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Washington State Football: 5 storylines to follow during 2018 spring ball

By Justin Dottavio

AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 31: Head coach Mike Leach of the Washington State Cougars talks to the referees after a penalty call during the second half of play on August 31, 2013 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. Auburn defeated Washington State 31-24. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 31: Head coach Mike Leach of the Washington State Cougars talks to the referees after a penalty call during the second half of play on August 31, 2013 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. Auburn defeated Washington State 31-24. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

2. Tracy Claeys’ defense

Tracy Claeys has taken over the Washington State Cougars defense after a year off from football. He took over the Minnesota Golden Gophers’ head coaching position mid-season in 2015 and finished 2-4.

In 2016, Claeys’ 9-4 record marked a vast improvement considering Minnesota hadn’t won nine or more games since winning 10 in 2003. Once he was fired, Claeys took the season off and has now returned to coaching as defensive coordinator of the Cougars. He inherits the 29th-ranked defense per the S&P+ rankings. The talent level is far superior than the level back in 2010 when Leach took over or even 2015 when Grinch landed his first coordinator position in Pullman.

Hercules Mata’afa left early for the NFL and took 22.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks with him. Linebacker Frankie Luvu graduated and that’s another 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. However, the Cougs return Freshman All-American defensive back Jalen Thompson. Thompson logged 73 tackles and four interceptions in 2017.

Also returning is linebacker Jahad Woods who logged 64 tackles and 11 tackles for loss a year ago. Claeys runs the 4-3 defense which is similar enough to Grinch’s 4-2-5 hybrid that the Cougs will stay in mostly an even front look with mostly two-high safeties.

Expect a 4-3 defense, in the Miami over front variety from Claeys and keep in mind he has always worked well with lesser talent than the rest of his conference which will happen again at WSU. The JUCO transfers at inside linebacker and defensive tackle should replace the departures of Mata’afa and Luvu.

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