Mike Leach -2nd Season

cloverleaf · Feb 17, 2013

Against some teams last season, Washington State looked like a Division II team because of lack of size and strength. Leach recognized the need for more physical play and is putting his team through an extensive weight program this off season. Leach brought in eleven lineman through recruiting to reinforce both sides of the line. He also landed a 4star quarterback out of Phoenix, Arizona, as a welcome addition to the class.

Looking at Washington State's 2013 schedule, especially the first two road games against Auburn and USC, causes me to believe the coming season will be another loser for the Cougars. To be honest, I can see only three comfortable wins on the schedule. Southern Utah, Idaho and Utah are all winnable. Any other victories would be surprises in my judgement. Missing Colorado from the Pac 12 South is a bad break, but the Cougars get Utah as the final home game.

It is possible I guess for WSU to sneak in six victories for a break even season...I just don't know where the other three wins will come from. Leach has a way of surprising folks, so it will be fun to see how he does during his second season.

@)

cloverleaf · Feb 17, 2013

2013 WSU Schedule

8/31 @Auburn
09/7 @USC
9/14 Southern Utah
9/21 Idaho
9/28 Stanford
10/5 @California
10/12 Oregon State
10/19 @Oregon
10/26 Open Date
10/31 @Arizona State
11/9 Open Date
11/16 @Arizona
11/23 Utah
11/29 @Washington

Opening with Auburn and USC will be difficult travel the first two weeks. Stanford, California, Oregon State and Oregon a tough slog. Two well timed open dates before facing both Arizona schools should be a plus. The state rivalry will be at Washington.

Junk47 · Feb 17, 2013

The Arizona State game is in Pullman, not Arizona. 3 wins are certainly possible, but this team is a major question mark. 7 starters return on offense and 8 on defense, but Leach must replace his QB and loses a lot of depth on offense. This is not good for a team who scored 7 or less points in 4 games last season.

cloverleaf · Feb 17, 2013

Yeah, major rebuilding job for sure. I'm hearing he's driving them hard in the weight room.

I saw them play somebody last year and I swear they looked like a high school team.

Team has to get bigger and stronger for any long term success.

Junk47 · Feb 18, 2013

They have such a long ways to go. Recruiting is very difficult because they have Washington picking up steam, plus the usual suspects, USC, Oregon, UCLA, Stanford, etc...Their stadium is a joke. Wazzu has a very difficult mountain to climb.

cloverleaf · Feb 18, 2013

Last season, WSU only had one defensive lineman that weighed over 300 pounds. A nose tackle weighed in at 305.

On offense, they had 4 offensive lineman that weighed 300, 300, 300 and 319. That is some small linemen in today's
college football world.

I agree that the Cougars have a tall mountain ahead. For some reason I think Leach will make them respectable before
he bails.