LOCATION: Pullman, Wash.
COACH: Mike Leach — At WSU: 49-40, 7 years; overall: 133-83, 17 years
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: none
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Tracy Claeys
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: 2002, co-champs
LAST TIME DIDN’T GO BOWLING: 2014
RETURNING STARTERS: 15; 7 offense, 6 defense, kicker, punter
PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Max Borghi, WR Tay Martin, WR Dezmon Patmon, C Fred Mauigoa, OT Abraham Lucas, NT Lamonte McDougle, LB Jahad Woods, SS Jalen Thompson
PRIMARY STRENGTHS: The receiving corps seems to grow deeper and more multi-dimensional every year and includes Borghi as a big part of the package. A coaching change last year helped turn a young O-line into one of the Pac-12’s best and four starters return. Special teams are now a plus and not a liability.
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: A QB competition is one thing, but the unsettled status going into the fall seems concerning, even though the same concerns last year were quickly erased. Backups to share the workload with Borghi are needed. The secondary needs to reach a higher level of consistency, though the unit is not without playmakers.
OVERVIEW
There’s too much uncertainty at quarterback to feel confident that the Cougars can duplicate last year’s 11-win magic, but nobody knew what to expect from Minshew, either. Fact is, Pac-12 coaches still haven’t learned how to cope with Leach’s Air Raid, and the Cougars have become legit enough on defense to win even when the offense sputters. Now all Leach needs to do is solve the riddle of WSU’s cross-state rival.
TOP NEWCOMER
NT Lamonte McDougle: Unsatisfied with his role as a space-eater in West Virginia’s defensive scheme, McDougle thinks he’s found a place to be more of a playmaker — and the Cougs think they’ve found someone to wreak havoc in the middle. “Guy’s a freaking tank,” said offensive tackle Abraham Lucas.