2013 Outlook - Washington State

Mike Leach is best known for high powered aerial offense, and locking commentator's kids with concussions in broom closets.  Most knew it would not be long till Leach was forgiven for is poor decision making, and given another chance to run a program, and that time has arrived in Pullman, Washington.  Leach will take over a Cougars' program that has struggled in recent seasons.  He will bring a whole new dimension to the offense, but will it be enough, and how long might it take?



SR Jeff Tuel will become the first QB under Leach at Washington State.  Tuel has shown to be a decent QB, who has acceptable mechanics, but cannot seem to stay healthy.  If he can stay on the field in 2013, I'd expect an uptick in his production but I am willing to attribute it to Leach's offense rather than great strides from Tuel.  Now, to help Tuel out, he does have a very nice weapon in JR WR Marquess Wilson.  The Pac 12 is loaded with uber-talented wide receivers, and Wilson is in the same class as the elite of the conference.  If he stays for his SR season next year, two year's in this offense combined with his natural talents could propel him into a high first round pick in the 2014 draft.  Redshirt FR, Dominique Williams is another WR who is drawing high praise from Leach, and could benefit from the Air Raid style Leach runs.  The biggest concern for this team is at RB.  Leach is not big on running the football to begin with, and the small, and sometimes injured SO, Rickey Galvin will have to work hard to remain relevant on this ball club.  In addition, the o-line will need to come together to protect the fragile Tuel and Galvin.  JR OT John Fullington is a good player, but he can't do it alone, and if the spring game is any indication (9 sacks allowed), this unit has some real work to do.

Defensively, the Cougars are transitioning to a 3-4, and I am concerned for this 2013 team, as I am not sold on any of the personnel projected to start on this defensive front.  I think these guys are role players at best, with the lone exception being rFR DE Xavier Cooper, who is showing some promise thus far.  The defense's best player, SR Travis Long,  has been moved to the hybrid DE/OLB position this season, and he will be relied upon heavily this season.  He penetrates into the backfield well, and is very disruptive.  Unfortunately, it does not appear as if there is anyone else in this linebacking corp who is ready to step us and help him.  The secondary has two good players in JR CB Damante Horton and JR S Deone Bucannon.  Although small, Horton makes plays, and Bucannon is a good player in his own right, even if he is overshadowed by some of the other big time safety talent in the conference.

I cannot imagine that when Mike Leach took the Washington State job, he looked at the roster and thought that he had a chance in 2013 to make some noise.  I expect this to be a long year in Pullman, but with some patients, and time for Leach to recruit his prospects and fully integrate this offense, this team will be scoring lots of points soon.