Heightened expectations for Cougars

PULLMAN — The Washington State Cougars football team came into the first two days of fall camp with heightened expectations and purpose.

"Everyone feels different. There is a different kind of vibe out here," junior quarterback Jeff Tuel said. "There is more confidence, more swagger. It's another ball club, honestly."

In fact, they already have a spoken team goal reflecting that change: a benchmark to reach the program's first postseason action since the 2003 Holiday Bowl victory over Texas.

"Bowl game, for sure," sophomore cornerback Nolan Washington said. "We plan on going bowling this year, and we are going to have to work hard and take it one day at a time to get ready for it."

Taking it slowly means the first few days of fall camp have been more about getting reacquainted with the speed and physical nature of the game than they were about wins and losses, but the Cougars seem to be bringing the mentality that each day is a chance to get closer to their postseason expectations - even if they remain without pads thus far.

"Most of the players don't like practicing like this, but it was a good second day," coach Paul Wulff said. "We cleaned a lot of things up from day one. Heck, we're doing all the right things right now, so we've just got to take the next step to the pads."

Putting on the shoulder pads - full pads won't make an appearance until Thursday - is something the defense is particularly excited about.

"It's going to be everything," Washington said. "Right now, this is where the receivers catch balls and look all cute, but tomorrow we'll be able to hit them a little bit and knock some balls out."

The defense's inability to be physical in the Cougars' second practice showed during an 11-on-11 hurry-up drill, where Tuel led the first-team offense down the field, going 3-of-3 on his attempts, highlighted by a floater touchdown pass to junior Gino Simone.

Also of note has been the play of the newcomers on the defensive line, who have brought added depth to a Washington State team that was dangerously thin up front in the spring due to injuries.

"All the new defensive linemen have a lot of potential. We got guys that can help us right away - junior college guys and even Darryl Paulo, who is catching on quick," junior defensive end Travis Long said. "The two young defensive tackles are quick. They are a little undersized right now, but they are definitely picking things up fast, which is nice."

Defensive tackle T.J. Polai was extremely aggressive with his hands in one-on-one blocking drills, but will have to add weight to his 6-0, 250-pound frame before he will make a dramatic impact in the Pac-12.

Returning to the practice field this fall is the two-time honorable mention All-Pac-10 defensive lineman Long, who missed the spring workouts with a shoulder injury but said he feels "100 percent." Long lifted all summer without a setback and is anxious to test out his body in an all-out practice after two days of practicing in a helmet and shorts.

"It was a really long spring, but it's great to be back. My shoulder is feeling good - no problems with it so far," Long said. "I am kind of nervous for the first padded practice to see how the shoulder holds up, but I'm very confident it will do well."

While practices have been focused affairs thus far, a few of the Washington State defenders took a light competitive approach to post-practice activities.

Senior linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis took a playful crack at playing quarterback, betting freshman safety Tyrone Duckett push-ups that he could throw a football into the small circular openings in a net quarterbacks use to improve their accuracy. After promptly making the first one, Hoffman-Ellis was promptly challenged by Duckett to do it again on a second toss, upping the bet. Hoffman-Ellis again connected with a nearly perfect toss.

Duckett, after some arguing, dropped to "pay up."

The Cougars will return to practice today at 2:30 p.m. in shoulder pads and helmets - full pads will have to wait until Thursday.