RB Terron Ward will need a good game today.
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Oregon State football team is the long shot in tonight’s Pacific-12 Conference game at Arizona State.
Games are not easy in Sun Devil Stadium, especially when it’s 100-plus degrees. Check out my Game Day special section story. I go over the series with the Sun Devils.
OSU has a three-game winning streak, but I pick the Sun Devils 31-10 this time.
Here’s my main story in Saturday’s GT. It’s on the young DEs, Scott Crichton and Dylan Wynn. From there you can find links to the stories from the week.
RB Malcolm Agnew (hamstring) is out, and the running game wasn’t even that potent. It’s up to freshman QB Sean Mannion to move the ball.
He’ll need James Rodgers to have a big game. The senior all-purpose WR returned from nearly a year off due to a knee injury last week. He had a solid game with five catches.
Now that he shook off some rush Rodgers should be a bigger part of the game plan today against the Sun Devils. Rodgers is one of my players to watch. The other is ASU LB Vontaze Burfict.
Here are the keys to the game if the Beavers hope to win.
No. 3 Do the basics
An 0-3 team must do the basic to score points. That means protect the passer, run the ball and don’t turn the ball over. Freshman Mannion needs time to throw the ball and a running game will take pressure off of him.
No. 2 Score in the red zone
An offense that ranks last in the Pac-12 Conference in scoring (15.7 ppg) needs to score when it gets a chance. The red zone offense is last in the Pac-12 (63 percent). “Windows are tighter in there,” coach Mike Riley said. “Frankly, we are not very good. We need to execute better.”
No. 1 Start fast
Jumping out with an early score will help build confidence, and then keep the pressure up. The offense will take either long drives or quick strikes. Either way, they need to finish drives.
And here’s my final band of the Arizona musical tour. It’s Rob Halford, really, but this is from his early 1990s band Fight. This should get you ready to play some football.
7 comments
aaron_ says:
Oct 1, 2011
Starting Robinson over Dr. is stupid. Flat out stupid. Robinson is not very good period. Doctor has great potential to be the next Doggett, but even at this point he is better than reuben. And if we are going with youth (mannion &wrs) then why is Rueben getting pt? Seriously either we are committed to the youth movement or not. But there is no way Robinson is better than Doctor.
But IF they are going with the best player theory, then why isnt McCants starting. He is better than Ward and Jenkins. Maybe not better than Stevenson but he should not be 4th or 5th on the depth chart. If Agnew isnt going to play then McCants or Jovan should be. These personnel decisions are really questionable. It is putting the team in a bad position to try and get a W.
Yaquina Bob says:
Oct 1, 2011
100 degrees? That’s hell. It’s a nice brisk 59 here on the coast today.
Give it your best shot Beavs, then come on home.
Duane says:
Oct 1, 2011
Cliff, any idea why they haven’t tried to throw to Gwachum in the red zone? Or short yardage situations, even? One 6’5″ guy to another 6’5″ guy who happens to high jump seven feet seems like a high probability opportunity.
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Oct 1, 2011
To put him in the game that means pulling Wheaton out of the game. I think you would want Wheaton in.
OSU coaches are not known to say taking the No. 2 SE and putting him at flanker or slot just for red zone.
Beavergopher says:
Oct 1, 2011
The coaches are too busy scouting walk-ons to start on the O-line to actually try some innovative
offensive sets. It will be “neat” to have all walk-ons starting on the O-line.
Truther says:
Oct 1, 2011
It’s in the 80′s and the game is about to begin. What a bunch of hooey, Cliff.
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Oct 1, 2011
Weather.com says 91. It’s cooling down for the potential thunder showers. It was around 100 most of the day.