WSU’s rushing attack has improved leaps and bounds. Why aren’t the Cougs taking advantage?

Oct. 16—PULLMAN — Not even a calendar year ago, Washington State’s rushing game was mostly invisible. The Cougars couldn’t create much of a push up front, and the more opponents realized they couldn’t run with credibility, the more WSU’s offense suffered.

So nonexistent was the Cougs’ rushing attack that season that Pro Football Focus handed the unit a grade of 77.2, second-worst in the Pac-12 and No. 106 nationally, underscoring just how difficult it was for them to convince teams they should respect their ground game.

Suddenly, all of that has changed. WSU’s run game this fall has earned a PFF grade of 86.1, good for No. 17 in the country, the program’s highest since 2011, the first year of PFF data. True freshman Wayshawn Parker has unlocked the Cougs’ rushing game with a compelling blend of speed and vision, and with a dual-threat quarterback like John Mateer at the controls, WSU is enjoying its best rushing season in some time.

Why aren’t the Cougars taking advantage?

In a 25-17 win over Fresno State last weekend, WSU had recorded just nine tailback touches headed into the fourth quarter. When the Cougs did turn to Parker, needing to run clock late in the fourth quarter, he cashed in, totaling 63 rushing yards on 12 carries. Even when the Bulldogs knew the Cougars would be rushing, they couldn’t stop it, and Parker made them pay.

For the game, Parker averaged 5.3 yards per carry, confirming what was obvious to the naked eye: When WSU did give him touches, Parker took full advantage. But the Cougs’ other two running backs, Djouvensky Schlenbaker and Leo Pulalasi, combined for one yard on two carries. Could they have taken advantage like Parker did?

“(It’s) a want-to go in and call the plays,” WSU coach Jake Dickert said. “We feel like we had some outside zone stuff, and that’s what we got going late. We just…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/wsus-rushing-attack-improved-leaps-035900400.html

Author : The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.

Publish date : 2024-10-17 03:59:00

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