had to get rid of the ball fast some times. He trusted his protection when it was there. He stepped up in the pocket and made some really key throws. He played more relaxed. You can tell he’s got good accuracy on the deep balls. We just need to keep growing around him."—WSU Coach Wulff

Another positive sign that Cougar football continues to improve was the overall performance of the offense. The 440 of total offense against Cal is the best effort for WSU against a Pac-10 opponent since the Apple Cup in 2007 when the Cougs had 509 yards for the game.

"There’s a lot of raw tools (on this team) we’re working with...You’ve got to realize the guys (Tuel’s) throwing to are playing their first year of Pac-10 football in Johnny (Forzani), (Jeffrey) Solomon, (Gino ) Simone and (Jared) Karstetter is only in his second year.  They’re growing and they are taking steps together."—WSU Coach Wulff

In the Cal game, Johnny Forzani  caught a career high four passes for 116 yards. He's the first Cougar receiver to record 100+ yards in a game since Brandon Gibson  about a year ago. Gibson plays on Sundays in the NFL these days.

True freshman Gino Simone  hauled in the first touchdown pass of his college career in the second quarter of the Cal game. It was a 19 yard post pattern worked on in practice every day. Cougar fans should look forward to seeing Simone making more of those plays for years to come.

Transfer junior Jeffrey Solomon  made seven catches for 81 yards Saturday. Both marks are career highs for the sure-handed Solomon.

Coach Wulff spoke of the team learning and growing together. Here are some stats from the Cal game supporting steps in improvement:

• With Myron Beck's  second interception this season, WSU reduced the 2009 turnover margin to minus one. Through seven games last year the turnover margin was -12.
• Last season WSU forced just 13 turnovers. The Cougs already have 19 this season with five games left to play.
• Junior Toby Turpin's  field goal block on the final play of the first half was the first registered by WSU since Aaron Johnson  swatted one away against Stanford in 2005.
• Through seven games in 2008, the WSU defense had given up 8 running plays of over 40+ yards. After seven games this season, the Cougar 'D' has given up three running plays of 40+ yards.

Yes, this WSU football team is a work in progress. Progress is being made by players who will have a significant impact on the team for years to come. With Terrance Hayward  and Mike Ledgerwood  making their first starts Saturday, the total for first career starts this season has now reached 19. Coach Wulff has a combined total of 36 starts by freshmen this season, a total which already exceeds nine of the last 10 seasons with five games left to go. I'll save you looking it up. Last season there were 47 starts by freshmen.

"We want to be sure we’re slowing raising the bar on our own expectations. Really that’s all it is so we can keep growing as a football team."—WSU Coach Wulff

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Originally published in Lew Wright's column on Examiner.com

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