Spring Ball: Version 2009. Who To Replace For The Oregon State Beavers?

Put the rain coats away and drop the umbrellas...ok so maybe you'll need 'em both for spring football in Oregon. (Thank you Truax Indoor Facility!)

The 2008 Oregon State Beavers again proved all critics wrong by finishing tied for second in the Pac-10 Conference and winning the Brut Sun Bowl in an impressive offensive showing against Pitt. 

OK so 3-0 was about as boring offensively as it could get, but hey, a win is a win. All said and done, OSU racked up nine wins and earned national media attention with their September 25th defeat of then-No. 1 USC.

With key players departing for the NFL or whatever life my have in store for the former Beaver greats, we look towards the make-up of the 2009 squad and who the Beavs will need to replace.

Here are the 2009 Offensive Two-Deeps as provided by Scout.com

Key losses:

WR Sammie Stroughter/Shane Morales: Both combined for 55 percent of Oregon State's receiving yards and 15 of the 25 passing touchdowns thrown by Lyle Moevao and Sean Canfield. Stroughter (1st Team All Pac-10) is a possible seventh round draft pick.

OL Adam Speer/Andy Levitre/Tavita Thompson: While Levitre (1st Team All Pac-10) is probably the only of the group that will make an NFL squad, Thompson and Speer (2nd Team All Pac-10) were monsters for the OSU ground game that often finds itself in the top half of the league.

DE Victor Butler/Slade Norris: While undersized and under-hyped, Butler (1st Team All Pac-10/Sun Bowl MVP) and Norris combined for 22 of the 39 team sacks and both were in the top six in tackles for the Pac-10's third ranked defense. Butler was invited to the combine and may be a late second day draft pick.

CB Keenan Lewis/Brandon Hughes: Hughes (2nd Team All Pac-10) and Lewis combined for five interceptions in their senior years, and opened eyes with good workouts in the NFL combine.  This is where the Beavers could be the most vulnerable entering the '09 season.

S Al Afalava/Greg Laybourn: Laybourn earned 2nd Team All Pac-10 and along with Afalava were monsters in run support.  While their pass coverage was suspect, there was no lack of intensity and hard hitting from the two tough nosed safties.

Oregon State graduates eight of the 11 defensive starters (MLB Bryant Cornell and DT Pernell Booth not listed above) and five of their starters on offense (three OL and two WR)

With so much lost, Oregon State again will, more than likely, be picked to finish middle-of-the-pack or lower in the preseason rankings.

A favorable early season schedule that hosts Portland State and Cincinnati and travels to UNLV may be just what the Beavers need to acclimate their new defensive starters and enter Pac-10 play with a winning record.