I like this team. Yes they are still immature in their overall play, but seem to be gaining ground week to week. Taveras Martin is getting better, just needs to not break stride on returns. Shalom is getting better weekly. Falk is getting better at checking to runs, but still lacks some discretion at times. Bottom line is this is a team that "can" win any game it plays. How long has it been since you felt that way about our team? As we get better on O, the D is still a big work in progress, although they are starting to make me believe we have a shot to stop most short yardage plays. Not that we will, but how many 4th and shorts have they stuffed now this year? Leach has now shown he believes in this kicker, and that is huge. I like where we are going. As a side not Portland state won again yesterday against Montana State. They appear to at least be a solid D2 team this year. Not that we should not have won that game, but that is a little easier looking at how they are playing. Anyway, that is my take.
My overall impression
- Thread starter MRICoug
- Start date
It was obvious last year that the team had the talent to run with most of the teams in the Pac-12. Lack of trust, immaturity and the failure to execute often routine plays cost us at least three games and probably four. We still have some of that, but we are obviously a lot farther down the path. Getting to a bowl game and the resulting extra practices will do even more to keep us moving in the right direction.
While I agree with most of what you write, it sure seems like everyone is counting their chickens before they hatch, around here.
I hope and pray that the assumption of bowling is true. And if so, isn't it crazy how just 2 games ago, Cougar Nation was a completely different world with completely different assumptions. Truly, not a dig on anyone directly. Just an observation of a Schizophrenic fan base… peace
It wasn't long ago that the chicken-counting crowd was counting on WSU winning no more than 4 or 5 at best this season. Funny how the sticks move.
Others have said it and I agree....anything can happen with this team and I won't be surprised. We could win the rest of our games, lose the rest of our games, and everything in between...and I wouldn't have been able to predict it. So for me, it's the old Chip Kelly refrain "Win the Day" and then see where we are. Need to stay healthy and continue to clean up some things, but it's been an enjoyable season so far...at least after Week 1.
Glad Cougar
Glad Cougar
For clarity, the reason that I've been "negative" and a "detractor" and the like is the fact that I worry that we are still prone to making the stupid mistake and putting ourselves in the position to be a "bad team" again. As Tron and others have said, we are still thin on the talent front and it's a fine line between being good and bad in big boy football. We have the talent to compete when we excecute well. We also don't have the talent cushion that the elite programs have.
Football is a fickle sport and life is good for us right now. Given the way that the last 11 years have gone, we all know that it might not continue. The negative part of me wonders how long it can last, the positive part of me relishes that our team still has the potential to finish as high as 9-4.
The younger a team, the more likely they will make stupid mistakes. The more prone they will take a play off. It is not a stretch to say that the Cougars have probably improved more since game one until now in the conference.
And to be clear, I wasn't digging on you, Flat. We have our differences and all but I wasn't trying to implode this thread on you or anything. I sit back, read, and every once in a while look back. And in this case 2 weeks and it is literally day and night. It is, what it is. Just crazy how the human mind is so pliable.
I'm with Glad, to a certain extent. And while some are talking about how "young" we are and that explains the crazy mistakes, I don't know if we still aren't battling the mentality of our old culture/program, as well. I certainly think that was a part of the PSU game. Call it "overlook" but it's just as much culture as it is youth, IMHO. I think with every game won, with every year we are separated from our past, I think we are better off. But it's hard for me to overlook the possible "culture" thing… It's been a decade of crappy mentality. And I KNOW that the mental aspect, the culture if you will, is the hardest part to overcome in these kinds of situations.
Isn't it odd. Same post and I say how "pliable" the mind is. Yet our program is/was so ENTRENCHED in a horrible mentality.
What gets me excited is knowing that WSU loses just three starters on offense: Dom Williams, Joe Dahl and Gunnar Eklund. Plus, they lose five starters on defense: Darryl Paulo, Destiny Vaeao, McClennan/Palacio, Taylor Taliulu and Jeremiah Allison, but the backup in several places are getting reps and are more athletic than the guy they replace.
The NFL's is going back to smaller shiftier receivers to combat the tall lanky corners. Thorpe has said it is a possibility that he leaves early. You never know what will happen. But, Leach has always reloaded receivers, so while I think WSU is much better next season with Marks, it is not Armageddon if he declared.
I don't know about that.
Currently he's rated as the #39 WR by NFL draft tracker...I think that is quite low for him considering he is #11 in yards / game #13 in TDs / #10 in receptions and #20 in yards.
All of that points to him being about the 15th best receiver, and considering JuJu Smith and Roger Lewis are both Soph and can't enter the draft helps him as well.
Last year there were 35 receivers taken in the draft, and if Marks grades out as the 15th best that would put him at about the 4th Round where Mayle went.
There were 8 receivers taken under 6' so his height isn't going to be an issue.
The closest in size to Marks exactly was Andre Debose who was taken in the 7th round from florida. Plenty were taken above him that were smaller...but looking at Debose he had 600 total yards for his career....for his career and he got drafted.
Debose has constant injury problems...never really performed to his potential...and yet he still got drafted.
Marks has 2000 career yards and 15 TDs
It won't surprise me if he and Dom Williams are Drafted along with Dahl. Allison could get drafted as well if he has an incredible combine just on the fact that you would never have to worry about him with any character issues, and that can raise your stock quite a bit.
Overall I expect at least two Cougs to be drafted making it the second consecutive year we've had multiple guys drafted.
Quit looking at stats. NFL scouts don't care much about stats especially playing in the air raid. Should Cracraft come out too? Cracraft is bigger and perhaps even a step faster....
Marks is a great player, but in the grand scheme is he better than Bumpus, Gibson or Hill? He is probably a closest to a Bumpus clone. maybe a better receiver, but not as dynamic returner. Both were quick but very average speed.
Marks is a great player, but in the grand scheme is he better than Bumpus, Gibson or Hill? He is probably a closest to a Bumpus clone. maybe a better receiver, but not as dynamic returner. Both were quick but very average speed.
NFL scouts look at stats. In fact the whole combine is about stats. How fast the 40 time is. How good the hands are. How good are the routes. Numbers..numbers...numbers.
All those factors go into it.
Here's some info for you... 3 Air Raid receivers appeared in the last 4 superbowls. Welker twice (New England/Denver), Crabtree (San Francisco), and Amendola (New England).
Do you think the NFL scouts don't know that. Yeah..they know. Why do you think New England picked up Amendola after Welker left...(here's a hint..they know what type of receiver he is and the types of routes he runs...and yeah....Cracraft is being watched)
It will not surprise me if He has a better NFL career than Gibson and Hill. And here's why...
Those 3 receivers I mentioned. Here's their total production
Amendola 2800 yards 11 TDs
Welker 9800 yards 50 TDs
Crabtree 4600 yards 27 TDs
Now Here's the NFL production for Gibson Hill
Gibson - 2711 yards 13 TDs
Hill - 1043 yards 9 TDs
Now you tell me who has done more in the league? And scouts know who is generating the players that produce. Mayle didn't go round 4 just because of his size...he didn't even work out that much because of his thumb. They got him because he was a Leach receiver, had size, and had good production in his short time. That was a 4th round pick.
Marks has way better hands than Mayle, will put up similar maybe even better numbers.
Does he have 4.3 speed?.... Nope.. Neither did Jerry Rice.
What makes you desired in the league is your reliability and consistency. Marks and Cracraft both are those. They both will be drafted. Scouts know Cracraft is the next Welker / Amendola proto-type slot. They will want him.
Marks will be drafted. Cracraft more than likely will opt to finish school. Marks will more than likely graduate as he has been here 4 years.
All also add that Dom Williams is rated the number 19 receiver for the 2016 draft.
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I think you are both right. The stats are important to some degree but the NFL has always been more about potential than stats by themselves. Leach has had a few wide receivers from Tech that have done really well. Ironically, Welker is the slowest one of the bunch but has been the most productive. Cracraft is cut from the same mold as Welker in my opinion. Marks has a lot of natural ability and I think he'll get drafted if he keeps up the good work (particularly some of the amazing catches).
I'm not going to touch what kind of career any of these guys will have. The reality is that no matter what it's hard to make your mark in the NFL. Out of the 50 guys who probably played receiver at Tech under Leach, 3 have had success. I'm sure that's pretty good compared to most other schools, but it's still means that the odds are against any receiver having a great career.
I will agree with Flat here. The numbers on the field will get them noticed and scouted. But, numbers in and of themselves will not.
