WSU Football | Cougar Coach Wulff talks about team goals

PULLMAN, Wash. – For the veterans on the Washington State Cougar football roster, they are chomping at the bit to begin fall camp. August 8th can’t roll around quickly enough to commence putting in the work necessary to have a success season of Pac-10 football.

Coach Paul Wulff isn’t about to be pinned down to predict how many wins this 2010 team will rack up, but he has a number of goals and expectations.

When it comes to visible change on the field of play, “We need to start playing physical football across the line of scrimmage on both sides,” Wulff stated matter-of-factly. “We need to start establishing what we’ve been working on.”

Controlling the line of scrimmage is one thing, but getting offensive and defensive players in a position to make plays downfield requires an athletic element at the “skill” positions.

Team speed.

Big plays happen on the football field as a direct result of speed and quickness.

New student-athletes coming to Pullman possessing outstanding speed will get a serious chance for playing time to meet one of Coach Wulff’s goals. “We need to play with better team speed.”

The past two seasons, Coach Wulff has watched along the sidelines as opponents made one big play after another to seize control of a game. He believes the time for the Cougs to step up is here and now.

“We need to start making plays on both offense and defense. Plays that change the momentum of games. We have had none of that in two years. I finally think we have some athletes that can create momentum changing plays. That’s what I believe we are going to have this year. Those things have to happen. If we become more physical, our speed is better and we make plays that can change the momentum of the games, that will be success.”
- WSU Coach Paul Wulff

In recent years, Washington State had a reputation for favoring the passing game. No question there have been a number of quarterbacks justifying that impression ranging from Alex Brink to Jason Gesser to Mark Rypien to name a few.

Coach Wulff believes for his team to be successful in 2010, the offense should be able to both run and pass the ball with equal results. He’s quite clear on the subject. “We have to be balanced to have success. The plan is that we’re going to do both. Whatever we do well, we’ll continue to build off of that. But we have to be balanced.”

Though there was noticeable improvement in the WSU offense during spring practice, the team has plenty of work to do before the season opener on the road against Oklahoma State. Given the caliber of veteran players on the Washington State roster and the work they have put in during the off season, there should be huge improvement on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

“This team is going to win some games this year. If we stay healthy and get on a roll, we can surprise a lot of football teams,” which is about as Coach Wulff is going to come to making a prediction.

“There’s no question we want to win more than we lose which puts us in a bowl game. That’s a goal we should be setting our eyes on right now without question.”
- WSU Coach Paul Wulff

© Lewis A. Wright, Sr. – All Rights Reserved

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