October 5, 2012

Match-up Analysis: Oregon State vs. WSU

Travis Rice
BeaverBlitz.com







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After winning the sprint in the desert over Arizona last weekend, the 14th ranked Oregon State Beavers (3-0, 2-0) return home to a rabid fan base who couldn't buy tickets fast enough. The game is expected to be sold out (700 tickets remaining as of Monday evening) and the traveling Washington State Cougars (2-3, 0-2) will be just the 2nd team to enter Reser Stadium this season and the first home game for the Beavers in a month.


Here is who Beaverblitz feels holds the positional advantages in Saturday's match up, set to be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network and kick off at 3:00pm.

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WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS

EDGE

OREGON STATE
BEAVERS

SECONDARY

PASSING ATTACK

The Cougar secondary's numbers are equally as bad as OSU's, however completion percentage (62.5%) and yards per attempt (7.19) are worse. Wazzu has given up 11 passing scores, but has shown the ability to make plays on the football, recording six interceptions. Jr. S Deone Buchanon is a ball hawking safety and has three of the team's six INTs and leads the team in tackles with 36. Cougs are 2nd worst in the conference allowing 310.6 yards per game through the air.

Sean Mannion has been playing out of his mind the past two weeks and is now 4th in the country with 362.67 yards per game. More impressive has been Mannion's ability to take care of the football, tossing six scores to just one interception. Sean is completing 64.57% of his passes. No QB would have such success without a supporting cast and OSU has arguably the best duo at wide out in the country. Brandin Cooks and Markus Wheaton have destroyed defensive backfields and combine for 16 catches and 269 yards per game. The duo has accounted for five of Mannion's six passing TDs.

LINEBACKERS

GROUND ATTACK


The Beavs will face another 3-4 defense this weekend and Wazzu has athleticism at the linebacker position. Long has already been mentioned, but Fr. Linebacker Darryl Monroe has been a pleasant surprise for coach Leach. Monroe is second in tackles (32) and leads the unit with three sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss. The unit is an all or nothing type group, often bringing ball carriers down in the backfield, but still aiding in the nearly 162 rushing yards per game.