Oregon State RB Jacquizz Rodgers said in an earlier blog he’s not happy with the run game, and call it horrible. Coach Mike Riley was asked about the offensive line and how it is doing, and just say “we need to get better.”
“Our offensive line is battling, is the best way to say it,” Riley said. “We are getting better in increments. They are being well-coached and taking to the coaching. We are just going to keep going.”
Someone asked me in the comments section of a previous blog, what it takes to get better. Development of the younger linemen being used is one, and the big one is recruiting better athletes.
I addressed the recruiting situation a while back with Riley, and I asked him why the recruiting isn’t up to snuff at OL since so many haven’t panned out.
He used different words and said the starters beat out the other guys more than guys not panning out. And to him it doesn’t matter who is a walk-on or scholarship player.
OK, but walk-ons don’t usually beat out scholarship players on a regular basis. The Beavers take what they have and make it better, but the recruits have to pan out. Getting higher rated linemen would help ensure that happening, and help the running game.
Rodgers won’t be here forever. Finding a talented back who can make something from nothing is a challenge.
Anyway, the Beavers bus up to Seattle on Friday. I’ll get up there Saturday. To get you in the mood for the town, here’s my favorite Seattle-based grunge band. It’s a flashback to my college years.
18 comments
beaverteeth says:
May 18, 2012
73GradeMike….. Why have the Ducks been able to recruit and sign top five and some number one recruits in the nation to their football program? If you look at todays oregonian sports page showing the Ducks recruiting class in baseball ranked 5th nationally the Beavers 14th this year. The Ducks baseball program starting into their third year. Chip Kellys first year as Ducks coach takes the Ducks to the Rose Bowl in his second year he may win a national championship in football. What is wrong with the Beavers picture? As a Beavers fan I am becoming increasingly jaded by the Mike Riley put me to sleep monotone voice such a nice guy coach. What is it going to take to get this team to the Rose Bowl. I am so tired of lower tier bowl games and OSU being viewed by sports figures and fans as the Ducks little brother. How can and why has Boise State been so good so long with fewer pac-ten quality recruits?
angrybeaver says:
May 18, 2012
Another problem is they only took 1 scholarship OL last year, so While Andrews and Enger should be good down the line, this problem is going to repeat itself. Addie looks like a future "miss" to me. And I still don't understand how Ryan Pohl can fall somewhere between holding his own to man-handling USC and then never playing again.
Finally, I think Riley relies too much on Cav to work miracles and sees it as a position he doesn't have to burn a scholarship because of Cav. He'll obviously never admit to that…
angrybeaver says:
May 18, 2012
Is there another of the 120 DI schools with 3 walk-ons on their offensive line? I don't know the answer, but I know it's highly unlikely. Occam's Razor.
OSU4life says:
May 18, 2012
Thanks Cliff for going in depth with the recruiting issues and current talent level of the offensive line! One thing I noticed with the current offensive line group is that they are undersized. Usually this would mean they are quicker and used for more pulling, etc. But, they seem slow and small which is never a good combination. The coaching is top notch, and hopefully this group will put all of the missing pieces together and improve the running game. Go Beavs!
tradernum1 says:
May 18, 2012
I think a little perspective is needed here.
OSU has had a pretty good stable of running backs and a pretty good running game for a number of years. Yes, this year is pretty bad, and recruiting better players on both sides of the ball (the ucks and their 100 points in the last two cw's points that out) is a necessity.
I believe that Oregon State cannot accept the N/S split proposal that is being floated in the papers. We absolutely need to continue that recruiting area. And frankly there is a better idea for both fans and tv (pac12cooler).
Back to the running game-In previous years, Cav has been hailed as a genius and we have had a pretty good running game. This year does seem down but I think it's an aberration rather than a longer term issue (like the db's who are too often down rather than up).
angrybeaver says:
May 18, 2012
How many current starters are from the LA area? The idea we need that recruiting ground is skewed. We never win those battles except to land guys the LA schools don't want anyway.
aaron_ says:
May 18, 2012
Starters are Katz from Santa Monica, Michael Phillip from San Bernadino, and Lance Mitchell from Pasadena.
Other guys from the area are Cam Collins from SM, malcolm Marable from Pasadena, Rashaad Reynolds from LA, Kevan Walker from Pasadena. The area is still needed to recruit. There are also some from the valley and up in the Bay area. We still need Cali to recruit in. Even if the LA or Bay area schools dont want them or that they just would rather come to OSU, either way it is fertile ground for recruiting.
angrybeaver says:
May 18, 2012
I forgot about Collins and Walker–both had offers in state. Phillipp too (Stanford no less). That's 3 guys, though. My point is, would we really not land a guy like Mitchell with no in-state offers yet lives in LA area just because we don't play there yearly?
ean says:
May 18, 2012
I wouldn't think it would matter a whole lot. But hearing Riley talk makes it seem like it obviously does. I think promising a visit every single year is pretty big.
angrybeaver says:
May 18, 2012
Yeah maybe I just don't get it.
Since we rarely land guys in head to head battles it seems like a non issue. My concern would be for when Riley retires and we (hopefully) hire a coach who can recruit some elite talent–at that point it becomes a major flaw, and for that reason I see the importance, but I don't see it being a big deal for the next five years or so.
tommiet says:
May 18, 2012
Two things bugged me about the AZ game. One, seeing out left tackle get pancaked and basically run over repeatedly by the AZ kid with the long blond hair, and two, seeing James almost fall down on crutches hobbling toward the tunnel, with no OS people around to help him.
I have to disagree with Angry though, we need to recruit So Cal, we get an awful lot of those kids to fill our roster, and where else do we go?
JoeAvezzano says:
May 18, 2012
Yeah, that was a weird deal. First when he was on the field one of the trainers pointed to his right leg sort of like, "Well, you can stand up on THAT one then we can get your carcass off the field and quit delaying this football game" then they left him on his own to negotiate that curb (ADA lawsuit attorneys, take notice). I thought there were golf carts in Arizona…
ean says:
May 18, 2012
Well this is just some of my speculation. But I think O-line and DT are a couple of the most difficult positions to recruit. I mean the pool of kids that are large and athletic enough to play those positions when they are 18 is so small that it is near impossible for a school like OSU to get many of the ready guys. So they have to find guys they think will grow into it. Either get guys that are undersized and hope they bulk up, or get big kids that are slow and hope they get more athletic. It just seems like a guessing game. Recently it seems the Beavs have been going the undersized athletic route.
JuneauJim says:
May 18, 2012
There is always room for improvement in every area and yes, the offensive line needs to do a better job of run blocking. But Katz threw for 393 yards which is something like 9th or 10th all time in a game for an OSU QB. So the O line is doing something right. This from a guy making his 5th start.
JackBeav says:
May 18, 2012
Recruiting in LA has little to do with whether or not a kid can go home to play once a year. If it did, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska–start naming teams–would never get anyone from LA.
angrybeaver says:
May 18, 2012
Exactly. Recruiting is mostly about the pitch…it's like selling anything else. We have the burden of an honest coach. I think the LA thing is way overrated…you'll see Washington and Oregon recruit guys from there with ease, even with a N/S alignment.
73GradMike says:
May 18, 2012
Unfortunately, Corvallis is the 9th or 10th most-desired location for recruits in the Pac-10 (see Pullman). AND, the Pac-10 is not always the most-desired conference for recruits to begin with. Beyond state-of-Oregon kids who love the Beavs and a few legacy-type connections, few star athletes covet playing for OSU. As a result, prime players in general and, evidently, D-1 linemen are very difficult to recruit to OSU.
It's actually VERY IMPRESSIVE what our current coaches and recent/current players have been able to accomplish.
RenoNVBeavr says:
May 18, 2012
I am just as puzzled as to the status of our OL. Clearly the loss of guys like Devan and Levitre have made an impact. However, every other team in the conf (CFB in general, for that matter) has to deal with the same issues. Has anyone seen UO's lineup of recruits for the OL for 2011. Check out http://www.beaverblitz.com and click over to the OL category. Ducks have already received 3 commits for OT's alone…4 star recruits, no less. Beavs simply must quit relying on the development of walk-on types and start aggressively working on getting talent equal to or better than even Mike Phllips.