Oregon State starting OLB Keith Pankey (ankle) is doubtful for Saturday’s game. That means senior Keo Camat will get extended playing time in his place.
Camat has been a career reserve and special teams player. Most of his playing time has come late this season on a rotational basis. He has eight tackles in nine games.
“I feel it has been a good season for me,” Camat said. “We play when the rotation allows us. When it’s our turn we play as hard as we can, when we can.”
Camat tries not to let the pressure of the situation get to him. The Beavers need a win against the seventh-ranked team in the country with a mobile quarterback to be bowl eligible.
He’ll be asked to stop the ball carrier, contain the quarterback and cover the short passes.
“It’s still he same; the game isn’t different,” Camat said. “I’m just going to play the game I played my entire life. If you think about it too much you are not going out there reacting. We are hoping Keith gets back as soon as humanly possible, but it’s just prepping like it’s another day.”
Camat is a true local guy. He was born in Corvallis, moved to Portland and played for Jesuit High. There were never many opportunities to talk with him, but when I did he seemed like a down-to-earth guy.
If he comes up big Saturday, it would be a great story. Here’s a link to my oddball Q&A I did with him earlier in the year.
4 comments
defenseneeded says:
Nov 24, 2010
Cliff – Does this mean that the Beavers are going to play Camat over Cameron Collins? Are you kidding me? Hometown product he may be, but Collins has already demonstrated last year as a starting safety and this year at OLB that he can step in and get it done (Arizona State game = 10 Tackles) when Robeson was out. Why does the coaching staff (Banker and the LB coach) seem to continuesly look for reasons to downplay his contributions and limit his play.
ckirkpatrick says:
Nov 24, 2010
Camat has been running with the first string in practice. Collins, however, will play a lot, too. Camat has more practice in the defense than Collins, so they'll split time.
In the OSU defense, the LBs must make adjustments. It takes experience to know what to do. Collins is still coming along.
tradernum1 says:
Nov 24, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving to Cliff and all beaver fans.
Beat Harbaugh in his last year at the ferd and BEAT THE DUCKS.
maffub says:
Nov 26, 2010
I think we fans tend to forget that proper technique & football "smarts" (i.e. being in the proper place at the proper time) trump raw talent 9 out of 10 times.
It's a team game… and the surest way to blow a play or scheme up… is to have ONE GUY out of position.