The Oregon State football team moved up to No. 24 in the AP top 25. The next opponent, No. 3 Boise State, stayed in the same spot as last week.
How big of a deal is the next game? ESPN’s College Game Day will be at Boise State on Saturday, and the game will be at 5 p.m. on ABC with A-team broadcast crew of Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreist and Erin Andrews.
“It’s an awesome game to be involved in,” coach Mike Riley said Sunday night. “It will be electric. For this early in the year, to have another game of this magnitude, that’s highlighted like this, it’s outstanding.”
OSU’s defense will need to improve for this game. It’s ranked 105th in the nation and ninth in the Pacific-10 Conference in total defense with an average of 453.0 yards a game allowed. The rush defense is ranked 110th nationally and last in the Pac-10 with 221.5 yards allowed.
OSU’s offense needs improvement, too. It ranks 107th nationally and last in the conference with 287.0 yards a game.
WR James Rodgers is having an all-around standout season. He leads the nation in all-purpose yards with 226.5 a game and averages 18.9 yards a play.
Riley questioned the unsportsmanlike conduct on TE Joe Halahuni after his TD. Halahuni did a beaver chomp as he grabbed his facemask and nodded up and down. It was started by former OSU player Shane Morales, who did it after his TDs without penalty.
“My opinion, that was a non-call,” Riley said. “That wasn’t taunting.”
The Beavers had one player injured in the Louisville game. Reserve S Dax Dilbeck hurt his knee and will have an MRI on Moday. He’s doubtful for Boise State, Riley said.
DT Kevin Frahm is the latest to get the flu. LT Wilder McAndrews is still sick. Michael Philipp started in his place. The starter this week will be determined after McAndrews gets back.
And if anyone’s interested, here’s a photo gallery from the Louisville game from the GT/DH photographers.
7 comments
ObjCritic says:
May 18, 2012
The ability of the Beavs D to learn appears low/slow, which is at least partly a reflection of the ability of Banker to teach (coach). The lack of improvement between games 1 and 2 was astounding, particularly given the clarity of the problems and the extra week of practice. And players saying they need to tackle more in practice because in practice they essentially are coached to run to the ball and not finishing enough?!? They could explain players overrunning the same plays time and time again (Miller), and flailing around with arm tackles (Pankey). There's an old saying that you play how you practice. And look what happened when Dockery made a decision to make a play on the ball instead of just run next to the receiver and not look for the ball- a rare OSU CB interception. BSU's Moore will love the way OSU's CB's are coached.
Interesting to note – Louisville had 317 yards vs Kentucky, 388 vs Eastern Kentucky, and 453 vs. OSU. I think ABC is going to have to have a bunch of filler material to talk about in a blowout BSU victory. Time for Banker to go after this season.
tommiet says:
May 18, 2012
Cliff, saying the Beavers defense will need improvement for the Boise game is the understatement of the season. I hope we can come up big, if we can, we have a shot, if we can't it will get ugly really fast. I see a big game for the Beavers coming up. Got to be an optomist you know, this IS entertainment.
RenoNVBeavr says:
May 18, 2012
Cliff – Have to believe that the losses of Matt LaGrone and LB Pai-ahui (whatever his name was) have been huge voids to fill. LaGrone was really starting to have an impact as a pass rusher. G. Miller? Has the guy even touched an opposing QB's jersey? Seems to be no LB leadership, as well, a staple in Beavs D's past. Offensively, Beavs made improvements after a slow start. I really liked how Quizz got more invovled in the passing game. This MUST continue if the Beavs are going to have a respectable season.
OSU4life says:
May 18, 2012
I thought the Defense held on to the win for us. However, I think both the defensive front 7, and the Offensive Line lack playing with more of a chip on their shoulder, playing with heart, that killer "pop you in the mouth" attitude, a swagger! OSU’s defense in the past was known for playing with a chip on their shoulder, being flat out Nasty, and fired up! A defense that would punish you and that flew to the ball! An Offensive Line that would create a push, pancake blocks all over the field, sustain drives by converting on 3rd down! I haven’t seen that from this 2010 team, and I’m not sure why? Where is the heart on this team? Where are the guts?
This team is very capable of accomplishing greatness, do they realize this? They have an amazing opportunity vs. Boise State this Saturday to gain national recognition and put Beaver Nation on the map! Will they capitalize and seize the moment? This team MUST BELIEVE in themselves and prove themselves! We are better than this, the time is NOW BEAVERS!!!!!
Jayson_L says:
May 18, 2012
Cliff, Video is from Stanford game last year.
defenseneeded says:
May 18, 2012
Cliff – If giving up 450 plus yards against an unranked Louisville team this weekend constitutes improvement by the Beaver defense, then the Beavers are in for a long day this Saturday. Louisville was successful on the ground running the same type of plays that TCU ran, and with the QB breaking containment in the same way Dalton did for TCU. . Does anyone really believe the Boise State won't see this and exploit these known weakness. Coming at BSU the same ole way, doing the same ole thing, will only ensure the same ole result. This isn't just about talent and personnel (although the beavers do need to get more defensive speed on the field – particularly in 3rd an long situations). This is about coaching!!! Create defensive situational packages that get the right talent on the field at the right time. Their does not seem to be any logic to the OSU linebacker / DE rotations. Are the linebackers all the same?? Give the team the best chance to WIN!!
midwestbeavfan says:
May 18, 2012
In keeping some proper perspective below our my observations for what ever they are worth.
I find it quite remarkable how a coach or group of coaches can go from conference coach of the year, or where you are highly sought by other schools (Banker at UNC), to the village idiot. My take on the Beavs' slow start has to do with a couple things.
The first is recruiting. The biggest difference between the 4 – 5 star players and the 2 -3 star players is that typically the 4 – 5 star players are physically ready to play at the D1 level immediately. The 2 – 3 star players need to grow physically before they can compete at this level. So it takes the Beavers new players (sophmores and juniors) not only time to grow physically but also time to get acclimated to the speed of the game. Why do schools such as Boise, TCU and Utah continue to have so much success, with comparable recruits? That's the $64,000 question. I'm sure coaching the and the scheme have somthing to do with it.
The second reason is this group does not seem to have any mean nasty type leaders on either side of the ball. Paea is a force, but does not appear to have a mean nasty streak in him. What happened to linebacker U? We need a Richard Siegler or a Nick Barnett. Same goes for the offensive line. Where is another Jeremy Perry? Coach Cav has commented on how he needs a player two to play with more of a chip on their shoulder. I understand that there is a fine line when recruiting these type of players, because they tend to carry this mean nasty streak off of the field into their social life. There is a fine line to balance. I think they will never bust through the glass ceiling until they find some leaders like this.
I also think the bye after the TCU game hurt this team, which I think was the reason for the slow start against Louisville. They need to play consistently in order improve.
Can the Beavers beat BSU? Absolutely. Will they? Probably not. If the game was played at Reser in October, I think they would win.