redshirt freshman

Moore's sideline bench talks get real after WSU's bowl hopes vanish

Kirby Moore sat Owen Eshelman down on a sideline bench seconds after the interception. Not later. Not in the film room. Right there, while the game was still happening. That's the kind of moment that tells you where a season has gone. Washington State just lost 31-10 to Boise State. Bowl hopes are dead. First time since 2010 the Cougs have been eliminated before November. Moore's offense gave up four sacks. The running backs combined for 20 yards on 10 carries. That's not a bad night. That's a pattern. The offensive line was recruited for an Air Raid system. They're being asked to win third-and-1. It isn't working. Moore knows it. He said the miscommunication on that pick starts with him. Fair enough. But he's also the guy who waited too long to make the switch at quarterback, and those missed wins are gone. What's left is four games and 14 seniors. No bowl to sell. No national relevance. Just pride and a coaching staff that has to find a way to get something out of nothing. Eshelman talked after the game about standards and what gets revealed when things go wrong. That's the right thing to say. The question is whether Moore can coach him into a couple wins before it's over. For a deeper look at how Boise broke the dam, read "The long run that broke the dam: WSU defense gasps after Boise's 72-yard dagger." Go Cougs.

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.

Bray's defense brings the heat, and a little revenge, to Corvallis

Trent Bray is going back to Corvallis, and he's bringing a defense that has earned the right to be a little salty. Three interceptions, two of them pick-sixes, and a unit that ranks among the best in the conference. That's the kind of stat line that makes you believe in a homecoming upset. But then you look at the other side. Oregon State's offense is a different animal. Braden Atkinson leads the country in passing yards per game, and Jesse Legree is a freshman who has yet to be slowed down. Even in losses. That's the wall Bray has to run through. Kirby Moore made a call. He benched Caden Pinnick and is handing the ball to redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman. Big arm, good accuracy, zero meaningful college snaps. It's a lot to ask a 20-year-old to match wits with the Beavers' high-flying attack. We're picking Oregon State 35-20, and the Cougs are 18.5-point dogs for a reason. But here's the thing: starting Eshelman might not be about winning Saturday. It might be about getting him the reps he needs to settle in. Throwing him into the fire in Corvallis is a trial by combat. If he can keep pace, even in a loss, that's a win for the future. For a deeper look at how that decision played out in real time, check out our coverage in "Eshelman finds the end zone, but Beavers build a big lead." Go Cougs.

Eshelman walked in asking why, and WSU coaches took notice