WSU Football | Injuries forcing Cougs to change its defenses

With its top three defensive tackles sidelined for the road game Saturday at UCLA, Washington State will use a 3-4 defense more and is looking at converting a running back to add depth at linebacker.

In a 3-4 alignment, there is one defensive tackle, two defensive ends and four linebackers.

Chris Ivory, a true freshman who had an 80-yard touchdown run against Idaho, is getting work at linebacker in practice this week. He played the position at Longview (Texas) High School.

Meanwhile, another true freshman, Andy Mattingly, is getting practice time at defensive end because backup Mike Graise (hamstring) is out for the Bruins game. Mattingly has been playing linebacker, but coach Bill Doba said the former star at Mead High in Spokane might have the makings of a good pass-rusher.

The Cougars lost defensive tackles Ropati Pitoitua (knee) and Aaron Johnson (elbow) in the first quarter against Oregon last Saturday. Feveae'i Ahmu (foot) has been out for three games.

Junior-college transfer Bryan Tarkington and redshirt sophomore Matt Eichelberger are now the Cougs' top two defensive tackles. Redshirt sophomore Adam Hineline, out of Newport High School, is the No. 3 defensive tackle.

"He's a great kid," Doba said. "Great motor and a good person, too."

Riding the bowl roller coaster

The Cougars are looking at all possible extremes when it comes to bowl games. On one end, they are aware if they win their final four Pac-10 games and then a bowl, they have a 10-win season. On the other end, Doba said he learned this week from WSU athletic director Jim Sterk that winning a sixth game won't guarantee a bowl appearance.

"Even though you are bowl-eligible, it doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get a bowl game," Doba said.

Doba said Sterk explained that "with a 12-game schedule, there could be as many as seven or eight teams in the Pac-10 with six wins."

The Cougars are 5-3, 3-2.

Doba said, "To be safe, we need to win seven or eight."

The coach then changed his tone from explanatory to declaratory: "We're going bowling, though. Thank goodness, we have to go. For our guys, that's their goal."

NOTES

• Doba offered the following updates on injured Cougars. Ahmu (foot fracture): Might be out until the Apple Cup on Nov. 18. "They took an X-ray last week and it didn't show much healing," the coach said. Pitoitua (sprained medial collateral knee ligament): Could be out until the Apple Cup. Johnson (elbow sprain): Out at least two weeks. Starting right guard Andy Roof (ankle): Probably out "at least two weeks." Starting linebacker Tyron Brackenridge (hamstring): Might not be able to start but could play at UCLA. Brian Williams is the likely starter.

• Tight end Cody Boyd, sidelined since suffering a high ankle sprain Oct. 7 at Oregon State, practiced Tuesday and made one of the best catches of the day during a wet and cold practice.

Boyd made one of his biggest plays as a Cougar two years ago against UCLA. He used his 6-foot-8 frame to jump up and grab a Bruins onside kick to preserve the Cougars' 31-29 victory.

• Doba said poor alignment by kicker Loren Langley led to the missed 31-yard field goal against Oregon. Langley also had a conversion kick blocked. Doba said Langley was supposed to squib-kick the ball between two players in the final minute of the first half, but instead drilled it right at a Duck who fell on it. Langley got some praise Tuesday for deep kickoffs against the Ducks.

• Doba has a vote in the USA Today coaches' poll but said he didn't vote for the Cougars after the upset over Oregon. "I want to keep us hungry."

• Quarterback Alex Brink went to his hometown of Eugene, Ore., on Sunday for the wedding of a family friend and returned to Pullman on Monday, the players' day off. "I gloated a lot," Brink joked of his trip to Eugene after completing a school-record 20 of 23 passes in the 34-23 upset Saturday over then-No. 16 Oregon. Brink completed his final 17 passes in the game.

Craig Smith: 206-464-8279 or csmith@seattletimes.com