SB Nation - Xavier Hicks Jr

AUDIO: CougCenter Podcast, Episode 16 - Football Wrap

Nuss — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:21:08 -0000

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

Is there a chance these sorts of scenes could be fewer and farther in between next year? We think so.

Before we put this football season completely in the rearview mirror, just one last order of business: The final football podcast until August. We briefly look back at this train wreck of a season, but spend most of our time looking to the future and discussing just what it is that this team needs to do to take a step forward next season and in 2011.

As usual you can listen to the audio via the player below, or visit our podcast page for myriad subscription options. You can also find us in the iTunes directory under keyword "CougCenter." The advantage of subscribing? Besides having the audio directly delivered to your player of choice, I often upload the audio to the podcast site before posting it here -- this podcast was uploaded last night, so those of you with subscriptions have had access to this for the better part of 12 hours.

Also, be on the lookout for our next podcast, coming at you on Wednesday. We'll focus specifically on hoops, debriefing the Great Alaska Shootout and previewing the matchups with Gonzaga and Kansas State.

Poll

Your expectation for wins next year?

Two or fewer

64 votes

Three or four

123 votes

Five or more

16 votes

203 votes | Poll has closed

102nd Apple Cup: Washington 30, Washington State 0

Grady. — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:41:08 -0000

This game also happened yesterday.

Cougars vs Huskies Recap

Player of the Game: Reid Forrest. Our over-utilized punter had 7 boots for 277 yards, a long of 50 and 3 kicks downed inside the 20.

Unsung Hero: Xavier Hicks. Picked off Golden Boy Jake Locker and returned it 13 yards.

It was over when... Washington RB Chris Polk dove into the end zone to make it 20-0 with 6:11 to go in the third.

Play of the Game: Well, we didn't score, so... the Hicks INT.

Stat of the Game: The Cougars were unable to get any closer to the end zone than the Huskies' 33 yard line.

FIRST QUARTER GRADES: Defensive Backs

Dancing Football — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:30:16 -0000

More photos » by Dean Hare - AP

Contrary to popular belief among Cougar fans, this is not the accepted positioning for covering an offensive player.

Browse more photos »

GRADE: C-

STATS: (Best viewed in widescreen)

			Tackles					Sacks	Pass Defense					Fumbles			Blkd
DEFENSIVE LEADERS		GP	Solo	Ast	Total	TFL-Yds		No-Yds	Int-Yds		BU	PD	Qbh	Rcv-Yds		FF	Kick	Saf
26	Xavier Hicks	3	12	8	20	1.0	- 4	.		.	.	.	.	1	- 0	2	.	.
2A	Chima Nwachukwu	3	13	7	20	.		.	1	- 0	1	2	.	1	- 31	1	.	.
3	Brandon Jones	3	14	1	15	.		.	1	- 0	.	1	.		.	1	.	.
24	Daniel Simmons	3	8	2	10	.		.		.	2	2	.	1	- 0	.	.	.
15	LeAndre Daniels	2	6	1	7	.		.		.	.	.	.		.	.	.	.
27	Terrance Hayward	3	3	.	3	.		.		.	1	1	.		.	.	.	.
0I	Aire Justin	1	3	.	3	.		.		.	.	.	.		.	.	.	.
39	Kyle McCartney	3	2	.	2	.		.		.	.	.	.		.	.	.	.
5	Eric Block	2	2	.	2	.		.		.	1	1	.		.	.	.	.

COMMENTS: Before the season started, we knew that the secondary had some talent at the top, but a significant drop off after that. Injuries have tested that depth. Several guys have missed time, especially at the safety position (Eric Block, LeAndre Daniels, Tyree Toomer).

We needed senior safety, Xavier Hicks, to assert himself as a leader on the field and make big plays. While he has forced two fumbles and leads the team in tackles, he hasn't really made any of the "big hits" in the passing game that we have seen in the past. He has played to the level that we expect from him, not to the level we hoped he would rise to.

Overall, the secondary has faced pass heavy schemes the last two games and struggled. There have blown coverage assignments and an inability to cover talented wide receivers. Opposing quarterbacks have had wide open guys to hit and only the inaccuracy of a couple young QBs has saved the Cougar secondary from some more embarrassment.

However, that is not entirely their fault. The defense has had very little in terms of a consistent pass rush. Even an extremely talented secondary would have trouble covering receivers for as long as the Wazzu secondary has had to throughout the first quarter of the season.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE: Obviously, these guys aren't going to suddenly become faster and be able to keep up with Pac 10 wideouts on a regular basis. What they can do is stay focused and and stay disciplined. Too many times we have seen wide open receivers because of mistakes by the secondary in their zone assignments. If they can limit those, the back-breaking big plays can be avoided.

Additionally, we need more turnovers out of these guys if we are going to beat someone. By all accounts, Chima and Jones made very athletic plays on their interceptions against SMU and that must continue. This unit is still going to struggle to keep up with receivers, so they need to create takeaways to get themselves off the field.

THE MORNING PAPER: Wulff speaks, track wraps up championships

Nuss — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:15:43 -0000

Moving at the speed of the Internet, a lot of people have been quick to judge the recent run-ins with the law by a handful of football players over the past couple of weeks.

Not so fast, said Paul Wulff in an extended interview last night with KCPQ in Seattle.

On Tyree Toomer and LeAndre Daniels:

First of all, it's a mistake, and a poor choice by a couple young guys that have never been in trouble prior to Washington State or in their first year. Both have been done very well academically as well. I think when it's all said and done, there's a question mark on whether the charges will even be filed. There are some issues there behind the scenes that look favorable for the players.

And on Xavier Hicks:

Xavier's done a great job. He really had. What occurred was he had a traffic ticket in 2007 in Othello and it wasn't paid. And college students move around -- his address -- he didn't receive any of the information that it was suspended. And then he got pulled over and then he found out then. So, that's the offense. It's something he has to learn from, obviously, but those mistakes are going to occur.

Are there any repercussions?

We've got a few things we'll do to handle that, but for the most part, at this point, he's not going to be suspended.

So there you have it. All of you clamoring for justice to be swift and without mercy are going to be sorely disappointed.

The stuff with Hicks sounds plausible -- I had something come back to me from the people that run CCN after I moved a couple of times in college that took a letter from a lawyer to get sorted out. However, Hicks really might want to consider investing in some driving classes; he got pulled over after leaving jail, got a ticket in Othello that led to this license suspension, and had to be doing something he shouldn't have to be pulled over this time. The guy's been pulled over more times in the past few months than I have in my life. Perhaps he should just be a better driver.

I'm truly curious to see how the situation with Toomer and Daniels turns out, becuase I want to see just how what was reported can be chalked up to a misunderstanding. Makes me wonder if it wasn't them trying to play some kind of ill-conceived prank on some people who didn't think it was very funny. But, of course, that's just speculation.

Wulff talks about a lot of other stuff, too -- you can find the video from the three segments here. I put it on a separate page because of long load times.

Wrapping up the NCAA track championship from the weekend, Matt Lamb ended up finishing fifth in the discus competition. Pretty good showing for a guy who, by his own assessment, has been pretty off kilter all year long:

"All things considered, this was a pretty good way to end a mediocre season so I'll take it," Lamb said. "I'm about 30 to 35 pounds heavier than I was a year ago so I don't feel like I'm in the same throwing shape. I'm a lot stronger but I'm having a hard time transferring it into the discus. If I don't go to the USA nationals I'm going to relax and stay out of the weight room and get away from throwing for a little bit and focus on next season. I still have one more year and if I don't end up on the top of the podium I will be disappointed."

Marissa Tschida placed sixth in the javelin as well.

Lastly a couple of football notes:

ESPN is continuing its slow march toward world domination, securing broadcast rights to the Rose Bowl in 2011. Beginning that year, all five BCS games will be broadcast on cable. I hold little doubt that in my lifetime pretty much all events such as these will be available only on pay-per-view; it's really the only way these ever increasing broadcast rights will be able to keep up, and taking major championship events off over-the-air broadcasts is the first step.
Lew Wright over at Examiner.com has a cool little countdown of the top 10 most important Cougar football players for 2009. The latest installment places running back James Montgomery at No. 7.

Is Hicks finally out of chances?

Nuss — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:11:44 -0000

So, it appears Xavier Hicks is at it again. The guy slated to be your starting strong safety in the fall reportedly had his fourth run-in with the law on Monday, again for driving with a suspended license.

One has to wonder when this guy is going to be out of chances. Much was made of what he learned from his mistake with the rubbing-alcohol-in-the-contacts idea, and how hard he worked to regain his teammates' trust. No, he didn't commit DUI, or get arrested for stealing stuff, or assault anyone. But driving around Pullman -- a small town with an extensive bus system that students can ride for free -- with a suspended license is just plain dumb.

Raise your hand if you've ever been arrested once. A few of you? OK, keep your hand up if you've been arrested twice. Still some? Now, keep it up if you've been arrested four times. This is what I'm driving at.

As a high school teacher, I always tell my friends and colleagues that I can deal with the big mistake a kid makes, the big blow up. What I have a harder time dealing with is repeated disruptions and/or repeated incompetence. Sometimes, the little stuff piles up to much bigger than the big stuff. And this is as good an example of that as any.

The sports information department has said they're aware of the latest arrest, and that the matter has been turned over to the unity council. The fact that Wulff isn't intervening himself might be a bit of a sign of how seriously the team views this.

Hat tip to WSU Football Blog.

Poll

What should the Unity Council do with Xavier Hicks?

Enough is enough. Boot him.

74 votes

Dumb, but not dumb enough to be kicked off the team. Suspend him a few games.

34 votes

Dumb, but not dumb enough to miss playing time. The team needs him. Make him run stairs at 4 a.m. until he pukes.

31 votes

What's the big deal? I've been arrested six times. Let him off the hook.

3 votes

WCTHSS!

4 votes

146 votes | Poll has closed