New Washington State coach Mike Leach wants to take his team back to junior high as fall camp opens on Thursday.

Leach says he plans to emphasize blocking and tackling in the first week of practice as the Cougars seek to improve on a 4-8 season that ended with coach Paul Wulff being fired.

Leach says blocking and tackling are the same things that a good junior high would have emphasized.

One of the first personnel decisions Leach faces is whether to keep senior Jeff Tuel as the No. 1 quarterback or elevate backup Connor Halliday, a sophomore.

Both players will get plenty of reps, and Leach plans to designate a No. 1 within the first week of practice.