2010 NCAA Football Preview: Oregon State
For close to 30 years the Oregon State Beavers have been one of the worst teams in college football. Prior to Dennis Erickson’s first season in 1999 when the team went 7-5, the Beavers had not had a winning season since Dee Andros led the team to a 6-5 record back in 1970.
Since then the team has been to a bowl game in all but two seasons, in both which they finished 5-6 (2001 and 2005). Dennis Erickson soon departed for greener pastures, but the team brought back Mike Riley who has led the team to winning records in all but one season.
Three of the last four teams have finished in the top 25 for the Beavers. After finishing out of the rankings last season, head coach Mike Riley will be looking to get back in the top 25 in 2010. With a future Heisman contender in the backfield in Jacquizz Rodgers the offence will be better than ever, and with a talented collection of veterans returning the team should have no problem getting to a better bowl game than last season’s Las Vegas Bowl.
Offence
Having a running back like Jacquizz Rodgers in your backfield will increase your chances for victory regardless of who else you have on the field. One of the best players to escape the football Mecca of Texas (Rodgers is from Richmond, TX) in recent years, Rodgers has been a star player for the Beavers since he stepped on the field in 2008. That year he ran for 1253 yards on 259 carries with 11 touchdowns. Last season he stepped it up a notch, increasing his production to 1440 yards and 21 touchdowns while only getting 14 more carries. If he can improve again in 2010 his name will get mentioned in Heisman circles.
Another all-conference skill player returns with Rodgers to boost the offence. Wide receiver James Rodgers, Jacquizz’s older brother, caught 91 balls for 1034 yards and nine touchdowns. He may have a little trouble reaching that production again in 2010 since the Beavers will be breaking in a new quarterback. Sophomore Ryan Katz is penciled in to start so far over senior Peter Lalich. Katz has only seen time in three games so far; although his numbers were not big in high school he was a very efficient passer that made few mistakes.
What Katz will have to help him along is some pretty good protection from four returning offensive linemen; they should easily improve off of their 74th national ranking in sacks allowed from 2009.
Defence
With eight starters returning on defence it is safe to say that keeping teams out of the end zone will be the team’s strength.
The front four returns to lead the way. Senior defensive tackle Stephen Paea, an all-conference player from 2009, comes back along with fellow seniors Brennan Olander and Gabe Miller and junior Kevin Frahm. These guys did a pretty decent job against the run last season (25th nationally) and with the experience that playing together last season gave the group, the unit should improve from its 105th ranking in sack production.
The run defence could end up slipping a little as the team breaks in two new starters at linebacker. Senior Dwight Robertson will be the sole returning starter with Dwight Pa’aluhi unexpectedly quitting. Looking to pick up time will be senior Keo Camat and Keith Pankey who will be returning from an Achilles injury.
Pass defence should not slip, but hopefully improve with three of four starters returning. Lance Mithcell and Cameron Collins, both juniors, are slated to start with all-conference player Suaesi Tuimaunei ready to step in at a moment’s notice. Senior James Dockery returns at cornerback and hopes to do even better than his 38 tackle two interception performance from a year earlier.
The key to the Beaver season will end up being how well they can do against the pass. In a conference full of talented passing teams they will need to do better than rank 84th in pass defence and 105th in sacks to improve upon last season.
Tags: