In WSU’s edges room and beyond, what’s the balance between depth and inexperience?

Aug. 28—PULLMAN — Ever since they began working together, in the first few days of 2023, Washington State edges coach Frank Maile and defensive tackles coach Pete Kaligis took care to align their coaching styles.

They understood how similar their position groups are, so there’s a lot of similarities in the ways they train their players: shedding blocks , mentality, everything.

“There’s not a drop-off as far as the knowledge and the technique that we’re teaching over here,” Maile said. “It just allows us to have more people that we can move inside and outside to cause problems for the O-line.”

Never has that approach figured so prominently into the Cougars’ plan on defense. Headed into WSU’s season opener against FCS Portland State on Saturday, the Cougars’ first depth chart includes 24 “ORs,” meaning coaches are still deciding on starters at that position, still letting those position battles play out on the field — and six alone come from the edge position.

Those players include Utah Tech transfer Syrus Webster, sophomore Isaac Terrell, veterans Quinn Roff and Raam Stevenson, and seniors Nusi Malani and Andrew Edson, the last two of whom are a testament to Maile and Kaligis’ approach. Malani, a longtime defensive tackle, moved to edge last season. Edson, an edge for the first three years of his WSU career, is set to move to defensive tackle for around 10 to 15 snaps per game.

It speaks to a larger trend within the Cougars’ entire team. Not since the late Mike Leach was the head coach has WSU included so many “ORs” on the depth chart, and in the minds of the Cougs’ current coaches, it’s an indication of depth the team hasn’t enjoyed in some time.

“I think that’s where we’re at as a football team,” WSU coach Jake Dickert said. “I’ve said it throughout this whole season, building up to it, is that we have more…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/wsus-edges-room-beyond-whats-035900712.html

Author : The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.

Publish date : 2024-08-29 03:59:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.