Have the Oregon State Beavers Lived Up to Standards?

The end of the 2007 college football season was a good one for Oregon State University and its followers. 

After a humiliating 34-3 loss to Cincinnati on the road, and an 0-2 start in conference play, a 2-3 record had the Beavers treading water in the Pac-10 and warranted great concern from OSU fans nationwide.

A determined OSU coaching staff and veteran group of players took the rest of the season one game at a time, and the rest is history.

On their way to an Emerald Bowl victory over the ACC's Maryland Terrapins, Oregon State won six of their last seven games, including a victory on the road vs. then-No. 2 California.

The Beavers also broke a 10-year streak, winning in Autzen Stadium vs. their in-state rivals the Oregon Ducks. No team had won back-to-back matchups since 1997.

As soon as the bowl victory celebration ended, focus shifted to recruiting and the assimilation of their 2008 team.

Year after year, Oregon State ranks at the bottom of the Pac-10 in recruiting.  Scout.com listed OSU as having the 61st-best recruiting class in the nation; putting them above only Washington State (74th) in conference.

Excitement surrounded the program as they landed their first five-star recruit in 6-foot-4,  270-pound JuCo transfer DE Simi Kuli. Unfortunately, he has yet to arrive in Corvallis and could be looking at a red-shirt year if and when he does arrive.

Four-star recruit Jacquizz Rodgers was labeled "Mr. Touchdown" coming out of Lamar Consolidated HS in Texas.  The shifty 5-foot-7 185-pound Rodgers set a Texas record with 136 touchdowns, had over 8,000 rushing yards, over 9,500 total yards, and was named Texas 4A offensive player of the year for the 2007 season.

Rodgers was also one of only nine Texas players to be named a Parade All-American.

The remainder of the class was rounded out by three- and two-star players ranging from British Columbia to Hawaii.  A typical class for media standards, but a step in the right direction for OSU and head man Mike Riley.

With the slate wiped clean and OSU ready for fall practice to get under way, road blocks began to surface as often as spring rain in Corvallis.

Safety Al Afalava was cited for a hit-and-run/DUII (a bus stop was hit, no one was injured) and would miss the first game vs. Stanford on the road.

Tavita Thompson was still serving a one year suspension for a banned substance.

Jeremy Perry, OSU's All-Everything guard from Hawaii, was rehabbing his knee and ankle in hopes of being ready by week three.  He has yet to see the field.

If that wasn't enough, projected starting C Marcus Henderson and DT Mitchell Hunt went down with mono-like symptoms just before week one.

Henderson is still recovering.

Backup quarterback Sean Canfield had surgery on a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder after the Emerald Bowl and is slated to finally return as backup to Lyle Moevao in week five. 

Aside from injuries, OSU still remained optimistic about the upcoming season. The return of Sammie Stroughter brightened the OSU spirits and had Beaver Nation believing he could be in All-American form as he was just a year ago.

The 2008 season started on the road vs. conference foe Stanford and continued with No. 19 Penn State on the road. 

While the Beavers put up big numbers offensively against Stanford, the team left a lot of points on the field. Turnovers in the red zone and the inability to stop the run game haunted OSU all night and Stanford held on to win 36-28.

Penn State was to be a redemption game, after all, OSU plays well on the road out of conference, right? WRONG.  Yet again, OSU fell face first on national TV and had fans questioning the heart and leadership of the team.

The 45-14 spanking seen by half the nation was was so painful, ESPN cut coverage midway through the second half.

The first home game since Nov. 10 got OSU into the win column with a decisive 45-7 drumming against Hawaii.  The feel-good win brought a smile back to the Orange and Black.

A bye in Week Four will allow OSU to game plan for the visiting consensus No. 1 USC Trojans on Sept. 25th.

While OSU made a point to start out strong this season, they very well could be staring 1-4 in the face.

After USC, the road doesn't get any easier.  The Beavs travel to challenge undefeated and No. 20 MWC powerhouse Utah. 

The Utes lost more than just their season opener in Corvallis last year.  Starting Quarterback Brian Johnson and starting running back Matt Asiata were injured by the Beaver defense.  Asiata was out the remainder of the season.

Not only will revenge be tasty for the Utes, if they do win, it will solidify their case for BCS buster and land them 5-0 (assuming they beat Weber State the week before).

While OSU has struggled in the first few weeks, the Beavers aren't panicking.  The team began the 2006 and 2007 season 2-3 and managed 19 wins between the two seasons.

Offensively, Oregon State has a potent passing attack and Lyle Moevao to thank for it.  Many doubted his arm strength and ability to lead a team in the Pac-10. 

After three games, Moevao has posted 922 yards and six TD's to just four interceptions. He has already tripled his TD's from last year and seems to have a firm grip of the offense.

Sammie Stroughter has gotten better week after week.  The senior who dazzled fans with his three punt returns for TDs in '06 is slowly getting back to the Sammie of old. 

I could go on about his battle with depression and what not, but pick up an ESPN The Magazine, the story is amazing and told much better than I could ever do.

Stroughter is a game changer on offense as well as special teams.  OSU regained their deep threat and is able to spread the field better because of the attention paid to No. 19.

Not only that, Stroughter takes a huge smile with him wherever he goes and creates a feel-good atmosphere around the practice field.

With the constant threat of Stroughter, Moevao has found a reliable and surprising set of hands in senior Shane Morales. 

Morales leads the Beavers with 22 receptions and 284 yards.  His ability to find space in the secondary and float creates a great target for Moevao. 

"The play that saved a season," as it could be properly labeled was the fly sweep.  After a coaches clinic emphasizing the fly sweep at nearby Willamette University, Mike Riley had the knowledge and just needed an able body to run it.

Enter James Rodgers. 

The smallish Rodgers, brother of Jacquizz, had incredible success last year; rushing for over 580 yards on only 50 carries.  The 11.7 yards per carry was by far the greatest production offensively for the Beavs.

This year James has found it more difficult to find running room.  The true sophomore is, however, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.  This is clearly an area of concern for opponents, as they've seemed to focus on stopping the fly sweep early on.

A major concern entering the season was the health and youth of the offensive line.  With seniors Tavita Thompson and Jeremy Perry out the Beavers called on the young'uns to step up into starting roles.

Names such as Pohl, Linnenkohl, Peat, Remmers, and McAndrews have become more than just a name.  The patchwork line has given Moevao all the time in the world and has given up only four sacks in the first three games.

The only area of concern at this point is whether or not their ability to run block will improve entering Pac-10 play.  The line did show promise last week, opening holes and allowing a trio of backs to combine for 217 yards.

The position(s) most in question is the defensive front seven.  With the end of a season comes the inevitable loss of former Beaver greats. Darlin, Doggett, and LaRocque were All-Pac-10 performers at linebacker and the new trio is determined to get back to the level of play that has been a mainstay for the OSU defense.

The Beaver defense has given up 506 yards on the ground and failed to wrap up and bring down ball carriers.  The victory over Hawaii showed progression from the front seven, as they gave up only 57 yards rushing and a total of 211 yards.

With a record of 1-2, the Beavers have a tough road ahead of them and Beaver fans hope history repeats itself, again.

A team which lead the nation in rush defense is now near the bottom.  The secondary, while very talented, needs to turn their heads, find the ball, and create more turnovers.

In OSU's read and react defense there are often growing pains associated with new faces.  This year has proved to be as painful as the last early on.

Oregon State has not performed up to the standards set by the coaching staff and fans.  While media would say "told ya so," the Beaver faithful expect more.

Offensively, OSU needs to continue to work the run game to set up their lethal play action pass game.

Defensively, build on what you've established and get better week to week.  Make your mistakes going full speed.  No division one team can afford to be tentative and expect to win.

Hawaii proved to be a confidence booster and has given OSU some momentum going into week five versus almighty USC.

As for now, we continue to critique decisions made as well as spit out our fair share of coulda-woulda-shoulda's.

Bottom line is, OSU needs to pull it together and play smart and aggressive team football if they aspire to play in late December.