Cliff Kirkpatrick

Kickoff for the first Pacific-10 Conference game of the season for the Oregon State football team will be 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 at home against Arizona. Versus will broadcast the game.

That’s good news for my blood pressure. Getting all those stories in on deadline like last week takes a lot out of me.

Slot back rotation
Redshirt freshman Jordan Bishop had an impressive game last weekend with five catches for 43 yards. One was thrown high over the middle. He was hit low, flipped in the air, came down hard and still held on the ball.

Bishop and Casey Kjos remain in a rotation at slot back this week, coach Mike Riley said. Kjos is officially the starter but they play according to what play is called.

“I like a lot of that, that Jordan Bishop was big and made some big plays,” Riley said. “They were double covering the outside, so we made some plays in the middle. I like the rotation of those two. They can share the position and help our team.”

Too much Rodgers brothers
From reading the comments on the blog, I sense a feeling among the fans that the Rodgers brothers are getting the ball too much.

There’s a fear, and it’s a legitimate one, that if one of them gets hurt the offense runs aground like the end of last year. A 3-0 bowl game a source of humor around the nation.

On a reader’s request, I asked Riley about it. Here’s what he said.

“We always try to utilize the talent on our team,” Riley said. “When we have a game plan they play a big role. We need to balance this thing out. We need to go to our tight ends more. Jordan Bishop and Damola Adeniji are making more plays. There are signs we can get more balance. But when (the Rodgers brothers) are healthy we have to make sure they get their touches. They make big plays.”

O-line woes
The offensive line allowed three QB sacks and Sean Canfield was hit hard through Saturday’s game at UNLV. It’s part of the growing process with two new starters, both underclassmen, but the coaches still have faith in them.

“Some of it was youth and inexperience of picking this stuff up,” Riley said. “We’ll get better as we go. Some of it was physical with a guy getting beat. It’s just something you have to keep working on.”

No cramps
Did you notice that the players didn’t cramp up during the 96-degree UNLV game? Riley attributed it to strength and conditioning coach Bryan Miller and his staff’s work with the players in the offseason and drinking a lot of water during the week.

“You can’t get ready that day for a game like that,” Riley said. “You don’t get through a game like that without being in great shape from the offseason or being hydrated.”

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