PULLMAN, Wash — Following their second straight lackluster performance on Saturday, the WSU Cougars are hoping to bounce back and regain their early season form.
Unfortunately, they must attempt to do so on the road against an angry, No. 9 ranked Oregon Ducks team.
"They are always fresh, constantly attacking, big and physical on defense, so it is a real challenge. On offense, I think they are very creative. I think 11 (Troy Franklin), is one of the best receivers in our conference and in the country and I believe Bo Nix is playing at a Heisman type level, so the challenge is real, especially going to their place, but what a good time to get into a harsh environment and prove who we are and show our fight as a program," WSU head coach Jake Dickert said.
After the Cougs squandered a late lead in last season's meeting between these two teams and after giving up 44 unanswered points on Saturday to Arizona, Coach Dickert has put an emphasis on finishing heading into practice this week.
"There was a lack of finish at times on Saturday and I haven't felt that way since I have been here. Any time I see anything that is deficient on gameday, I go back to the practice film. We watched a couple of practices as a coaching staff on Sunday and we were able to see that is where this comes from and if it is not corrected in the moment or in the film room, then it is allowed to happen. Finishing is a habit and we need to be better at it," Dickert said.
As for the question marks surrounding Washington State's offense, Coach Dickert believes all of the pieces are in place and the Cougs should be able to get back to where they were as an offensive unit before the bye week.
"Make no mistake, we have confidence in our offense. I have confidence in Ben and what we are doing and how we are doing it. That is going to show up on Tuesday and we need that to lead into Saturday because this is a real defense that attacks us in a million different ways. It will not be easy and we need to be able to grind out some drives," Dickert said.
The Cougs vs. everyone mantra that Dickert has been preaching this entire year will be in full force on Saturday as no one will give WSU much of a chance to knock off the top 10 ranked Ducks.
"Let's shock the country. No one thinks we can go in there and win the game but us, so let's go in there and play the way we are capable of playing and do it for 60 minutes," Dickert said.
"That 4-0 team is still sitting there in that room and that is the best part. That 0-2 football team is there too, so which one do we want to be and which one can we be? I believe we can be a good team and that is what we need to go show this week," Dickert said.
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