Concerns for The 2009 Oregon State Beavers: Optimisim vs. Reality

If the run game struggles, the play action won't be as effective as Coach Riley is accustomed to and as a whole the offense will struggle to move the ball with any consistency.

Optimistic View - Guard Gregg Peat, center Alex Linnenkohl, guard Ryan Pohl, and tackle Mike Remmers all have quality game time experience.  Linnenkohl and Peat starting all 13 games last season.

Remmers-as many may remember from the comment made by Jesse Palmer during the victory over No. 1 USC "Freshman tackle Mike Remmers is playing out of his MIND!" -started the entire year (seven games) until senior Tavita Thompson returned from an NCAA suspension.

Remmers will play whichever blind side tackle spot depending on which QB starts.  Canfield the lefty or Moevao the righty. So the tackle to find is the "less important" tackle.

This group has worked together for a couple years and now is entering their second year as starters together.  With what they produced in the run game last year and the coaching that Coach Cav provides, it could be a very promising year on the ground for the Beavers.

Concern No. 4: Stroughter and Morales are now gone at WR.

Optimistic View - James Rodgers stepped his game up last season as a route runner and is a very viable target now for the Beavers through the air. Rodgers caught 51 passes for 607 yards and four scores in '08 and is the leading returner at the receiver position.

Starting his true freshman year Darrell Catchings had high hopes for the future, he caught 33 passes for 386 yards and a TD.  While hopes are still high Catchings has since been battling with diabetes over the past year and has finally leveled out his diet and learned to live with the disease.

Catchings torched the black shirts in the spring scrimmages and looks faster and better than ever. Casey Kjos is out of the Shane Morales mold (great hands and awareness) and has been in the program four years.

Damola Adeniji goes 6'3" 215 and can go up and get the ball.  With the height of Adeniji (6'3"), Kjos (6'2"), and RSFr. Jordan Bishop (6'3" who has impressed the coaching staff and fans alike) OSU has height at the receiver position that they've never had before.

Add that with the speed of James Rodgers, incoming JuCo. transfer Reggie Dunn, and the before mentioned Bishop and OSU can stretch you deep with speed and/or go up high in the red-zone.

Realistic View

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