Sunday Stock Report
The BeaversEdge.com Stock Report is here, and we look at players/position groups that saw their stock rise and fall during the loss against Washington
Stock Up
Tim Cook
The senior running back got the start with Ryan Nall and Artavis Pierce out with injuries. Nall and Pierce boast physical running styles, and Cook showed that he's just as good as them toting the rock. Cook had seven rushes for 33 yards in the first half, but it was the third quarter where Oregon State relied on him. He had eight carries for 59 yards. It will be interesting to see what the OSU staff does when Nall and Pierce are both healthy. While having a running back by committee might sound good in theory, it does not let a single running back get into rhythm like Cook did against Washington. Cook finished with 18 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown.
Big play Victor Bolden
Bolden has been great this season. On Saturday, he caught five passes for 58 yards and ran for a 75 yard score on a fly sweep. Bolden is second on the team in rushing with 297 yards and averages an incredible 15.6 yards per carry. He leads the team in receptions (27) and trails Seth Collins as the team's leader in receiving yards (Collins 286, Bolden 255). After Bolden's sophomore season where he caught 72 passes for 798 yards, he had the potential to be one of the better receivers in school history, but quarterback play has derailed him from great success on the field.
Offensive line
This is a group that was flat out bad at the beginning of the season, but they have greatly improved throughout the season. Marcus McMaryion had to escape pressure on occasions, but for the most part, the line did a great job protecting him, as they only allowed one sack to one of the best defenses in the nation. They got it going on ground as well as they ran for 177 yards.
Stock Down
Treston Decoud
Small stock drop for Treston Decoud. The "Decoud Island" was flooded by the Husky passing attack. Decoud was beaten on deep routes and comeback routes. Decoud did come up and make nice tackles in the run game like he typically does, so that was good to see, but all in all, Decoud had a really tough time, especially early in early in the game as John Ross torched him.
Seth Collins
I'm not sure whether to put this on the quarterbacks, the offensive coordinator, or Seth Collins - it's probably a combination of the three. Where in the world is Seth Collins?! McMaryion targeted Collins ZERO times, and Collins took one wildcat snap for a one yard run. Since Collins' 9 catch, 106 yard performance against Boise State on September 17, his role in the OSU offense has steadily declined.
10/1 @ Colorado: 5 catches, 56 yards
10/8 vs Cal: 3 catches, 27 yards
10/15 vs Utah: 2 catches, 18 yards
10/22 @ Washington: 0 catches, 0 yards
Collins is one of the most talented players on this team, and the Beavers have to find out how to get the ball in the sophomore's hands.