|
by
Joel Welser
#31 Oregon
State Beavers
Pac-10
2006 Record: (10-4, 6-3)
Coach: Mike Riley (38-34 at Oregon State,
38-34 overall)
Starters Returning: 17 (7 offense, 8 defense,
2 specialists)
Offensive Starters Lost: QB Matt Moore, WR
Ruben Jackson, TE Joe Newton, OL Adam Koets
Offensive Starters Returning: RB Yvenson
Bernard, WR Sammie Stroughter, WR Brandon Powers, OL Kyle DeVan, OL Andy Levitre,
OL Jeremy Perry, OL Roy Schuening
Defensive Starters Lost: DT Ben Siegert, DE
Joe Lemma, S Sabby Piscitelli
Defensive Starters Returning: DT Curtis
Coker, DE Jeff Van Orsow, LB Derrick Doggett, LB Alan Darlin, LB Joey LaRocque,
CB Keenan Lewis, CB Brandon Hughes, S Al Afalava
Starting Specialists Lost: none
Starting Specialists Returning: K Alexis
Serna, P Kyle Loomis
Oregon State has quietly built a program in
Corvallis that deserves to be mentioned with the likes of UCLA and California.
Coach Mike Riley continues to bring in talent and another good recruiting class
will solidify the depth and fill some holes for this season and years to come.
While the Beavers have a few questions that need answering, the team will be
going to their fifth bowl game in six years.
Offense:
The big question is at quarterback. Matt Moore
turned into an efficient passer and a great team leader, orchestrating OSU to
ten victories during his senior campaign. However, sophomore Sean Canfield is a
bigger and more talented player. The lefty just needs some experience before he
can become as effective as Moore. Receiver and punt returner Sammy Stroughter
will once again be the go-to-guy for the quarterback. Stroughter caught 74
passes for 1,293 yards last year en route to third-team All-American accolades.
Brandon Powers and Anthony Wheat-Brown are good athletes who have proven to be
solid complimentary receivers to Stroughter.
While the passing game adjusts to life without
Moore, the running game will take over. Yvenson Bernard averaged over 100 yards
rushing per game in 2006 and is a dangerous receiving threat out of the
backfield. The 5-9, 202 pounder does not get the credit he deserves, but he will
by the time the season is over. Senior Clinton Polk will once again be his
backup. Polk earned one start last year while Bernard was injured and rushed for
100 yards in the upset of USC. The problem with the OSU offense last year was
the line. The pass blocking, or lack thereof, made the quarterback have to make
quick decisions and the poor run blocking limited the effectiveness of Bernard.
With four starters returning, the Beavers hope the experience will make the line
more effective.
Defense:
The line loses Ben Siegert and Joe Lemma, but there
are plenty of experienced options to take over. Upperclassmen Dorian Smith,
Naymon Frank, Pernnell Booth and Wiliam ‘Akau’ola Vea will join returning
starters Curtis Coker and Jeff Van Orsow on the defensive line. The biggest loss
on defense is strong safety Sabby Piscitelli. Daniel Drayton has the job of
replacing the second round pick in the NFL Draft, but with Keenan Lewis, Brandon
Hughes and Al Afalava returning, the secondary is in good hands.
The return of linebackers Alan Darlin, Derrick
Doggett and Joey LaRocque not only means the group is very talented, but also
extremely experienced. The Beavers linebackers are quick and physical and no
group they have had in recent years are better than Darlin, Doggett and LaRocque.
It does not end with those three and Bryant Cornell, Isaiah Cook and Eric Moala
Liava’a are a talented group of reserves.
The Bottom Line:
This is a team that can compete with the big boys
again this year. As long as the offensive line gives the new signal caller some
time in the pocket, Canfield can be a better quarterback than his predecessor.
However, if he is hurried from day one, Canfield’s inexperience could show and
that will be trouble. The defense is deeper and more experienced and will give
up less than the 334 yards per game they gave up last year, so with a slightly
more effective offense, the Beavers can dream about a Rose Bowl. |
From