NCAA Football FanHouse

Take The NCAA Official Exam, Prepare to Fail

Adam Jacobi — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: Washington Football, General CFB Insanity, NCAA FB Media Watch, Oregon State Football

With the advent of high-level television productions in college football, it's awfully easy to be an armchair ref these days. Heck, even the absence of such luxuries doesn't stop fans from pretending to be experts; just go to any football game where the referee has to do anything at all ever and watch the crowd for proof.

So CBS's Dennis Dodd, on a whim, got a hold of the NCAA's official, um, Official Exam. It's 100 questions, none of them obvious, and most of them downright ruthless. Dodd scored a 46.

You can download a PDF version of the test or take an online version.

But Dodd's just a journalist, which is somewhere lower than "blogger" and higher than "poodle" in terms of intellect. Certainly Blogfrica's preeminent authority on all things pigskin, Sunday Morning Quarterback, would do far better, yes? No, not really. 55.

Naturally, I couldn't resist the temptation. How hard can it be, right?

Um, right?

Examples, scores, and more after the jump.

Now, the particularly evil aspect of the test is that questions are multiple choice, usually with two or three answers (sometimes four). So while you're slogging through and scarcely answering half right, keep this in mind: officials aren't afforded that luxury, much less an unlimited amount of time, during gameplay. This is easy to them.

Anyway, onto the results. I, a football geek and veteran of literally thousands of NCAA Football games, also scored a 55. Again, out of 100. Keep in mind, though, that those numbers certainly don't indicate that I knew half the questions (WARNING: Dork math to follow. Poke around somewhere else on Fanhouse if you want more childish humor. Like here!). With the rate of success at 38.833% (I counted.), 45 wrong answers equates to roughly 74 guesses. So I knew about a quarter of the questions, not 55. Football genius over here, folks!

Go on, take the test. Unless you've intimately studied the NCAA rule book (indeed, incorrect answers aren't so much explained as just cited), you'll suffer. Want proof? Here are four random selections from the quiz:

30. Team B intercepts a legal forward pass and scores a touchdown. Prior to the change of team possession, Team A is flagged for a chop block. Time expires in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd quarter during the down.
A. Team B may elect to have the 15-yard penalty for the personal foul enforced on the try or the succeeding kickoff, including the 2nd half kickoff. The period is extended for the try but not the succeeding kickoff.
B. The penalty is declined by rule.
C. If Team A opts for the penalty on the succeeding kickoff, the quarter will be extended for one un-timed down.

79. A's ball 4th & 16 on A's 44. Team B defensive end blocks the kick and roughs the kicker. The kick does not cross the neutral zone. Team B defensive tackle bats the ball forward from A's 32 where the defensive end picks up the ball on A's 26 and advances to A's 20 where he pitches the ball forward to a teammate who advances across the Team A goal line.
A. A 1st & 10 @ B41
B. A 4th & 1 @ B41
C. B 1st & 10 @ A25

81. 2nd & 14 @ A's 28. Team A right guard commits a false start. Team B nose guard reacts and commits a personal foul when he slams the right guard to the ground. Team A is lined up in an illegal formation.
A. Offsetting dead ball fouls; 2nd & 14 @ A's 28.
B. A 1st & 10 @ A38

94. Free kick @ K's 30. While the untouched free kick is rolling on K's 38, a Team K player blocks his opponent above the waist at A's 42. At the same time and while the ball is on A's 38, a receiving team player blocks the kicker above the waist on K's 37. Team K recovers the untouched kick on K's 42.
A. K 1st and 10 @ K's 42.
B. R 1st and 10 @ K's 42.
C. R 1st and 10 @ K's 37; tack on foul.
D. K rekicks from K's 25.

Ye gods.

Dodd makes the point that the veritable impossibility of the quiz proves that refereeing is difficult (you think?) and that fans ought to take that into consideration next time they complain about a blown call. Which, fine, I guess, but you never see the crowd up in arms because the ref blew it on "4th Team A is in a scrimmage kick formation. Team A player #32, an exception to the mandatory numbering rule, lines up inside Team A end #82. Before the snap #82 shifts to a backfield position. Team A has seven linemen at the snap. Team A's punt goes out of bounds on B's 39."

No, it's this sort of thing that angers fans:

So certainly we can and should appreciate the mind-melting detail that goes into every quick decision a referee must make, and there should also be no easy dismissal of just how freaking hard it is to get right a play with any combination of confounding factors. To use such ridiculous nuance to exempt referees from horribly blown calls on the most obvious of plays, however, is faulty logic. A vast knowledge of the rule book and the ability to biff an easy call are not mutually exclusive qualities, after all, especially with the sometimes obscured angles the refs get on field level.

It certainly does highlight the need for a thorough replay system, though, doesn't it?

Take The NCAA Official Exam, Prepare to Fail originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Oregon State Secondary Suffers a Big Loss

Sean Hawkins — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:24:00 EST

Filed under: Pac 10, Oregon State Football

First it was Al Afalava, the hard-hitting senior safety who ran afoul of the law. Afalava was involved in a weird story a few months ago, where he was charged with a DUI, criminal mischief and hit-and-run charges for destroying a city bus shelter with his car and then fleeing the scene on foot. Afalava is also the guy Washington fans officially hate after his helmet-to-helmet hit on QB Jake Locker last year that could have been a disaster. Afalava's punishment for his off-the-field incident is that he will miss the upcoming season opener vs. Stanford.

But now in an unusual story, senior safety Bryan Payton has suddenly left the Beaver football program. Payton was set to be the starting free safety next to Afalava this season, listed as a co-starter with senior Greg Laybourn.

The details are still hazy as to why Payton left. The Oregonian reports that he wasn't exactly kicked off the team, and that it wasn't a football issue. The speculation appears to be a mutual parting of the ways, with a few comments insinuating that Payton was a bit of a headache to the coaching staff. He had some past issues, including being sent home from the 2004 Insight.com bowl and reportedly had some academic problems over his career.

Losing Afalava as a starter is bad enough for a defense that is only projected to return three total starters from last year. But at least Afalava's loss is only for one game. Payton was one of the few members of the defense who has actually started a game in the past, but it will certainly be Laybourn's job now.

Oregon State Secondary Suffers a Big Loss originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Recruiting: Sometimes Sons Say Sorry, Dad

Brian Grummell — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:18:00 EST

Filed under: Clemson Football, Georgia Football, UCLA Football, NCAA FB Recruiting, The Word, Oregon State Football

Few things in life are as heartwarming as a lifelong bond between father and son. Playing catch in the backyard. Going fishing. Hell, getting a little homework help. But then young men eventually grow up and gain independence and make decisions that take them away from their fathers.

Nowhere is that more public than in the recruiting game. Many times a player will stick with his father (see Luke Bellotti playing at Oregon for his father Mike Bellotti or quarterback Cody Hawkins heading to Colorado to play for his old man). But while blood may be thicker than water, sometimes blood doesn't have the pull it should.

Last year, Georgia coach Mark Richt's son Jon Richt pledged to play quarterback for Clemson over his fathers' Dawgs. No doubt a tough decision for a closeknit family like that. The separation continues this year as it is rumored UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker's son Kevan, a receiver prospect, will not stick with dear old dad at UCLA but instead play for the Oregon State Beavers.

The upshot to all of this is that while recruiting is a competitive, sometimes nasty business, coaches recruiting a fellow coaches' son must tone down his pitch which can only help but improve relations between coaches.

Recruiting: Sometimes Sons Say Sorry, Dad originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posse On Bowl-way: Maryland

Ian Cohen — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 13:13:00 EST

Filed under: Maryland Football, ACC, Bowl Games, Oregon State Football

Happy To Be Here?

Considering that the ACC is considered the be the weakest of the BCS conferences, I would say that any bowl game played outside of Kabul is a sweet reward for going 6-6 (3-5). And to think- they weren't even the last choice from the conference!

Granted, they were only one of four teams that managed to beat two Top-Ten teams this season, although the win against #10 Rutgers feels like it was from an era where women weren't allowed to vote and mass air travel was done via zeppelin. Let's also remember that they claim Villanova and Florida International as two other scalps. Then again, they were at least competitive in most of their losses and this could just be an evening out of karma for last season where they were often outplayed statistically but also often victorious.

Come Here Often?

This is the Terrapins' first trip to the Emerald Bowl, although they have been to bowls the previous three seasons and won them by a combined 95-17.

Why Care?

I'll admit that the Emerald Bowl feels like a raw deal for just about any ACC team; they have to travel all the way across the country and play a team that could likely make a day trip out of it. Moreover, it's usually somewhat uneven- Oregon State is 3rd in the Pac-10 and probably playing better than that, after turning on the rocket sauce late in the season, as is their tradition. Moreover, they're 2nd in the country against the run and Maryland doesn't really have a passing game that's been reliable at any point this year...particularly illustrated by how they're near the bottom statistically in terms of sacks allowed. Guess it wasn't just Chris Long tearing these guys up. Still, Ralph Friedgen is certainly the kind of coach you'd want on the sidelines with about a month's worth of preparation and the Terps have been known to play to the level of their competition as long as it isn't West Virginia.

And The Winner Is...

I imagine that I'll be tempted to give the benefit of the doubt to the ACC considering, you know, it's my beat and all. But in reality, Oregon State has nearly every conceivable advantage on either side of the ball and the fact that the last two Emerald Bowls resulted in upsets is probably not enough for one of the weakest teams that made the postseason.

Oregon State 23 Maryland 13

Posse On Bowl-way: Maryland originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 13:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

YouTubesDay: Refs Muff Huskies-Beavers

Scott Olin Schmidt — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:08:00 EST

Filed under: Washington Football, Pac 10, NCAA FB Scandal, NCAA FB Video, Oregon State Football

If you thought the officiating was bad in last year's Oregon-Oklahoma game, the Pac Ten officials have taken incompetence to a new level in last week's Washington-Oregon State game, and Pac Ten Commissioner Tom Hansen is not amused:

"Our review of the game included study of the game tape by Coordinator of Football Officiating Dave Cutaia, Director of Instant Replay Verle Sorgen, football administrator Jim Muldoon and me, review of game reports from the officiating crew and instant replay officials, communications with the two institutions and follow-up communications with the referee of the game.
"We regret that there was flagrant misconduct on the part of some players which led to four ejections from the game, that there was an injury to Washington quarterback Jake Locker which increased the emotions of the players and that the instant replay crew failed to stop the game to review the play at the goal line with just under three minutes to play. On the play, it was ruled Oregon State's Yvenson Bernard fumbled. However, it appeared his knee had touched the ground before he lost the ball...

"We do believe the instant replay officials did not perform properly on the Bernard fumble play. There was human error in that while reviewing the available replays the crew failed to notify the game officials to stop play before the ball was snapped for the next play. It was not the fault of the equipment. The game should have been stopped and the play reviewed. The members of the IR crew have been reprimanded."

As for the hit on Locker, which has gotten alot of attention, Hansen is less critical of the officials, stating, "We believe the helmet-to-helmet contact on the hit on Locker was inadvertent. College football is played at a very high speed, and hard collisions such as this one result. Thankfully, Locker apparently did not suffer a serious injury."

In addition to last year's debacle between Oregon and Oklahoma, Pac Ten officials have come under scrutiny this year by USC Head Coach Pete Carroll, who won an apology from officials over a blown review against Notre Dame and still has trouble understanding why USC's opponents are the least-penalized in the conference while his teams are drawing the most yellow flags.

YouTubesDay: Refs Muff Huskies-Beavers originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Pac-10 Officials Outdo Themselves

Brian Grummell — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:36:00 EST

Filed under: Washington Football, Pac 10, The Word, Oregon State Football

All year I've had a running conversation with my colleague Charles Rich about what conference has the worst officials. He's made good points about certain situations in the ACC and I can name plenty of Pac-10 situations beyond the obvious Oregon/Oklahoma fiasco.

Tonight's performance may top that.

I didn't immediately see it, but a friend did and what follows is a piecing together (along with what I'm reading on various message boards) of the play in dispute between Oregon State and Washington.

Leading Washington 29-23 late in their game, Oregon State tailback Yvenson Bernard ran for about 10 yards and was tackled near the opponent goal line. He was clearly down, side on the ground, arm down, everything. But after another moment he became separated from the ball. Everyone stood around realizing the play was dead, but then a Washington player scooped up the ball and returned it nearly for a touchdown.

Officials then inexplicably and horrendously gave possession to the Huskies. There was no review, no change, no stoppage of play to evaluate what had just happened. A chorus of boos erupted from the Beaver faithful as Washington unsuccessfully ran what would have been a game-winning offensive possession. Fortunately for the Beavers, the Huskies turned the ball over on downs and Oregon State was able to escape with its rightful victory.

Although the players celebrated their win on the field, the fans continued to boo and protest, clearly put off by what appears to have been a horrendous and nearly game-changing mistake by Pac-10 officials. I hate to use the word crisis, but the credibility of Pac-10 officials is very low and once people get word of this ... it's going to be hard for the league to manage its officials with "business as usual" policies.

Anyway, Charles: at least for this week, I'm right about which conference has the worst officials. Let's hope some ACC team doesn't suffer under an even worse call next weekend.

Pac-10 Officials Outdo Themselves originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Locker Carted Off

Charles Rich — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:06:00 EST

Filed under: Washington Football, Pac 10, NCAA FB Injuries, Oregon State Football

Jake Locker was carted off the field late in the 1st half of the Washington-Oregon State game. The Washington QB took a helmet-to-helmet hit while running with the ball and went down hard.

The reports are spotty, but his head was immobilized and there was concern about an injury to the neck and spine. He was being taken to a local hospital for x-rays and possibly a cat scan.

The later reports are saying that Locker is feeling pain in his neck. Something that is actually a good thing. Just an absolutely scary hit and injury. Hopefully it isn't anything long term.

Locker Carted Off originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Cal Didn't Want To Be #1 Either

Brian Grummell — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 22:51:00 EST

Filed under: California Football, Oregon State Football

I see you Kentucky over LSU, and I raise you Oregon State over California.

A linear, predictable season is just not in the cards for college football v. 2007. I'm all for an upset now and then but this is getting to be ri-gosh-darn-diculous.

If you've ever coached football, you don't even want to know how Cal's otherwise heroic backup quarterback ended his team's hope late in the game. Let's just say it was a Chris Webber-like moment. With 14 seconds left, trailing by three with no timeouts and ball inside the 20, Cal lined up to attempt one last pass before they planned to line up for a tying field goal.

That all went bust when quarterback Kevin Riley scrambled instead of attempting a pass or throwing the ball away. The clock then ticked down as he randomly ran off the field with the ball instead of attempting to spike it.

The collection of geniuses (well, mostly, in theory, maybe?) that comprise the Cal student body refuses to leave the stands they're that stunned at the stupidity of the moment. Coach Jeff Tedford's reaction was agonizing and horrible and sad all at the same time.

Oregon State 31 - California 28

And so this very weird 2007 season goes on.

Cal Didn't Want To Be #1 Either originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 13 Oct 2007 22:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

OSU's Stroughter Saga Over for 2007

Sean Hawkins — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 09:23:00 EST

Filed under: Pac 10, Oregon State Football

The long, strange trip for Sammie Stroughter has come to an end for 2007. The talented WR, who had an odd leave of absence from the team during fall camp and the first game of the season, only to return to the team, is now out for the year with a bruised kidney. Stroughter got hurt in the loss to Arizona State on 9/22 and hasn't been on the field since.

Head coach Mike Riley actually expects Stroughter to take a medical redshirt this year and return in 2008, but it's hard to know what to expect from Sammie. He's set to earn his degree before camp next year, and as he's shown already, anything can happen with Strougther.

This is a huge loss for the offense and return game. OSU beat Arizona without too much trouble last week, but Sean Canfield continues to make too many mistakes in the passing game with more interceptions. Canfield now has 13 picks in six games, by far the leader in the Pac-10 in that dubious category. Canfield is ahead of only UW's frosh QB Jake Locker in terms of passing efficiency. To lose the top deep threat and the guy considered the top returning receiver from 2006 is a big blow to a struggling passing game. With the Cal Bears up next, it doesn't figure to get any easier this Saturday.

OSU's Stroughter Saga Over for 2007 originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 10 Oct 2007 09:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

UCLA the Perfect Opponent for Oregon State?

Sean Hawkins — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 08:35:00 EST

Filed under: Pac 10, Oregon State Football

After last week's mistake filled, come-from-ahead loss to ASU in which the Beavers blew a 19-0 lead, there is a real sense of urgency around Corvallis. This week UCLA is on the docket, and the intensity for Oregon State is on the rise this week. The team sits at 2-2 after the disappointment last Saturday where the Beavs' turned it over six times, including five Sean Canfield INT's in a frustrating night in Tempe.

Obviously the turnovers cannot continue at a pace like this. The Beavers have the most interceptions of any Pac-10 team, and, for that matter, any program in division-I football. That's right, they currently lead the nation in giveaways through the air with 13. 13 INT's in only four games? Yikes. Some teams won't even have that many in an entire season, and we're only 1/3rd of the way into the 2007 schedule. Plus, their 16 total turnovers places them almost dead-last in the country.

The seriously frustrating part is that the Beaver D is playing well against the run. They are tops in the Pac-10, giving up a measly 29 yards and change per game rushing. That's good for number two in the nation behind only LSU. And they also lead the conference in sacks. So the defense is doing it's part, but oh, those turnovers. Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. Almost like Jan Brady and the "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" tag-line, they just can't escape the reality for how turnovers can change entire games.

But as they say, timing is everything. And with UCLA coming to town, the Bruins might be the perfect remedy for what ails Oregon State. UCLA is in a bit of a QB quandry themselves, as starter Ben Olson struggled early this year and actually sat out last week's win vs. UW with "headaches". Patrick Cowan came off the bench and did a decent job of not trying to do too much and let his running game do the talking vs. the Huskies. But Cowan was lost to a partial tear of the MCL in his right knee and is out for the next several weeks, so the job is once again Olson's. And that's pretty good news right now for the Oregon State faithful.

Olson has been mediocre at best this year. He's completing barely over 50% of his passes, and has four INT's in three starts as he tries to live up the hype that was generated from the day he signed with UCLA. Olson also isn't much in terms of mobility, currently with negative-75 yards rushing. Obviously sacks have a lot to do with that total, and the Bruins have been sacked a conference-high nine times this year.

UCLA's strength is to run the football, as they flexed some serious rushing muscle vs. UW in hanging 333 yards on the Huskies Saturday, but that runs face first into what Oregon State does best, which is defending the run. Combine that with the fact that UCLA has been inconsistent at best over 2006 and into 2007, and are just 2-5 in their last 7 road games. UCLA is coming off a big, emotional home win, but don't forget, just two weeks ago UCLA was whipped 44-6 at Utah where Ben Olson struggled mightily on the road. That's the same Utah team that Oregon State handled without too much trouble to open the 2007 season.

There's a revenge angle here as well, as Oregon State went down to the Rose Bowl last year and were beaten soundly 25-7 against UCLA. Finally, Oregon State head coach Mike Riley? He's 0-8 against UCLA in his career. UCLA happens to be the only Pac-10 team that he's never defeated in his years at Oregon State. Something's gotta give here. Add it all up, and this might be the perfect game for Oregon State to get things going in the right direction.

UCLA the Perfect Opponent for Oregon State? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 08:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Dennis Erickson is Over You, Oregon State

Sean Hawkins — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Pac 10, Arizona State Football, Oregon State Football

Say what you will about Dennis Erickson, but he is one heck of a college football coach. Erickson has been coach of the year in the Pac-10 on two different occasions, first in 1988 at Washington State, and then again in 2000 at Oregon State. Overall he's 151-65-1, one of the best winning percentages of all time with a coaching record of at least 100 victories. In his Pac-10 tenure, he spent only two years at WSU before bolting for the beaches in Miami, but he gave the Beavers four good years. Three of those at OSU were winning seasons, including a co-Pac-10 title and wipeout of Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl to cap an 11-1, magical 2000 season.

Now, the Beavers head to the desert this Saturday for an early-season showdown with ASU. ASU is off to an excellent start, undefeated thus far at 3-0, and they are favored to win this weekend. ASU is also showing a bit of the bandit approach that often times comes with an Erickson coached NCAA team, with 12 penalties vs. Colorado in the second game of the season, including several of the personal-foul variety.

With the greatness that Oregon State was able to achieve under Erickson, a program that didn't even have a winning season since 1970 before he showed up in 1999 and led them to a 7-5 record, the questions for him were naturally going to be asked about his time in Corvallis. But does Dennis feel much these days about good ol' OSU?

"When I went back last year when I was at Idaho, to go back there and play the first time back, it was probably nostalgic,'' he said. "Now it's just, I've been gone, this will be my fifth year. Mike [Riley] has been there for five. I enjoyed my time there, it was a lot of fun, accomplished some things, but it's really no different than any other game anymore."

Ok then. No different than any other game, that's fine. I guess Dennis is used to just turning it off once he leaves a job for the next big thing. So, sorry Idaho, Wyoming, Washington State, Miami, Seattle, Oregon State, San Francisco and Idaho yet again. When you're a coaching nomad like Erickson, you're just another rung on the ladder. Maybe WSU's color commentator and former head coach Jim Walden said it best about Erickson during a recent broadcast: "Dennis Erickson is like the big elephant in the parade. Everyone lines up to watch him, and they love what they see. But you know after he's gone there's going to be some clean-up."

Dennis Erickson is Over You, Oregon State originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

OSU's Riley Searching for QB Answers

Sean Hawkins — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 10:22:00 EST

Filed under: Pac 10, Oregon State Football

While Oregon State's QB's have been underwhelming, I guess in retrospect you could see this coming. It started in the spring, where Sean Canfield nor Lyle Moevao grabbed the job, and both struggled with consistency in practices and scrimmages. The fall rolled around, and once again, it appeared that neither guy stepped forward. Canfield was given the starting nod, but in no way was he considered "the guy" just yet, as Mike Riley split the playing time throughout the first game. Canfield got the majority of the snaps vs. Cincinnati, and you could see Riley wanted Canfield to seize the day and become the guy. But it appears that his struggles have only exasperated an issue that could torpedo Oregon State's season. The QB's have to get better, fast. At least Riley sees it that way:

Q: Improved play of quarterbacks a focus this week?

"Yes. It's mostly about having the composure and the patience to just go through their progressions in the game. There were times they weren't allowed to do that, but that's football a little bit. ... watching the film, I get a clear picture of what they could have done with ball at times. ... and I think that will help them tremendously. I think they will get better from it. Frustrating as it was, I think they both had kind of a fighting attitude about it.''

Experience is the best teacher, in almost every walk of life anyway, and QB at the division-1 level is no different. This was, after all, Oregon State's first road game of the season, and first career road start for Sean Canfield. Mistakes have to be expected, it's just a given with inexperience.

Who knows, maybe this game was simply another egg-laying exercise for the Beavers in their repeated tendency to lose on the road in early season out-of-conference games? Check this out:

2003, they lose a squeaker to Fresno State.
2004, a brutal 22-21 OT loss at LSU on missed extra points by then-frosh kicker Alexis Serna, and then a 53-34 humiliation at Boise State the following week.
2005 was the nightmare 63-27 loss at Louisville.
And finally, last year, a 42-14 wipeout, again at Boise State.

The disturbing thing is that Oregon State saw a glimpse of what every defense is going to do the rest of the season, and they couldn't overcome it: pack the box with defenders, attack the line of scrimmage by taking away the running game, and dare the young QB's to beat them over the top.

Perhaps the best news of all is the return of Sammie Stroughter. The top home-run threat, by far, on the roster, Stroughter's presence back in the regular WR rotation could do wonders for the youthful QB's. But until Canfield or Moevao can loosen up the defenses and keep them honest, it's going to be a whirlwind of bodies coming from every angle.

OSU's Riley Searching for QB Answers originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 10 Sep 2007 10:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Bearcats Dine on Oregon State Turnovers

Sean Hawkins — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 07:44:00 EST

Filed under: Pac 10, Oregon State Football

So much for the Beavers' ability to hold up in the heat of Cincinnati. A steady diet of turnovers killed any hope Oregon State had to win this one, and it was a slow, painful loss as the Bearcats rolled, 34-3. As great a day as it was for the Pac-10 when Cal beat Tennessee last Saturday, this one was a big black eye for the conference.

34-3 when you are a three-point favorite? 34-3 when you hold your opponent to just 30 rushing yards and 229 yards of total offense for the entire game? How did this happen? Well, the obvious thing that jumps out from the box score is, in a word - turnovers. Try seven of them. The Beavers threw six INT's, plus fumbled a punt that was recovered on their own two yard line that Cincy easily converted to a TD. Oh yeah, there was also a blocked punt that was recovered in the end zone for another TD.

There was more to it, though, and one huge thing that the Bearcats head coach Brian Kelly preached all week. Stopping the run would stop Oregon State, and he was absolutely right. The Beavers could only muster 36 rushing yards, total, for the night. That's normally a good quarter of football for Oregon State, but 36 yards rushing? Running the football is Oregon State's clear strength, and in order for them to be successful, particularly early in the year while they break in their new QB tandem, they have to have a good ground game. But it was a great move by Cincinnati to come in and take Yvenson Bernard and the rest of the OSU running game completely out of the game. By constantly putting "rookie" QB's Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao in 2nd or 3rd and long situations, they had the Beavers right where they wanted them. The further the game went, and the more frustrated the QB's became, you could really see them start to force the action when plays just weren't there.

The loss of all-everything offensive guard Jeremy Perry can't fully take the blame for such an inept effort running the ball, but there is little doubt he was missed. Cincinnati attacked the line of scrimmage all night long, blitzing from various angles and showing a strong commitment to stopping the run. Their quickness on defense was an eye-opener to the Oregon State offense. However, Perry is immensely talented and will go down as one of the most decorated offensive lineman in Oregon State history, and continuity is a big issue with offensive lines. When you suddenly remove one of your best players on the team, and such a key cog in the offensive machine, there was bound to be a step back. But this was about as bad as one can imagine, and the worst possible thing happened.

The Beavers are going to have to figure out their QB situation, one way or another. Mike Riley wanted to give Canfield the job, and you can tell last night by how long he stuck with him before finally going to Moevao. This QB issue has lingered since the spring, and for whatever reason, neither Canfield nor Moevao have seized the day. Is it time to consider senior Ryan Gunderson, the least-talented of the three QB's but the most experienced in terms of being around the program and playing in small stints over the last several years? The danger is that if they pull the plug on either QB and go to Gunderson, they could have a real mess on their hands in regards to team chemistry. QB controversies have divided locker rooms in the past. One of the hallmarks of last year's Oregon State football team was their ability to play together when the going got tough. They had excellent chemistry, but also an experienced senior QB to lead them. Further, by pulling the plug on the young guys, they also risk destroying the confidence of their young QB's and could really pay the price next year when they don't have the senior to fall back on, and the QB's aren't any better than they are right now.

Believe it or not, this isn't the end of the season for Oregon State. Last year around this time, they were still sifting through the wreckage of an embarrassing 42-14 blowout at the hands of Boise State. The Beavers would actually start out the '06 season with a 2-3 record before circling the wagons and finishing at 10-4. Raise your hand if you thought a year ago that the Beavers would have one of their best seasons in school history? Sammie Stroughter has returned to the team and should be a big factor in the offense for the rest of the season, so the passing game is bound to get better. Idaho State is up next weekend, a team that went 2-9 in the Big Sky conference, so they can right the ship in a big way. But the Pac-10 part of the schedule is looming later this month. They better get this QB stuff figured out fast if they want to even come close to where they were last year!

Bearcats Dine on Oregon State Turnovers originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 07 Sep 2007 07:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Third Quarter Live Blog: Oregon State at Cincinnati

Brian Grummell — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 22:17:00 EST

Filed under: Big East, Pac 10, Cincinnati Football, Oregon State Football

Oregon St. @ Cincy | 1st Qtr | 2nd Qtr | 3rd Qtr | 4th Qtr

Welcome back to the Live Blog.

Cincinnati leads Oregon State 10-3 on the strength of two interceptions on the Beavers' side of the field.

Be sure to keep an eye on ESPN2 as there's a wild one going on between Louisville and (gasp!) Middle Tennessee State. The two teams have combined for over 750 yards and 73 points in the first half.

Down in Cincinnati, it's a defensive struggle punctuated with two killer turnovers. Oregon State's Yvenson Bernard is turning in a heroic effort, but on about 20 touches he's averaging maaaybe 2 yards a touch (I don't have the numbers in front of me). It's rough out there.

Money men had this game at just a three point affair before kickoff, and they're looking smart so far.

Live Blog after the jump and once the second half kicks off ...
9:45 - Chris Fowler just called Ben Mauck "Old Zipper Arm". Heh.

9:46 - Doug Flutie: "I'd like to see a completion over 20 yards". Me too!

9:49 - This might be game. Sammie Stroughter just fumbled on a punt return on the one. He was accidentally interfered with as the ball drifted right into a defender but apparently it's not reviewable. Bad break for the Beavers. Bad, bad break.

9:50 - Touchdown, Cincinnati, 17-3. The question now: will Cincinnati do what I call "The Relent"? If they relax, Oregon State can ease back into this game against a softened defense and before Cincy gets it together again, Oregon State will have made a game of it.

I see that a lot in football (and many team sports). But, sometimes a team is just down for the count and never fights back. We'll see which of those options emerges here.

9:58 - Sean Canfield is starting to have that "I'm spent" look to him. His throws are off - way off - he's already two INT's in today. Maybe I was right earlier, time for Moevao ...

10:07 - Cincy keeps coming soooo close to putting Oregon State away if not for dumb penalties.

10:08 - Ok it's over, heh. Cincy just hit a 55-yard field goal, the fans are going nuts. Cincy 20, Oregon State 3.

10:14 - Oregon State punt blocked, Cincy easy recovery in the end zone for the touchdown. GAME OVER.

Oh wow, the guy blocked the punt with his back/back of the helmet. That's new, watch the highlights for that.

Cincinnati 27, Oregon State 3

No need for the fourth quarter live blog. Thanks for sticking around.

This was a huuuuuge win for Cincinnati, they slayed a dragon tonight, huh? This boosts the credibility of the Big East and the beleaguered Cincinnati program that lost its coach to Michigan State in the offseason. Local media didn't even show up to Big East Media Days and now they've got some egg on their face. Great story!

Third Quarter Live Blog: Oregon State at Cincinnati originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 22:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Second Quarter Live Blog: Oregon State at Cincinnati

Brian Grummell — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Big East, Pac 10, Cincinnati Football, Oregon State Football

Oregon St. @ Cincy | 1st Qtr | 2nd Qtr | 3rd Qtr | 4th Qtr

Welcome back!

Cincinnati leads Oregon State 3-0 thanks to an Oregon State interception deep in their own zone that led to the field goal.

The fate of today's game may just fall upon whether or not Oregon State can untrack its running game. They gambled that they could demoralize Cincy's smaller, quicker run defense but so far the Beavers are getting pushed around.

Live Blog after the jump ...8:27 - Nice punt return by Stroughter. You know what though, he looks much slower than last year, at least on that return. But he also looks sturdier and made a great change-of-direction cut. He's like a new player almost.

8:29 - That's the second acrobatic one-handed catch in as many weeks for Yvenson Bernard. ARGH. Doug Flutie just said that a moment after I write this. I swear I'm not just copying what the announcers say.

8:29 - Canfield just left Bernard hanging to get crushed on that play. That might be the end of Canfield for a few drives if he allows their best player to get killed like that. Time for Lyle Moevao? BTW - Missed field goal for Alexis Serna. I don't remember hearing that very often the last two years.

8:40 - Ballsy. Third and one against a stout defense, the Beavers toss sweep to the near side and get the first down. That's huge. They're starting to run downhill a bit ... and then launch a bomb. Poor choice there, another run gets them closer to breaking down the Bearcat defense.

8:43 - Ocho Cinco never disappoints. Usually I hate celebrity interviews but he's keeping the announcers entertained.

8:45 - Good thing I'm not the coach. Canfield's starting to heat up on this very methodical drive.

8:50 - Field goal Oregon State to tie the game at 3-all with 5:00 left in the half.

8:55 - I watched the first 30 minutes of it and not much has changed ... Louisville and MTSU are both over 30 points in the first half with a combined 750 yards. That may be end up being one of this year's classic shootouts if MTSU can maintain its surprising offensive performance.

8:58 - I'm with the announcers, the play under review is a CATCH. My standard for a catch is much more liberal than what's in the rule-book though. This will be an interesting test of the replay crew.

Update: BOOO! Wrong call by the replay crew. They were quick in their decision, too. The NCAA's gotta rewrite its reception rules, they're simply way too strict.

9:00 - Win or lose, Cincy's offensive performance has been gutsy tonight. This is a very good Oregon State defense and they've been able to exploit it quite a bit. Unfortunately, they haven't been able to get many points.

9:06 - INT No. 2 for Canfield. It was a bad pass regardless, but he did get hit on the arm on the follow-through. It's going to take him a few more games to get everything right.

9:08 - Touchdown Cincy. Once again the Bearcats take advantage of a short field turnover. 10-0 just before the half.

9:16 - HALFTIME. See you at the third quarter live blog.

Second Quarter Live Blog: Oregon State at Cincinnati originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

First Quarter Live Blog: Oregon State at Cincinnati

Brian Grummell — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Big East, Pac 10, Cincinnati Football, Oregon State Football

Oregon St. @ Cincy | 1st Qtr | 2nd Qtr | 3rd Qtr | 4th Qtr

College football swings into its second week with two Thursday night game. We'll be keeping tabs on the Oregon State Beavers visit to Cincinnati. How do I sell you on this game? If you're a college football fan, early-season intersectionals like this provide kindling for all those conference arguments.

This game is far from a mismatch as both teams fall somewhere in the middle of their respective conferences. The home team is a three point underdog against the team that has a one-year lease on the label "Beat USC in 2006". A win for Cincy is akin to slaying the dragon's drunken cousin, but What About Bob taught us that it's all about those irritating "baby steps". They'll take it.

There's also that Thursday night magic that ESPN had last year. Who knew Boise State's unexpected trouncing of Oregon State would give us a glimpse of the confusing gridding/knitting greatness that is Ian Johnson. We all know about his Fiesta Bowl magic, but the real fans already knew he was something special after five filthy touchdown runs that Thursday night so many weeks before bowl season. Sometimes low expectations are a good thing, so be prepared to be wowed America.

Live Blog starts at 7:30 Eastern. Vitals and pregame notes below.

Vitals

- (Unranked) Oregon State (1-0) @ (Unranked) Cincinnati (1-0)
- TV: 7:30 PM Eastern, ESPN
- Announcers: Doug Flutie, Craig James and Erin Andrews
- Oregon State is favored by ~ three points
- Harmon Forecast: Oregon State 24, Cincinnati 23

-Phil Steele Facts (Oregon State): First meeting. OSU has gone just 5-7 against current Big East tms. Last trip east of the Mississippi they lost to Louisville 63-27. Oregon St. is 1-5 in their first road game.

-Phil Steele Facts (Cincinnati): This is the 1st meeting between these 2 teams. Cincy is 2-1 vs current Pac-10 teams. Cincinnati has won 8 straight non-conference home games.

* * *
Pre Game Notes (Continuously Updated)

... ESPN reports wayward Oregon State receiver Sammie Stroughter will play today. He won't start, but he will play early and often ... Louisville is playing Middle Tennessee tonight on ESPN2. Keep an eye on MTSU safety and scintillating returnman Damon Nickson .... Heh. For the second game in a row (this might be an NCAA record), Louisville scores on its first offensive play of the game. This time it was an 81-yard pass to tight end Gary Barnidge ... Big plays tonight on the undercard. Long touchdown for MTSU followed by a 71-yard touchdown to Louisville's Mario Urrutia ... My Nickson pick is looking stupid. He blew the coverage on the Urrutia touchdown and then just fumbled on the kick return ...

Live Blog

7:51 - Welcome back, Kotter Straughter! He was wide open but slightly overthrown on a bomb.

7:53 - Dumb dumb dumb interception by Sean Canfield. Upon review the safety hid fairly well in traffic and jumped that play.

7:54 - Nice research by Doug Flutie, talking about Cincy hoping to move "launch points" in its passing game. That was the difference for the USC passing offense against UCLA and Michigan, for reference. Two ferocious defensive lines, one was tamed, the other killed USC.

7:56 - Field goal good to take advantage of the turnover. Cincy leads3-0 with about 10 minutes left in the first quarter.

7:59 - Chris Fowler just said Oregon State "rarely goes East". Yeah, I guess those games against Cincinnati, Louisville and LSU all in the last few years aren't trips east. Come on! You simply cannot knock the Pac-10's willingness to travel.

8:07 - Oregon State defensive end Jeff Van Orsow is all over the field tonight. He does this occasionally.

8:13 - Interesting battle here between the two teams, and the announcers are all over it. Oregon State has two shaky quarterbacks and hopes to "demoralize" Cincy with the run. Cincy's coach in the intro said this week's theme is "stop the run". Something's gotta give!

8:16 - Interesting: Oregon State has gone to two frosh already on offense. 16 of their frosh never enrolled so this is impressive for the guys who did to already be involved.

8:17 - HOLY COW check out that 5-o-clock shadow on coach Mike Riley. He looks like an inmate or something. Wow.

8:18 - Interesting name evolution for Oregon State receiver Anthony Brown. As a recruit, I remember him as Anthony Wheat. His freshman year at Oregon State he became Anthony Wheat-Brown. And now he's going with Anthony Brown.

8:19 - Good nugget by the announcers. Cincy doesn't let its players hit during the week in practice. Wow. I'm reading a book about Bo Schembechler at the moment and he made sure to let his guys hit a little. If you follow USC at all, they're almost always hitting at practice. Of course, few teams suffer anywhere near as many friendly fire injuries, so there's a give-and-take to each philosophy.

8:23 -See you at the Second Quarter Live Blog

First Quarter Live Blog: Oregon State at Cincinnati originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Oregon State Ready For Cincinnati Heat?

Sean Hawkins — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 08:16:00 EST

Filed under: Pac 10, Oregon State Football

The Oregon State defense had an impressive debut last week, holding Utah's experienced offense to just seven points. They also held Utah to just 196 total yards, and only 18 rushing yards. Really a complete domination from beginning to end. But this week? 196 yards is a little over a quarter of offense from what Cincinnati did last week. The Bearcats wide-open attack racked up an impressive 615 yards of total offense, third-most in school history, and the 59-3 victory gave them their biggest win since 1977. But that was against 1-AA Southeast Missouri State. The Beavers are a 10-win team from a power BCS conference, and they know a thing or two about playing defense. But this could be a real difficult challenge tonight for Oregon State, facing a brand new offense led by new Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly.

Some quick questions from an Oregon State angle for tonight:

1) How will OSU's offensive line do without All-American candidate Jeremy Perry?

The Beavers had a productive opening win, but for one large issue. Starting left guard and all-everthing candidate Jeremy Perry is now out for the next six weeks due to a lower leg injury. Junior Adam Speer will step into Perry's spot, and will make only his second career start. This is a blow, no doubt about it, and having Speer debut on the road could be a sticky issue. Granted, the offensive line is still in excellent shape and they are about more than just one player, and Speer will be lined up between an honors candidate in center Kyle DeVan and a rising junior at left tackle, Tavita Thompson. But it will be interesting to see how Cincinnati attacks the Beaver offense without Perry. Brian Kelly has already mentioned this week that the primary defensive focus will be to stop Yvenson Bernard and the Oregon State running game, and Perry's absence may make it even more difficult for the Beavers to run the ball.

2) Canfield is the starter at QB, but is his job safe?

Sean Canfield had what can only be described as an underwhelming start to the 2007 season, completing just eight of 19 pass attempts for 87 yards and a TD. But Canfield was the victim of at least three drops in the first half alone, and his numbers could have been considerably better had his WR's done the job. Backup Lyle Moevao was even less impressive than Canfield, however, just three-for-nine for 32 yards and an INT on his first division-one pass attempt, so Canfield is the starter again this week. Mike Riley has said that Moevao will likely play tonight, but there is no set plan compared to last week, where both QB's alternated with each quarter. Canfield and the OSU offense gets a big boost tonight with the now-announced return of Sammie Stroughter. While Stroughter won't start, he'll likely see some plays at WR and also could return punts. Just having him back in the fold should be a tremendous boost, one of the most popular players on the team and their most explosive big-play threat.

3) Is OSU's defense ready for the Cincinnati offense?

It's hard to downplay Cincinnati's opening-game performance, regardless of the caliber of the opponent. In coach-speak, 615 yards and 59 points is hard to do against "air" in skeleton drills, let alone against another defense out on the field. QB Ben Mauk, a transfer from Wake Forest coming off a broken arm suffered in the 2006 season opener, took quite well to the offense, throwing for 244 yards and a couple of scores in his Bearcat debut . But Oregon State's D could be up to the task tonight. The Beavers are strong and athletic on the defensive line, and their linebackers are just as good in pass coverage as they are stopping the run. In other words, the Beaver defense appears built to handle what Cincinnati will throw at them tonight.

Prediction: It could be a rough beginning for the Beaver offense, as Cincinnati has proclaimed that they need to stop the run. That will mean a lot of pressure swarming to the line of scrimmage as soon as RB Yvenson Bernard gets the ball. If OSU can't establish the run, all the pressure will fall to Canfield. It's hard to see him as being ready to carry the Beavers to a road win via the passing game, so they must stick with the run.

You also can't overlook the conditions for tonight. It's going to be very hot in the Queen City, a forecast high of 97 degrees with some humidity. While it will cool down somewhat by kickoff tonight, coming from the comfortable mid-70-degree range of Pacific Northwest, that kind of heat could choke the life out of the Beavers, especially on defense against a wide-open attack. A night game on ESPN should have the crowd jacked up, and even though Cincinnati's attendance hasn't been great, they still could make a lot of noise for national TV.

When it's all said and done, I expect OSU to keep pounding away on the ground, and eventually the offense will loosen up the Cincinnati defense. The return of Sammie Stroughter will be a big emotional boost, and the OSU defense will run with Cincinnati's offense. Oregon State is a slight favorite, and that seems about right. They should be good enough to pull this one out, 30-24.

Oregon State Ready For Cincinnati Heat? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 08:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Will Sammie Stroughter Pull a Willis Reed?

Sean Hawkins — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: Pac 10, Oregon State Football

In yet another turn in the Beavers' big-play WR soap opera, Sammie Stroughter might actually play tomorrow night vs. Cincinnati. Stroughter has been away from the team for personal reasons, mainly due to the death of three people in the last year who were pivotal to the Stroughter family. However Stroughter hasn't completely distanced himself from the program, as he's been showing up and practicing with the team, standing on the sidelines with the team in the opener against Utah, etc. Basically he's done everything someone would do if they were part of the team.

Last week head coach Mike Riley ruled out Stroughter, saying it was extremely doubtful he'd play this year. This week? It's a different story:

"He is a lot further along,'' said Riley, "and really, for the first time since the first couple days of camp, yesterday he practiced with the offensive team.

"And he will do that again today ... we'll make a decision on that (if he plays) in the next couple days, as we finish out the week of practice and as we travel, we'll see where it's at and it's conceivable he could play.''

Strong comments on a player thought to be lost for the season only a couple of weeks ago. If Stroughter does in fact get on the field, it's hard to expect what he'll be able to do. He hasn't participated in any full-contact drills, so he basically hasn't taken a hit in a long time. The QB's were luke-warm, at best, in the opener, so starter Sean Canfield could sure use the deep threat and overall the best skill position player on the team back in action. If Stroughter doesn't return this week, it seems like a near lock that he will be back the following game, as Idaho State pays a visit to Corvallis. But what a potential boost to the OSU passing game if Stroughter does in fact line up at WR. Stay tuned.

Previously on FanHouse:

Where is Sammie Stroughter?

Beavers Prep for Life Without Sammie

Will Sammie Stroughter Pull a Willis Reed? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 08:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Bernard, Beaver Defense Shut Down Utah

Sean Hawkins — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Pac 10, Utah Football, Oregon State Football

While the Oregon State QB situation might be closer to a resolution, one thing was clear for last night's opener - Yvenson Bernard is going to have a huge role in 2007. Bernard sliced and diced the Utah defense for 165 yards as the Beavers pulled away from the Utes in the second half, breaking open a 7-7 tie at halftime for a 24-7 win. Bernard had a couple of TD runs on a night when the new QB's showed some nerves and inexperience.

Some quick thoughts from last night:

1) The defense played fast and aggressive. Anytime you hold an experienced offense to 196 total yards, and just 18 net rushing yards? That's doing the job, and then some. Aside from the 37-yard TD pass in the 2nd quarter, the Beaver D controlled the game. The defensive line had constant pressure on Utah QB's, and the linebackers were definitely up to the task in containing the scrambling Brian Johnson. There were several plays he just couldn't escape, where against an average defense he might have done a lot more damage on the ground. The Beavers did catch a break when Johnson went out with a shoulder injury in the 2nd quarter and Utah had to go to the backup QB, Tommy Grady, a 6-7 pocket passer who didn't have much mobility. Still, even with Johnson it might not have mattered, as the defense was outstanding on this night.

2) Bernard is going to have to "carry the mail" this year. At least last night, it sure looks like he'll be the guy to do it. He got off to a somewhat slow start, in fact the entire offense was slumbering early, but once things got in a rhythm, he was fantastic. The offensive line shook off the rust early and started to blow Utah off the ball later in the game, sort of how we thought it would be in yesterday's preview, but you could see that once they got in sync, Utah just couldn't stop the ground game. Overall OSU rushed for 241 yards, which is a dominating number. There was also a nice surprise in WR James Rodgers, a 5-6 true frosh from Richmond, Texas, who had 62 yards rushing on end-around handoffs where he would line up at WR and come back across, almost like a reverse. Rodgers is one of the fastest recruits to ever come to Oregon State and looks like he might be a nice addition to the offense.

3) The QB's were predictably inconsistent. Sean Canfield's numbers weren't pretty, just 8-for-19 for 87 yards with one TD and one INT. However in his defense, I counted at least three dropped balls in the first half that could have amounted to something big. WR Anthony Brown dropped easy first-down catches on consecutive throws by Canfield. In the first half alone the official number had the OSU WR's with five drops. That's just plain bad, and it simply can't continue next week. It's even worse with inexperienced QB's who are trying to get their footing in actual games that count. While Canfield's numbers weren't much to celebrate, Lyle Moevao was worse, just 3-for-9 for 32 yards and one INT, which happened on his first NCAA D-1 pass attempt. Welcome to Oregon State!

While Mike Riley still wouldn't tip his hand as to who it will be the starter at QB, I'm betting it's Canfield. Maybe he already knows but doesn't want to give Cincinnati anything particular to focus on, or maybe he wants to rotate both QB's next week just to change things up. But I don't think there's much doubt, that after seeing them play last night, Canfield is the choice.

Bernard, Beaver Defense Shut Down Utah originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 31 Aug 2007 09:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Beaver Defense Has Hands Full With Utah

Sean Hawkins — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:51:00 EST

Filed under: Mountain West, Pac 10, Utah Football, Oregon State Football

Ready or not, here comes 2007 for Oregon State. The Sammy Stroughter soap opera, or other key players leaving the program for various reasons, plus the QB derby that never resolved itself, all of that can now be looked at via the rear-view mirror. For it's time for Utah, and while it might not have looked too difficult when the schedule was first put together, the more you look at this game, the more you see reasons for the Beavers to be worried once things kick off tonight.

Top Three Questions for Tonight

1) How will OSU's defense handle Utah?

First and foremost, dual-threat extraordinaire Brian Johnson is back at QB and when healthy, has shown he can be a headache for any defense in the country. Johnson actually red-shirted last year, coming off a knee injury in 2005, but when he was playing he was pretty special - 2,892 passing yards, 18 TD passes to only seven INT's, plus an impressive 690 rushing yards. All good for second-team Mountain West Conference honors.

The even more interesting aspect of Utah's offense is what they are returning from last year's 8-5 team. If you include Johnson, that makes 10 out of 11 who are considered returning starters, the only loss the starting left tackle from last year, Tavo Tupola. Their top seven receivers from last year are all back for 2007, led by speedy senior Derrek Richards, who had a team-high 60 catches; Brent Casteel, a junior who had a team-high 10 TD receptions; and Brian Hernandez, a senior who was #2 on the team last year with 49 catches. The team doesn't list a starter at running back this week, instead listing three players in Darryl Poston, Ray Stowers and JC transfer Matt Asiata. Poston led the team with 553 yards and 5 TD's on the ground last year. Quite frankly, Utah is loaded offensively with speed, athleticism, and experience.

The good news for Oregon State fans is that the Beaver D appears up to the task. Eight starters are back from last year's aggressive, opportunistic defense. OSU led the conference with 33 takeaways in '06, and the Beaver pass rush was outstanding, racking up a conference-best 47 sacks. Best of all, the OSU linebackers in seniors Derrick Doggett, Alan Darlin and Joey LaRocque are among the top units in the Pac-10, if not the country. They are tough against the run, they can rush the passer, and they are good in pass coverage, all good qualities against Utah's versatile read-option offense.

2) How will Oregon State's two-QB system work out?

It's a difficult question, and one Mike Riley would rather not have to answer, but it's there. Neither Sean Canfield nor Lyle Moevao did enough to separate from each other, so, both will play tonight. The plan going in has Canfield playing the first quarter, and Moevao playing the second quarter. The coaches will then decide at halftime who gets the call to start the second half, and they'll most likely just roll with the hot hand going forward. You know that Riley would love nothing more than to see one of these guys seize the day and not look back. While he'd rather not have the two-QB situation, he really has no choice but to play both guys and see how it shakes out.

3) How good are the special teams?

Really good. Both teams have all-league kickers in OSU's Alexis Serna and Utah's Louie Sakoda. Sakoda handles the field goals, hitting 16 of 20 last year, and is also the punter, averaging an impressive 44 yards per punt. Serna's accuracy went down a little last year, hitting 22 of 29, but his leg strength was up, hitting four out of six from 50+ yards, including a school-record 58-yarder. But OSU's special teams have taken a hit, with leading return man Sammie Stroughter out for personal reasons, and starting punter Kyle Loomis left the team on the eve of fall camp. Serna will also handle the punting duties this year, something he hasn't done in his college career. Utah's leading punt returner is back in Marquis Wilson, who averaged over 11 yards per return last year.

Prediction:

The biggest area where the Beavers should have an advantage is the offensive front. Oregon State returns four starers from last year's excellent line, led by all-conference candidates in tackle Jeremy Perry, center Kyle DeVan, tackle Andy Levitre, and guard Roy Schuening (pictured). Factor in Utah's defense losing five starters from last year, and you get an idea of the kind of edge the Beavers should have.

In the end, it's all about the Beavers' ability to run the ball. Look for Oregon State to establish the running game with Yvenson Bernard and that powerful front controlling the line of scrimmage. The successful running game will eat some clock while keeping the pressure off the new QB's, plus it will keep the ball away from Utah's explosive, experienced offense. Even though Utah has won four of their last five against the Pac-10, they were blown out at UCLA last year. In a tight game that will be put away late, Oregon State rides the running game and the home field advantage to a 27-20 win.

Beaver Defense Has Hands Full With Utah originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments