⚡ CFB Dashboard

WASHINGTON STATE'S OFFENSE didn't just struggle Saturday at Kansas State, it repeatedly put itself in situations where success became increasingly difficult. In a 34-7 loss to the Wildcats, the Cougars managed only two conversions on 12 third-down attempts, a number head man Kirby Moore said simply isn't good enough. More troubling, he said, is what happened on the downs leading up to those third downs. For Moore, the postgame diagnosis started there: WSU wasn't efficient enough on first and second down, leaving itself in too many third-and-long and third-and-extra-long situations against a Kansas State defense that was more than capable of making the Cougars pay. And when those long-yardage situations piled up, sustaining drives became a nearly impossible proposition. The offensive struggles weren't confined to one position group. Moore pointed to issues up front, on the perimeter and with ball security, while stopping short of placing the blame on any one unit before he had a chance to fully evaluate the film. The running game produced some creases later in the second half, but the Cougars couldn't sustain them. There were also questions about some of the offensive decisions, particularly a third- and fourth-down sequence in the first half that ended without points. Moore said those plays — and the defensive looks Kansas State presented — would get a closer examination. The bigger picture, Moore said, is that the offense has to become a better version of itself, and quickly. That starts with everyone taking ownership, he said, beginning with himself. After the flight home, the message was clear: the loss has to be put behind them, because the work begins again Monday. Moore also provided a brief injury update on corner Jalil Tucker, who suffered what he called a "little nick." Tucker was close to playing Saturday and, barring a setback, Moore expects him to return next week. MOORE ON OFFENSE OVERALL AND ITS ISSUES: Still first and second down, you go back to that. I don't know the exact third-and-long and XL numbers, but I think that was fairly high again. And just we've got to create explosives in those situations. Trying to put together eight-, 10-, 12-play drives versus a defense like K-State, that's going to be pretty difficult. MOORE ON THE OFFENSIVE PROBLEMS AND HOW MUCH THE O-LINE IS TO BLAME: I need to evaluate the tape more before singling out a position group. I think there was facets of, yeah, up front. There was facets on the perimeter. Obviously, you've still got to continue to work on ball security. So all those things had a part. MOORE ON THE PLAY CALLING, PARTICULARLY THIRD- AND FOURTH-DOWN SEQUENCE: Yeah, we gotta look at that. Naturally, I think just the third and fourth down, that was probably a big one there in the first half. They did a good job. They stopped us. Look at that sequence there of plays and kind of the numbers and what the defense did as well. MOORE ON IF OFFENSE IS PUTTING PLAYERS IN POSITION TO SUCCEED: We just gotta work together to improve. That's the most important thing. We gotta have a better product on offense. MOORE ON THE RUNNING GAME: I need to evaluate it more. I thought they did a good job. Up front, there was a couple of creases there later in the second half, but obviously didn't sustain it. MOORE ON MESSAGE TO TEAM ABOUT MOVING ON: We've all got to take ownership. It's got to start inside out. And then that starts with me. Obviously, get over it on the flight, and we come in the building tomorrow, we better have the right mindset. MOORE ON 2 of 21 THIRD-DOWN CONVERSION RATE THIS SEASON ON OFFENSE: For sure, that's not good enough. But you look at first and second down, the percentages of conversion on third and long ... are already low. And then you're playing good teams. We've got to be more efficient on first and second down, stay in third and medium, third and short. And that's better for anyone on offense. MOORE ON THE DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE: I thought they did a good job standing tall there a number of times. Obviously, you've got to get back to work. MOORE ON INJURY TO CB JALIL TUCKER: Jaleel had a little nick. He was close to playing. I think he'll be back next week. Related: 3 instant takeaways