PULLMAN — There’s lots to like about this Washington State offensive line, position coach Jared Kaster will tell you, but the group’s depth and versatility stands out most in his mind. For example: Redshirt junior Christian Hilborn is at his best at left guard, but because of injuries, he’s been taking a majority of his reps at right tackle. Right guard Brock Dieu has rotated on occasion to center.
And now that Rod Tialavea is back healthy, he’s stepped back into his role at left guard. WSU is trying to tread water until veteran right tackle Fa’alili Fa’amoe, out since the beginning of the calendar year with a knee injury, can return. That won’t come until WSU visits rival Washington for a nonconference clash in Seattle — at the earliest — so in the meantime, Kaster is finding out who he can trust at different spots.
“I think it shows that you know what you’ve done in recruiting, what you’ve done to build an O-line room, is starting to kind of show a little bit,” said Kaster, who coached last year at Austin Peay. “Having the depth, you’ve got guys, and if they don’t get it done, you’ve got guys behind yourself that have grown in the program, that have grown in the weight room. You’ve got guys that played a lot of football.
” The Cougs’ offensive line produced several promising moments in Tuesday’s practice, the team’s 11th of fall camp. On one sequence at the goal line, the front five generated a push to free up running back Djouve.