Pac-10 Position Breakdown: Offensive Line – Washington State Cougars
It just wasn’t easy being the Washington State Cougars in any facet of the game in the 2008-09 season; and the offensive line was no exception. Cougar quarterbacks absorbed a conference-worst 42 sacks last year, with Kevin Lopina taking the bulk of the damage (23) and Marshall Lobbestael (11), Gary Rogers (4), and J.T. Levenseller (4) each taking their licks as well.
What hurts more for Cougars fans than re-living last season’s offensive line woes might be looking forward to this season’s. Every starter returns with one glaring exception; the 6′5″ 329 pound Vaughn Lesuma, the biggest man on the line last year for the Cougs. Lesuma’s graduation leaves only one star on the line this season; Center Kenny Alfred.
With Kenny Alfred at center, one thing is for sure; the middle of the line will not be a weakness for the Washington Cougars. Alfred will do his best to lead by example and get the most out of his teammates on the field. On the strategic side of things, Coach Paul Wulff is determined to institute the no huddle offense next season; a project he had to abandon last season due to injury and personnel issues.
With an extra year of experience under his starter’s belts, Wulff hopes that the no huddle offense will be a success this time around; and perhaps if he can keep opposing defenses guessing, he can keep the quarterback on his feet a little more often.
Kenny Alfred holds his ground
Left Tackle:
78 Steven Ayers, 6-4, 315, Sophomore
75 Tyson Pencer, 6-6, 297, Red-shirt Freshman
- Ayers earned his varsity letter last season after starting in five games (and seeing action in six others as well). A former wrestler in high school and a standout student, Ayers has both the mind and the toughness to work in the no-huddle offense if he can build on last season’s experience.
Left Guard:
55 Zack Williams, 6-4, 293, Junior
68 Mike Bruce, 6-4, 304, Sophomore
- The lone new projected starter, JuCo transfer Zack Williams brings three things this line desperately needs; talent, experience, and enthusiasm. Described as an energetic player, Williams was a standout on the line at Glendale College. He received CCCFCA Region III All-American honors, and was also named Glendale College’s offensive MVP and lineman of the year. He has spent his redshirt season in 2008 working hard on his game, and should provide leadership alongside Kenny Alfred.
Center:
69 Kenny Alfred, 6-2, 300, Senior
73 Andrew Roxas, 6-1, 306, Junior
- Kenny Alfred is not only the best player on the line for the Washington State Cougars; he’s the best player on the entire offense. Playing at one of the most underrated positions on the field for a team at the bottom of a largely underrated conference, Alfred truly is a diamond in the rough that will very likely get a look in the pros next season. Last season Alfred started in all 13 games and earned All-Pacific-10 Conference honorable mention honors.
Looking forward to 2009, Alfred has been named to the Rimington Trophy Spring Watch List; a list that focuses on the top centers in the country, one of which will eventually win the trophy honoring the nation’s best center. He is one of only 12 players in the country who have been on the list before, and one of only three on the list in the Pac-10 (Arizona’s Colin Baxter and USC’s Kristofer O’Dowd). Alfred was unable to play during the Spring as he was still recovering from an off-season surgery, but he should be 100% come Fall practices. Alfred will provide leadership and stability throughout 2009.
Right Guard:
72 B.J. Guerra, 6-3, 311, Sophomore
79 Brian Danaher, 6-3, 284, Junior
- Guerra earned valuable experience last season, starting in five games and playing in all 13 games as a red-shirt freshman. Very athletic for his size (was a two sport athlete in high school, earning varsity letters in basketball as well as football), Guerra looks to be the favorite to win the spot over Brian Danahar at this point. Danahar started in eight games last season, and at the very least will provide depth next season.
Right Tackle:
76 Micah Hannam, 6-4, 284, Junior
67 Joe Eppele, 6-8, 306, Junior
- Hannam started in all 13 games last season, the only lineman besides Alfred to do so. Eppele played in 10 games last season, mostly in relief of Hannam. This year will likely go the same way at RT, but the bulk of the playing time will go to the guy who steps up and earns it.
True Freshman Factor:
Sebastian Valenzuela, 6-2, 315
William Prescott 6-5, 280
- As a general rule, you will almost always see Rivals 3-star ranked linemen red-shirt in their freshman year; and that may very well be the case for these two as well. But with the lack of production last year and questionable depth again this year, it isn’t a forgone conclusion yet that Wulff’s pair of solid recruits won’t see playing time in 2009. Especially Valenzuela, who is built like a house and has a ton of power.
My Take
Coach Paul Wulff is enthusiastic about his unit and really seems to believe that last year’s experience will pay off and the line will show a great deal of improvement this season. I have trouble seeing it.
Unlike ASU and UCLA that injected some top-flight young talent into their lines, Washington State is sending out almost the exact same guys that struggled horribly last season. Zach Williams was a great addition and a growth spurt from Ayers and/or Guerra doesn’t seem out of the question, but there are just too many question marks on this line to make me believe that defensive lines won’t find some holes to slip through.
Help is on the way with Valenzuela, Prescott, and some other young players on the depth chart; and Wulff has already locked up another strong recruit for 2010 in John Fullington. But for the present, let’s just try to focus on Kenny Alfred and enjoy his final season in Pullman.
Washington State Cougars
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B.J. Guerra, Brian Danaher, Football, Joe Eppele, Kenny Alfred, Micah Hannam, Offensive Line, Sebastian Valenzuela, Steven Ayers, Zack Williams
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