Cliff: WSU press briefing Comments
James Rodgers returns a kickoff against the Huskies. PHOTO/Andy Cripe
The Oregon State football team faces Pacific-10 Conference doormat Washington State on Saturday. It’s a crucial game to set up a potential Rose Bowl berth with a win over Oregon the following game.
Here’s a link to my Tuesday story in the GT on the vibe of the team this week. Here’s a link to the Cougars scouting report.
Check back for video interviews and other notes of interest later in the day. For now, here’s are several statistical notes you might be interested in.
Winning season
The Beavers clinched a winning season for the fourth consecutive year. It’s the longest streak since a five-year run in 1966-70. The team has a chance to be the third in OSU history to reach 10-plus victories for a year, joining the 2000 team (11 wins) and 2006 (10).
Third downs
The Beavers are second in the Pac-10 and 14th in the nation for third-down percentage at 47.5 percent (67-for-141). They are also first in the conference and sixth in the nation for fourth-down percentage at 75 percent (6-for-8).
Red zone
The Beavers are first in the Pac-10 and tied for third in the nation with Georgia and Texas for red zone scoring at 95.5 percent. They have scored on 42 of 44 attempts, 32 touchdowns and 10 field goals. Only Arkansas and Louisiana Tech at 97 percent have higher success rates. The Beavers have scored nine touchdowns in their last 10 red zone trips.
Better pressure
In the last three games the Beavers have made 10 of their 18 quarterback sacks for the year. The Beavers still are ninth in the conference for sacks.
Stop the run
The Beavers lead the Pac-10 and rank 15th in the nation in rush defense, allowing 102.4 yards a game.
On the road
The Beavers are the most successful team in the Pac-10 in away games the last two seasons. They have won seven of their last nine conference road games. They lost a 42-36 decision to then-No. 4 USC this season, and 36-28 in the 2008 season opener at Stanford.
Top rushers
Since the 2002 season, OSU is tied for first in the Pac-10 for the number of times a player has reached the 1,000-yard rushing with seven, missing only 2004. California has seven, followed by Oregon (6), USC (3), UCLA (2), Stanford (2), Arizona , Arizona State, Washington and Washington State with one each.
Fast starts
The Beavers have outscored its opponents 276-85 in the first quarter in the last 50 games, including 241-61 in the last 26. The Beavers allowed 17 points in the last 11 first quarters combined, dating back to last year. The 17 points allowed this season are the fewest in the Pac-10; Arizona has given up 38 points, Oregon and Cal 40, Stanford 47, USC 54, UCLA 74, Arizona State 76, Washington 78, and WSU 159.
Canfield numbers
Senior QB Sean Canfield is on pace to shatter the OSU record for completion percentage for a season. The left-hander has completed 69.8 percent (238-for-341) of his attempts, including 17 touchdowns. The season record is held by Matt Moore in 2006 at 60.6 (229-for-378).
Canfield is fourth in the nation for completion percentage, trailing Texas’ Colt McCoy (72.36), Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour (69.97) and BYU’s Max Hall (69.87). He averages 68 pass attempts per interception this season after entering the year with an interception every 22 pass attempts.
He is fifth all-time at OSU with 5,265 passing yards and is fourth for touchdown passes with 34. He is averaging a Pac-10 high 256.6 yards a game passing and has thrown one interception in his last 185 attempts.
Quizz numbers
Sophomore RB Jacquizz Rodgers is on record pace for the most points for a season by an OSU player. He has 108 points and the leader Steven Jackson with 132 in 2003. Rodgers has two regular season games to play.
His 18 total touchdowns are third in the nation, trailing the 22 by Ricky Dobbs of Navy and the 18 by Toby Gerhart of Stanford.
Rodgers is fifth at OSU with 2,401 career rushing yards. He needs two rushing scores to tie for the single-season school record with 19 by Jackson in 2003, and Ken Simonton in 1999 and 2000.
James numbers
Junior WR James Rodgers averages 179.5 yards a game for all-purpose yards, which ranks first in the Pac-10 and seventh in the nation.
At his current pace, he would set the school record for all-purpose yards with 2,154 – the current record is Steven Jackson in 2003 with 2,015.
James leads the Pac-10 for receptions a game at 7.1 and for receiving yards a game at 83.2 – tied for seventh for OSU single-season receptions with 71.
Rodgers numbers
Last season the Rodgers brothers combined for 3,333 all-purpose yards. This year they are on pace to accumulate 4,008 yards in the regular season.
Jacquizz Rodgers and Damola Adeniji celebrate. PHOTO/Andy Cripe
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