All Is Not Lost for Cougars This Season

Coming off a 2-10 season a year ago, expectations weren't high for the 2009 Washington State football team. After showing glimpses of competitiveness early on, something that was non-existent for most of last year, the expectations began to rise.

Then the injury bug bit. And then it bit again. And again.

In Washington State's 27-14 loss to Arizona State last week, nine of the Cougars' starters were different from those that opened the season on Sept. 5 against Stanford.

Among that number were three new starters on the offensive line. Backup right guard Brian Danaher and starting cornerback Daniel Simmons both left the game with injuries. Simmons broke his leg and will miss the remainder of the year.

The combination on the offensive line translated to 12 sacks for the Sun Devils.

However, the biggest injury struck the Cougars off the field. Running back James Montgomery underwent season-ending surgery on his left leg in September. He was the Cougars' leading rusher at that point and is the team's best offensive weapon.

On top of the injury woes, Jeshua Anderson, the team's most productive returning receiver, unexpectedly quit the team to focus on his track career.

With injuries on both sides of the ball, the Cougars have turned to a large number of freshmen to fill the void.

Receiver Gino Simone, left tackle Tyson Pencer, left guard Alex Reitnouer and quarterback Jeff Tuel have all made their first collegiate starts this season.

Running back Carl Winston led the Cougars with 56 rushing yards on seven carries in the 52-6 thrashing the Cougars received at the hands of the Oregon Ducks.

Simone was projected to contribute in his first season in Pullman, and Pencer is a redshirt freshman. The rest burned their redshirts to contribute this season.

On defense, freshman defensive end Travis Long has been the starter all season and is the only true freshman to see action for the Cougars. Simmons, a redshirt freshman, will be replaced by another redshirt freshman, Terrance Hayward.

Despite the injury woes, the team has continued to make huge strides from last year. After six games in 2008, the Cougars had given up more than 40 points four times and 60 points twice.

So far in 2009, WSU has only allowed more than 40 points once, in a loss at Oregon, and held USC to 27 points, their third fewest this season.

Tuel saw his first action against the Trojans, relieving Marshall Lobbestael midway through the second quarter. He quickly jump-started the Cougars, marching down the field on a 19-play drive that chewed up the remaining 8:35 of the half.

Tuel finished the game 14-for-22 for 130 yards and an interception, not exactly breathtaking numbers but much better than Lobbestael's 2-for-9 and 14 yards.

This week, Washington State will probably benefit from the return of all three starting offensive linemen who were injured at the time of the game against Arizona State.

Left tackle Steven Ayers, left guard Zack Williams and right guard B.J. Guerra all returned to practice this week.

Williams is almost certainly back for the game at Cal and coach Paul Wulff will monitor the progress of Ayers and Guerra this week before he makes a decision.

When the offense has been intact, the team has been able to move the ball and control the time-of-possession battle.

The Cougars marched down the field in their opening series against Stanford in a 19-play, 8:05 minute possession. Tuel led a 10-play; 4:33 drive against the Trojans that spanned 83 yards.

When the offense is clicking, WSU can compete with the best in the Pac-10. The Cougars' defense has stepped up this year, especially in the second half, to keep the team in games.

The Cougars played the Trojans to a 7-6 loss in the final three quarters after giving up 20 points in the opening period.

The Cougars do their best when they can control the running game and take time off the clock. The potential return of three starters on the offensive line will have a profound impact on their ability to control the game.

If the offense can control the line of scrimmage and limit their mistakes, and the defense continues to come up with big plays, the Cougars will compete and defeat Cal on Saturday as they look to lock up their first Pac-10 win of the season.

Tags: WASHINGTON STATE FOOTBALL