Struggling Cougs get ready to face imposing Ducks
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Although pleased to get his first win as leader of Washington State last weekend, coach Paul Wulff noted Tuesday that Saturday's game against Oregon is likely to be much harder.
The struggling Cougars (1-3, 0-1 Pacific-10) dominated Portland State on both offense and defense last Saturday for a 48-9 victory. Oregon (3-1, 1-0 Pac-10) which dropped out of the Top 25 after a 37-32 loss to Boise State, poses a different level of challenge.
Against a Big Sky Conference foe, the Cougars were intercepted three times and fumbled four times, although they lost only one possession.
"If we make the same mistakes during games against good football teams, the outcome will be a lot different for us," Wulff said Tuesday. "We're still struggling."
A top concern is the quarterback situation. Both starter Kevin Lopina and backup Gary Rogers were knocked out of the game with injuries, so freshman Marshall Lobbestael played most of the second half.
Rogers' season is over because of a broken neck. The status of Lopina, who suffered a badly bruised throwing shoulder, is unclear. He did not practice Tuesday.
"We have to go with the assumption that Marshall Lobbestael is our guy," Wulff said, although Lopina might see some playing time.
Lobbestael completed nine of 12 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns during the second half. He was named Pacific-10 offensive player of the week, but that doesn't make Wulff comfortable.
"Lets be realistic, he's a redshirt freshman with very little experience," Wulff said.
It's one thing to be on the sideline and get shoved into a game on short notice, Wulff said. As the starter, there is much more preparation and expectation.
"You feel like you've got more on your shoulders and the team is depending on you," Wulff said. "Hopefully, those nerves will not effect his play."
It will be a rush of preparation for Lobbestael this week. He never got to practice with the No. 1 offense during training camp, because all of the snaps went to Rogers and Lopina, Wulff said.
The Cougars will likely simplify their play selection because of that, he said.
Lobbestael is also spending a lot of time watching film.
"We were here last night at 10:30 and he was still watching film," Wulff said. "We told him to get the heck out of the office."
On the plus side, Lobbestael looked poised on the field.
"He seems to do some things during the game that came real natural for him," Wulff said. "That's very enticing for us as coaches to see that"
It was noted that Boise State beat Oregon behind the passing of freshman Kellen Moore, who threw for 386 yards and three touchdowns.
Notes:
-Oregon and Washington State have played 85 times since 1901, with Oregon holding a slight edge 38-40-7.
-Prior to the 48 points the Cougars scored last weekend, they had scored a total of 33 in three losses. The 638 yards of total offense last weekend was the first time they had topped 340 yards all season.
The struggling Cougars (1-3, 0-1 Pacific-10) dominated Portland State on both offense and defense last Saturday for a 48-9 victory. Oregon (3-1, 1-0 Pac-10) which dropped out of the Top 25 after a 37-32 loss to Boise State, poses a different level of challenge.
Against a Big Sky Conference foe, the Cougars were intercepted three times and fumbled four times, although they lost only one possession.
"If we make the same mistakes during games against good football teams, the outcome will be a lot different for us," Wulff said Tuesday. "We're still struggling."
A top concern is the quarterback situation. Both starter Kevin Lopina and backup Gary Rogers were knocked out of the game with injuries, so freshman Marshall Lobbestael played most of the second half.
Rogers' season is over because of a broken neck. The status of Lopina, who suffered a badly bruised throwing shoulder, is unclear. He did not practice Tuesday.
"We have to go with the assumption that Marshall Lobbestael is our guy," Wulff said, although Lopina might see some playing time.
Lobbestael completed nine of 12 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns during the second half. He was named Pacific-10 offensive player of the week, but that doesn't make Wulff comfortable.
"Lets be realistic, he's a redshirt freshman with very little experience," Wulff said.
It's one thing to be on the sideline and get shoved into a game on short notice, Wulff said. As the starter, there is much more preparation and expectation.
"You feel like you've got more on your shoulders and the team is depending on you," Wulff said. "Hopefully, those nerves will not effect his play."
It will be a rush of preparation for Lobbestael this week. He never got to practice with the No. 1 offense during training camp, because all of the snaps went to Rogers and Lopina, Wulff said.
The Cougars will likely simplify their play selection because of that, he said.
Lobbestael is also spending a lot of time watching film.
"We were here last night at 10:30 and he was still watching film," Wulff said. "We told him to get the heck out of the office."
On the plus side, Lobbestael looked poised on the field.
"He seems to do some things during the game that came real natural for him," Wulff said. "That's very enticing for us as coaches to see that"
It was noted that Boise State beat Oregon behind the passing of freshman Kellen Moore, who threw for 386 yards and three touchdowns.
Notes:
-Oregon and Washington State have played 85 times since 1901, with Oregon holding a slight edge 38-40-7.
-Prior to the 48 points the Cougars scored last weekend, they had scored a total of 33 in three losses. The 638 yards of total offense last weekend was the first time they had topped 340 yards all season.