Ryan Katz gets the first crack at being the next QB.

It’s time to look at what the Oregon State football teams needs to happen during spring practice, which begins March 29. During spring break I’ll take at look at each area of the team. So lets get started with the popular stuff.

The most watched position battle of spring practice will be quarterback. The Beavers are breaking in a new starter with the departure of Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao.

Sophomore Ryan Katz will get the first shot with junior Peter Lalich in the running. Redshirt freshmen Jack Lomax and Cody Vaz are still in the developmental stage.

“I like the numbers with four,” coach Mike Riley said. “They should all get plenty of work. We’ll come out of (spring) with some determination, but maybe not a final determination just because we don’t have to. We’ll carry on into fall camp like we have done before.”

What the Beavers need to come out of spring is a clear-cut winner of the job. One thing I didn’t like in 2007 when the QB battle lasted into the middle of the season was it slowed the development of both guys.

At QB, and especially at OSU, that person needs the bulk of the reps and needs the confidence that he is the guy with no looking over his shoulder. Both Canfield and Moevao excelled when they knew they had to perform.

Riley can’t make the decision in the spring unless someone takes control of the spot. That means knowing the offense, performing fast and owning the support of their teammates.

Both Katz and Lalich have strong arms. Now they have to show they are a “quarterback.” If they can’t the decision drags on into August, and hopefully not into the season.

So all eyes will be on the QBs. No pressure though.

Tweet This Post 

Related posts:

1. Cliff: New backup QB
2. Cliff: OSU predictions
3. Cliff: Breaking football news

The No. 7-ranked Oregon State gymnastics team ended the regular season and final home meet of the season with a 196.650-195.275 victory over No. 18 Kentucky on Friday night.

It was a quiet night in terms of attendance with spring break in full swing. The Beavers drew only 3,463 – not bad but they’ve done more.

Let us start with Laura-Ann Chong on the uneven bars above. She won that event with a 9.900. Read my story in Saturday’s GT on the meet here.

Vault

The Beavers jumped out to a 49.125-48.750 lead after the first rotation. The Wildcats were on the bars.

All the vaults were solid, led by Mandi Rodriguez with a 9.950. She won this, the floor and all-around. Check out her vault below.

“We had a lot of high spots,” Rodriguez said. “Floor was really good, and bars were good. We are just trying to get that one meet where everything comes together like we know it can.”

Bars

The Beavers maintained their lead after two rotations going up 98.425-97.675. The Wildcats were on the vault. Chong won this event.

Jen Kesler started the second rotation with a stellar 9.850 routine. Here’s Leslie Mak’s 9.875 routine since I had not gotten video of her on the event, yet.

Beam

Rough night here for the Beavers. Makayla Stambaugh fell and Melanie Jones and Rodriguez nearly fell. They still scored 48.900 and maintained the lead.

Kentucky didn’t score well on the floor, even though its soulful routines excited the crowd. At one point the OSU fans aggressively booed the judging. The scoring was brutal.

Kentucky even put in an protest for the entire floor routine. Is there a conspiracy? Well, it’s a sport that has judging so that’s a question that will always come up.

Judges stuck it to the Wildcats. They reviewed them and lowered one score. Kentucky got homered. No two ways about it. There was something in their routines that had not caused a deduction until now.

Here’s Chong’s anchor beam routine that scored a 9.800. She won this event, too.

Floor

Beavers ended it up strong on the floor and sealed the victory. Rodriguez won it with a 9.925. Here’s Stambaugh doing a 9.900.

Next up is the Pac-10 meet March 27 at Arizona. The Beavers have a very good chance to win conference title. They won’t have UCLA judges.

“We are still having little things go on in out meets,” Rodriguez said. “We are trying to find that perfect combination of chemistry of what girls go in what order. We need to find what works the best and increase our scoring potential.”

Tweet This Post 

Related posts:

1. Cliff: Rough gymnastics outing
2. Cliff: Gymnastics rankings
3. Cliff: Another gymnastics win

Word is spreading about the Youtube video of Oregon State DT Stephen Paea benching 225 pounds 44 times. That’s the weight NFL scouts use to see how strong players are.

Well check out the above video for yourself. Let’s compare the reps here. The top bench press from OSU’s pro day last week were in the low 20s by LB Bryant Cornell (24) and OG Gregg Peat (23).

LB Keaton Kristick should be an NFL draft pick in April and he got it up 18 times. Last year OG Adam Speer did 30 reps and S Al Afalava did 29.

The top performers at this year’s NFL combine were OL Mitch Petrus of Arkansas with 45 and DL Jeff Owens of Georgia with 44. The closest others were 38 and 39, and then it falls off.

Coach Mike Riley said Paea was projected high when looking to leave for the NFL this year, but he went into the deal wanting to come back to the Beavers.

Tweet This Post 

Related posts:

1. Pro day report, video
2. Cliff: Paea staying
3. Cliff: Paea on USC, De Carolis

While this is the end of college gymnastics for them, it’s not the end of their involvement in the sport.

Laura-Ann Chong plans to go to graduate school for physical therapy, but leaves working with the Canadian national team open. Her old coach is trying to convince her to come back and do a bars routine.

“I don’t think I’ll have time do go to school and train, but you never know,” Chong said.

Mandi Rodriguez decided to change her career path this year. She studied to go into nursing, but now wants to stay in gymnastics.

“I had a realization that I wouldn’t be happy doing that,” she said of the medical field. “Gymnastics is where my heart is. It’s something I’ve always known. I’m a gym rat. I’d be happy working with female athletes working in sports administration or being a gymnastics coach.”

Whitney Watson may coach. Her father owns the club she trained at as a child, so she may help there. But there are other big plans.

“I am a graphic design major,” Watson said. “I’m designing a gymnastics line for Nike. They don’t make leotards like Adidas does. I hope to get the gymnastics line off the ground for them. So, gymnastics is definitely in my future.”

Tweet This Post 

Related posts:

1. Cliff: Gymnastics preview
2. Cliff: Gymnastics rankings (updated)
3. Cliff: Gymnastics update

Coach Jim Zalesky on the draw for his guys:
“When you get to the national tournament what you are seeded doesn’t matter. It’s your attitude, and it’s one match at a time. Sometimes you get caught looking ahead in the brackets, but our main focus is that first match.”

As the coach, do you look ahead to prepare them?
“As a coach we can afford to look ahead. We scout a guy, and we prepare guys for the next match even though they don’t know it.”

Beyond Covington, who is seeded No. 8, who do you expect to do well?
“Keegan (Davis), (Jason) Lara, (Kelly) Kubec and (Clayton) Jack have been ranked in the top-10. They are one round from being an All-American. You have to step it up and stay in the championship round past quarters to be an All-American, and then be a national champion if they get that opportunity.”

Is everyone healthy this year?
“Everybody is healthy and feeling good. We had a good week of training. Now it’s mentally getting ready to compete.

Covington on the team aspect of the tournament:
“We want to bring home a team trophy. A top-six finish would be ideal for us. We can do it. It’s not like no one has brought it home with six guys before. We are going to wrestle hard and not take a back seat to anybody. Just because we are Oregon State they might take us lightly, but they will know who we are after this tournament.”

You are always confident. Is that you talking or does everyone feel the same way?
“Kelly was there last year, and he told me he was just happy to be there. Being an NCAA qualifier was a big deal to him. Mike (Mangrum) and Kelly want to win that tournament. (Kubec) watched the winter Olympics and he wants to step on the podium. As hard as we train, we don’t train for second place. We don’t care what we are ranked. It’s like the Miracle on Ice. It’s not like underdogs never win.”

Kubec on what he learned last year:
“I learned what not to do. I didn’t have the right frame of mind. I was satisfied with my season. I have to have more of a fight. Pac-10, I didn’t wrestle with a lot of fight and heart. If I did that, I would have been walking out as Pac-10 champ. That’s one thing I can control.”

What about the team?
“If we have every guy perform to their potential – which hasn’t happened yet – if that happens we’ll walk away with the team trophy. I honestly believe that. It’s just a matter of putting it together. And I think we’ve had a good training phase and everybody is coming into it.”

Tweet This Post 

Related posts:

1. Cliff: Wrestling brackets out
2. Cliff: Wrestling update
3. National team recruits

Plenty of info came out of that, and now I have to condense it for public consumption. I’ll start with the spring depth chart. Be sure to read my comments for insight. Here’s my football notebook with tons of stuff that runs in Wednesday’s GT.

OFFENSE
Quarterback
Ryan Katz (He gets first snaps.)
Peter Lalich (There’s open competition for the starter role.)
Cody Vaz
Jack Lomax

Tailback
Jacquizz Rodgers
Jovan Stevenson
Ryan McCants
Jordan Jenkins

Fullback
Will Darkins
Clayton York
Dylan Parsons

Split end
Darrell Catchings
Markus Wheaton (This is a position change from flanker. And there’s open competition here. The loser doubles as the backup flanker).
Geno Munoz
Obum Gwacham

Slot
Jordan Bishop
Aaron Nichols
Kevan Walker
Mitch Singler

Flanker
James Rodgers
Micah Hatfield (Healthy from broken leg in bowl practice.)
Garett Hall
Kevin Cummings

Tight end
Brady Camp
Colby Prince

H-back
Joe Halahuni
John Reese

Left tackle
Michael Philipp
Timi Oshinowo
Wilder McAndrews (Testing if he can still play due long-term wrist injury.)

Left guard
Grant Johnson (Out of spring with shoulder injury)
Ryan Pohl
Michael Lamb
Tyler Thomas
Rory Ross (Out of spring with knee injury)

Center
Alex Linnenkohl
Josh Andrews
Aaron Magnunson (This is new spot for him.)

Right guard
Burke Ellis (Wide open competition here.)
Colin Kelly (Moved from tackle to guard.)
Colin Lyons

Right tackle
Mike Remmers
Geoff Garner
Grant Enger

DEFENSE
Left end
Gabe Miller
Andrew Seumalo
Devon Kell
Mana Rosa (Out of spring with shoulder injury)

Left tackle
Stephen Paea
Casto Masaniai
Evan Hull
Ben Motter (Moved from offense to defense.)

Right tackle
Brennan Olander
Kevin Frahm (Moved from DE.)
Tonu Tuimalealiifano
Nate Hannah (Moved from offense to defense.)

Right end
Matt LaGrone
Taylor Henry
John Braun (Moved from offensive line.)
Mitchel Hunt (Out of spring with knee injury.)

Sam Linebacker
Keith Pankey (Out of spring with Achilles’ tendon injury, but expects to be back in fall.)
Devin Unga
Keo Camat
Paul Jones

Middle linebacker
Tony Wilson
Rueben Robinson
Kevin Unga
Walker Vave

Will linebacker
Dwight Roberson
Zane Norris
Michael Doctor

Left corner
James Dockery
Jordan Poyer (Moved from safety.)
Brian Watkins
Sean Martin (Out of spring with shoulder injury.)

Safety
Lance Mitchell
Josh LaGrone
Dax Dilbeck
Zeke Sanders

Safety
Cameron Collins
Suaesi Tuimaunei
Anthony Watkins
Levi Levasa

Right corner
Brandon Hardin
Keynan Parker
Rashaad Reynolds
Kaua Olds

Tweet This Post 

Related posts:

1. Spring depth chart
2. Depth chart
3. O-line depth chart

That means there’s no need to move around any games into the middle of the week. This is also the first game of the season to be picked up for TV.

And one more from the ipod.

Tweet This Post 

Related posts:

1. Football schedule
2. Future football schedule
3. Cliff: Football schedule

Well, Directv and Comcast reached an agreement to return Versus to the Directv programming lineup as it was in at the end of August 2009.

To fill out the post, here’s a return of what’s in my ipod.

Tweet This Post 

Related posts:

1. Cliff: Secrecy in sports
2. Cliff: Big sports weekend
3. Several news items

The Oregon State gymnastics team moved up one spot in the rankings to No. 7 in the nation with a regional qualifying score of 196.460.

Alabama is No. 1 (197.155) with Oklahoma (196.935), UCLA (196.900), Georgia (196.690), Florida (196.685) and Arkansas (196.510) right behind.

The Beavers are No. 4 on the floor (49.300), No. 5 on the beam (49.090), tied for No. 5 on the bars (49.195) and tied for No. 10 on the vault (49.200).

Mandi Rodriguez is No. 13 in the all-around (39.385) and Makayla Stambaugh is tied for No. 21 (39.220). They are tied for No. 3 on the floor (9.920).

Laura-Ann Chong is No. 4 on the bars (9.910) and Rodriguez is No. 5 on the vault (9.925).

Check out the floor routines from Friday’s meet Utah above and below.

Injury update
Freshmen Kelsi Blalock and Leilani Alferos remain out of the lineup, leaving the Beavers with 10 active gymnasts. Blalock returned to practice after her ankle injury, but is expected to miss her seventh meet. Alferos is coming back from her bicycle accident and will miss her fourth meet.

Leslie Mak competed on bars for the first time last week since Jan. 16 due to an elbow injury. Olivia Vivian returned last from a knee injury that kept her off the beam and floor.

“We are slowly moving in the right direction there,” coach Tanya Chaplin said.

Wrestling preview
Here’s a link to the wrestling team preview headed into the NCAAs on Thursday in Omaha, Neb. Oh the memories of Omaha. What a great place to party for two weeks with baseball as a backdrop.

That town has been good to the Beavers in recent years. We’ll see what the wrestlers can do.

Tweet This Post 

Related posts:

1. Cliff: Gymnastics rankings
2. Cliff: Gymnastics rankings
3. Cliff: Gymnastics rankings (updated)

So that became the premise of my Sunday column in the GT/DH. Check it out here.

My underlying point is stability is a good thing, and the Beavers have that with their program.

There’s a minor reference to what Oregon is going through with all the legal problems. I mentioned this before, but I’m glad that the Beavers got that out of their system in 2005.

That was a crazy time for a reporter covering the beat when you found something in the crime log on a regular basis. Remember stolen sheep, paying a cab ride with pot and the bar fights?

Mistakes can happen at any time, and the Beavers could have a similar situation. However, OSU coach Mike Riley not only recruits players he can mold on the field, he finds generally good guys. So there’s less change of that happening.

That’s something I won’t take for granted. There hasn’t been someone on the roster I felt was a jerk in some time. When I first got here in 2004 there were a few.

So while I can’t say everything is fine because it won’t known until the season is here, the Beavers are stable and working for more. Spring practice begins March 29 to give us a look at what might be.

Tweet This Post 

Related posts:

1. Penn State prep
2. Heading into Penn State (update)
3. Penn State postgame