Beavers at media day Comments
OSU football coach Mike Riley at Pac-10 media day on Thursday. PHOTO/AP
Oregon State football coach Mike Riley said during the press conference portion of Pac-10 media day Thursday that both Rodgers brothers are healthy and ready to go when training camp begins Aug. 10. QB Lyle Moevao is not 100 percent, yet, but Riley hopes he’ll be ready to play by the first game.
“Lyle Moevao should be healthy by the first game, and somewhere in camp he will be ready to go (practice full-time),” Riley said. “I’m hoping to have two healthy quarterbacks by the time of the first game.”
How much will he play?
“I don’t know the answer to that,” Riley said. “We have to get into camp. We’ll be careful with his pitch count. He’s not ready today to take a normal number of snaps in practices. I’ve thought about a number of scenarios with him, but none of them matter until he’s ready.”
How will you use RB Jacquizz Rodgers (shoulder) so he doesn’t get hurt?
“The thing about Quizz and his size, he’s not small,” Riley said. “He’s just short. He’s very strong. We’ve had several running backs of the same stature. They were all durable and got better as the game goes on. If we can find a guy who can (give him break), we’ll do that. But he’ll carry the ball 25-30 times a game.”
How do you get off to quicker starts?
“It’s how we play,” Riley said. “We have had rough starts the last couple years. Some of it has to do with the opponents we played, and we were finding out who we were. Finding that identity and getting off to a good start would be a great for the Beavers.”
Who’s going to be the breakthrough freshman this year?
“We have a good class coming in,” Riley said. “I don’t know who is going to emerge. I’d like to redshirt players. I don’t know who the new impact guy is because I’d like to redshirt them. It may not come out of freshman class.”
What’s the secret to beating USC?
“I don’t think there’s a of magic to it,” Riley said. “You have to play a good football game and finish it.”
“It comes down to a home field advantage,” LB Keaton Kristick said. “Our fans were awesome, so it gave them problems. Other than that our offensive line had a good game.”
LB Keaton Kristick at Pac-10 media day on Thursday. PHOTO/AP
Face of the defense
Kristick took the podium with Riley at the Pac-10 media day. He’s the senior leader of the defense, and a well-spoken person. Those qualities made him the perfect choice to represent the Beavers.
Kristick admitted being a little nervous at first when looking out at the media horde, but settled down.
“I stumbled a couple times up there,” Kristick said right after stepping off the podium. “My confidence went up as I got going. But, you have to do what you have to do to represent the school.”
Kristick was more relaxed with me on the phone, and ribbed me for not being there for the first time in six years. “I guess the economy is affecting all of us,” he said.
He then asked me how he looked on the Internet feed. I told him was more down to earth than rest of the players. The others were too serious. He actually smiled as you can see from the photo.
I told him I heard him laughing and joking with Riley. When Riley opened up to questions there was a lull. I heard Kristick say, “OK, lets go home.”
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