Three key Beaver opponents rated forty-somethings by Sporting News

by AndyPanda on Jul 22, 2009 8:46 AM PDT in Football Comment 6 comments

Since last weekend, the Sporting News has ranked and reviewed three of Oregon State's key opponents this season.

UCLA, ranked 44, was their pick as "the most improved team in the Pac-10." Rick Neuheisel's Bruins, in SN's estimation, is poised to make the biggest jump of all PAC-10 teams, from their 8th. place finish last season. The Bruins will be in town on Halloween, and how scary Reser will be will probably be one of the defining moments with regard to both teams' post season hopes.

Monday, the Cincinatti Bearcats came in 46 in the countdown. The defending Big East champions, who will be in Corvallis Sept. 19th., return one of the better QBs coming back anywhere in Tony Pike, but have to almost completely reload the defense, and a lot of the offense as well. Previously, SN columnist Matt Hayes put Bearcat coach Brian Kelly #5 on his list of top 5 coaches, a list that not surprisingly also contains USC's Pete Carroll. See page 25 of the July 14th. edition of Sporting News Today.

Last Saturday, Dennis Erickson's Arizona State Sun Devils, who will host the Beavers on Oct. 3, was placed 48th. on the SN list. With an early schedule that should see the Devils be at least 2-1 when Oregon State comes to town, the game could be one of the most pivital on the PAC-10 schedule, as ASU could reasonably expect to go 6-1, or 7-0 with an upset win at Georgia, before the toughest part of the season rolls around if they can cook the Beavers.

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I fail to see WHY UCLA will suddenly be so good.

I’ve seen people picking them to finish in the top half which really boggles my mind. I mean, it’s not impossible and they definitely have a shorter road back from ruin than either of the Washington schools but I still don’t think there’s much change ahead for them next year.

I will say that I think the biggest change will be up in Seattle. I’d say they sneak two maybe three wins out of conference play.

SIGN BRANDON ROY TO A 5 YEAR DEAL NOW!

by ArbyOSU on Jul 22, 2009 9:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think

People see this as UCLA’s possible break out year because of Neuheisel’s experience there now is more established. My guess is the thinking is that now he has a season under his belt, got some recruits in, knows the university now, etc. The team showed moments last year, you know, like really should have beat UO at Autzen and beat Tennessee. Luckily they showed many more bad moments, but still the seed has been planted I think in people’s minds.

Me? I don’t know, personally I don’t want UCLA to do well under Neuheisel and they looked terrible at times last year for sure, but there is a part of me that thinks they could be an issue at times for teams in the upcoming years.

I agree to a point about UW, but UCLA is floating under the radar a bit too much to make me totally comfortable. I hope I’m wrong though!

-RVM

by rvm on Jul 22, 2009 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think UCLA is coming back without a doubt. No argument there. I just don’t think they’re back YET or even as close as some prognosticators have them pegged.

That said, UW I think will make the biggest stride this year because, well, even just one or two wins would be huuuge.

SIGN BRANDON ROY TO A 5 YEAR DEAL NOW!

by ArbyOSU on Jul 22, 2009 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perception from a limited data sample

Everyone saw their best effort last year in the win over Tennessee, and saw them shut down the Beavers for a half. But the only losses they were “in” were to Fresno, who wasn’t up to their usual standards, and the Ducks, at a time when the Ducks were staggering after the demolition by the Trojans, needing to get to the bye. So a couple of good efforts and wins over three bad teams lend hope that a team in the middle of so much talent must surely be better than they showed.

And I think there is some respect for what Neuheisel has proven he can do with an offense. Even all his detractors know he can produce offense. But his history is of continually declining defenses, and while the Bruin defense was their best attribute, it wasn’t that good.

So I expect a caged bruin to be dangerous, and probably ruin some one’s year, but not to be a lasting factor. All the more reason to not sleep on them, as you do not want to be that someone who gets bitten.

by AndyPanda on Jul 22, 2009 11:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

so?

It looks as if you and I are in agreement! :)

-RVM

by rvm on Jul 22, 2009 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Our defense

Good last year, will be considerably better this year. We are doing a similar upgrade/downgrade series (thanks to your site for the idea), and we show either a starter from last season, or an upgrade at 10/11 defensive positions. Our lone downgrade is also barely a down grade.

As far as being in games, our defense kept us right in the game several times until late in the 2nd half, where they’d fall apart due to being on the field for so long after continual offensive 3 and outs.

If our offense can do just a little better this year, and it will be better, our defense will be able shut out teams a lot more effectively.

As far as offense, let me give you an idea how our coaches perceived last year’s play at QB. Our starter from 2008 is now third string, passed up by a red shirt fresman and a freshman. Even worse, was our O-line, which has seen MAJOR improvements in the offseason. Not only will they be a year more experienced, but we added a couple excellent JC transfers and 2 freshman that are the most impressive looking freshman our local writer, Brian Dohn has ever seen in his years covering UCLA.

Stack that with a top 10 recruiting class and a top 25 recruiting class the last two years, a second year in the Neuheisel/Chow offense, and you see why people expect us to be the most improved team.

by captainqtp on Jul 22, 2009 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs