“We will not go quietly into the night!”
With Fall Camp starting Sunday, it’s safe to say I’m completely burned out trying to analyze and create storylines during a time when Cougar football news is sparse. That being said, yesterday Coach Wulff held a press conference where he mentioned he would like to, for the most part, avoid playing incoming freshman. While Chester Su’a may earn his way onto the field, the Cougars will still be loaded with more experienced players who are still relatively young. Click on the jump to read about which leaders must really take control for WSU just like President Bill Pullman did when he gave the most epic speech in cinematic history.
Travis Long/Brandon Rankin: While Long is the obvious choice for defensive captain thanks to a standout 2010 campaign, fans shouldn’t underestimate the impact Brandon Rankin can make in the defensive backfield. If the Cougars are ever going to compete for a Pac-12 Championship again, they will need a guy like Rankin to channel his skills and seriously disrupt a slew of the conference’s talented running backs. If he can step up his game, it will also take pressure off Long- thus creating more one-on-one matchups and more sacks for the pride of Gonzaga Prep High School.
C.J. Mizell: It terrifies me to write this paragraph, but the fact is this man is a freak athlete. He doesn’t need to be a vocal leader who gets guys going by running his mouth. If Mizell can simply lead by example and stay out of trouble for the next two or three years, he will be doing players and fans a great service. His road to dominance starts with beating an inferior Mike Ledgerwood out for the starting MLB position in Fall Camp.
Andrew Roxas: It’s unbelievable how underrated the center position is. Throughout the course of the season, Roxas will be charged with calling out blocking assignments and picking up A-gap blitzes. He really needs to perform like he did years (decades?) ago against UCLA for the entire season if the Cougars are going to improve on their horrific rushing and sack totals from 2010. Avoiding two-hopping the snap to Tuel like a Chone Figgins throw across the diamond will also go a long ways towards keeping our field general off his ass and out of the trainer’s room for his all-important junior season.
Jeff Tuel: Let’s face it. Tuel will need to be damn-near heroic if the Cougars are going to reach a bowl game this year. He has all the tools (get it?) to join the likes of Bledsoe, Leaf, Gesser, Rypien and Thompson as the greats to play quarterback for Ole’ Wazzu. Please stay healthy Jeff! We need you like last year’s Huskies needed Jake Locker. Here’s to hoping he can stay injury-free and give WSU fans the chance to see a respectable offense for the first time since 2006.
Kind of a shorter post but that is all I have for you today. Have a great Friday and as always…..
Go Cougs!
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