With the mighty USC Trojans, college football’s top team of the last decade, staring down a 2-year bowl ban, among other sanctions, the Pacific Ten Conference (PAC-10) has become wide open. Teams such as the Oregon Ducks, Cal Golden Bears and the upstart Washington Huskies have seen their chances of playing in Pasadena increase two fold since the spring. Even perennial losers such as the Stanford Cardinal and Arizona Wildcats have dreams of Roses. But neither of those squads’ posses the necessary talent and moxie to pass one of the most underrated teams in the nation: Oregon State.For years the Beavers had been on the verge of grabbing their first PAC-10 crown in two (1965) generations. Last season, Mike Riley’s team had a chance to play in the Rose Bowl. Its only obstacle was a relative weak Oregon team on the road. Unfortunately for Beaver Nation, OSU came up just short (37-33). Despite the loss, the Beavers put everyone on notice last fall with a solid 8 win campaign. They do lose their starting quarterback and several complementary players, but that's just about it.
Make no mistake about it, Riley’s 2010 Oregon team is loaded. There are 16 starters returning, which is the most in the conference. They have arguable the best backfield in the league, a solid offensive line, a veteran receiving corps and a potentially great defense. All the ingredients are there for a title run, and not only in the PAC-10 but a possible national title.
• Running back Jaquizz Rodgers (Sr) should ‘improve’ on his 1,440 yards, 5.3 ypc average running behind a more experience line. Heading the O-line is highly regarded center Alex Linnekohl (Sr). LG Grant Johnson (Jr) and RT Mike Remmers (Jr) is in everyone the short list of potential All Conference honorees.
• Sophomore QB Ryan Katz could as good as the departed Sean Canfield. In fact, he could be an improvement. He looks more comfortable in the pocket and has a displayed, albeit in limited action last season and during spring practices this year, better short-to-intermediate range accuracy. Although there are questions regarding his deep passing game, it may not come into play as the team does not throw deep passes all that much, just ask the club’s leading receiver, James Rodgers (Sr) who has seen his yards per catch diminish the last two years.
• Defense is what sets the Beavers apart from the pack. It all starts in the trenches where senior defensive tackle Stephen Paes resides. The 6-foot-3, 311 pounds defensive tackles has NFL scouts drooling. He has the speed and power to dominate inside like few can. The linebacker corps is among the best in the country with Keith Pankey (Sr) (if he is fully recover from Achilles surgery), Tony Wilson (So) and Dwight Roberson (Sr) providing the athleticism and range to cover the entire field. The secondary is as solid as they come. They could do a better job covering deep (7 of the 12 passing TDs allowed went beyond 30 yards) but overall, this is one of the better units in the conference.
• The schedule is manageable with only two dangerous conference opponents in it. Unlike last season, both USC and Oregon will have to come to Oregon State this season and also, unlike last 2009, both teams are more than beatable. The Trojans should have a down year with not much to play for when they arrive at Corvallis on November 20th. As for the Ducks, the loss of a playmaker such as QB Jeremiah Masoli is the great equalizer for the Beavers. No Masoli means fewer plays to defend outside the hash marks.
If Oregon State defeats a very good TCU team in their opener, and somehow manages to escape Boise State on the road, (September 25th) they could be in line for more than a Rose Bowl berth comes December 7th.
By Raul Colon
rcolonfrias@yahoo.com
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