PULLMAN - For the Washington State Cougars, the first week of fall camp is in the books - and so far camp has indicated what many Cougar fans believed at the end of last season: The team is improving.

"We've answered some things in the sense that we are pleased with some of the guys that are starting to step up," coach Paul Wulff said. "They've still got a ways to go, but they are progressing very well this first week. I've been happy with the whole football team and some of the youthful players on our team."

That progression can be felt at camp, where players have come in bigger, stronger and faster than in years past. Not only is there more depth and talent on the field, but the players have developed a quiet confidence that things are changing in Pullman.

"It's a team that is coming together," Wulff said. "They know each other better, they like each other, they have fun. Those are all things you try to build in your program."

One of the most important building blocks to a successful Pac-12 program is developing an elite-level quarterback. It appears Washington State has that in Jeff Tuel.

Coming into camp, many wondered just how significant a leap forward the incumbent starter had made in the offseason. He has clearly morphed from an up-and-coming Pac-12 playmaker to one of the conference's elite signal callers, putting on 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason and developing a leadership quality with his offensive teammates that only a talented, seasoned quarterback can bring. In fact, Tuel didn't throw his first interception of fall camp until Sunday's morning session - a streak of nine practices.

"I took a little pride in that, but I knew it was going to happen sooner or later," Tuel said.

Perhaps no player in the Pac-12 is going to mean more to his team's success than Tuel, and that means keeping him protected and healthy - a task that, at times, proved overwhelming for the Cougar offensive line last season.

The offensive line likely has its five starters established in David Gonzales, John Fullington, Andrew Roxas, B.J. Guerra and Wade Jacobson. However, depth still needs to be developed.

"I look for eight guys to play. I need three tackles, three guards and two centers," offensive line coach Steve Morton said. "Every spot has questions to be answered."

The group certainly looks the part of a more daunting unit - they all got bigger. Washington State hopes that fact, coupled with an additional year of experience, will lead to improvement.

The running back position remains unsettled with several candidates having stepped up and played solid - but unspectacular - football, led by bruiser Logwone Mitz and speedster Rickey Galvin, who have taken the majority of the snaps with the first team.

"Right now they are all doing well. I've been impressed with Carl Winston and the reason why is that he's been really consistent. He's coming off an injury in spring and, you know, he's not 100 percent in some respects, because he hasn't had the full opportunity to train, but he's playing good football."

Wulff also mentioned that Galvin and Mitz have "done well" and that freshman Marcus Mason, who may be the fastest player in camp, has shown flashes.

The wide receiver position has proven to be Washington State's strongest and deepest. Sophomore receiver Marquess Wilson has made several spectacular catches and senior Jared Karstetter has been equally impressive.

"If I ever get nervous or unsure, those two are there like, I don't know, they are my rocks," Tuel said. "They are smart, physical and make plays on the ball. When things break down, I look for those two. They are really special players. They definitely make me look better than I am at times."

Redshirt freshman Kristoff Williams has dropped a few balls, but also has shown flashes of the potential breakout star the Washington State coaches believed he could be in fall camp last year before an injury forced him to redshirt.

On the other side of the ball, the defensive line and linebackers have added significant depth with several talented youngsters entering the program.

"This is a very, very athletic group of young kids on defense. We are hoping not to have to play many of them at all - there may be one or two that end up playing - but it's a great young group of defensive players that have got a bright future. They've got a chance to do a lot of great things here at this university on defense."

Those freshmen may have bright futures, but right now the defense line is led by two-time honorable mention All Pac-10 honoree Travis Long, who has shown little rust after missing the spring with a shoulder injury.

"He looks fine to me. He looks very fluid out there," defensive line coach Todd Howard said. "He's a leader and he has the ability to make plays."

The other defensive end spot is still a question, but it's possible that junior college transfer Lenard Williams, who has shown a knack for getting to the quarterback, may fill that role.

Defensive tackles Anthony Lorenzi, Brandon Rankin and redshirt freshman Toni Pole will look to man the middle this season and are all healthy after a spring that saw both Rankin and Pole miss time with injuries.

"There's a lot of depth compared to last year," Rankin said. "A lot of guys are stepping up, like Toni Pole."

The linebackers - led by Alex Hoffman-Ellis and Sekope Kaufusi - are the most experienced group on the defense, but have been too inconsistent thus far, according to linebacker coach Chris Tormey.

"I think it's a talented group," Tormey said. "We've had some good days and some not so good days (in fall camp), we've just got to be more consistent on a day-to-day basis."

The secondary has been tested throughout camp, having to go against the Cougar receivers, but has indicated with their play that they have learned from last season's trial-by-fire in the Pac-12. The group finally got on the scoreboard in the interception category against the first-unit offense on Sunday when Damante Horton intercepted two Tuel passes.

There are still several questions to be answered, but after nine straight practices, they will have to wait until at least Tuesday with the team getting a break from practice today.

"I know the coaches need it, the players need it. We need it mentality. We need it physically," Wulff said. "We just are getting to that threshold right now where we are starting to get a lot of guys nicked up in the last 24 hours. It's coming at a good time to get the guys refreshed a little bit."