Mike Price year 4: 9-3 + Copper Bowl win

[chinookpirate]

5-3 in conference play.

This of course was after his "luck" in year one using "Erickson's players" many of which were JC's and quite resistant to change.

Yes, Mike Price achieved 9-3 and a Copper Bowl win in year 4 with a rebuilt roster in spite of poor funding, poor facilities and only D1-aa coaching experience.

I would think that with all of the advantages WSU enjoys now, I see no reason why Leach shouldn't be able to accomplish the same thing... but I don't think he will this year.

Here is what I do think. I think we are entering a phase that should get us to a 9-3 Copper Bowl 'type' of year... sometime in the next 2-3 seasons. When we do, fans will have lot invested in watching these kids grow... at about the same time Moos is panning for additional revenue to kick in from Pac-12 conference revenue enhancements (to answer the p-12 network contract here: Moos already has this built in to the structure and why Floyd/Regents are backing him.)

It takes athletes to get there. One such athlete, on this roster today... who will leave here a bona-fide Leach disciple, is Cole Madison. I really like everything I see about this kid and believe he's a high round next level pick if he stays healthy.


How about you?

Who is one player who you believe is the caliber of Madison on this roster that we are going to watch over the next 2-3 seasons? we could make a list.

 

[wazzucougs96]

Cool story bro. The landscape of college football is exactly the same as it was in 1993. No variables whatsoever.

 

[chinookpirate]

You're free to contribute.

Add to the list

 

[Coug1990]

Cool story bro. The landscape of college football is exactly the same as it was in 1993. No variables whatsoever.

96. Did you know that back in 1993, there were only 10 conference teams. Really, I am not making that up. Oregon State was an embarrassment back then and could not get out of their way. Serious

 

[chinookpirate]

You're free to contribute... add to the list.

You might not agree with me... that we will see 9-3 and a Copper Bowl-type season some time in the next 3 seasons. You're free to disagree with me on that too, if you'd like.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

5-3 in conference play.

This of course was after his "luck" in year one using "Erickson's players" many of which were JC's and quite resistant to change.

Yes, Mike Price achieved 9-3 and a Copper Bowl win in year 4 with a rebuilt roster in spite of poor funding, poor facilities and only D1-aa coaching experience.

I would think that with all of the advantages WSU enjoys now, I see no reason why Leach shouldn't be able to accomplish the same thing... but I don't think he will this year.

Here is what I do think. I think we are entering a phase that should get us to a 9-3 Copper Bowl 'type' of year... sometime in the next 2-3 seasons. When we do, fans will have lot invested in watching these kids grow... at about the same time Moos is panning for additional revenue to kick in from Pac-12 conference revenue enhancements (to answer the p-12 network contract here: Moos already has this built in to the structure and why Floyd/Regents are backing him.)

It takes athletes to get there. One such athlete, on this roster today... who will leave here a bona-fide Leach disciple, is Cole Madison. I really like everything I see about this kid and believe he's a high round next level pick if he stays healthy.


How about you?

Who is one player who you believe is the caliber of Madison on this roster that we are going to watch over the next 2-3 seasons? we could make a list.

I'd like to think that we are close to having that breakthrough year. I agree that with the mess we've had, patience is appropriate when dreaming of 9-3 seasons. The biggest issue for WSU putting together a successful season is having a dynamic QB who brings the team along for the ride. I remember the 1993 season falling apart when Pattinson went down. As others have said before, Tuel was a solid QB but lacked the fire and decisiveness that we needed. Halliday was a bit too reckless. Our OL was such that neither one could settle in. The thing that I like about Falk at this point is that he showed that he has the physical strength to shrug off weak sack attempts and pretty decent pocket presence. Unfortunately, facing USC and ASU in two of your first three games wasn't the best way to have a good start to his career so it's hard to say if he's the man.

Consistent production at the QB position with a guy who can limit the mistakes that grant advantages to opposing teams is huge. The defense obviously needs someone to step up and I don't have any idea who is going to get that done.

 

[Cougatron]

I think it's feasible in the next 3 years.

1. Leach will have a QB that he selected - This year marks the first year he could do that with a QB that is ready.
2. The O-line will actually be the correct size and depth to compete
3. I like the new youth on defense we have on the field and on the sidelines. Getting them up to speed will be critical.
4. Special teams.... this one I have a question mark about. If we get that under control we can win
5. Wicks, Harrington, and Morrow make up the best backfield we've had in a long time.

We aren't far away from it. This was a total rebuild project, and we definitely have the foundation now to do something great.

 

[random soul]

I think it's feasible in the next 3 years.

1. Leach will have a QB that he selected - This year marks the first year he could do that with a QB that is ready.
2. The O-line will actually be the correct size and depth to compete
3. I like the new youth on defense we have on the field and on the sidelines. Getting them up to speed will be critical.
4. Special teams.... this one I have a question mark about. If we get that under control we can win
5. Wicks, Harrington, and Morrow make up the best backfield we've had in a long time.

We aren't far away from it. This was a total rebuild project, and we definitely have the foundation now to do something great.

This year is critical for the program's stability, and I would bet that multiple games will be decided by the kicking game. I hope something positive happens there between now and the season opener.

 

[sellas]

That copper bowl team had a dynamic Drew Bledsoe and Philip Bobo/dj Davis with the running of Wright-fair and a good OL.

It also had a young D that became the best D i have ever seen. That team had the number one overall pick and future NFL players all over the roster. They were FAST.

That kind of talent isn't on this roster. Good coaching and sound schemes are going to need to carry the load. It will be interesting to see how Grinch does.

 

[Coug1990]

I'd like to think that we are close to having that breakthrough year. I agree that with the mess we've had, patience is appropriate when dreaming of 9-3 seasons. The biggest issue for WSU putting together a successful season is having a dynamic QB who brings the team along for the ride. I remember the 1993 season falling apart when Pattinson went down. As others have said before, Tuel was a solid QB but lacked the fire and decisiveness that we needed. Halliday was a bit too reckless. Our OL was such that neither one could settle in. The thing that I like about Falk at this point is that he showed that he has the physical strength to shrug off weak sack attempts and pretty decent pocket presence. Unfortunately, facing USC and ASU in two of your first three games wasn't the best way to have a good start to his career so it's hard to say if he's the man.

Consistent production at the QB position with a guy who can limit the mistakes that grant advantages to opposing teams is huge. The defense obviously needs someone to step up and I don't have any idea who is going to get that done.

Good post Flat. I agree. Just think, the four games that Falk ended the season with included three bowl teams. If he is indeed the starter, he will get a much easier path this season. Also, don't forget that the last few games the center, RG and RT were injured and missed games.

 

[kayak15]

I think it's feasible in the next 3 years.

1. Leach will have a QB that he selected - This year marks the first year he could do that with a QB that is ready.
2. The O-line will actually be the correct size and depth to compete
3. I like the new youth on defense we have on the field and on the sidelines. Getting them up to speed will be critical.
4. Special teams.... this one I have a question mark about. If we get that under control we can win
5. Wicks, Harrington, and Morrow make up the best backfield we've had in a long time.

We aren't far away from it. This was a total rebuild project, and we definitely have the foundation now to do something great.

Agree on all points with one minor stipulation. We don't know for sure whether our QB will be "ready", do we? But we will find out soon enough in the Fall's season.

 

[kayak15]

Good post Flat. I agree. Just think, the four games that Falk ended the season with included three bowl teams. If he is indeed the starter, he will get a much easier path this season. Also, don't forget that the last few games the center, RG and RT were injured and missed games.

My thinking also. The first two games should have given him confidence that he could do the job. However, the last two games- ASU and uw- when the O-line was gutted and he was running for his life, giving up sacks and interceptions may be even more important. Strongly believe that he spent considerable time in the film room reviewing those two disasters observing not only the O-line problems but his own failure to deal with it adequately. I am thinking the "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger" theory. First a couple of confidence builders and then a couple of humbling kicks to the cojones demonstrating emphatically that he has a lot to learn. Those four games line up nicely as a teaching process to my mind. We will see the results in September, probably as soon as Rutgers.

 

[Coug1990]

My thinking also. The first two games should have given him confidence that he could do the job. However, the last two games- ASU and uw- when the O-line was gutted and he was running for his life, giving up sacks and interceptions may be even more important. Strongly believe that he spent considerable time in the film room reviewing those two disasters observing not only the O-line problems but his own failure to deal with it adequately. I am thinking the "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger" theory. First a couple of confidence builders and then a couple of humbling kicks to the cojones demonstrating emphatically that he has a lot to learn. Those four games line up nicely as a teaching process to my mind. We will see the results in September, probably as soon as Rutgers.

Falk also played in the Air Raid at his Utah high school. He was familiar with the concepts when he first arrived in Pullman. Todd Sturdy's offense is the opposite of the Air Raid. Much longer drops and deeper throws. The calls came from the sidelines with little freedom (or time) to change the play at the line of scrimmage. Both Tuel and Halliday had to unlearn habits of one offense. Falk was able to start way ahead of Tuel and Halliday in the understanding of Leach's offense.

With a bigger and more experienced offensive line in front of him, I think Falk and the offense will be fine and score more than last season.

 

[kayak15]

Falk also played in the Air Raid at his Utah high school. He was familiar with the concepts when he first arrived in Pullman. Todd Sturdy's offense is the opposite of the Air Raid. Much longer drops and deeper throws. The calls came from the sidelines with little freedom (or time) to change the play at the line of scrimmage. Both Tuel and Halliday had to unlearn habits of one offense. Falk was able to start way ahead of Tuel and Halliday in the understanding of Leach's offense.

With a bigger and more experienced offensive line in front of him, I think Falk and the offense will be fine and score more than last season.

Yes, Falk joined the team knowing a lot more about the air raid than Tuel or Halliday. We can say the same about Bender and Hilinski. The learning I referred to deals more with acclimation to D1 speed and athletic abilities than to intellectual knowledge of receiver routes etc. I am sure that the three QBs are still picking up the nuances of Leach's system but most of their adjustments and improvements will involve dealing with the upgrade in quality over what they saw in high school. "I need to do this a bit faster and I am too slow doing that and that was successful in high school but won't cut it at this level." So two games of confidence building followed by two of "keep going, Son, you're not there yet." works out fine for me.

Bigger and more experienced O-line? I thought ESPN just assured everyone that we were horrid in that department.

 

[CougEd]

Good post Flat. I agree. Just think, the four games that Falk ended the season with included three bowl teams. If he is indeed the starter, he will get a much easier path this season. Also, don't forget that the last few games the center, RG and RT were injured and missed games.

If I may quote someone...everyone has injuries.