Trevor Romaine needs to find consistency.
There’s a lot of work to be done in the spring for the Oregon State football team’s specialists.
PK Trevor Romaine must get in his groove. Coach Mike Riley said incoming recruit Garrett Owen is going to greyshirt, but he’s ready to join the team if Romaine can’t find consistency.
There’s going to be a competition for punter with Tim McMullen and Keith Kostol.
There’s a competition for the long snapper with Michael Morovick and Troy Whalen. Marcus Perry didn’t make a mistake in four years, so these guys have a lot to live up to.
Even another holder must be found. Last year the backup punters were trained to step in, so we’ll see who takes the job.
As for returners, Jordan Poyer on punts and kicks, and Malcolm Marable on kicks are proven returners.
However, coach Mike Riley wants to see what Brandin Cooks can do on kickoffs.
45 comments
Alex says:
Mar 30, 2012
Having Poyer take all those hits returning kicks and punts terrifies me, considering our CB situation. Besides, he’s a pretty good return guy, but no James Rodgers. CB is where he excels. We need to find someone else to return kicks and punts.
bbb says:
Apr 4, 2012
alex-
while i share your anxiety, its a chance this team just has to take. JP is a very good returner and they have to take every shot at good field position or even getting points on special teams. since we will likely have no o-line to speak of again it probably will be tough sledding for the offense.
Evan says:
Mar 30, 2012
I’ll miss Perry, he was the perfect guy to represent Lunchpail U. Hardworker, kept is head down, got his job done. Definitely can’t underestimate the value of consistency and reliability with our specialists.
I would love to see Owen give Romaine a run for his money, a little competition never hurt.
oneoldbeav says:
Mar 30, 2012
With Quizz, ball security was a given; with Perry long snaps were not an issue. We’ve seen what happened to the fumble rate.
OTOH, with Remmers false starts were a given; maybe that trend will change as well.
AndyPanda says:
Mar 30, 2012
There will be fewer kickoff returns due to the rule changes that promote touchbacks, and many more opponents’ possessions will end with a kickoff instead of a punt.
I do want to see Brandin Cooks in space with the ball more often, how ever that has to happen. He has the speed to make big plays, and this team is going to need big plays to be able to hang in games.
AndyPanda says:
Mar 30, 2012
Bypassing Max Johnson to burn a season for Garrett Owen if Trevor Romaine struggles would be yet another head scratcher.
I understand the debate between moves to win now vs. win later, but there have been more and more moves that ensure losing now or later, if not both…
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Mar 30, 2012
Max Johnson is not on the roster anymore.
AndyPanda says:
Mar 30, 2012
Well, there you go!
More talent gone with no explanation.
He was during winter term, after the season. This program can’t seem to get anything right any more. Really sends a strong message to recruits. And not a good one.
bone says:
Mar 30, 2012
Well losing your back up kicker isn’t the biggest deal, especially when you have one coming in like that Garrett Owens, I suggest you take a look at his highlight video. I think you are overreacting about this kicker a little too much.
dili says:
Mar 30, 2012
Trevor Romaine’s missed field kicks affected several of our close games last season that might have had a different outcome had they been made (San Diego State comes to mind for one). Riley should immediately open up competition to see who can best do the job.
Jerry2005 says:
Mar 30, 2012
Am I the only one that thinks we are wasting our time with Marible? He does not have the size or speed to play in the PAC 12; the only thing more painful to watch than him trying to return kicks will be watching him try to cover PAC 12 receivers, hope I never have to see either.
Our coaches were really asleep at the wheel when they offered that kid…
Beavrob says:
Mar 30, 2012
Marable is on the track team so it likely he has enough speed. I agree Marable may be too small to play CB, but he was originally recruited as a RB and he isn’t too small for that. But there is a logjam at RB now. I think moving him to the kick return team was a good move – he did a pretty decent job returning kicks last year, and lead the Beavers in KR average.
Bigditch says:
Mar 30, 2012
Should be a open Competition at every position…..Owens was Vanderveen’s leading WR the last 2 yrs… impressive highlight tape for a ” Kicker “.
So.Or.Aaron says:
Mar 30, 2012
Well, I’m about to do what all you big talkers have been talking about for months. Actually putting my money where my mouth is and canceling my season tickets. I’ve been a season ticket holder for 14 years. So this isn’t easy.
Why?
1) Scotch tape holding a strip of paper to the middle of my season ticket renewal form apologizing for a printing error. How bush league is that? Would Notre Dame do that? UW? USC?
2) Lack of lineman = no spring game = no serious hope for improvement.
Guys, galls, I’m fed up. This is ridiculous.
I figure, heck, even if I do decide to go to a game, for the money I’m saving, I can pay pretty much any amount I necessary to just go to StubHub and buy the actual tickets I want, where I want, etc… At least I’m not paying for the crappy games, and making my money a vote for change.
Jerry2005 says:
Mar 30, 2012
I gave up my season tickets this year also, I only had my tickets for 4 years but I have been watching a sinking ship with my investment.
It is a sad day to be a beaver when you have to punish yourself for being a fan (i.e drop your season tickets) to get a message through to the administration. Hopefully they see on paper what is happening, with the new PAC 12 money, I doubt they will feel it in the pocket book.
With the suggested game day improvements being completely useless (a lost and found) I think the best view this year will be from my couch.
bbb says:
Apr 4, 2012
count me in on the flipping the bird to BDC, Riley, Banker, and Langs on the season tickets. Im not paying to watch another team get 4 yards a pop for 3/4 of the game. its not at all about the money, its about the product.
I too have been a long time season ticket holder. it took them 8 years and x 2 phone calls from me for my name to be spelled correctly. like so many other things in corvallis, its a 3rd class operation around there.
73GradMike says:
Mar 30, 2012
Well said and well done. It seems anymore that the only “voice” that ever gets heard is when we vote with our wallets. I love my Beavs, but that does not mean that I will put up with however they want to treat their alums and fans. When OSU steps up for us fans, we will step up for OSU.
You listening, President Ray???
g775g775 says:
Mar 30, 2012
We also canceled our tickets in the club level. After two losing seasons with no changes made in anyway that would suggest we are going to get any better. We have had enough.
dili says:
Mar 30, 2012
So. Or. Aaron, I hear you bro. I remarked in one of Cliff’s blogs yesterday that Riley better come online and address our fan base as to how he plans to turn things around or he will loose alot more of us (my group also dropped two season tickets). As for scotch taping your ticket renewal application, my goodness, goodness gracious, and my stars, that does indeed suck. Are you listening Boooby D.
bbb says:
Apr 4, 2012
dili-
erickson had this really cool feature on osubeaver.com where fans could ask presubmitted questions to him directly. if your question was picked for the online responses you were sent an inch thick osu football guide, stickers, and a bunch of other small but cool things. where has that gone? that is the kind of connection that requires a small effort but goes a long ways with fans. riley is apparently too good for that. he wouldnt want to lower himself to conversing with the people who pay his salary.
CBvr says:
Mar 30, 2012
I understand the frustration, but hope springs eternal in beaver nation – at least for one more year. The lack of a spring game is not a big deal in my mind, but rather a smart move faced with the scarcity of bodies. If guys are hurt, lets get them well and don’t risk injuring key personnel where we are thin. At least the 8 who are ready to go should be in good shape at the end of spring ball! And as far as the DBs go, I agree with Alex that it would be smart to protect Poyer while getting some of the young talent an opportunity to shine at returns unless they prove that they can’t do the job.
Themorgan503 says:
Mar 31, 2012
A spring game is intended to generate excitement for the upcoming season. With the turbulent off season we have had we need a spring game this year more than ever before. In my opinion, the lack of a spring game is a huge loss for the program.
Ben says:
Mar 30, 2012
I think this is all very indicative of a program heading in the wrong direction. There is very little for Riley to hang his hat on from last season. Our best hope for the draft is to have a player who didnt even play last season get picked up on his sheer athleticism. No fix to the d-line problem means zero improvement, which means our D will still give up a ton of yards. This offseason seems even more hopeless for change. I think the coaching staff and the AD standing pat in th offseason was a dangerous bet, and a bet that they will end up losing when the dust from 2012/2013 settles.
Mark says:
Mar 30, 2012
Cliff, Your blog seems to be a place where the “Nattering Nabobs of Negativity” like to hang out and feed off of each other. I for one am excited for the prospects of what might be this next year. It won’t be easy, as we had a bit of a rough patch, but when the going gets tough the weak are the first to bail. That would be a good description of some of the posters who day in and day out like to make their negative vibes heard in here and have nothing positive to say.
oneoldbeav says:
Mar 30, 2012
Mark, here is a positive for you: Can anyone name an area where this squad is worse than last year?
Now comparing this years group to lasts isn’t the whole story, the competition is different this year and, I argue, weaker in total. I think this group can reach 5 or 6 wins without any changes in the approach by the coaches.
Here’s what you may call negativity: If Riley shows some focus, leadership, and demands results rather than excuses this team can do so much better. The really negative thing is that many fans will see 5 or 6 wins as such an improvement over last year that they’ll not demand more. I suspect you may be in that group.
Jerry2005 says:
Mar 30, 2012
Mark, fans like you are the reason OSU has been back sliding, expecting/demanding better is not negativity.
I have talked to fans at tailgaters that have told me not to expect 8 or 9 wins year at OSU, WHY NOT? We as fans have a responsibility to expect wins, we deserve wins. Fans being satisfied with 6 win seasons is part of the problem at OSU as well as the “hope springs eternal” bleeding hearts. Well people can hope all they want, until some demands are made there will be no improvements, the coaches will have no reason to. After all what consequences will they face? A good try better luck next year fan base will not breed success.
The recent downturn to the program at OSU started four years ago, the coaches clearly quit pushing the players to work hard and improve. Finally monitoring off-season workouts this year is a prime example of that. If the coaches were doing their jobs and pushing the players every day in the weight room many of our injuries would have been avoidable.
These are college football players and coaches not kindergarteners, they don’t need a pat on the back and a participation medal when they lose. A foot in the rear, stated expectations and if expectations are not met (as in every other job in the world) a pink slip.
All that rambling is my way of saying “ If you don’t DEMAND better, you will never receive better”. That’s not being negative.
SoOrAaron says:
Mar 30, 2012
Sorry for my spelling earlier. I was pretty upset by the end of the post.
People often talk about being at a “precipice”. Well, I’ve got news, we’ve passed that point, some folks just can’t tell or won’t admit it.
I wish someone would go back and compare this acceptance of less than mediocrity to our last major back slide in the 60′s.
Cliff, want a truly interesting topic? Interview about 10 folks that have decided to drop their season tickets. See what they have to say… The folks that stopped coming here and reading your blog. The people that stopped caring. That’s the silent killer no one is talking about….
bone says:
Mar 30, 2012
well I think it will all be pretty similar why they stop season tickets, blogging, caring. It is the amount of or lack there of wins in the win column. Get wins more people will start to care and will be more willing to open their pockets.
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Mar 30, 2012
Is someone stops attending games, or caring about a sports team, that’s their decision. You either like a team, or not. All teams try the best they can. Some can succeed and some won’t.
bbb says:
Apr 4, 2012
dont worry cliff. You wont be rid of me.
im just voicing my opinion with my wallet. i will still watch every game and look in to make sure you are still accuratly quoting riley’s recycled excuses each week.
True Fan says:
Mar 30, 2012
Holy crap, guys, lighten up. Did we or did we not snag the best football recruit in Oregon, aka Isaac Seumalo? That guy, plus the other JC O-line men we have coming in should provide more than enough bodies to create a decent-sized path for our running backs. And our defense, despite some questions has two guys who are gonna tear it up: Crichton and Wynn, aka Force and Recover. And it’s only been two losing seasons out of how many in the past decade? Get your heads out of your butts and see the sunlight. Of those who complain and threaten to cancel their season tickets…good riddance. I can’t wait for you guys to hop back onto the bandwagon once the Beavs start rolling again.
bbb says:
Apr 4, 2012
rolling again? rolling to what, the sun bowl? last time i checked that is the high water mark for the current regime. sweet!
CBvr says:
Mar 30, 2012
Sorry Jerry, but you don’t “deserve” any wins (not even if your last name is Reser) – the kids out their putting it on the line every weekend deserve the wins. If the coaching staff is not putting them into position for success, then we got problems. However, we had the chance last year to win a bunch of games but the kids did not execute for 4 quarters. When they did (UW and WSU come to mind) good things happened. The upcoming team has some major question marks, but they also have some real potential if the O and D-lines get it together. If not, i expect that there will be some big time changes coming. Right now, I am hoping for a turn around.
Jerry2005 says:
Mar 31, 2012
That post was aimed at being critical of the coaches.
The coaching staff not keeping their finger on the pus of this team is directly correlated to the lack of effort in the weight room. Lack of effort in the weight room and off season workouts means they are coming into spring and fall ball out of shape and more prone to injury. Injuries and inexperience were a major contributor in securing only 3 wins last year.
The coaching staff also watched an under-performing O-line for two years before making it a recruiting priority. We are still waiting for D-tackle to be addressed.
We have a logjam at D-end, 5 or 6 of those guys need to be on the field. With a few conversions back to their original positions we would not have a shortage of Linebackers.
At one point the coaching staff cared and you could see the results on the field, the sidelines and with the wins and losses. Now they ignore recruiting priorities, they had not pushed the players in the off season and joke and laugh on the sidelines while the team is getting blown out.
As a fan if you do not think you “DESERVE” better than that something is wrong with you.
beavergopher says:
Mar 31, 2012
I hope the coaches don’t don’t have their finger on the pus of the team. Just what we need, a major OSHA violation to go with our lousy O and D lines.
Other than the typo, Jerry is spot on.
Beavs Believe says:
Mar 31, 2012
Holy cow, I can’t wait to watch all of you whiners eat crow. Drop your season tickets. You aren’t actually fans anyway. I sat through games in the 80′s and 90′s. I admit it wasn’t a whole lot of fun at times last year, but watching you guys complain on the message boards is almost comical. Hey g775g775, where did you say your tickets were? I would love me a set of club seats! Go Beavs!
bbb says:
Apr 4, 2012
i think we would all love to be wrong and step forward to eat said crow. the thing is, its not just about the last two seasons on the field. we are all paying customers and you get treated like you are late paying a bill when you call or stop by the ticket office. they have no clue what it takes to sell in the real world. they prey on our absolute love of our university. its total BS and needs to change. it wont though because the people in the positions to affect change all either have life time gigs or they write their own ticket. that, in itself is another major issue i have with OSU.
OrangeFever64 says:
Mar 31, 2012
For those of you who have or are talking about giving up tickets or not going to the games anymore , I suggest you email , call , or write people like Riley and DeCarolis because I really doubt they read this blog so they have no real idea how much the backsliding has affected you . The only way your going to get into their heads and make them really rethink things is direct contact . Losing revenue from lack of ticket / merchandise sales will take time to make an impact , direct contact now will get the message across faster . osubeavers.com has all the pertinent addresses and numbers you need.
Themorgan503 says:
Mar 31, 2012
Orange64 is right.
Go to osubeavers.com at the top right in the Athletics drop down menu is the staff directory. Lets keep save this blog space for some arm chair quarterbacking…
bbb says:
Apr 4, 2012
onangefeaver64-
i would bet that 90% of the canceling parties have already done just that. i would bet that 100% of those either got no response or some canned party line answer that just made them even more furious. bottom line is they dont care about the fans. they will deny it up and down but they just dont. they are out of touch free loading a-holes. the lot of them.
Dan says:
Mar 31, 2012
I for one added a seat to my season tickets this year, and I am looking forward to some football. Go Beavs!
bbb says:
Apr 4, 2012
you will probably have the entire row to yourself by week 5.
cheers!
RawBeav says:
Apr 5, 2012
bbb- what your saying, and others are too, is you believe OSU Athletics, Bobby D. and M. Riley “don’t care about fans.” What your trying to say is YOU don’t feel cared for…use your voice and be invested in the process. For those that have had problems, be the change you seek. Your concerns are valid. Communicate with the U. If you don’t feel heard, complain to the U. If you still don’t feel heard, write them. And if you must tell the University why you are leaving, tell them to call next year when services improve. Money is the last safe place for feelings of entitlement, step out from behind your dollars (that guarantee only a seat, nothing more or less) and help make it better.
By telling me and those on this board your woes, you will feel better for venting and for the support of others who feel the same…but NOTHING WILL CHANGE IF YOU LEAVE, not for those of you that have relinquished season tix this year, if the beavs lose, you will still be disappointed (“I told you so” defense). if the beavs succeed, you weren’t there to enjoy it (“I got screwed” defense). If they finish .500, it’s settling for average (“coulda, woulda, shoulda” defense).
The great thing is, most of you will spend time at a game or two, or more, this season because you love it. We all know you care, because your saying so. Some of you will show up to tailgate with friends and family and have a great time and possibly get some tix. I’ll be glad when you’re there rooting on the beavs to victory, because the team needs home field advantage for our seven Corvallis games this season! That’s our part…see you at the games. Go Beavs!
dashriprock says:
Apr 5, 2012
Is Naji Patrick being considered for any special team action?
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Apr 6, 2012
Probably. Almost everybody gets placed on a first and second string.