James Rodgers needs the ball more.
Watching Saturday’s 38-28 loss by the Oregon State football team to BYU, I wondered where was WR James Rodgers?
He was almost non-existent in the first three quarters. He ended the game with four catches for 47 yards and one rush for six yards.
“He’s doing fine,” coach Mike Riley said. “He’s making plays and running the ball well. He’s contributing, coming on and we have to get him going earlier in the game.”
Rodgers hasn’t made an impact since returning from his knee injury. Before the injury he was the go-to WR. And in some ways people thought he was depended on too much.
He has 18 catches with an average of 49 yards in his four games this season. There have been five attempts at rushing the ball with a 7.0-yard average.
Now he’s not used enough.
“He was open early,” Riley said. “We had a great time to take a chance early, but protection killed us.”
QB Sean Mannion hasn’t had the time to find him, and has been dumping the ball to the RB.
Riley, however, plan to try and get Rodgers the ball more in the coming games.
20 comments
floridabeav says:
Oct 17, 2011
James Rodgers is not the same player since he came back from the knee injury. It is most obvious on the fly sweep. He can no longer make the explosive cut up field and instead now almost always takes the play all the way to the sideline. He simply lacks the burst now. Same can be said for Joe “the Tank” Halinuni. Caught the ball in the flat against BYU, squared up against the cover guy and then tried to “juke” him and was stopped cold. The old Tank would have lowered his shoulder and punished the defender and added eight yards to the catch. James and Joe “the Rickshaw” are not the same players.
Tagup says:
Oct 17, 2011
Same player or not….He still gets open and the ball is thrown elsewhere. How can you explain James Rogers not catching a pass until the late 3rd Quarter!…….Bubble screen,slip screen, slant pattern….there are many ways he can get the ball that are relatively safe throws. JR is still a threat but only if you get him the ball.
ean says:
Oct 17, 2011
James still looks fast to me he just avoids contact instead of laying out defenders like he used to. He was once the most physical receiver in the Pac-10.
floridabeav says:
Oct 17, 2011
ean: You are partially right. James (and “the Tank”) used to be what they are now not. James may still (nearly) have his top end speed, but he simply does not have the explosiveness that was more important to his game than pure speed (which in reality was not “blazing” by college standards today — the same was true of Jaquizz by the way). And the Tank Halahuni? The guy was … well … a tank last year. He mowed defenders over after the catch. Now he is a not so good 250 pound juker. He may be okay physically, but mentally he is not the same guy. I remember thinking how pollyanish some Beaver fans were this year believing that the return of these two guys was going to be the answer to the team’s problems. As good as Wheaton has been, Rodgers is less important to improving this team here and now. Langsdorf would be better off (and showing a little creativity) by putting in that 6’5″ receiver who has hardly seen any playing time.
Ole says:
Oct 17, 2011
Either Langs is calling plays where JR isn’t the primary receiver or Mannion just is more comfortable with others first. There have been a number of plays where I’ve seen JR wide open and Mannion didn’t even see him.
Yaquina Bob says:
Oct 17, 2011
Not only has James been quiet on the field, but you just don’t hear from the guy at all anymore in the media. I watched him walk off the field after each turnover last Saturday and his body language reflected pure disgust. Can’t blame him I guess, he isn’t getting the ball, the team is losing, and this is it for him. Since he’s not talking, you can only guess he’s just burning up with frustration.
I also saw many one on one situations with JR, he was open, and the QB just wasn’t throwing him the ball. One other thing, how could anybody ever really be the same after a catastrophic knee injury and two surgeries?
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Oct 17, 2011
James Rodgers hates dealing with the media. He was shy as a freshman, and then saw how Sammie Stroughter dealt with the media after his emotional breakdown. That turned him against dealing with the media.
Chris says:
Oct 17, 2011
Imagine his situation – he blows his knee out and busts his rear end to get healthy, etc. and all for this performance from his coach, assistants, and his fellow players? Most of all Riley ought to be just plain embarassed for putting James through this. Frankly, Riley has really let James down……
wcjr says:
Oct 17, 2011
Very well said Chris and thanks to Cliff for bringing up what many of us are thinking. James busts his butt to come back from a devastating injury and for what? To be almost totally ignored and constantly pulled from the lineup? He’s constantly running OFF the field, doubt if he’s played 3 straight downs. Even if he’s lost half a step he still has his moves and is in the clear only to be ignored. In the clear 10 or 15 yards down the field, not 3 or 4 yards on third down when we need 7 or 8, which often seems to be Danny’s pass of choice. It often seems Mike and Danny think Wheaton is our only receiver. Look how long Bishop and Hahahuni go between passes, or the two of them plus Nichols last year after James went down. This coaching staff has been a huge disappointment to many of us the last year and a half. Especially egregious is the way they(esp. Mike and Danny) have treated James. As Chris says, they have really let him down. Shameful!
dunerat says:
Oct 17, 2011
If Greg Byrne was the AD at OSU, Would he have had a News Conference today? After the BYU loss. It was easy to see this coming if you followed their Recruiting the last 4 years. Riley is a good Coach, but He is going to have to make some big changes in the off season. Find some Assistance that can Recruit and Find a conditioning Coach. These players are getting hurt cause their out of shape and not ready. Oh and realize that STARS do matter.
BlackandOrange says:
Oct 17, 2011
Yeah Mike Riley and Danny are really ignoring and letting JR down??? You have to be kidding. Does anyone do research before making comments on this blog. JR’s knee injury was catastrophic. He beat everyone’s expectations to get back on the field as early as he did. Two ligaments were completely destroyed. Do you think he was just sent out to exile during his rehab process. Several coaches encouraged James to wait longer to minimize the impact on his surgically repaired knee.
Also, consider a new QB who has no spring or fall chemistry established with JR. You don’t insert a player into the lineup after 12 months of rehab and have him touch the ball 10-15 times three games after being reinstated. I would think that is a staff who has his future in their best interest. Any sort of blow to his knee will set him back and blow any shot at the NFL.
If the touchdown stood against AZ with the 3 or 4 over throws and the failure to locate him when he was open during the BYU game. Would this even be a discussion?
Who’s next to blame?
Mike says:
Oct 17, 2011
I am thinking that James will be just fine and that he is being used wisely until he shows his ‘old moves’.I am actually glad that he is being treated carefully – because as much as he did for this program – he deserves a shot at the next level.He’s a great kid , a great leader and a reliable playmaker..I don’t want to see him get hurt again and would rather see him get additional healing and conditioning time.
As far as who is missing, I am amazed at the lack of plays called in the direction of both Halahuni and Bishop. Marcus , whom I also really like is getting all of the attention – from Mannion and the DEFENSE.
Also, I understand the early fumble from Malcolm – but geez, the guy hadn’t seen any real action in thee weeks. Both he and Jovan could have had a lot more yards if given more carries and not called up the middle every time.
I know this is backseat driving and armchair coaching from me and the other fans,but I really do not see any imaginative coaching that puts the guys in a position to be successful. We seem totally disfunctional and unmotivated. Even the win against Arizona was largely uninspired football the entire second half.
Also , how about halftime adjustments on both offense and defense ? I see all of the teams we have played really mix things up and get after it , we are still doing the same predictable playcalling and defensive schemes. Yes, lot’s of players out of the game due to injuries – but , are the number 2′s and 3′s TOTALLY unprepared to go into a game ?
This just keeps getting uglier and uglier………
orb says:
Oct 18, 2011
You have not said anything untrue although those still looking at this program through orange-colored glasses will disagree. As for the totally uncreative play calling, all you have to do is watch Chip call plays and wonder what could be. Don’t even get me started on how Bishop, Halahuni and other potential offensive weapons(Cooks, all of 3 catches last week) are pretty much going to waste.
BeaverDon says:
Oct 17, 2011
Cliff,
You are surprised that Rogers is not being used? With this coaching staff? This staff got Heckker to do that rugby kick thing. This staff had the team completely unprepared for Sacramento State. Sacramento State! This staff was a failure at recruiting and it is now showing. I am not at all surprised that Riley says “He’s doing fine,He’s making plays and running the ball well” when any observer can see he is no making plays, because the coaches are not calling his number.
This has been called a rebuilding year. Rebuilding on what? Before you can “rebuild” you have to have built, OSU football has turned into a shambles and has to build period, there is nothing to rebuild.
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Oct 17, 2011
The only surprise is because the Beavers run people into the ground. However, Riley has always been extra cautious with Rodgers since the injury.
beaverfan12 says:
Oct 17, 2011
Cliff in one of your previous replies you suggested that we should wait until the end of next season before making judgement about needing significant changes in the OSU football program. Is this still your contention or have you seen enough in the last 12 months to believe more urgent and dramatic actions are now needed?
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Oct 17, 2011
Something is not working if players are saying they keep making mistakes at this point, if the team keeps improving.
That could be practice style, new players or new schemes.
Chris says:
Oct 18, 2011
Cliff, the players saying they are making mistakes is apparently providing cover for Riley and his Offensive Coordinator Langsdorf. That’s really a cop out. Plus players will try to protect their coaches and make excuses for them. It’s similar to a kid who is mistreated, he tries to understand it and make sense out of it and blame himself.
Frankly, while its admirable for the players to admit that – to a point. But the reality is that it’s time for some change to occur. Again, if Langsdorf is as good as Riley thinks he is then he will have no problem catching on somewhere else. It’s time for some major changes to the coaching staff. If you look at successful programs it’s not uncommon for coaches to be coming and going. It’s time.
orb says:
Oct 18, 2011
Certain pollyannas need to do a little research of their own and watch James run his routes. He’s in the clear the huge majority of the time and the” failure to locate him” is a prime reason for this discussion and I assume one of the factors in Cliff bringing this up in the first place. “Does anyone do any research” indeed!!
Ricky says:
Oct 18, 2011
Mannion is just throwing the ball around like you expect a freshman to be doing. Making tons of mistakes, missing wide open guys. Why they dumped Katz so quick is puzzling. It had to have been something off the field, or an issue that hasn’t become public yet. Terrible playcalling and uninspired play ruined Quiz’s last season for the Beavers. It’s disgusting to see the same thing happening with his big brother now.
What’s said the most to me this year is that in the 6 games the Beavers have played, only 2 have been televised live, and one of them was thanks to Wisconsin, not because ESPN thought the Beavers would be great football. This team has become completely and totally irrelevant over the course of two years. I don’t recall seeing this extreme of a downslide in another major college program in such a short amount of time.
The school is going to lose a fortune with the number of dropped season tickets and reduced attendance next year. Rebuilding for next year…when they are without Rodgers, Halahuni, and Mitchell, and Agnew’s hamstring falls off his leg. It’s not a great day to be a Beaver