dutchcoug
Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2010
- Messages
- 617
- Reaction score
- 16
There's enough of us WSU alums on this board where we can start a discussion (a bit saturated with UW talk). After an extremely disappointing 2014 campaign most publications are picking us to finish between 10th and 12th in the Pac-12. i can't really blame them but at the same time, they are likely wrong.
Reasons for optimism:
-This is year 4 for Leach and now is working with almost 100% his guys. The softer Paul Wulff players are all but gone.
-Oline returns all 5 starters including LT Joe Dahl, who only gave up 1 sack in 2014.
-WR's are ridiculous. Dom Williams, Gabe Marks, River Cracraft, Robert Lewis and Kyrin Priester. Maybe the new Fab 5.
-Despite losing Cooper, the Dline looks stout and maybe a little better overall.
-LB group is solid.
-New DC Grinch looks to be coaching the D correctly and we'll see better tackling and much more TO this year.
Reasons for pessimism:
-Luke Falk only had a handful of starts (though it looks like this year most QB's are inexperienced)
-Special Teams. They were so bad last year they can only improve. But they will need to improve a lot.
-Secondary. Dismissing Brown removed our most experienced and talented member. Young guys and JC transfers will have to step up.
-Schedule. Our non conference schedule looks like something an SEC team would have but the Pac-12 is no joke and not many gimmies.
Wins: Portland State, Rutgers, Wyoming, Cal, Oregon State, Colorado, Washington
Losses: Oregon, Arizona, Stanford, Arizona State, UCLA
7-5 might seem overly optimistic but which of the wins I listed are really a stretch? Some might say Cal but they are the same team they were last year with a worse defense and no O-line. Many on this board would say UW, but they still have no offense (even less of an O-line) and the defense has to take a couple steps back losing the amount of quality players they did in the offseason.
Reasons for optimism:
-This is year 4 for Leach and now is working with almost 100% his guys. The softer Paul Wulff players are all but gone.
-Oline returns all 5 starters including LT Joe Dahl, who only gave up 1 sack in 2014.
-WR's are ridiculous. Dom Williams, Gabe Marks, River Cracraft, Robert Lewis and Kyrin Priester. Maybe the new Fab 5.
-Despite losing Cooper, the Dline looks stout and maybe a little better overall.
-LB group is solid.
-New DC Grinch looks to be coaching the D correctly and we'll see better tackling and much more TO this year.
Reasons for pessimism:
-Luke Falk only had a handful of starts (though it looks like this year most QB's are inexperienced)
-Special Teams. They were so bad last year they can only improve. But they will need to improve a lot.
-Secondary. Dismissing Brown removed our most experienced and talented member. Young guys and JC transfers will have to step up.
-Schedule. Our non conference schedule looks like something an SEC team would have but the Pac-12 is no joke and not many gimmies.
Wins: Portland State, Rutgers, Wyoming, Cal, Oregon State, Colorado, Washington
Losses: Oregon, Arizona, Stanford, Arizona State, UCLA
7-5 might seem overly optimistic but which of the wins I listed are really a stretch? Some might say Cal but they are the same team they were last year with a worse defense and no O-line. Many on this board would say UW, but they still have no offense (even less of an O-line) and the defense has to take a couple steps back losing the amount of quality players they did in the offseason.
