Tale of the Tape: Portland State at Oregon State
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| KEY TO THE GAME: | Put it away quickly. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> There isn’t much doubt in the outcome but don’t let the game drag on and give them hope. | ||
| STATISTIC TO WATCH: | Rushing yards for OSU and passing yards for PSU. While not much of a test the running game needs to improve and look for the coaches to experiment with PSU. On the same note, OSU is breaking in three new players in the secondary so Beaver fans watch the passing yards. If this is not a shut down then pack heavy for future tailgaters. | ||
| MATCH-UP OF THE GAME: | OSU’s offensive line vs PSU’s defensive front. If we can’t dominate now then start biting your nails. | ||
| HEAD TO HEAD COMPARISON: | 2004 OSU STATS - OSU DEPTH CHART - OSU ROSTER - OSU SCHEDULE PSU STATS - PSU DEPTH CHART - PSU ROSTER - PSU SCHEDULE | ||
| WEATHER FORECAST: | |||
| HOW THE OFFENSES MEASURE UP | |||
| OREGON STATE BEAVERS (0-0,0-0) | PORTLAND STATE VICKINGS (0-0,0-0) | ||
| QUARTERBACK | ADVANTAGE | QUARTERBACK | - |
| The quarterback controversy at style='font-size:7.5pt'> style='font-size:7.5pt'> looks to be settled with UCLA transfer Matt Moore winning the starting role over hometown favorite Ryan Gunderson. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> It’s fitting for Beaver fans to have another quarterback that seems to appear at just the right time to take over for a record breaker. No pressure Matt. Well, kinda. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> While style='font-size:7.5pt'>Moore style='font-size:7.5pt'>’s arm strength isn’t that of style='font-size:7.5pt'>Anderson style='font-size:7.5pt'>’s his mobility will keep the Beaver Nation holding their breath longer and kiss goodbye the earth-age month of Sundays that fans cheered like a proud parent when the quarterback scrambled for a first down. | Gone is starting quarterback Joe Wiser who was mainly used as a tool to get the ball handed off two their two great tailbacks in 2004. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The passing game was slotted as a spot needing improvement for the Vikings the way the Beavers hoped to improve their running attack. Junior Sawyer Smith is a 6’5”, 230 pound drop back passer who plays smart and likes to gun it out. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The coaches think he has every tool to succeed in rebalancing their offense so don’t be surprised if they try to take advantage of style='font-size:7.5pt'> style='font-size:7.5pt'>’s new secondary. | ||
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| RUNNING BACKS | PUSH | RUNNING BACKS | PUSH |
| Yvenson Bernard will take the first snap this year and is expected to make but with Florida transfer Jimtavis Walker missing the opener "for reasons unrelated to football" expect to see Bernard as the workhorse on Saturday. With a sudden and tearful loss of Joe Newton at tight end and concussion issues with Jason Vandiver we could see some off-set I formations with either Bernard or walk on Olaniyi Sobomehin lining up at fullback. JC transfer Nate Wright will back up Bernard at tailback. There is also a chance that heralded freshmen Patrick Fuller will make his debut. | Thousand yard rusher Ryan Fuqua has graduated and handed over the reigns to Joe Rubin who racked up 865 yards as a back up last year. Also back is their leading blocker fullback Allen Kennett. Kennett was voted First Team All Big Sky last year for the run happy Vikings. They will probably rely on this strength as they break in a new quarterback and try to keep the game clock rolling. | ||
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| OFFENSIVE LINE | ADVANTAGE | OFFENSIVE LINE | - |
| The line might be the most interesting group on the offense side of the ball to watch early on this year. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The introduction of a new line coach, three new starters and the need to generate some sort of ground game puts a lot of pressure and a lot of spot light on the big boys. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Lining up two juniors, two sophomores and a freshmen at first glance makes it look like the 2005 group won’t even live up to last year’s line. But this year’s starting rotation has more raw talent and more upside so expect an increasing performance that could start wobbly but end up as the best line since 2000 by next year. | Division 1-AA All American center Antonio Narcisse is nursing a fractured fibula and isn’t expected back until the start of the Big Sky schedule. Narcisse lead a line in 2004 that had a league-low 10 sacks and a league-high 204 yards per game on the ground. But that was last year. This year the line only returns two starters and will be lining up a lot of youth. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Without Narcisse they don’t have much experience and won’t be as dominant on offense. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Also out is backup guard Brett Thielke with a torn ACL. | ||
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| RECEIVERS/TIGHT END | ADVANTAGE | RECEIVERS/TIGHT END | - |
| What a difference a year can make. Last year the receiving corps was a shaky mix of the unknowns, the inexperienced and the never lived-ups. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> At the start of the season the two-deep meant we had two receivers. Now national sports writers are giving the Beavers the love heralding the group as one of the top not only in the Pac-10 but in the nation. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The once forgotten four receiver sets and six-seven man rotations are back. If the passing game has to be the driver for the offense there is no lack of where to throw. Sadly, Joe Newton got injured literally about 20 minutes into summer camp and will be lost for the season. He’ll be deeply missed but style='font-size:7.5pt'> style='font-size:7.5pt'>'s recent stockpiling of tight ends has come up in our favor. JC Transfer Jason Vandiver was considered by some to be the best JC tight end in the nation last year and Dan Haines is a work horse. Mike Hass. That’s it. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Needed to be said. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Mike Hass. He is pretty good. | The Vikings return two seniors Adam Whitehead and Scott Weaver. The Vikings have an All Big Sky running back and they love the two tight end set. Whitehead is used more in the chip and rollout plays so keep an eye on him during passing downs. It’s the best one-two tight end punch the Vikings have had in recent memory. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> style='font-size:7.5pt'>Former style='font-size:7.5pt'> style='font-size:7.5pt'> School quarterback and Arizona Wildcat Nic Costa is back in the style='font-size:7.5pt'> area and looking to try his skills at receiver. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The speedy Costa can burn and has great hands but it might be too soon for him to shine at the new position in his first game as a Viking. He injured a hamstring earlier in fall camp and might not be back a full strength for the OSU game. The Vikings do get back their number one and three receivers from last year combining for 61 catches and over 800 yards. | ||
| OVERALL OFFENSIVE ADVANTAGE: OREGON STATE | |||
| HOW THE DEFENSES MEASURE UP | |||
| OREGON STATE BEAVERS | PORTLAND STATE VICKINGS | ||
| DEFENSIVE LINE | ADVANTAGE | DEFENSIVE LINE | - |
| There isn’t a fan in the Nation that wouldn’t want Swancutt back and his loss could be the second hardest hit on the team. His production was obvious but don’t think the line is left in shambles. Ben Seigert, Alvin Smith and Sir Henry Anderson are 912 pounds of run stopping, middle clogging, class=GramE>linebacker freeing brutes. Joe Lemma and Jeff Van Orso are also of the run stopping mold. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The Achilles Heel of this unit will be the pass rush. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> | Much like their offensive brothers in the trenches the Vikings graduate some top talent. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Both starters at tackle last year were All Big Sky performers and leave a big hole to fill. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> At this point depth is a concern as both backups at tackle are out of shape and in the dog house with the coaches. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> One starter is former OSU Beaver Matthis Gehring also of Oswego style='font-size:7.5pt'>. | ||
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| LINEBACKERS | ADVANTAGE | LINEBACKERS | - |
| The bad news over the off season was that Chaz Scott would be an academic casualty for the 2005 season. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The good news was that if there was to be a position to lose someone then linebacker would be the spot. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> There isn’t a unit on the team with as much talent and depth. After trying out Andy Darkins and Derrick Doggett at weak side backer Doggett won the spot and coaches really like what they see. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The defense is designed around getting the talented linebackers to the ball. With Trent Bray and Keith Ellision back for their senior years this could be a group for the ages. | Joey King is the undisputed leader of this bunch and is decorated like a Christmas Tree. He’s been on both the academic and athletic All Big Sky lists the last two years. He is a strong player with a bench over 400 pounds. Not bad for being 5’10”, 205. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> While King is the only returning starter, junior D.J. Robinson has played in 22 games at linebacker and earned co-MVP honors last year on special teams. After that it’s a long list of transfers and incoming freshmen. Expectations are high for this unit but it should be a mixed bag in the first game of the season. | ||
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| SECONDARY | ADVANTAGE | SECONDARY | - |
| Now that you’re all goose-pimply about the yin of great linebackers, let reality set in with the yang of a depleted secondary. Two one-time Freshmen All-Americans were among the departed trio leaving a deep chasm to fill. Sabby Piscitelli’s experience is starting to catch up to his all-world physical talent and super-recruit Lamar Herron has his backup experience last year to go with his four stars. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> But style='font-size:7.5pt'>Oregon style='font-size:7.5pt'> style='font-size:7.5pt'> schemes the defense to leave the corners out class=GramE>on their own and we’re not reloading. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> There is an ample stock of bodies to choose from but only Keenan Lewis has Pac-10 starter written on him so far. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Former Texas Longhorn vi JC transfer Aaron Miller has all the talent to be the best corner of the lot but he’s only been wearing black with his orange for about a month so don’t expect to see him on the first series until Pac-10 play. | In another parallel to style='font-size:7.5pt'>Oregon style='font-size:7.5pt'> style='font-size:7.5pt'>, the Vikings are rebuilding their secondary in 2005. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> One starter returns in junior corner Dominic Dixon. Other than that it’s a list of players that saw time as backups or filled in for injured starters. style='font-size:7.5pt'>Dixon style='font-size:7.5pt'> was Second Team All Big Sky but he can only contain one part of the field. The next most experience is strong safety Byron Woods who has started seven games in 2003 and three last year after recovering from a shoulder injury. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Free safety Steve Shinen is their Mitch Meeuwsen. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He’s 6’4” and considered their smartest player with natural football instincts. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He has 12 starts over the last two years and is the senior leader of the secondary. The last piece is the other corner occupied by former Long Beach Poly star Odell Jackson who started in four games last year. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He’s 5’9” like so many other things in green. | ||
| -OVERALL DEFENSIVE ADVANTAGE: OREGON STATE | |||
| COACHING AND SPECIAL TEAMS | |||
| OREGON STATE BEAVERS | PORTLAND STATE VICKINGS | ||
| SPECIAL TEAMS | ADVANTAGE | SPECIAL TEAMS | - |
| 2004 was a good year for OSU on special teams. Forget the unforgettable missed PAT’s and the Reggie Bush game-breaking punt return and focus on the stability and production of the units. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 2005 will be better. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Sam The Punter could be the best in the country and so could Alexis Serna by bowl season. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Serna couldn’t miss a field goal if he was facing the wrong way on the field and Sam politely asks which blade of grass you’d like the ball to land on. Sammie Stroughter has become a terror as a punt returner in fall camp. This third leg of the football tripod could be the unit that turns close games into winners. | Junior Eric Azorr returns for the kicking duties after a 7 for 13 job last year. That may be the reason they brought in Andrew Levers from the Foothill JC. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Levers was All Conference the last two seasons and is a pre-season All American. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Otherwise the Vikings performed well on special teams last year with exception of a 39.9 yard punt average. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Special teams can be a reflection of your team’s depth and PSU is a young team this year. | ||
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| COACHING STAFF IN '05 | ADVANTAGE | COACHING STAFF IN '05 | - |
| Several departures in the coaching staff raised many an eyebrow in the off season. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> What at first looked like a coming apart at the seams turned into an upgrade in talent and an infusion of energy. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The new ofensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh is the right guy at the right time, bringing an incredible energy, knowledge and personality to a unit that needed an overhaul. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Another prize (or surprise) also swooped in from style='font-size:7.5pt'> with long time high school coach Kanani Souza coming aboard for a one year stint as the offensive graduate assistant. Robin Ross is turning out to be an upgrade for the linebackers and Lee Hull is a better fit coaching the receivers than the running backs. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> | Tim Walsh is in his lucky number 13th season at style='font-size:7.5pt'>Portland style='font-size:7.5pt'> style='font-size:7.5pt'> taking over for the late Portland Personality Pokey Allen. Despite not having the really cool TV commercials he managed to take PSU to three straight Division II playoff appearances and then spearheaded the move to Division I-AA. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Since their move up in 1999 they’ve had five winning seasons with just the 2003 season coming up short. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Last year they went 7-4 and beat style='font-size:7.5pt'>Montana style='font-size:7.5pt'> with the Big Sky’s best offense and defense. | ||
| BEAVERBLITZ FINAL ADVANTAGE: OREGON STATE | |||
| BEAVERBLITZ PREDICTIONS - VISIT THE LODGE | |||
DEFINITIONS
ADVANTAGE - THIS UNIT WILL OUTPERFORM THE OPPONENT'S SQUAD ON ANY GIVEN SATURDAY.
LEAN - THE QUALITY OF THIS UNIT IS SOMEWHAT BETTER, THOUGH THE DIFFERENCE
ISN'T MAJOR.
PUSH - THE UNITS ARE NEARLY EVEN.
