To beat ASU and end a three-game slide, Washington State will have to stop the run

Oct. 27—PULLMAN — Amidst his most successful season at Washington State, Cam Lampkin has taken some time to contemplate his celebrations. As a cornerback tasked with covering some of the Pac-12’s top receivers, he understands the importance of choosing the right celebration when he makes a play.

Lampkin has experimented with a couple of different gestures. He’s mimicked strapping in a seatbelt and gestured at the ball on the ground after breaking up passes.

“But I still need to come up with a unique signal for myself,” Lampkin remarked. “I haven’t quite figured it out yet.”

If Lampkin manages to make enough plays and comes up with an idea on Saturday during WSU’s visit to Arizona State for a 5 p.m. kickoff, it could significantly improve the Cougars’ chances of ending their three-game losing streak.

Washington State could certainly benefit from additional contributions from Lampkin, as well as the rest of their defense. In their previous two losses against Arizona and Oregon, the Cougs allowed 44 and 38 points, respectively. They failed to generate any turnovers and struggled particularly in run defense.

This is a crucial concern going into the upcoming game because Arizona State primarily relies on its strong running game. Cam Skattebo, the team’s standout running back, is known for his physical running style and exceptional yards after contact. Despite ASU’s 1-6 record, Skattebo has scored in every game and consistently produces strong rushing performances.

How will the Cougs respond? Lampkin mentioned that they have been focusing on tackling during practice, emphasizing the fundamentals and avoiding what head coach Jake Dickert refers to as “shot” tackling, which involves attempting to deliver a big hit instead of proper wrapping-up and tackling techniques. The team has also made changes to its personnel, including inserting lineman Na’im Rodman on the interior and moving Nusi Malani to the edge.

However, these efforts have yet to yield significant results. In their loss to Arizona, Washington State allowed 174 rushing yards, and they permitted 248 rushing yards in their defeat against Oregon. Although they faced a talented running back in Bucky Irving in the latter game, the Cougs have struggled with execution throughout the season, regardless of the opponents they have faced.

According to Pro Football Focus, Washington State currently ranks last in rush defense in the Pac-12, with a grade of 60.4, almost three points lower than second-to-last-ranked Stanford. The team is frequently pushed back at the line of scrimmage, and their limited depth on the edges further complicates matters.

While star players Ron Stone Jr. and Brennan Jackson are healthy, the Cougs encounter difficulties when opponents force them to rely on their backups. In such situations, quick hurry-up offenses prevent Washington State from making substitutions, resulting in inexperienced players like Jernias Tafia, Andrew Edson, and Ansel Din-Mbuh being exposed on the field.

Consequently, Washington State is running out of healthy defenders, making it imperative for the remaining players to step up and make plays when opportunities arise.

“It’s all about maintaining discipline throughout the game,” Jackson said. “We need to seize those opportunities and not get discouraged. Even when things aren’t going our way, we need to keep pushing forward.”

Jackson frequently cites the play against Wisconsin, where Stone strip-sacked the quarterback and Jackson recovered the ball for a touchdown, to emphasize his point. There have been other notable moments, such as Stone pressuring the quarterback against UCLA, leading to an interception by Dante Moore. Even in the game against Oregon State, the Cougs’ defense managed to make impactful plays against a relentless rushing attack.

Therefore, there are valid reasons for Washington State to maintain confidence in their defense. However, improvements are essential. In their loss to Oregon, some of their most glaring mistakes came from overly aggressive plays, incorrect pursuit angles, and missed opportunities to see the ball. For example, linebacker Devin Richardson was caught off-guard and got blocked with his back turned to the play.

The Cougs have learned the hard way that a limited rotation at linebacker and a secondary struggling to create turnovers can hinder success. Defensive back Kapena Gushiken’s 88-yard pick-six against UCLA and Sam Lockett’s interception in the same game feel like distant memories. Those were the last takeaways the Cougs managed to secure.

Can they turn things around against an ASU offense that has yet to find its stride outside of Skattebo? Their schedule seems to be easing up, but the Cougs must demonstrate that they can capitalize on that.

“We need to have confidence in our angles of attack, leverage, and focus on tackling low to stop this guy,” Jackson commented regarding Skattebo. “We’ve seen instances on tape where he effortlessly powers through the first or second defender and keeps going. That’s been a major focus for us during practice this week.”