4 Cougs will miss WSU spring ball with injuries, says Kirby Moore

“Jaylin Caldwell is still coming back from the knee,” Moore said. “Trey Leckner, (has a) foot injury that was aggravated a little bit there late in the season. Lolo (Ta’aga) has a foot that he’s coming back from. And Kyle Peterson had a shoulder during the season that he needed to get worked on.

“So all four of those guys will be out the whole spring. There’s some other guys that’ll be limited from a starting point, and then they’ll progress back in.”

Cougfan.com had reported that Peterson’s status for the spring would be uncertain and also speculated on the status of Caldwell. But Leckner and Ta’aga are new pieces of information and certainly will add some intrigue to the position battles this spring.

With Caldwell and Ta’aga out, the right tackle position instantly becomes one of the most intriguing to watch in spring ball, and Moore explained who some of the top contenders for that spot will be in the spring.

“Max (McCree) will start at right tackle,” Moore said. “With Jaylin being out, obviously Chris Lino and Xavier (Thorpe) and Sone (Falealo), those guys will all be getting reps at that tackle position.

“I think Max has done some good things already. Obviously, he’s had some experience on the field. He’s acclimating to what Coach (Jack) Abercrombie is asking of those guys. And I think his best ball is ahead of him.”

There are a few things to unpack here. Firstly, McCree has only ever played left tackle in college, so he is making the full shift to the other side. Falealo was playing guard toward the end of last season, but it appears he may be back at tackle.

And with all those guys slated to compete at right tackle, it’s fair to wonder if Ta’aga will eventually be at left tackle when he’s healthy.

As for the absences of Leckner and Peterson, tight end reps will likely open up for Jack Pedersen, Beau Baker, Hudson Cedarland, Peyton Read, Cash Landau, and Nathaniel Salmon.

At safety, more opportunities will be available for Jeremiah Bernard, Jaylen Thomas, Jshawn Frausto-Ramos, Kayo Patu, Gaylon McNeal, Jack Bal, and Trey Ridley.

Related: 5 under-the-radar WSU offensive returners to watch this spring

MOORE ON THE QB BATTLE BETWEEN CADEN PINNICK, JULIAN DUGGER, AND OWEN ESHELMAN:

“All three of those guys are going to get a ton of reps. And the best way to get better at playing quarterback is to play. And so we have to make sure we’re giving them those opportunities in terms of 7-on-7 and team (periods) and going with different groups. Offensive line, receivers, putting them in different situations in terms of two minute and third down. At the end of the day, we have to be able to play well under pressure.”

MOORE ON THE CRITERIA FOR DECIDING THE QB BATTLE:

“It really comes down to production. Two things we can control every play are our feet and our eyes, and we have to make sure those are consistent. And then it comes back to completion percentage and taking care of the football. The two things when you evaluate any game in terms of how things change very quickly. It’s taking care of the football and creating turnovers from an offense/defense standpoint, and explosive plays.

“So those are things we’re going to be trying to do every day from an offense/defense (standpoint), and then specific to the quarterback. How many explosives are they creating with the ones against the one defense vs. with the twos?”

Moore said he doesn’t have any set timeline for deciding who QB1 will be.

MOORE ON IF CONTACT ON THE QUARTERBACKS WILL BE LIVE:

“The quarterbacks will not be live this spring. I think there’s a ton of other ways to make them feel the heat in terms of passing under pressure. Specific red zone situations where there’s a high likelihood that they’re getting pressure from the defense. Obviously, I’ll be a part of calling sacks and making sure they’re feeling those because we have to take care of the football and we have to make sure we get the ball out on time and make quick decisions.”

MOORE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING TO PLAY UNDER PRESSURE:

“It really started at Fresno State and probably continued at Missouri. I don’t know the exact number, but the SEC has had the highest percentage of one-score games in college football. There is a ton of situational football where it comes back to the quarterback, and it was our players on offense playing well under pressure, whether it was fourth-and-17 vs, Florida, or if it was fourth-and-five vs. Auburn. The players had the comfortability and confidence in those situations to make those plays.

“And I think that’s carried over in terms of as we look at this new Pac-12. You look at the number of teams who’ve gone to bowl games and there’s going to be a lot of tight, one-score games. And we have to have a disciplined mindset, but look forward to our guys having those opportunities.”

MOORE ON KEITH BROWN:

“Keith is healthy. He’s ready to go. I think he’s super comfortable and confident. Coach (Trent) Bray‘s been meeting with those guys throughout the winter, throughout the spring. I think there’s that fine balance of keeping it simple so those guys can play fast. Keith’s had a number of reps in terms of spring balls and on the field under the lights. So I think he’s had a vocal role in terms of the defense as we’re bringing this thing together with guys returning and the guys coming from the transfer portal.”

MOORE ON WHO HAS EMERGED AS LEADERS ON OFFENSE:

“Obviously at the running back position, I think Kirby Vorhees, Maxwell Woods, Leo (Pulalasi). The offensive line, whether it’s Kyle Martin, Jonny Lester, Noah (Dunham), Ashton Tripp, all those guys have set a standard. And they’ve brought in the transfers with open arms.”

MOORE ON THE PLANNED STRUCTURE OF THE SPRING GAME:

“We’re working through that. I do want the first two quarters to be a true game and potentially that third and fourth quarter to have a little bit of a running clock. In terms of the timeline, I would love to split teams. We just have to see where our numbers are at when we get to that point.”

MOORE ON RETURNING PLAYERS WHO COULD EMERGE IN THE SPRING:

“One guy who’s really working hard from an offensive standpoint in the weight room is Beau Baker at the tight end position. I know he was coming back from a knee injury as he progressed into last season. I think he’s a guy who’s really attacked the strength and conditioning program, and he’s done a very good job.

“I would say Michael Hughes as well from an EDGE standpoint. He’s got some serious twitch, so excited to get out there with those two guys.”

Trey Leckner (Photo: Cougfan.com/Whittney Thornton) (Photo: WSU)