5 questions with Washington State expert
To learn more about the Beavers' upcoming opponent, BeaversEdge.com chatted with WazzuWatch.com publisher Scott Hood, who covers the WSU Cougars. Check out the Q&A below!
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Washington State seems like they're off to a strong season. Do they have a shot at winning the Pac-12 North in your opinion?
Yes, they have a shot. However, with a loss to USC already in the books, Washington State will likely need to win the rest of their games. Following Saturday’s game in Corvallis and the bye (Oct. 13), the Cougars face the crucial part of the schedule – consecutive games against Pac-12 North rivals Oregon, Stanford and California. Win all 3 and they’ll be involved in the November battle for the divisional crown. When the Cal game is over on Nov. 3, we’ll have a good sense of where WSU stands in the divisional race.
What has been the biggest surprise to you about the Cougars this season?
You always know the Air Raid is going to post prolific numbers regardless of who is playing quarterback, However, QB Gardner Minshew has probably exceeded expectations so far. He has thrown for 300+ yards in 5 straight games and leads the nation in passing yards per game (398.4). But the biggest surprise has been the performance of the WSU defense under first-year defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys. Right now, the Cougars are #2 in the Pac-12 in total defense (274.0 ypg) and #1 in passing defense (154.4 ypg). Many college football analysts expected a drop off by the WSU defense following the departures of DL Hercules Mata’afa and Daniel Ekuale, but they have managed to stay at the same high level.
Gardner Minshew seems to be a solid quarterback for WSU. How has the offense performed with him leading the troops?
Right now, the Washington State offense is humming. The Cougars are averaging 39 points and 410.4 passing yards per game. In fact, the passing game has been so good, the need to run the ball hasn’t been there. Last week, WSU had zero rushing yards and still beat Utah. Two things stand out about Minshew – his accuracy and his leadership. The Air Raid requires a pinpoint passer to operate at full throttle. Luke Falk excelled in the accuracy dept. for three years as the WSU starting QB. Minshew, a graduate transfer from Eats Carolina, has picked up where Falk left off. In his first 5 games, he has completed 67.8 percent of his passes (185-273) with a TD pass-to-INT ratio of 14-4. His leadership has been outstanding, as well, even though he arrived on campus for the first time in May.
What is your take on Washington State's defense?
As I said above, the Cougars defense has arguably been Washington State’s most pleasant surprise. Through five games, WSU has allowed just 42 points in the second half. Last week, they locked up the Utah defense after allowing a field goal early in the third quarter. WSU got a major break in January when the NCAA granted linebacker Peyton Pelluer’s petition for a sixth year of eligibility. He is the undisputed leader of the defense. His experience is impeccable and he will likely finish his career with 300+ tackles. Entering Week 6, WSU ranks in the upper half of the Pac-12 in all four major defensive categories. Claeys did something smart when he took over as DC. He kept most elements of the ‘Speed D’ scheme introduced by his predecessor Alex Grinch in order to make the transition smoother for the players, The strategy has worked. The key difference is WSU has played more 4-3 this season instead of the 3-4 utilized by Grinch.
What is your score prediction and why?
Considering the ongoing struggles of the Oregon State defense, the Washington State offense led by Minshew should be able to name the amount of points and yards. I expect the Cougars to pile up the passing yardage, perhaps 450+ yards before it’s all over. Will the Oregon State offense be able to keep up? Probably not. WSU wins 45-17.