The No. 24 Oregon State football team goes into a Pac-10 road game Saturday night at Washington on a two-game winning streak. The Beavers look to go 3-0 in the conference for the first time since 1968 when they went 4-0.
Here’s a link to my Tuesday GT main story on the matchup. Here’s a link to the Washington scouting report.
Here are other notes of interest this week:
RB coach Reggie Davis was a TE for the Huskies from 1994-98. He beat the Beavers every time. He’s 2-0 against his alma mater with the Beavers.
QB Ryan Katz has 33 rushing yards. He has gained 101, but lost 68 in sack yardage. The last time OSU had a QB with positive yards was in 1997 by Tim Alexander who ran the wishbone.
The Beavers have won 10 of the last 14 Pac-10 road games and has a four-game winning streak in Husky Stadium.
The one turnover this season, an INT by Katz at Arizona last weekend, is the least of any team in the country. Oklahoma, Maryland, Wisconsin and Army are tied for second with four.
LB Kevin Unga leads the team in special teams tackles with eight. CB Brandon Hardin, CB Rashaad Reynolds and S Anthony Watkins are tied for second with five.
Riley presser update
WR James Rodgers will have surgery in two weeks, coach Mike Riley said Tuesday. The damage was extensive.
Rodgers has the option to return next year, but he has not officially decided. Check out the above video of Riley talking about Washington and Rodgers.
“You have to be there for him,” Katz asid. “When someone is out for the year there’s not much that you can do to bring him up. He has as high spirits as anyone. He’ll continue to help everyone out.”
TE Brady Camp (back) is still questionable for this week. C Alex Linnenkohl is probable.
Technically, Aaron Nichols will start at flanker for Rodgers and Markus Wheaton will be at the go-to split end.
“It is hard to imagine,” Riley said of the loss of Rodgers. “We’ve had three years of him all over the place. The finality of not having him the rest of the seasons is just hitting home for a lot of guys.”
“He always gives us motivational speaking,” Wheaton said about Rodgers. “He inspires us all. I don’t thin he’ll go away.”
“He doesn’t looked bothered at all,” Wheaton said. “He’s still James and not down at all.”
10 comments
WebTraveler says:
May 18, 2012
Any word from the Pac 10 regarding consequences for the Arizona DB who did the late hit or the officiating crew for not calling the late hit?
Is Riley going to speak with the league office on the lack of calls for cheap shots?
ckirkpatrick says:
May 18, 2012
Riley sends his reports every week. He's not making a big deal like De Carolis did against Washington a few years ago.
As I blogged about before, the Pac-10 sends it's week "I'm sorry" to coaches.
WebTraveler says:
May 18, 2012
The Pac 10 "I am sorry" thing is getting old. Some of these guys at the Pac 10 office are getting good paychecks. It's time to hold them accountable.
OSU4life says:
May 18, 2012
It's a bummer that James Rodgers is done for this season, but he will still be just as valuable as a leader for this team. The brightside is that he has the chance to come back next year. In the absence of Quon, could Jordan Poyer run the fly sweeps along with Markus Wheaton? I think Jordan Poyer is one of the best athletes on the team and he shouldn't limited to just special teams. I think he is better at corner than Brandon Hardin, and he was the offensive and defensive player of the year in Oregon his senior year in high school. He's a good enough athlete to play both ways! Cliff, what do you think of Jordan Poyer playing in more roles? Readers, what do you think?
ean says:
May 18, 2012
I don't think Riley is big on 2 way players. Plus with the lack of depth at DB we need him there. Cliff has asked in the past about bring in Paea at fullback and Riley didn't want to do it. The fly sweep isn't run near as often anymore and almost functions more to open up the middle running lanes and keep the DE's and OLB's honest. I think Wheaton can handle the few fly sweeps we run and there are plenty of other athletes at WR. It would be nice to find another speedster receiver though for when James is gone in 2 years. Not sure if one is already on the roster or not though.
ckirkpatrick says:
May 18, 2012
Poyer would make a great WR. For now, they use him on all the special teams and as a CB. He's going to be a starting CB the next two years.
maffub says:
May 18, 2012
Personally, I love the fake fly sweep action… especially while opposing Ds seem to be keying on that play. The biggest bummer I'm going to see short term is no more Rodgers brothers I-Formation… That was a HUGELY effective formation for us on short yardage.
Loved the news on Wheaton's take about James' demeanor: "He's fine. He doesn't look bothered at all. He looks fine. He's James, you know. Like he's not down or anything. It's good.'
James is a young man who is comfortable in his own skin. He'll be successful regardless if it's in football or not because he get's "the bigger picture".
tradernum1 says:
May 18, 2012
Agree with maffub-James Rodgers is going to be a successful man, in football or out.
Glad he's a beaver.
mxpx5678 says:
May 18, 2012
Next years team will be good if they have James back plus with Katz with a year of experience.
maffub says:
May 18, 2012
Actually, next year's team will be good without James. With him… they could be OSU's best ever!!!