Opponent Preview: Washington State
At a Glance Oregon State at Washington
When: TBA Saturday, Oct. 29
Where: Reser Stadium
TV/Radio: TBD/Beaver Sports Radio Network
Series history: Washington State leads 50-47
Last meeting: WSU scored 31 second-quarter points on its way to a 52-31 rout of the Beavers at Reser Stadium, the most OSU allowed at home in 2015. Luke Falk torched the OSU defense for 407 yards and 6 TDs, while completing 37 of 50 passes. His favorite target, Dom Williams, caught 11 passes for 158 yards and two scores. Seth Collins rushed for 129 yards and a TD, and also threw for another score to lead the Beavers.
2015 in Review
Record: 9-4 overall, 6-3 Pac-12 (4-2 home, 4-2 away, 1-0 neutral)
Bowl game: Defeated Miami, 20-14, in the Sun Bowl.
Notable games: Lost to Portland State at home, 24-17, in season opener; beat Oregon in two overtimes, 45-38, in Eugene; lost to Stanford, 30-28; beat UCLA, 31-27, in Pasadena; lost 45-10 to Washington in Apple Cup.
Quick numbers
Points per game: 31.5, Opponents: 27.7; Rushing yards per game: 80.5, Opponents: 193.6; Passing yards per game: 389.2, Opponents: 223.5; Time of possession: 30:13, Opponents: 29:46; Red-zone scoring percentage: 95 percent, Opponents: 81 percent.
Top performers
Passing: Luke Falk (4,561, 38 TDs, 8 INT, 69.4 percent completion rate); Rushing: Gerard Wicks (610 yards, 3 TDs, 5.7 YPC); Receiving: Gabe Marks (104 catches, 1,192 yards, 15 TDs); Tackles: Peyton Pelluer (101 tackles, 11.5 for loss).
Key losses
Dom Williams (75 catches, 1,040 yards, 10 TDs); Jeremiah Allison (97 tackles, 5.5 for loss, 1 INT); Daryl Palo (32 tackles, 13 for loss, 7 sacks.); Ivan McLennan (42 tackles, 9 for loss, 6 sacks.).
Oct. 29 Outlook
Key returners
Falk (SR.); Wicks (RS-JR.); Marks (RS-SR.); Cracroft (SR. WR): 53 catches, 615 yards, 4 TDs); Pelluer (RS-JR. LB); Shalom Luani (SR. Safety): 91 tackles, 4 INTs, 6 pass breakups; Parker Henry (RS-SR. LB): 72 tackles, 5.5 loss, 1 sack, 1 INT.
Key strength
It’s no secret the Cougs will rely on their spread-the-field passing offense. Falk is one of the top signal callers in the country and will look to build upon his impressive sophomore campaign. Gabe Marks and River Cracroft return to form one of the top receiver duos in the Pac-12. If the running game continues to improve, it will only make the passing game even more potent.
Key question
There are no doubts about WSU’s offense, but the same cannot be said its defense. For the Cougars to reach the next level, the defense must improve, especially against the run, after allowing 193 yards per game last season. Even a modest improvement could pay off big for WSU, as the offense should be able to score at will most games. However, how much, if at all, will the defense improve?
Raju’s Take
By Week 9, we should have a good idea of where the Beavers’ offense is, and hopefully, it’s doing well enough that it moves the ball against the Cougs. Expect OSU to attack on the ground and then take shots against the secondary. They need to establish a rhythm early on and not get into a shootout with WSU. Steady will win the race on offense.
Let’s face it, the Beavers probably won’t be able to stop the Falk Express. The key will be to make WSU work for every point; don’t let them score quick and often. Make the Cougs have to chew time off the clock. Add a few turnovers and the Beavers could make things interesting. But mainly, if they can keep WSU’s point total low, that takes pressure off the OSU offense to have to play keep up.
That said, it will be a tall order to outscore WSU, and while I’d like to see a game than last season, I wouldn’t be surprised if the final score is about the same. Falk is great at getting passes off quickly which could play right into the weakness of a young, inexperienced OSU defense. So, I think when all is said and done, the Beavers will be relieved to be done with the Washington schools.