As interceptions mount for WSU QBs John Mateer and Zevi Eckhaus, coaches ask for more leadership

Aug. 6—PULLMAN — John Mateer had seen enough. Washington State’s redshirt sophomore quarterback, one of the two signal-callers vying for the Cougars’ starting job this season, watched true freshman Evans Chuba release a wobbly throw during a drill in Monday’s fall camp practice.

“Dude, you’ve gotta be kidding me,” Mateer told Chuba. “This is routes on air. Our receivers aren’t running for nothing. Put the ball on them, use your footwork and let’s go.”

Later in that practice, WSU offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle gathered his quarterbacks for another drill. Two of the team’s younger quarterbacks went last. Both made mistakes. This time, the other WSU quarterback in the running for the starter’s role, FCS Bryant transfer Zevi Eckhaus, spoke up.

“We had four guys go ahead of you,” Eckhaus told the pair. “Either you’re not paying attention or you don’t care. Which one is it? You better figure both of them out.”

“I loved seeing that. I loved hearing that,” Arbuckle said after Tuesday’s practice, WSU’s sixth of fall camp. “That’s just gonna lead to the development of those younger guys.”

More to the point, both Mateer and Eckhaus displayed the kind of leadership that Arbuckle and head coach Jake Dickert are looking for in the starter. Both Mateer and Eckhaus threw interceptions in team periods in Tuesday’s practice. Mateer tossed a trio: One to linebacker Kyle Thornton, one to defensive back Reece Sylvester, one to cornerback Ethan O’Connor, who leapt in front for what likely would have been a pick-six in live action.

Both countered with better moments — Eckhaus rifled a nice crossing-pattern touchdown to Oregon transfer wideout Kris Hutson, and Mateer unfurled three touchdowns passes, all to different receivers — but because they’ve both been subject in recent practices to turnovers that Arbuckle called…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/interceptions-mount-wsu-qbs-john-020100871.html

Author : The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.

Publish date : 2024-08-07 02:01:00

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