PULLMAN — When the lights come on, younger receivers battle with sequencing. They have an inclination to show and sprint towards the tip zone earlier than bothering to catch the ball.
So Washington State coach Jake Dickert appreciated that his pass-catchers selected a scrimmage to abruptly cease doing that.
“The receiver corps basically — we have been clear immediately,” Dickert stated Saturday after the Cougars’ second scrimmage of spring soccer drills. “We caught the ball properly, we superior it properly. That’s the consistency piece I’ve actually been trying to find, and I’m glad it got here out in a second like a scrimmage.”
Precision, first on offense and afterward protection, took a step ahead because the Cougars staged a comparatively quick situational mock sport in brisk, windy situations at Gesa Area, seeking to shine a lightweight on sure positional battles.
Cameron Ward, thought to have a lock on the No. 1 quarterback job, performed properly however briefly earlier than heading to the sideline and, now chilled, fumbled a bottle of Gatorade thrown to him from Dickert, symbolizing his offensive Juice Man of the Day award.
“We received off to a scorching begin, and I believe it was all due to Cam Ward,” Dickert stated. “He was commanding the ship, he was actually correct, and he was getting the all out on time.”
His fast exit left the sector to Emmett Brown, Xavier Ward and Victor Gabalis, who’re vying for the backup position. Equally, Travion Brown and Francisco Mauigoa took many of the snaps at center linebacker, the place they’re batting for the beginning position.
“It was a type of moments once I wished them to be all on the market now,” Dickert stated, “as a result of in fall camp, they’re not going to be taking 50 scrimmage reps. So attempt to type a few of these issues out now and get as a lot data as we will.”
The highest catch of the day was by 6-foot-3 freshman Tsion Nunnally, who elevated over a 5-9 cornerback to make a 6-yard landing seize from Brown.
“We’ve been ready for big-boy receivers, particularly on the skin, and he’s certainly one of them,” Dickert stated. “He’s that budding star that we’ve been regularly ready for.
“However it’s in right here,” Dickert stated, pointing to his coronary heart. “I inform him on daily basis, ‘In right here.’ And he can to it. I’m simply comfortable for him to exit and present it in a scrimmage-type state of affairs. As a result of guarding him ultimately zone with 5-10 corners goes to be a difficulty.”
Nakia Watson rushed for 51 yards and Djouvensky Schlenbaker added 35.
“Nakia is beginning to perceive the type we need to run with,” Dickert stated.
On protection, the Juice Man nod went to sophomore defensive sort out Nusi Malani, who had two of the protection’s eight sacks. The award might simply have gone to edge rushers Raam Stevenson (three sacks) or Gabe Lopez (two).
RUSHING — Nakia Watson 8-51, Djouvensky Schlenbaker 9-35, Kannon Katzer 1-11, Dylan Paine 1-(-1). Totals 19-96.
PASSING — Cameron Ward 6-10-59-1-0, Victor Gabalis 7-12-75-0-1, Xavier Ward 9-10-227-1-0, Emmett Brown 13-17-120-1-0, Chris Irvin 2-3-28-0, Luke Holcomb 1-1-14-1-0. Totals 38-53-403-4-1.
RECEIVING — Tsion Nunnally 4-42, Anderson Grover 4-38, Jake Brown 4-31, Orion Peters 3-34, Leon Neal Jr. 3-32, Donovan Ollie 3-31, Drake Owen 3-19, Travis Ward 2-30, Reed Shumpert 2-23, Kannon Katzer 2-23, Josh Meredith 2-19, Tre Horner 1-34, De’Zhaun Stribling 1-14, Billy Riviere 1-11, Cooper Mathers 1-11, Nakia Watson 1-7, Dylan Paine 1-4.
SACKS — Raam Stevenson 3, Gabe Lopez 2, Nusi Malani 2, Ahmir Crowder.
