Andrew Seumalo will play a key role on the DL.
It’s time to look at the Oregon State football team’s DL headed into spring practice. There was much cyberspace angst about no DT JC recruits.
Coach Mike Riley maintained he already has the people to make a difference in the team’s gap cancelation defense.
The biggest concern is senior starter Castro Masaniai won’t practice much, if at all, as he recovers from last season’s broken leg. He hasn’t been running much in the offseason.
That leaves Andrew Seumalo and Mana Rosa as the first-string DTs in the spring. Both of them started out at DE before moving inside.
Behind Seumalo is Desmond Collins, Mana Tuivailala and Noa Aluesi. Collins started out at DE and Aluesi is a greyshirt who started out as a TE.
Behind Rosa are Joe Lopez and Brandon Bennett-Jackson. Lopez is a walk-on, and Riley has high expectations from Bennett-Jackson.
The spring will be an opportunity to see if these guys bulked up, and can disrupt the offense.
The DEs are more stable with starting sophomores Scott Crichton and Dylan Wynn back. Even the depth is solid.
Behind Crichton on the left side are Devon Kell, Rusty Fernando, who played significantly last season, and Lavonte Barnett.
Behind Wynn on the right are Rudolf Fifita, John Braun and Ali’i Robbins. Fifita Braun played some last year.
DE Akeem Gonzales wasn’t mentioned by Riley on the depth chart, saying there are eight guys who can do well. However, an OSU official said he’s still on the team. So it might have been an oversight.
So there’s the fall’s lineup. There are bodies. We have to see if they are impact players, starting this spring.
25 comments
ObjCritic says:
Mar 27, 2012
“Both of them started out at DE before moving inside….Collins started out at DE and Aluesi is a greyshirt who started out as a TE…..Lopez is a walk-on….The spring will be an opportunity to see if these guys bulked up, and can disrupt the offense.”
And Riley thinks this is a productive approach to successfully defending Wisconsin and Pac-12 offenses? Riley continues to “live in a vacuum,” his mantra to the players last year. If OSU had just dropped to DI-AA this might be acceptable, but not prioritizing at least two JUCO DT’s this past recruiting cycle is absurd.
This is going to be another frustrating year of watching an inexperienced offensive line and an undersized defensive line, neither of whom can support the speed provided on their respective edges.
RenoNVbeavr says:
Mar 27, 2012
I hate to put a fly in the ointment but is anybody else concerned about the lack of depth or even girth at the DT position. What is equally alarming is that Riley felt this was not a position of need on recruiting this year. Huh?!? Here is how our existing DT depth looks:
Seumalo – 281 lbs
Mana Tui – 287 lbs (aside from Castro this is the “giant” on our DL
Joe Lopez – 275 lbs (who?!?)
Jon Braun – 272 lbs
Fifita – 263 lbs
Brandon Bennett – 271 lbs (who?!?)
This is a DT group that is not going to scare anybody in the Pac 12. This just in: Western Oregon University, a Div III school just up the road on Hwy 99, has 8 guys on its DL that is 275 lbs or better. EIGHT guys…WOU!!! They also have over TEN guys on their OL that are 290 lbs or better. How is this possible?!?
bbb says:
Mar 27, 2012
reno-
ive been screaming about this for a year and a half. most everyone just give the old “in riley we trust”. the o-line and d-line have been the difference between competing (and losing) for the p12 title and what we have seen the past two seasons. they addressed the o-line through recruiting (2 years before we see an impact) but have done nothing but go back wards in recruiting DT. anyone can see that this will be another year where we cant get off the field on defense and cant stay on the field on offense. its ok though. we will recruit 15 DE and 20 WR next year to make up for it.
hip hip hooray!
bone says:
Mar 27, 2012
What we need are DTs who can hold their own and not allow linemen to get to the next level, granted weighing 300 pounds will help with that, but you can get away will be in the 275-290 range. Oregon as an example plays with some smaller DTs but they find a way to get the job done. Paea was a little on the smaller end. Stopping the running game really started to tank once Castro went down.
RenoNVBeavr says:
Mar 27, 2012
BBB – BONE, excellent points. However, smaller, quicker penetrating DT’s are great…if you are a team like Oregon and score 40+ points per game. Teams like Oregon put the opposing offense in a no-win situation but to abandon the running game and elect to pass the majority of its plays. This plays right into the hands of the defense, which can pull their ears back and simply blitz the QB mercilously. Oregron also does not have a walk-on at DT or some undersized DE that is moved inside. Remember the big 300 lb 4-star DT they brought in 2 years ago? The guy didnt even see the field for but a handful of plays his first season. There were several DT prospects on Rivals that I was shocked were not offered by the Beavs: 300 lb Kenny Mack (who listed the Beavs as his fave), who ran a 4.95 40, and two girthy 3-star DT’s from Washington state and Idaho. Guys like Mack could have fallen over on the opposing Center and achieved more penetration than our existing starters.
Rick says:
Mar 29, 2012
At one point in my life, I was about 290. Does that mean I’d qualify to play for WOU as a DL?
bbb says:
Mar 27, 2012
how far off the tracks does this thing have to run before people wake up? we cant even field a team for a spring game at this point. this is now beyond incompetence. its flat out negligence. how are we, the paying customer supposed to support this anymore? That life time contract Bobby D cooked up for Riley was the biggest mistake in OSU sports history. now we have a group of s#$*less layabouts as a coaching staff. they have no pressure to perform what so ever. Its the first union cfb head coaching job in history.
all of you that are upset about the injuries/training staff should consider who brought these broken down players in. Being durable is part of the recruiting process. we have a collection of broken down players. Riley and staff are the people bringing these guys in. Its not like we are wearing the wrong shoes or something. its not like they dont stretch out properly. they are just damaged goods.
even if we were to recruit twice as good as we have been going forward, what has MR ever won? he doesnt have the capacity to take very good players and turn them into big time winners either. this is just a flat failure on all levels.
chris says:
Mar 28, 2012
He led the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL from 1987–1990 and won two Grey Cups during his tenure.
4 out 5 bowl games
Was close to winning two pac 10 championships. Turned around one of the worst football programs in the history of sports.
Complain on complainer. Let’s see what happens when they hit the field. If you are so confident in your speculative abilities go to vegas and stake your claim, guessing you just like to spout off instead of put your money where your mouth is.
Tim says:
Mar 27, 2012
Yeah, Western Oregon beat out OSU, UO, and PSU for those top-notch players.
There’s a reason why they’re at Western. Think about it.
shane says:
Mar 27, 2012
OBJ riley said if they could get a player that would be an instant impact at DT they would gladly take them, but there’s no reason to recruit a JC DT if he’s not going to clearly be a starter you would just be wasting a scholly
and Reno those numbers on weight are not up to date
ObjCritic says:
Mar 27, 2012
So most of the current DL players would not be receiving scholarships if that were the case. Most of them are not ‘impact’ players, are not legitimate DI starters, and are ‘tweeners – too small to be effective DT’s, too slow to be effective DE’s.
Why not use scholarhips to get 3 legitimate 300 pounders to rotate? If they’re no faster than the current roster players, they’re at least bigger, and more likely to create opportunities for the linebackers. I say three because there’s a need for depth to account for rotations, injury, and the risk that someone like Masiani is either going to be out of shape, injured, or make some poor off-field decision that puts him on the bench. These tweeners are NOT effective against the likes of Wisconsin, Stanford, or legitimate DI offensive lines.
Across every position group one can see players receiving scholarships that are not “instant impact” players or even starters. I don’t see that as a reason given the current lack of size and skill at DT.
chris says:
Mar 28, 2012
Sarcesian didn’t think Crichton was an “impact” player but we are supposed to think you know what one is? Good you have such a high opinion of yourself because I am guessing not many other people do. That is pretty funny.
RenoNVBeavr says:
Mar 27, 2012
Shane, I assume they will be updated after Spring Training?!?
shane says:
Mar 27, 2012
OBJ you just assume that every team can just pick up 3 300 pounders who are actually able to play like its nothing…those guys don’t just grow on trees, would i have liked a couple in the class yes, but we didn’t have a lot of scholarship spots this year, we’re already gonna greyshirt several players so unless the player was 300 lbs and in D1 shape already but considering we have 7 players listed at DT right now(yes i know some are a little small) that pretty much occupy’s all the roster spots you’ll use at that position. Given a year some of those tweeners from last year will put on size and be serviceable…should they have recruited DT better 2/3 years ago yes, but last years class had bigger needs then DT unless the DT was going to be an impact player
shane says:
Mar 27, 2012
and i’m not saying every player we recruit has to be an immediate impact player..but if your screaming about an immediate upgrade at that position they need to be
bbb says:
Mar 27, 2012
shane,
how about 1? 1 guy who can play the position effectively prior to being a 5th year senior. 1. 1! just one guy. that would be a start.
ObjCritic says:
Mar 27, 2012
Actually, I don’t scream. And while tone is easy to misconstrue in written form, I’m not upset about this and I don’t fault the existing players for their efforts or goals. And I understand every team wants 300 lb+ DT’s that can be effective quickly, and don’t pretend that having a number of them is easy.
But to announce that “DT is not a priority” for a team with clear needs sends a poor signal to the fan base and to potential recruits. If a player who is at least as good as current player, if not potentially better, AND is bigger, hears that, why would he be interested in even considering committing? The message is “We’re going to play who we have.”
It’s just a poor strategic move on Riley’s part, and therefore typical of him. How about “We like the guys we have, but we want physical players who want to compete and win a starting job.” Even two decent, sizeable DT’s could really change the effectiveness of OSU’s defense.
I simply saw no logic or strategy behind Riley’s approach to: 1) Have undersized, inexperienced players (by virtue of having been too small/slow to gain playing time or because of a position switch) populate the DT position group and 2) advertise to potential recruits that OSU did not see DT as a priority. This approach is very unlikely to be successful for OSU.
Beavrob says:
Mar 27, 2012
The two-deep on the DE looks good, and I look forward them in action in the fall. I also thought Rudy Fernando was effective as a pass-rusher in the very few obvious passing situations the Beavers faced last season. Hopefully the defense can force more of those next season.
After Seumalo, the DT situation looks scarier to me than the O-line situation. I agree with other posters here, that there should have been much more urgency to recruit JC DTs. It is really too bad that Calvin Tonga decided to go to Colorado State at the last moment – it is very difficult to believe that he would not at least be in the regular rotation, if not contend for a starting spot. The same might be said for other JC DTs who expressed an interest in OSU but were not recruited. Riley claims to have enough capable bodies at DT, so this position will be highly scrutinized. There are some unknowns who might make an impact (Tuivailala, Collins, Bennett), so any hope we have lies with them. It will be very interesting to see how the depth chart shakes out here.
Jerry2005 says:
Mar 27, 2012
This is a disappointing article,
I was hoping Mike would come up with something better that what we had last year. That obviously didn’t work out well for us.
I have been reading and staying up to date with what is going on in Corvallis and honestly it has not been this hopeless since Jerry Pettibone was behind the wheel. We will be lucky to pull 3 wins out of this season.
Mike says:
Mar 27, 2012
Okay, for those of you that think Riley knows what he is doing……..BDC should sit down with him now and say ‘ the lifetime guarantee is out the window unless you can pull in at least 7 wins this year ‘.
For those of you that think Riley has lost it…….BDC should sit down with him now and say ” your gross and continuing incompetence, and lack of ability to make the tough decisions, leaves me no option.Unless you go to a bowl game, you are going to be looking for a new job ”
I WAS Rileys biggest supporter, but the game has passed him by. I m really tired of the coaching staff going after kids that will get their position switched ( several times ) , before the kid hits the practice field. How innovative if we could recruit a proven safety, a proven cornerback, a proven linebacker, a proven DL or OL ? It’s a big enough jump going from HS to D1, much less asking a kid to learn a whole new position. Results on the field have shown what a crock this type of thinking is.
bone says:
Mar 27, 2012
I know that when to recruiting there are certain recruits that coaching staffs see as athletes and can be plugged in at different at different positions. It was either Keanon Lewis or Brandon Hughes who started as a wide receiver but then made the switch to corner. The coaches are going to put athletes where the team needs them and where they have the best situation to succeed, which I think most student athletes will want.
Mike says:
Mar 27, 2012
Bone – the point is that THESE COACHES have no idea what they are doing and NOTHING is working.
Athletes are one thing – where have we been woefully inadequate ? That would be in both the OL and DL , where we are recruiting poorly and moving people around without any rhyme or reason.
You can’t have an effective running or passing game if your Q-back is forced to throw too soon or he ends up on his back before he can even hand the ball off.
Our defensive backfield and linebackers get stretched because there is no effective D-line or game plan. These guys will prove to be the worst coaching staff in the PAC 12. Everyone else has upgraded and are installing new offenses and new defensive coaches.. we are, well, apparently happy to be losing with the current staff.
RenoNVBeavr says:
Mar 27, 2012
MIKE – Some good points. You spoke about gameplan. I reiterate that coaches like UW’s Sarkisian saw that his existing coaching staff on defense – his hand-picked, high priced DC, in partiuclar- were not getting it done. Sarkisian had to make the tough call. He needed to assess where he wanted to take the program in the immediate and long term future. Holt, with all of his credentials at USC, was deemed the weakest link. For good reason, I might add. UW’s defense was not getting better over the past 2 years, ranking near the bottom of the conf and what likely was the culmination; 700+ yards given up to Baylor in the bowl game. Final note: Riley -or should I say Banker’s- defense has given up nearly 700 yards TWICE to their arch rival in 2 of the past 4 CW games. That is flat out unacceptable for our fan base. So, your point is well taken. You can have all the talented DL in the conf but if you cant adjust your scheme to your opponent, it doesnt matter.
Bone says:
Mar 28, 2012
Alright I think we might be trying to make different points about different things. I was trying to make the point that position changes aren’t a huge deal. But I agree that some coaching adjustments need to be made, weather it be scheming or coaching changes. But we need to figure something out.
OS_Beaver says:
Mar 27, 2012
Coaching Heat Index: Mike Riley at Oregon State
http://beaverbyte.com