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Sep. 13—PULLMAN — Here is what to watch for when Washington State squares off against rival Washington in Saturday afternoon’s Apple Cup.
When Washington has the ball …
How will WSU’s front line stack up against UW’s offensive line, a new unit? The Huskies’ front five has allowed one sack in two games, which went against center D’Angalo Titialii. Tackle Soane Faasolo has allowed the most pressures of the unit, permitting three hits and two hurries, according to Pro Football Focus, while fellow tackle Drew Azzopardi has allowed two pressures.
That’s the challenge for Cougars pass-rushers such as Syrus Webster and Raam Stevenson, who lead their club with nine and six pressures, respectively.
In WSU’s win over Texas Tech last week, Stevenson had the team’s only sack of the game, which came late in the fourth quarter.
WSU has also received a nice lift from defensive tackle David Gusta, an interior lineman. In that game against the Red Raiders, he totaled five pressures, including three hurries and two hits, according to Pro Football Focus. He also got in Texas Tech QB Behren Morton’s face, helping force one of the two interceptions the Cougars grabbed .
“You don’t get stats for a lot of things that David does,” WSU coach Jake Dickert said after that game. “It’s grimy, it’s dirty, it’s tough. But he is as physical and demanding of presence inside as we’ve seen here. So to see David go out and play that way, with heart and passion and physicality and with an edge — and David plays with an edge.”
Also important will be how WSU’s secondary holds up against UW quarterback Will Rogers and his team’s pro-style offense. The Cougars aren’t worried about Rogers’ scrambling ability. He’s a pure pocket passer, operating an Air Raid system at his previous stop of Mississippi State and taking over new UW coach Jedd Fisch’s system…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/two-minute-drill-washington-states-020300263.html
Author : The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
Publish date : 2024-09-14 02:03:00
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