2018 WSU Tuesday: Notes

Practice got a little testy for the second straight day with a pair of scuffles.

Washington State has attempted 176 passes in three games this season and only allowed two sacks, a stat which Helton called "staggering." The Trojans will be without their top pass rusher OLB Porter Gustin for the first half of the game due to the targeting ejection from the Texas game. In his absence, DC Clancy Pendergast will go to some pass rush packages.

The USC pass defense will face its toughest test of the season to date with Wazzu QB Gardner Minshew slinging the ball on nearly every down. "We take a lot of pride. We just try to do our best every week. Try not to let anything behind us," senior safety Marvell Tell III said. "We've done an OK job so far — haven't been perfect. Just got to keep improving."

Tell is one of the team leaders, and he has the locker room looking forward not back. "We haven't talked about Texas since Sunday. We're on to the next one," he said.

Helton has been criticized for the media for having a positive attitude after losses, but LB Cameron Smith stands by his coach. "People handle losses differently," he said. "We know that he's got our backs and we have his back. We're in it together."

While the offense has been under the microscope all season, special teams had a tough night in Austin. "We've got a situation where we've just gotta do some things better, and that's why they put the big 'C' on your chest, it's to come out and coach and make things better," special teams coordinator John Baxter said.

The Trojans cannot settle on a punter as both Reid Budrovich and Chris Tilbey have been inconsistent. "They've got a bit of a funky rhythm they've fallen into and we're just helping them out," Baxter said. "If you watched practice today they hit the ball well."

Chase McGrath was an early bright spot this season at kicker, but he watched practice from a motorized cart as he awaits knee surgery. It's Michael Brown's job now. "I've got a ton of confidence in Michael Brown," Baxter said. "Michael Brown's a good player and it's a 'who's next?' deal, and he's who's next and we go play. Last year, Michael went down, Chase stepped up, Chase got compromised, Reid stepped up, and you put a player in and you go play so we're excited to watch him do that."

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