Originally published Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 7:14 PM

Washington State football concentrates on running game, defense

Injuries to receivers stymie offense in Cougars' third two-a-day practice

The Spokesman-Review

PULLMAN — Two practices. Two points of emphasis. One productive day.

That was the Washington State's goal Tuesday as the Cougars went through their third two-a-day of fall camp.

The full-pad morning session was quick, intense and dedicated to the run game.

"We needed it," WSU coach Paul Wulff said. "We took [Monday] off, and we've got to learn to be more and more physical. There's a fine line about doing it and not beating them up too much, but at the same time you've got to do it."

The afternoon workout, held in Martin Stadium, was in shoulder pads and helmets and seemed to drag in the 80-degree heat. In eight possessions of thud scrimmage (contact but no tackling), the defense stepped up.

Receivers Kevin Norrell, Jeffery Solomon, Johnny Forzani and tight end Skylar Stormo were all on the sideline with minor injuries for at least some of the afternoon, which hurt the offense.

Note

• Kickoff for the Cougars' season-opening game against Stanford in Pullman on Sept. 5 has been moved to 3 p.m. to accommodate an FSN television broadcast, athletic director Jim Sterk announced.

WSU's only other scheduled TV game is the Oct. 31 game against Notre Dame in San Antonio (NBC, 4:30 p.m.).

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