Jaylin Caldwell
Wazzu keeps Jaylin Caldwell in one place: 3 stories so far. The section currently leads with “Eshelman's arm was fine, but the O-line left a hole WSU couldn't fill”, “Caden Pinnick is a good dude. That doesn't fix the QB room”, and “Big Tripp, Big Job: Wazzu's O-Line Tries to Find Its Feet”. You can point fingers a lot of directions after a loss like Saturday's. Caden Pinnick sounds like a guy you'd be happy to have over for a BBQ. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every Jaylin Caldwell story on Wazzu, newest first.
Eshelman's arm was fine, but the O-line left a hole WSU couldn't fill
You can point fingers a lot of directions after a loss like Saturday's. Eshelman's arm was fine. The pick wasn't great, but it wasn't the problem. The problem was in front of him. Boise State ran the same stunt three times, and the O-line couldn't stop it. Three times. That's not bad luck. That's a pattern. The numbers are ugly. Eshelman was pressured on 22 of his dropbacks. The running backs combined for 20 yards on 10 carries. Nationally, the run-blocking grade sits at 129 out of 138. Three of the five linemen were recruited for an Air Raid system that doesn't ask for this kind of work. It shows. Kirby Moore is calling plays now. Eshelman is in at QB. The results haven't changed. The common denominator is the guys up front, and it has been all season. The margin was already thin. This game, it was gone before halftime. If you want a moment of good news from the weekend, go check out the story on John Olerud getting his bronze spot outside the stadium. That one's worth your time. This one just hurts. Go Cougs.
Caden Pinnick is a good dude. That doesn't fix the QB room
Caden Pinnick sounds like a guy you'd be happy to have over for a BBQ. He's thoughtful, accountable, and clearly cares about his teammates. None of that makes him the answer at quarterback right now. The Cougs dropped a 17-16 stunner to Utah State after taking a 16-3 lead into the half. That's three straight losses. Four offensive touchdowns in five games against FBS competition. Pinnick went 23-of-36 for 156 yards and zero touchdowns. In Pullman, that stat line used to mean 400 yards and a couple scores. Now it means the offense is stuck in neutral. Kirby Moore has a decision to make. Pinnick has seven turnovers on the season. The second half produced 64 total yards. Penalties wiped out chunk plays. Jack Pedersen fumbled late, and Utah State turned it into the winning score. Moore was asked about Julian Dugger or Owen Eshelman. He said he needs to evaluate everything. That's coach-speak for "I don't have a great answer yet." Pinnick owned it. Said it breaks his heart. He's a 20-year-old trying to follow a line of Cougar QBs who set a high bar. That's not his fault. But running him out there every week when the offense can't move might not be fair to him or the team. If you want the full picture of this season's slide, check out "Cougs head south, run into a buzzsaw in Logan." Go Cougs.
Big Tripp, Big Job: Wazzu's O-Line Tries to Find Its Feet
Ashton Tripp doesn't say much, but what he says lands. The 6-foot-7 left tackle from Kennewick has been around Pullman long enough to know clichés don't fix a 1-4 start. "We gotta play 11 as one," he said after watching the tape. Hard to argue with that. The Cougs' offense is broken. 11.8 points per game. That's 130th in the country. Caden Pinnick has thrown a pick in every game, and he leads the nation in QB-fault sacks. Ten of his 18 sacks are on him. That's not just bad luck. That's a quarterback who can't feel pressure or won't get rid of the ball. Kirby Moore is taking over playcalling, and he says everyone's getting reps. That could mean Julian Dugger or Owen Eshelman gets a look Friday night at Utah State. It could also mean changes up front. Maximus McCree, the Washington transfer who was supposed to be a big get, still hasn't played a snap. That's worth watching. The offensive line has been fine in pass protection when the QB holds up his end. The run blocking? Less fine. Tripp's run-blocking grade is the lowest on the line. Lester is the bright spot there. But this group was recruited for the Air Raid. They're learning a new offense on the fly, and it shows. If you want more on Moore's approach, our piece on the quiet work that wins in Pullman is worth your time. For now, the Cougs need to find five guys who can click.