Kevin Unga getting ready for the season.
Check out this Oregon State football team workout video teaser.
Fans might be taking a “show me something in the fall,” the players are getting it done even if you don’t believe them.
Oregon State beat writer
31 comments
fahlgren says:
Mar 13, 2012
I think the wait and see attitude is well deserved. Not because of these players, but history. As in losing records in Sept. 8 years in a row.
Cliff,
This reminds me, what ever happened with the “total evaluation” of the program? I know they changed the focus of spring training, is that what was decided was the only thing wrong?
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Mar 13, 2012
We’ll find out in how the team practices this spring.
oneoldbeav says:
Mar 13, 2012
Yes, Cliff, spring practice may tell us if there are other changes. We have already been told that the coordinators don’t need to be changed, nor do the schemes, and that DT is really no worry.
If none of those areas change and Riley still pulls out seven or more wins he will have answered many critics. I pick the current group for 5-6 wins without any significant changes by Riley. Riley’s own focus, passion, and willingness to think outside the box will need changing if this group is to accomplish anything beyond six wins. Your previous story on “want to” applies to Riley, not just the players. Just my 2 cents.
BeaverDon says:
Mar 13, 2012
Cliff,
Do you get a different “feeling” from the players and coaches? Do they recognize that after the string of Civil War losses, the two Rose Bowl chances lost and the 2 lossing seasons Fans are looking for players and coaches to do something positive this year?
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Mar 13, 2012
I addressed that in a previous blog: http://cliffkirkpatrick.mvourtown.com/2012/03/08/getting-ready-for-spring-ball/
But, yes, is the answer.
BeaverDon says:
Mar 13, 2012
I don’t see any mention of the coaches in the previous blog, and honestly you did hit the nail on the head with the statement “You’ll read about players being upset with last year leading up to the fall season, and you’ll roll your eyes because they said a year ago, too”. My eyes are rolling.
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Mar 13, 2012
I’ll catch up with the coaches soon, especially about the evaluation. It takes time to create a plan. By the time spring comes around, we’ll find out more about any changes.
Tagup says:
Mar 14, 2012
To be fair, this group of players is different from the group that has a string of civil war losses, etc.etc….I don’t think you can give them the responsibility for the results of past teams.
Bob says:
Mar 13, 2012
I’ll wait and see and hope for the best. What would motivate me is a win over Nicholes CC on Sept 1st.
RenoNVbeavr says:
Mar 13, 2012
Here’s my preseason predictions on the 2012 – 2013 FB season (7-5):
1) Nicholes St: W. I will turn my back on the Beavs if they lose this game. Totally not kidding.
@ UW. L. UW’s QB seriously scares me more than any other QB in the conf.
2) Wisconsin: W. Wisconsin lost their All-American OG, C, and QB.
3) @ UCLA: L. Dont get a good feeling about this game vs an unknown HC.
4) @ AZ: W. Beavs never lose in Tuscon.
5) WSU. W. Beavs better win this one before Leach obtains better talent.
6) @ BYU: L. This game could be ugly. Mendenhall seems to own Riley.
7) Utah. W. I say this only if Banker actually adjusts his defensive scheme.
9) ASU. W. New coach but not Brock Osweiler. I like the Beavs in this game.
10) @ Stanford. L. Despite no Luck, this team is still loaded.
11) Cal. W. Cal is talented but I like the Beavs to pull this one off.
12) UO. L. Riley has been completely outclassed by Kelly the past 5 years.
tim318 says:
Mar 13, 2012
I could buy this prediction, except for Wisc. Despite the losses, they have a lot of talent including Montee Ball. They won’t be in the Rose Bowl, but are solid.
RenoNVBeavr says:
Mar 13, 2012
TIM – Beating a solid Wisconsin team at home is exactly what the Beavs need to do to set any kind of tone for the rest of their season and finally break out of their abysmal Sept record. Beav fans should expect no less, either. Its time for Riley Hood and his merry band of jellyfish coordinators to prove they have the team steered in the right direction. I’ll remain cautiously optimistic and stand by my prediction that the Beavs pull the upset.
BeaverDon says:
Mar 13, 2012
It’s early but I’ll give it a shot:
1) Nicholls St: W After last year against Sacramento State this team had better not only beat Nicholls State but also actually crush them. This will be an indicator for the season, a close game or a lose and the Beavers and their fans are in for a long season.
2) Wisconsin: L Wisconsin has lost a lot, but they had a lot to start with. The Beavers will keep it closer then they did in Madison.
3) @ UCLA: L The Beavers should have won this on last year in Corvallis. I am not very confident on this one especially because it is in September. But UCLA has a new coach and will still be working things out. So this may turn out to be a win, but right now it looks like a loss.
4) @ AZ: W Same as UCLA, Arizona will be getting use to a new coach and I agree the Beavers have had good luck in Tucson.
5) WSU. W The third new coach in three games, and this on is at home. The Beavers should win this one.
6) @ BYU: L The Beavers may have a chance, but not too much of one. This team has an answer for whatever the Beavers throw at them.
7) Utah. W Don’t know how the Beavers let this one get away last year, okay I do know poor defensive scheme, but the Beavers will win this year.
9) ASU. W Another new coach, the game is in Corvallis in November. The Beavers should win this one.
10) @ Stanford. L No Andrew Luck but Stanford still has a good team and the game will be in Palo Alto, no joy for the Beavers.
11) Cal. W The Beavers have done well against Cal and this one is in Corvallis, close but the Beavers should take this one.
12) UO. W/L Maybe this is just wishful thinking on my part, because Kelly has built a killer team in Eugene. The Ducks will be down in 2012 compared to 2011. If Riley comes up with a good game plan, maybe a win….if he doesn’t then a lose. Either way this could be the best Civil War game in years.
The Beavers go 6-5 with the Civil War making them either 6-6 or 7-5.
OSU4Life says:
Mar 13, 2012
Will OSU ever beat UO in football again in my lifetime? How many teams in the NCAA lose to their rival 5 years in a row and still retain the same coaching staff? I like the video, but the proof will equal more wins. The play calling even with NFL talent on the roster is not setting this team up for success. The schemes are what is holding this team back. OSU must play to win instead of playing not to lose. Go for the throat every game, every down, every play and don’t ever let up!
RenoNVbeavr says:
Mar 13, 2012
If we could only live so long, OSU. Riley doesnt have that killer instinct in him and this is painfully obvious in his OC / DC’s. No where was this more evident than the ineptude showed in games vs Sac St, ASU, Utah, Stanford and UO. OS played not to lose these games, sticking with often maddeningly predictable offensive schemes, and a defensive scheme that lacked any semblance of adjustment to its opponent’s offense. Chip Kelly, on the other hand, seems to understand that there is no easing up on a beaten opponent, no settling for FG’s even when the game is in doubt or close, no thought of sticking to the same basic play-calling over and over. He plays to win! Pure and simple and he will crush his opponent’s throat while dialing up the next play call. Yes, if we can only live so long…
chris says:
Mar 13, 2012
It had nothing to do with having one of the youngest teams in the nation? You do not have to be a Bobby Knight to win games, you can be the coach of butler. The Bobby knights of the world start fast and fade. The Rileys may start slow but build to be good when they need to be, in the stretch. Yelling and fired up behavior soon gets the mute button. The only blame Riley deserves for the last couple of years is in the area of recruiting which does require a certain amount of luck meaning that it may have just been a bit of bad luck.
This group looks very good.
oneoldbeav says:
Mar 13, 2012
So, no blame for the non-reactiion to Quizz being hit well out of bounds? to James being injured in the endzone? to Katz being head bumped by Burfect? for this team coming out FLAT against WSU and UCLA?
Can’t agree with your assessment, chris; but I do agree this group looks very good (pending good developments at DT). And I do admire Riley, just wish he’d not seem so distracted.
wcjr says:
Mar 13, 2012
Open those eyes through which you’re seeing Beaver football through orange-colored glasses Chris. Reno and OOBeav are much more on the money than you are. You are correct, however, when you say the group looks good. They are going too have too be exceedingly good to overcome Banker’s and especially Langsdorf’s predictable schemes that they seem to feel never require any adjustments. Tough to move the ball when the opponent has a feeling for what’s coming most of the time.
RenoNVBeavr says:
Mar 13, 2012
WCJR – I get back to the 33 carries that Agnew carried against FCS Sac St. 33 carries, when you have Katz -whom received glowing praise from Riley and Katz in the offseason- getting a lame duck offensive gameplan when he should have been opening up the offense in preparation for the brutal Pac 12. Also, 33 carries for 1 RB…not spread out to a platoon of the Beavs other RB’s. 33 carries against lowly Sac St.?!? Now… throw in the mind-numbing 66 pass attempts -when the running game was averaging 5+ YPC- that Langs so skillfully called for a RSFr making his first start in a hostile environment like Tempe, AZ and you probably get my point. Dont get me started on Banker. Its getting late…
wcjr says:
Mar 13, 2012
Reno! Reno! Reno! I too am getting drowsy but wanted to quickly follow up on your thoughts concerning our boy Danny. He is the chief reason I, like you, am only very cautiously optimistic about the Badger game. After all, this is an OC whose play-calling was described to me by a NFL Hall of Fame QB as totally lacking in creativity. Is it too much to hope for that Riley will not worry about hurting his feelings and actually change and overrule some play calls this year?
Wagon says:
Mar 13, 2012
I wonder if we could recruit Bernard’s younnger brother from NC now that they are getting hammered by sanctions…….just a thought. Random, I know.
2005beav says:
Mar 13, 2012
Cliff college football players lifting weights is not news. That is not gong to build off season excitement if that is all that is going on in Corvallis.
What are the coaches doing to improve? Mike already said the scheme will not change; If that is the case, how dose he really expect to improve what they do, or are we going to place all the blame for loosing on the players over the last four years?
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Mar 13, 2012
The team has had two losing seasons.
Coaches don’t blame players. That’s interpreted into the response in questions such as what went wrong on that play? The answer is the player read the play wrong and made a mistake. Then the question is, what are doing to fix it. The answer is coach them more.
And we won’t be able to see anything tangible as to what the coaches are doing until they are allowed to do it.
oneoldbeav says:
Mar 14, 2012
“And we won’t be able to see anything tangible as to what the coaches are doing until they are allowed to do it.”
C’mon Cliff. They (for the most part) have been allowed to “do it” for a number of years. Hope the newer coaches make a difference but doubt any really big change will occur without more serious focus on Riley’s part. We’ve already seen some change on MR’s part, but so very slow.
FAUBeav says:
Mar 14, 2012
Totally disagree. I have been very unimpressed with the strength and conditioning of Beavers over the past several years. This is a huge reason why both sides of the line have been getting schooled. This is a step in the right direction to buildIng a foundation to be competitive and hopefully successful on the field.
fahlgren says:
Mar 13, 2012
I just read coach Rob’s interview from today. It was refreshing. He stated goals for next year (NCAA tourney). Imagine that, stated goals!
OSU4Life says:
Mar 14, 2012
Bob DeCarolis and Mike Riley should write a letter of apology to Beaver Nation and the fans for the unacceptable performance on the field thepast two seasons. Losing 5 years in a row to your rival should NEVER happen anywhere, what makes OSU different? It’s a shame.
RenoNVbeavr says:
Mar 14, 2012
OSU – Steve Sarkisian had the stones to fire his high priced, hand-picked DC buddy, Holt, when he gave up 700+ yrds to Baylor in last year’s bowl game, coupled with poor results the past 2 seasons. That is a coach who realizes change is necessary and acted expediently to correct it, bringing in the one DC (Wilcox) who has had success against UO spread attack. What does Riley do: He valiantly supports Banker like he was kin. I mean, Banker gave up nearly 700 yrs twice to their rival Ducks in 2 of the last 4 CW games. TWICE!
dunerat says:
Mar 14, 2012
Reno, I agree with you cause you stole my line from a week ago about Wilcox. He didn’t stop there though. The rest of the position Coaches were hand picked because each have had success against the Duck Spread in the past. And good point about the 700 yard civil war games. I wonder where Riley would draw the line. 800, 900, or maybe 1,000 yards a game would constitute a change? Sark knows the PAC-12 North goes through Eugene.
FAUBeav says:
Mar 14, 2012
I am not very impressed with this video. They should have just shown some older videos of Pea bench pressing a truck and Quizz working the ropes. Come on Beavs, step your game up!
Cliff, do you know much about the Stanford strength and conditioning program? I seem to remember quotes this year from incoming recruits stating how impressed they were with what Stanford is doing in that area.
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Mar 14, 2012
I don’t have any specifics.