The Beavers at work in spring practice.
Oregon State football coach Mike Riley returned to practice Saturday after missing the last two. He was in Canada with his father, Bud, who was sick in the hospital.
Bud Riley, a former assistant football coach with the Beavers, is in stable condition.
Riley was greeted with the aftermath of a drug scandal that broke out at rival Oregon. It spread to the Beavers on Thursday when DE Scott Crichton said on camera that marijuana use was common at OSU.
Crichton wasn’t at practice Saturday to elaborate. He was at a family function in Tacoma, Wash., Riley said.
“You thought I kicked him off (the team) because of his talking,” Riley said jokingly.
Riley said he didn’t think there was a drug problem at OSU. He said players have been removed from the team because of drugs in the past.
“It’s a general issue across the country,” Riley said. “What we try to do is, No. 1, is to educate about habits and anything, drugs, alcohol, late nights, put them all together. If they don’t take heed to some of these things like this … we’ve got guys right now not practicing because of issues like this.”
Riley didn’t get specific as to who or what were the official offenses, but WR Tyler Trosin and DE Akeem Gonzales were suspended for the spring for undisclosed reasons.
Beyond all that, it was a beautiful, sunny day at Reser Stadium. The Beavers scrimmaged with officials. QB Sean Mannion and WR Markus Wheaton looked impressive.
WR Geno Munoz (leg) and TE Tyler Perry (neck) were out after being hurt Thursday.
13 comments
Mark says:
Apr 21, 2012
No details about the scrimmage? Enquiring minds want to know.
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Apr 22, 2012
Nothing really stood out. Mentioned the passing game with Markus Wheaton looked good. These scrimmages last only a few minutes.
OS_Beaver says:
Apr 21, 2012
Hope Mannion is ready to live up to his #4 ranking of QBs by ESPN. Interceptions have to go way down. He needs to study some Andrew Luck film and not just his own. Protecting him and providing enough time will be big.
bone says:
Apr 21, 2012
This year it kind of a changing of the guards in the Pac 12, a lot of teams are breaking in new quarterbacks. Protecting him and having a run game I think will help him live up to that ranking. (And I think the ranking you are referring to wasn’t by ESPN, but Athlon Sports).
floridabeav says:
Apr 22, 2012
I have a question for the lucky few Beaver fans that are able to attend some practices: What’s happening with Obum? I read on another post that at Saturday’s scrimmage the Cody to Obum connection was working well all over the field. I like the sound of that, but remained concerned about whether Obum is getting enough reps with the first team and whether he is seeing “jump ball” opportunities in places where either he catches it or it goes out of bounds (i.e. the corner of the end zone or along the sidelines). I’m certainly not calling for jump balls over the middle which simply invites interceptions — something Mannion can do without calling plays that increase the likelihood of such occurrences. When I asked Cliff about Obum a couple days ago, he suddenly got a set of journalistic ethics and said he couldn’t comment about players running certain plays (I understand his comment within the context of a trick play, but come on, a jump ball to a 6’5″ high jumper? That is not at a “Gosh, I didn’t see that coming!” kind of play. That is a timing-execution play that must be practiced, practiced and practiced some more). So guys, what’s up with Obum? Still can’t get off the line? Still running ragged routes? Ten flat speed but ten flat hands? Still not seeing the ball where only he can make the play? What’s up?
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Apr 22, 2012
Read this from earlier in the wee: http://www.gazettetimes.com/sports/beavers-sports/football/osu-football-obum-gwacham-is-ready-to-be-an-impact/article_fdca8c08-8a4e-11e1-b7e8-001a4bcf887a.html
And he’s running with the first team at slot. He has good and bad days.
floridabeav says:
Apr 22, 2012
Cliff: I did read your article. Nice background stuff. That said, what I’m looking for is a more analytical and cold heartedly objective assessment of what to expect from Obum next season based on what is happening now in spring training. I continue to believe he is one of a very few unique players on the OSU roster. If he isn’t seeing the reps now, he will likely see fewer opportunities when Jordan Bishop returns (heathy, I hope) in the fall. I really believe that the play I’m looking for is virtually unstoppable if timed and executed correctly. Obum catching balls all over the field with Cody Vaz is great but doesn’t give me a warn feeling that the play will be successful if Mannion is the guy doing the throwing in games but wasn’t involved with Obum in practicing the play. The frequency of the number of reps (or lack there of) also gives some indication that the coaches believe Obum is truly ready to be the “impact player” alluded to by you in the afore mentioned article. During the great QB brouhaha of 2011, some analysts were willing to give Mannion a pass (no pun intended) for certain performance issues (interceptions) using the logic that the reps would make him a better and more impactfull player in the future. Seems the same argument can be used for Obum. I am looking to other eyewitnesses, rather than you, on this because I have come to understand that it is either not in your job description or your nature to provide these kind of objective assessments. Some bloggers (like me) who use your site to pontificate bring their own biases to the page (Riley’s a clown vs Riley saved the program, for instance), but at least they feel they can be critically objective without having to worry about paying the mortgage.
So guys: What’s up with Obum?
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Apr 22, 2012
Again, he’s first string slot catching passes from Mannion and second string split end at times, catching passes from Vaz. This is spring practice. He’s just learning what to do in the system. The Beavers are not game planning, yet.
He has improved dramatically since he arrived two years ago, and Riley and Brennan want to use him this season.
That’s why he was moved from behind Wheaton to slot because he could get so much more work with Bishop out.
GilesB says:
Apr 24, 2012
You are asking/expecting Cliff to provide you something that Mike Riley has expressly requested not be talked about in public forums. Your beef is with Riley, not with Cliff.
bone says:
Apr 22, 2012
I have been to a couple practices and I haven’t seen any practicing of the jump ball, this might be because the days I was there they didn’t do any red zone reps. But I am wondering if the jump ball is even in the play book? In the past couple years I haven’t seen any and we had Bishop who is an all american high jumper. So can we expect the jump ball? I don’t know, but I sure hope we do.
With Obum, from what I have seen is that he is kind of goofy. But the guy is a big target and with how awkward he looks catching the ball he has pretty good hands. But there are a lot of little things that turn a good receiver into a great one, and those little things that he needs to work. And if he is getting reps with the ones and two that good especially at two positions because now he is versatile and can get on the field if someone goes down.
And Cliff do you know if the team has done any red zone work?
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Apr 22, 2012
There has been some red zone work but not much. They were breaking in the running game in the middle of the field.
floridabeav says:
Apr 22, 2012
Bone: Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks from the Sunshine State. Anybody else?
OS_Beaver says:
Apr 22, 2012
OSU getting legit Hoops Stud:
http://beaverbyte.com