Connor's thoughts on the USC Game
by ConnorOSU on Oct 27, 2009 9:50 PM PDT
in Oregon State Football
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PrintThe Trojans defeated the Beavers 42-36 on a hot, crazy night in Los Angeles. Here are my thoughts on the game.
Quarterback
Sean Canfield had a wonderful game against the Trojans, going 30 for 43, passing for 329 yards, and three touchdowns. Even with the loss, I thought Sean had his best game of the year.
Running Back
Jacquizz Rodgers had another great game, rushing for 113 yards on 20 carries, and one touchdown. All this in just three quarters of play. The younger brother missed the entire second quarter due to ankle injury. All in all, another great game for the Quizz Show, keeping alive the slim hopes of a Heisman Trophy.
Ryan McCants saw his first action of the year with Jacquizz's absence, rushing for ten yards on two carries.
Recievers
Joe Halahuni led the recieving corps in a great day of action. Joe recorded nine catches for 127 yards. James Rodgers had another great game with seven catches for 56 yards and one touchdown.
Damola "Microwave" Adeniji had another good game as well, despite dropping a touchdown pass. He recorded five catches for 81 yards and one touchdown. Jacquizz Rodgers came out of the backfield for four catches and one touchdown as well.
Casey Kjos added two catches for 20 yards, and Jordan Bishop, Jovan Stevenson, and Brady Camp all recorded one catch.
O-Line
I thought the O-Line had a very good day against USC. They only gave up three sacks and opened up some nice holes for Quizz and McCants. If they can continue to play like this, the Beavers should finish very strong down the stretch.
Defense
The Beaver Defense struggled at times Saturday, but I thought they did an alright job against the explosive USC offense. What hurt the Beavers most I thought was not sacking Quarterback Matt Barkley. It seemed like everytime we'd get close to him he would find a way to escape. Then on the very next play, SC would come up with a huge play and kill us.
We are tied for dead last in the FBS in sacks. That needs to change if we're going to have a good year.
Special Teams
I thought the Special Teams unit did a pretty good job on Saturday, despite missing a field goal in the second quarter. Justin Kahut went 3 for 4 with Field Goals, and 4 for 4 on Extra Points. He also did a nice job on kickoffs.
We didn't have any special punt returns, but James had a couple nice kickoff returns grouped with a 70 yard return by Jordan Poyer. The Beavers also gave up their first Punt Return for a Touchdown of the year.
USC
The Trojans lived up to the expectations Saturday, especially Quarterback Matt Barkley. He was 15 for 25 and threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns. He also did a great job of escaping the Beaver D and getting his throws away.
The only fault in Barkley's game was his two (should of been three) interceptions, even though the defense made spectacular plays to get them. USC will be tested this Saturday at Autzen, but if they can get out of there with a win, the Men of Troy should lock up a Rose Bowl berth.
The Crowd
I wasn't all that impressed with the ginormous crowd of 89,720. They weren't very loud, but still just the statistic is staggering. The Beaver fans did a good job of traveling once again, with an estimated 2,000 people making the trip to Los Angeles.
Short Pac-10 Recap
Washington-The Huskies kept it close for a quarter, but the Ducks eventually overwhelmed UW, losing 43-19.
Washington State-The Cougars did all they could (and that isn't very much) in Berkeley, falling 49-17 to the Bears.
Oregon-The Ducks set up a monumental matchup with USC this week, defeating the Huskies in Seattle 43-19.
Oregon State-The Beavs hung with USC the whole game, but they couldn't get a stop late and fell 42-36.
California-The Golden Bears got a win against the happless Cougars, winning 49-17.
Stanford-The Cardinal defeated a pesky Arizona State team 33-14 at the farm in Palo Alto.
USC-In a game that had no shortage of offense, the Trojans defeated Oregon State 42-36 on a Saturday night in LA.
UCLA-The Bruins had another bad game in Tucson, this time falling 27-13 against the Wildcats.
Arizona-The Wildcats proved that they belong in the Top 25 with a 14 point win over the Bruins.
Arizona State-The Sun Devils continued to struggle Saturday in Palo Alto, falling 33-14.
Pac-10 Power Rankings
1. Oregon
2. USC
3. Arizona
4. Oregon State
5. California
6. Stanford
7. Washington
8. Arizona State
9. UCLA
10. Washington State
Final Thoughts
I'll never be happy or impressed with a loss, whether it's against the number one team in the nation or the 120th team in the nation. But I will say this, I am extremeley proud of the way our team kept fighting back when we would get down. I think there is a very good chance that we run the table from here on out.
Now, we move on to UCLA. It should be a crazy day in Corvallis with Homecoming and Halloween, but it should be a great time.
Today's Poll
Who will win next Saturday in Eugene?
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Sean Canfield had a wonderful game against the Trojans, going 30 for 43, passing for 329 yards, and three touchdowns. Even with the loss, I thought Sean had his best game of the year.
I might be overlooking something from the past, but wouldn’t you say that could have been his best game of his OSU career? Even with the loss? I mean he looked completely in control out there. Thinking back on it all I think that performance in how he looked posed and collected, and like everyone basically agrees if the Beavs got the ball back once more it was coming out as a W for us, that this is as good as a QB one game performance since Matt Moore? I mean Lyle has had some good games, but I don’t know if he’s ever been that consistent and pure for an entire game (and I’m a totally Lyle M fan club card carrying member).
I guess that second quarter, and first half redzone offense, wasn’t the greatest overall but a lot of the problems there was because of penalties and a big sack , but that second half he was picking the SC secondary apart. And like someone has posted here Sean really kept us in it when Quizz went out that second quarter.
Anyway, probably just short-term memory kicking in too much here, but one thing I know for sure is I’m very much looking forward to seeing what he can do against UCLA this weekend.
Don’t know if anyone has posted this yet, but here is the opening AP recap from the game:
Most of Oregon State’s punt-coverage team was to his left, so Damian Williams went right. When he dodged the final tackler and slipped into the end zone early in the fourth quarter, he thought Southern California finally had shaken the Beavers as well.
"And then they went down and scored again like it was nothing," Williams recalled. "I said, ‘I guess it’s still going to be a fight here."’
The No. 4 Trojans won that fight with one final drive by their revitalized offense, which relished a rare chance to bail out their usually formidable defense in a 42-36 victory Saturday night.
-RVM
I’m reluctant to call any loss anyone’s best game, but I will say that we’re definitely seeing the best Canfield football of his career. Over the past three or so games he’s been fantastic. I mean, is he even the same guy who mentally and physically locked up against UA and Cinci? He’s come along way, and I don’t mean just in his career. There’s been a lot of week to week improvement on his behalf.
Hopefully for him, a strong finish will get him a shot with someone at the next level. If he’s a late bloomer like Moore (and he’s shaping up to be), he could work his way onto someone’s roster without a doubt.
Oh, I know, I very much thought twice about posting that because it was a L, but like you said he’s improved a ton and that game, especially the second half, he just looked like the leader and QB we have been expecting from him for his OSU career.
I just can’t remember a pass that looked unsure or really badly thrown. But the loss does linger over it, so yes here’s to Sean having even better games the rest of the way out (and by better I mean at that level and above and with Ws attached to them).
-RVM
I just can’t remember a pass that looked unsure or really badly thrown.
That pass that he lofted that Jordan Bishop ended up catching. That was a head scratcher for sure. But other than that, he looked poised and threw nice, tight spirals
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Oct 28, 2009 9:53 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, yeah, okay. But wasn’t that for a first down too? When you are feeling it, you are feeling it I guess!
He also had that one that looked like had a shot for INT return for a TD, but his strength on it totally fooled the SC defender.
Here is something else I want to give him credit for and USC had some what could have been brutal momentum changing sacks and he just bounced up and came back that drive without looking too worse for wear or the next drive and scoring. Such as the sack that led to the punt that got returned for a TD. This has been a huge problem with Canfield early on and over the years, and his jumpiness after getting pressure. Not the last two games.
Anyway, I just want to give him the props he deserves, especially after all the grumpiness he was causing. Just like we need to give Hekker some props too! Has that guy gone from looking like a deer in headlights kid to a confident asset in the kicking game (could work on his tackling though on that one return)?
-RVM
Kahut
We need to keep his attempts outside of 30 yards, he can’t miss outside that range, anything else under that range the offense should just go for it on 4th down.
(Kind-of kidding here, kind-of not)
-RVM
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Beavers Football Schedule
| Sacramento St. | Sat 09/03 | L 28 - 29 |
@
Wisconsin
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Sat 09/10 | L 0 - 35 |
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UCLA
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Sat 09/24 | L 19 - 27 |
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@
Arizona St.
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Sat 10/01 | L 20 - 35 |
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Arizona
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Sat 10/08 | W 37 - 27 |
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BYU
|
Sat 10/15 | L 28 - 38 |
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@
Washington St.
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Sat 10/22 | W 44 - 21 |
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@
Utah
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Sat 10/29 | L 8 - 27 |
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Stanford
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Sat 11/05 | L 13 - 38 |
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@
California
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Sat 11/12 | L 6 - 23 |
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Washington
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Sat 11/19 | W 38 - 21 |
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@
Oregon
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Sat 11/26 | L 21 - 49 |
