Washington State's Spring Game Will Answer One Huge Question: Can the Cougars Fix Their Run Blocking Problem?
Here's the thing about Washington State football heading into spring ball: the Cougars have the pieces in place to build something special. They've got continuity up front, a solid trio of running backs in Kirby Vorhees, Leo Pulalasi, and Maxwell Woods ready to roll, and new leadership that actually knows how to run the football. But none of that matters if the offensive line can't figure out how to create holes.
The O-Line Needs a Major Wake-Up Call
Last year's run blocking was rough, no way around it. According to Pro Football Focus, Washington State graded out at 46.3 on run blocking, which was third-worst in the entire country. That's brutal for a team trying to make the run game its identity. The blocking did improve slightly as the season went on, which is something, but the returning linemen's grades are honestly pretty concerning. Jonny Lester came in at 58.3, Kyle Martin at 57.2, Ashton Tripp at 53.1, Noah Dunham at 48.2, and Jaylin Caldwell at 46.2. For context, a 60.0 grade is considered average by PFF's standards. You could have Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders in the backfield and it wouldn't matter if the guys up front aren't clearing lanes.
New Coaches Bring a Different Mentality
A lot of last year's struggles probably came from the fact that most of these offensive linemen were recruited for an Air Raid or passing attack. They're learning a new system from the ground up, which explains some of the rough numbers. But here's the encouraging part: new head coach Kirby Moore has experience with elite running backs during his time at Missouri, and offensive coordinator Matt Miller was the co-OC at Boise State when Ashton Jeanty was running through defenses. These coaches know how to make the run game work.
Only Tripp and Lester were full-time starters last year, so chemistry and continuity up front will be absolutely critical to monitor this spring. Jack Abercrombie's blocking scheme and how these guys execute it will tell us everything we need to know about whether the Cougars are ready to run the ball effectively. When spring ball kicks off on Thursday at WSU, keep your eyes on the trenches. That's where this season gets won or lost.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.