Home Football Moving on to Minnesota

Moving on to Minnesota

480

Despite apathy, questionable coaching, and team chemistry problems, I think the Beavs get the win this week.

These early start times and/or travel arrangements haven’t been great for us. Historically the Beavs seem to play better at night and in cooler weather. Minnesota isn’t that good a team. Their coach is a “me first” self-promoter who is probably hard to play for. Student turnout should be good for this one. I like the 7pm start time, home turf, crowd, and think we can ambush a so-so MN team.

D is still super young and should get a little better here in an easier spot.

Feels like a win.

Nall goes for 150, 2TDs. Luton 270 and 2TDs (1 or 2INTs). Hodgins seems ready to evolve in this one. I have him for 80 yards and a score. Togia with the other receiving TD.

35-24 Beavs, and the student section embarrassingly storms the field as if we’ve accomplished something great.

480 COMMENTS

  1. Also heard Seth Collins might be back for this game, which would be a nice boost to the WR and leadership. Evans not far behind from what I heard, but who knows on that one.

  2. If Beavs win by any amount against a B1G team I am fine if students want to storm the field. Would be the best thing for helping team spirits. Would be shocked if we held Minny to 24. Beavs win this it will be more like 34-31.

    Like the night game and the students showing for a spotlight game and well received 11 Strong unis. Game should be interesting. Defense needs to come to play.

    • Storm the field and eat a fine for beating Minnesota? Never mind that being pathetic, we’ll need that money to buy out GA’s contract later.

    • I saw that too. The line moved from Beavs +1.5 to Beavs -2. Can’t imagine that much money being placed on this game already to move the line. Does Minn have a player injury or suspension we haven’t heard about?

  3. 42-10 Minnesota. This will be a very sobering game for Beaver Nation. Shannon Brooks is going to punish our linebackers and safeties.

    GA needs to go. Now. Get him out.

  4. Minny has a mobile freshman QB who is going to give the Beavs trouble. I was really impressed with Brooks last year; the dude can break tackles.

    38-21 Minny

  5. Don’t see the Beavs stopping anyone with the porous defense. Minny could run up the gut all day long and OSU still wouldn’t stop it. 35-17 Minnesota

  6. I think they will come out hungry this game. I really think a large part of their, both players and coaches, issues have been cockiness, for some ungodly reason. Gina mentioned them talking about bowl games before the season. The one dude saying they weren’t prepared for the 2nd half of the CSU game. This tidbit from Hungalu is the most direct evidence: “It felt like we expected too much. We need to respect our opponent a little bit more.” I don’t think that will be an issue any longer with P5 opponents. It never should have been, but what’s done is done.

    The thing is, even if they come out ready, their run D is still not good. That feeds right into the hands of Minn. I think UM wins 24-21.

  7. I don’t know, the run defense has not executed for eight quarters now and they were bad most of last season. How big of a sample size is needed? Turnovers usually decide games between teams who are somewhat evenly matched. If Minny holds on to the ball in the run game they win. If the Beavs can force a couple of fumbles and not piss the advantage away with Luton interceptions they win. I’ll go Beavs 27-24, but I’m not confident.

  8. Minn has a young QB, if Beavs stack the box and force him to throw, then Beavs have a chance. Beavs absolutely need to win the turnover battle, and out-rush the Gophers keeping the D off the field – if these happen expect Beavs to win…. 34 – 27.

  9. I think that even projecting a competitive game means assuming significant improvement. Could happen, but also could not happen.

    42-21 Minnesota. Would love to be wrong, but Beavs have shown zero through 2 games to convince me otherwise. Hard to win when both lines are getting physically dominated and your coaching isn’t putting you in a position to succeed.

  10. A post from Benny’s House on firing Andersen:

    “Coach A and Barnes are good friends…. Coach A got Ed Ray to hire Barnes. Barnes won’t fire him. This thread is just wishful thinking. Coach A is Teflon right now. If you don’t like it…protest with your wallet. Don’t buy tickets, don’t buy gear. If fans don’t show up….Ed Ray will have no choice. I’m going to Minnesota game, then I’m done. OSU isn’t getting my money until it improves.”

  11. I don’t agree w/ the sentiment that facing Minny’s offense is an easier spot.. We all thought PSU was a gentler test, compared to Colorado State and PSU dominated the LOS, racking up 291 yards rushing!!!

    Now we face a B10 caliber offensive line.. A more convincing argument would be Buffalo’s far superior defense slowed down Minny’s attack.. Something our group won’t be able to do..

    Minny did win the TOP battle by nearly 14 minutes, out gained Buffalo by 150 yards, and had 8 more first downs.. Seems to me Minny “should” have won more convincingly.. Just like PSU “deserved” the win last week in a one sided game statistically..

    I am worried our offense will rarely be on the field to put up any kind of fight, not that they could once on the field.. Our defense surrendered 31 first downs against CSU and backed that up with 28 against PSU.. Minny allowed 13 first downs to Buffalo.. and I don’t want to hear about turnovers as an excuse.. You’re still allowed to stop the other team from gaining yards after a turnover.. It’s not like “welp, we turned it over, we have to let them march down the field and score”.. WRONG.. You can still stop them.. There is no such thing as first downs off turnovers..

    I sound overly pessimistic.. I am.. Look at the schedule.. Where are the wins? This is a MUST WIN game if we have any hope of matching last year’s win total of four.. I would be shocked if we win more than two Pac-12 games.. Especially after having any remaining confidence completely crushed after the next three games.. @WSU, WASH, @ USC..

    I shutter at the aggregate score..

    • Even with the awful performances to date, I’m willing to go out on a limb and say the Arizona State game at home in November looks like a win. 2-10. Regression.

    • Regarding turnovers and time of possession; to date the Beavs are giving up at least 14 points off of TO’s per game and are averaging about 10 minutes less TOP than their opponents. Were those opponents any better than Minnie?

  12. 31-28 Minnesota.

    Let’s see if the front 7 play can improve. I expect Luton’s decision making to improve as he gets more game experience. Our ability to stop the run will be the key.

  13. I thought the problem was Riley. I don’t know if the problem was Riley anymore. At least he had a few hopeful seasons here and there for us. My brain can’t quite comprehend how poorly GA is fairing at OSU. His last Wisconsin team was 10-2 or something like that, right? And he had some success at Utah State, right? What’s different in Corvallis? I suppose Utah State isn’t in a Power 5 conference, and Wisconsin probably has access to higher caliber recruits.

    But then I look at Washington State, and how they’re able to have success a lot more frequently than we are, and I’m like, “what the hell?” They actually ARE in the middle of nowhere. And Pullman isn’t that big a town, is it? Corvallis at least is not far off of I-5.

    I just don’t get it.

    • Don’t go back to Riley. Andersen can be a bad hire and it doesn’t mean Riley was any better. Those aren’t mutually exclusive ideas.

      Honestly, look at Andersen’s history and it certainly wouldn’t be a shock if he failed at OSU. He had 2 good season’s at Wisconsin but also inherited a fairly talented team (a team that despite only going 7-5 dominated a quality Nebraska team in the Big Ten title game and gave a top 10 Stanford team all they could handle in the Rose Bowl).

      He did build up Utah State but looking at his seasons there I can’t find a single quality win and he didn’t succeed in the WAC until Boise State left.

      Its possible, he just isn’t very good.

      • It would be weird if he’s not good. Starting to look like truth…having a hard time accepting it since he looked the part, said all the right things, and had done so well prior. This MN is a tipping point for me. You have to win a game like this in year 3 of a rebuild vs a rebuilding MN when you’re home, especially when they fucked up your QB and others last season.

        Riley sucked. A scary thought is people calling for Riley to come back once he gets fired from Nebraska.

        • I’m certainly never gonna call for Riley to return but I may be having an easier time accepting that Andersen isn’t the answer since despite my excitement with “stealing” a coach from Wisconsin he still was never really the guy I wanted.

          If the Beavs had the resources/guts to move on from Andersen the guy I wanted the whole time is getting PAC experience at Cal so I have some hope still. Not sure how many years Beau will be just an assistant head coach for though, someone will hire him away from Cal soon.

          • I was there too. I had read that Baldwin was offered other OC opportunities but had turned them down because he wanted a HC job. Apparently he changed his mind for Wilcox and Cal.

        • If OSU rehires Riley again, I’m done with them.

          And I know several boosters who feel the same way. In fact, some of them would become activist and probably find immediate ways for the AD to make a very angry exit. They were already disgusted that someone ineligible for rehire was given that honor anyway. But there were a lot of bit tongues for the sake of the school and its athletes.

          • Because he quit without notice. It’s a part of the business world. You ditch your old business, especially at the time of year he did, and you don’t get to come back. There are just certain truths in life. Someone who just up and quits on you will do it to you again if you give that someone the chance.

            People don’t change.

          • If your business doesn’t have that small, easy standard, then I don’t need to see the rest of your business plan to tell you it will fail.

            Remember Riley mumbling something about loyalty on his way out?

            Yeah.

    • In fairness it’s a lot easier to turn things around in the West Division of the Big Ten than the North Division of the Pac-12. Wisconsin only has to deal with Nebraska, Northwestern, and sometimes Iowa and Minnesota, none of which are consistent enough to pose a credible threat to them over a extended period of time.

      The Pac-12 North on the other hand includes by far the two best coaches in the conference, who regularly compete for college football playoff berths, and two of the most high octane offensive systems in the country.

      I’m not making excuses, but we should acknowledge that turning around Wisconsin is a lot easier than what Andersen is faced with here given the level of competition on a yearly basis.

      • Wisconsin was turned around by Alvarez in 1993 when their were no divisions. Since then we have had only two losing seasons if I recall correctly. Going against Northwestern, Iowa and Nebraska is no picnic. GA a.k.a BNF is pulling the same crap with your team with the JUCO QB and messing with chemistry. He also messed with the culture and legacy Alvarez built. I don’t see your coach doing either.

        • Considering the recruiting pool Wisconsin can draw from, and the fact that none of those teams has been a CONSISTENT threat to the Badgers for a while (I mean over a period of several years), I’d say we agree to disagree on that mark. They’re good programs, but no college football analyst in their right mind would say they’ve legitimately threatened (aside from maybe a standout year: see Iowa two years ago) in the past decade. With all due respect to those teams, crawling over them isn’t as hard for Wisconsin as it is for OSU to crawl over Washington, Stanford, UO and WSU with far less resources and players to draw from.

          • I do agree that the Beavers have a tall order to be able to compete for a division title. I was looking at when Wisconsin started to compete for a conference championships back in ’93 as a comparison. Wisconsin had to play and be able to compete with Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State and Iowa. We were so bad in 1990 that we couldn’t beat Purdue, Minnesota or Indiana.

            As for your game against Minnesota, Fleck is trying to implement the spread to a team that has personnel for pro- style power run offense. They couldn’t have a spring game because they were so thin on the OL. Minnesota’s defense should be decent but the offense is average at best. I predict a close game.

  14. This will go down as one of the great wins in Beaver history vs Minnesota. Full Reser, chainsaws should be loud, and Mike Parker on the radio call. Could be a major showcase for the University. Very few games nationally getting this much exposure and hype

  15. Year 3 of GA:
    Back-pedalling d-line,
    linebackers on roller skates,
    dbs whiffing on coverages,
    o-line with no push,
    a slinging qb,
    roster full of misused rbs
    wr crew with more upside than production,
    unclear offensive identity,
    revolving coaching door and nepotism simultaneously

    When he was hired, I expected to see by year 3 what Michigan has with Harbaugh.

    MId 2nd quarter of PSU, it looked like the d-line was moving backwards 3-4 yds every play. How can this d-line slow down a Big 10 ground game? Without my Beaver goggles on, I think the Beavs lose by 3 tds and give up 350 yds rushing.

    I am hopeful that the Beavs had this game circled as the game all off-season and come motivated and energized to deliver some payback for last year. But that may not matter if the defense can’t stop the run.
    GA loses the mojo after this one and the Beavs are back to the dark ages. I’d like to be wrong and see a dramatic shift in the execution and focus of the defense, but it seems unlikely.
    Gophers 31-10

  16. QB Mobility and the Shotgun formation:
    Is it possible that Luton isn’t being put under center cause he is too immobile to manage a 5 step drop?
    Since he has shown some ability to escape pass rushers, I don’t think that explains exclusive use of the shotgun. Whatever the reason, the continued use of the shotgun is gonna mark the end of a serious run game and a waste of the talents of Nall, AP, and Johnson.

      • The beat reporters, particularly from the big O, should spend more time developing sources and less time running background checks. Maybe then we’d get more than a transcription of the spin spoken by coaches.
        Gina used to have interesting analysis, but I’ve never seen what looked like information coming from inside sources.

    • Not sure I agree, you can have a run game that is just as effective from the pistol as from under center. I think it can be more effective, of course we haven’t really seen much (if any?) pistol either.

    • no idea why we’re even running the spread. people keep telling me it’s “his sytem”…what kind of game theory is this?? You adjust to your strengths/what you have, sounds like stubborn BS to me… Only way this defense is getting stops is MAXIMUM REST…

    • Seriously doubt Luton is too immobile to take a snap from under center. He showed some pretty good mobility at the end of the half against CSU when he move out and threw that TD/non-TD at the end of the half.

      I don’t think OSU ran any plays under center last year with Garretson/Blount/MM, did they?

      Running everything out of shotgun is just the staff’s preference, and one I’ve never understood with Nall et al in the stable.

  17. Yo bitches. Homey is drinking beer and sucking in smoke in the Gorge.
    I will provide you with my brilliant insight into the Golden Gophers as the week progresses LOL.
    Let me address Angy’s “me first” comment about Fleck.
    Yes he is a self promoter, but it seems to be means to an end. Attention to him gets attention to his program. The espn U show is a recruitment tool. He is smart to try to leverage any advantage he can grasp as he try’s to take Minnesota to the next level. I have a patient who is the HC at one of the large suburban HS’s. He was in my office and I asked him about Fleck. He told me he has had three one on one meetings with him and he is exactly the same in private as the public persona. Wired was how he described him. The HS coach has a couple of ex players on the team and he told me they love him and the new staff. Only one player transferred out after the firing of a popular coach and staff. Later dudes.
    OT. Wanted to take the wife to Bend. Is it worth it with the fires?

  18. Cant wait to hear your take on your Gophers. I have friends in Bend. Its smokey there too. Heck its really smokey in the valley today as well. Really bad today in fact.

    • Tightened the ropes on the ‘Coming 2016’ banner above the VFC. Hopes are it can provide the illusion on things to come until atleast 2023.

  19. Some GA quotes:

    Andersen on why CB Jay Irvine didn’t play against Portland State: “You’d have to ask Cory Hall. He was healthy, as far as I know.”

    Andersen: “(When) you break down that defensive tape, we’re not that far away. We’ve just got to take care of some business.”

    He doesn’t know why Irvine isn’t playing?

  20. I think many of you guys have hit on this… But the GA tough guy “big boy” pants talk is nauseating when your O/D lines are both soft as hell.. It was a nice change from Riley year one.. and I was willing to be patient in year two, especially when it seemed they found that identity the last two weeks..

    To not build off that momentum and start the year the way this team has.. It’s been a complete embarrassment.

  21. Watching the Georgia Tech game. Impressed how their offense never seems to have a negative play and always chews clock.

      • Thank you for your kind reference to my general coaching awesomeness. The timing could be good because I recently sold out all of my 90’s Beaver memorabilia. Some guy named Jack, from Eugene, backed up a UHaul and took it all. Said he was my #1 fan!!! Nice fella… real talkative!

        Anyway… if I do take the OSU job I would demand big bucks. I wouldn’t go near mess for anything less than $85,001. That’s one dollar more than I was making when unfairly fired. It only seems fair to extract a premium.

        It would be great to see good old ole Parker Stadium again. I remember fishing in some of the potholes in the parking lot. Hope they’re still biting. JB

        • I saw you staring at my U-Haul. You were just itchin’ to fill it up with your memorabilia. Your beaver memorabilia is much better than your sooner memorabilia.

    • I honestly think the Beavers should go to the triple option. They’re never going to be a regular contender for titles or get the best recruits, particularly with UW and UO doing well. At least troll the fuck out of the conference by making them prepare for that offense for one damn game every year.

      • Would love to see some three back sets this season.

        Also think it would be entertaining to see Nall run the fly sweep, and if the fake is to him, then the give to Tyner turning his speed loose up the middle….imagine Nall blocking down on the DE on the sweep, or taking the ball and being at full speed on the edge….

        But, for the near/mid-term future, I think OSU should get prepared to pursue Jonathan Smith who should be a hot OC/HC commodity immediately after Browning goes to the NFL, and particularly after development under Peterson.

  22. 31-28 Gophers the energy in Reser should be fantastic but the Beavers can’t stop a nose bleed. Offense plays ok but Minny dominates time of possession so The O just never gets an opportunity to sustain momentum or establish multiple backs. We remain sackless through 3 games.

  23. GA is savvier than we think. He has realized the best approach to avoiding losses is to not play any games. In his interview he says:

    “I’m not in favor of flying across the country and flying over however many football teams that is to get there…
    I don’t (want to play Boise State), And I don’t mean that in any disrespect in any way, shape or form. I think we should play people from not within our own region, necessarily.”

  24. I predict a 35-24 loss ensuing. We’re putting up points, but I think minny has more athletes than CSU’s defense. If we get a turnover, we won’t capitalize because we don’t show any urgency until the 4th quarter. So we’ll give up 3 turnovers to 1 for a -2 in turnovers. We won’t have any sacks, and we’ll give up about 250+ on the ground and 200+ in the air. I don’t see this defense progressing anywhere but backwards. We should go back to running 4-3 or even a 3-3-5 in pass situations and blitz a corner. How long has it been since we blitzed a corner or even a LB?!

  25. Angry I’m wondering how you went from saying teammates don’t seem to like Seth and now having him back would be a boost in leadership?

    • He’s right. I only watched the 2nd half but CSU looked much better than CU. Neither team scored in the 2nd half but CSU would have had at least 2 TDs if not for that one ref.

  26. Regarding the comparisons of Andersen and Riley above, and calling into questions Andersen’s coaching acumen, I don’t think it is all unreasonable to question if Andersen is actually a good coach.

    I did a comparison of the Riley/Andersen a few threads back to point out that Andersen’s career winning percentage as a head coach is 50%. Riley’s is about 54%. My point was mediocrity assumes many forms…sometimes it wears big boy pants, sometimes its a neat deal. But its still mediocrity.

    Andersen’s resume is pretty thin under scrutiny. He got Utah State to bowl, but I suspect he was basically a steward at Wisconsin where the school had some program history and some recruiting weight.

    I also pointed out in a separate post and thread that Andersen isn’t Barnes’ coach, Barnes is Andersen’s AD, and that creates problems for fans who hope Andersen will hold assistants accountable and diversify his staff with non-Utah assistants and coordinators. I expect Barnes will give Andersen a pretty long leash and that may be frustrating for fans given Andersen’s all-over-the-place approach to coaching.

    Andersen and staff may be better off in a non-P5 conference. McGiven at the least seems like he is attempting punch above his weight class and Clune is becoming very suspect.

    Based on Andersen’s thin resume, I think we may have to wait for the next coaching cycle before OSU plays consistent, competitive football and plays the game well. And that’s if they make a good hire.

    If Andersen looks as aimless next year, fire him and develop a competitive pool of potential candidates, including Jonathan Smith, who not only brings winning history and mindset, but some development under Peterson at UW.

    • When is Andersen’s contract up? I’m at the point where they need to hire an outside group to create a list of possible new coaches. I think this year will get worse. We gave up over a 1000 yards of offense in two games.

    • I’m surprised GA wasn’t hired to be the head coach for the LA Chargers in the off-season.

      Apples to apples, who has the better record at this point in their careers? That point would be after two years of being the head coach at OSU and headed into the prime decade of one’s coaching career.

      • Probably close enough to be a wash. In figuring their career winning percentages as head coaches, I threw out Andersen’s first year at Southern Utah (Firebirds?), which was a losing season.

        If Andersen did go coach the Chargers, would he come back to OSU after getting canned?

      • It took Riley more than five years to get to .500 as a head coach on the D1 level.

        Riley after five years: 28-30 (14-26)
        GA after five years: 35-28 (22-15) 1 top 20, 1 conf champ

        GA just completed his eighth year.

        Riley after eight years: 56-42 (33-34), 1 top 20
        GA after eight years: 51-49 (32-31), 2 top 20, 1 conf champ, 1 div champ

        That eight year mark was the end of 2008 for Riley. That was probably his high-water mark as far as coaching goes. The numbers below reflect everything since then.

        Riley for the rest of his OSU career: 37-38 (25-29), 1 top 20
        GA for the rest of his OSU career: 1-1… plus extrapolation?

        Riley for the rest of his career: 53-49 (34-37)

        I guess those are the numbers you can work with.

    • I don’t buy that Andersen’s resume is thin. He took Utah State to 2 bowls, not 1. His 2012 Utah State team was ranked #16 at the end of the season, which is higher than any of Riley’s Beaver teams were ever ranked at the end of a season. And his 2013 and 2014 teams at Wisconsin were better than the 2012 team that Bielema left him.

      • Two consecutive “Famous Idaho Potato Bowls,” the first a loss to Ohio after a 7-6 season, the second time back a victory and a #16 ranking. Fair enough. But that’s a “participation bowl” in one of what, 35 bowl games?

        At Wisconsin, with only two years, most of the players were not his. Good records, and he deserves credit for those years.

        From 2011- 14, his record was 37-15 and that contained three really good years from 2012 – 2014 where he went 11-2 (US), 9-4 (Wi) and 10-3 (Wi).

        At the end of his 10-3 season, Wi lost to Ohio State 59-0, and I think Alvarez coached Wi in their bowl victory to conclude the season. After giving up 58 to CSU to open this season, Andersen said it was “unchartered waters,” to give up points like that. which I suppose is true in that his team scored this time….

        If he proves me wrong, I’ll be happy. But I still suggest its a thin resume under scrutiny. His career record as a head coach is about 50-51%.

        • Fine, but GA’s players went 10-3 and 11-3 in 2015 and 2016 and they’re in the top 10 right now.

          The Wisconsin stint just isn’t analogous to his time here. He literally had to start from scratch here. Last year was seen as a success because of the exponential improvement over 1-10, but I think expectations were too high to see the same rate of improvement. Every extra win is increasingly tougher.

          My view is that he’s largely untested at a P5 level. There’s been so little continuity that he keeps digging himself into a hole to start every season. We don’t yet know whether he’s a competent manager or not, but the evidence isn’t strong thus far.

          • There’s some good additional context there on how his players are doing now (as an indicator of his recruiting success there).

            But competent managers don’t actively facilitate discontinuity and dig their own holes, so I think he’s answering that question. At least for years 1 – 3.

          • No, no, GA has a scheme. Kevin Hampton at the GT quotes him:
            “We need to be able to manage the game …and then play within our structure and give the kids the best opportunity to compete within the scheme.
            I think there’s some opportunities to sustain better within the scheme and I believe that we will,”

            And yet, no one seems to be able to identify GA’s scheme week to week.

      • Everyone thought he was on track with this rebuild until Game 1 (and 2), so I don’t know…
        Maybe it’s a few steps back. Many felt Luton was an attempt to skip a year of the rebuilding process.

        He’s clearly impatient and reckless with all the changes. Verdict is out but he’s trending down.

      • You may not “buy it” but his signature wins in Utah State were at a Utah team that went 5-7 and at power house Lousiana Tech.

        His biggest win at Wisconsin was at home vs. a Nebraska team that lost 4 games and ended up unranked. Every other win at Wisconsin was over a team that lost at least 5 games.

        Sorry but Andersen’s resume is pretty lousy. Hate to break that news to you but that is reality.

        • I wonder what he considers his “signature win(s)” and why? Would be interesting if someone would ask him.

          I always thought his signature win was the Utah win over Alabama in the sugar bowl, when Andersen was DC. Utah didn’t come out like underdogs with a “puncher’s chance,” they came out looking confident and prepared, hit first and often offense, and played, fast, disciplined defense.

          Maybe that was more Wittingham than Andersen, but Andersen was D coordinator they did very well. I had hoped that example would inform the approach he would bring to OSU, but we certainly haven’t seen it yet.

        • Riley had some really nice signature wins at OSU. He never played in a New Year’s Day bowl or a conference championship game, though. The last few years here, he would have killed for an Idaho Potato Bowl or two.

          Would you rather have “signtaure wins” and forever be Giant Killers, or consistently ranked, but never able to knock off the top teams?

      • Yeah, I think it is important to note, he took that USU program from nothing to beating their established in-state rivals, giving Auburn and Wisconsin hell of a games at their place, and developing NFL draft picks. He had the exact type of trajectory that coaches like Fleck, Taggart, and Rhule had. But, even better, because he had sustained success at a top 25 P5 program.

        Was he a sure thing? No. But, he was as close as it was going to get for OSU. Everybody’s resume is going to look thin. They’re not going to hire away Petersen.

        There are definitely concerns, but it could just be a bad couple of games, and not enough DL talent to work with. If he at least gets a couple more wins and makes some coordinator changes in the offseason, then that’s reasonable for this year.

        • “There are definitely concerns, but it could just be a bad couple of games, and not enough DL talent to work with. If he at least gets a couple more wins and makes some coordinator changes in the offseason, then that’s reasonable for this year.”

          He did say he was disappointed in the DL before the season began. If he gets to 6 – 7 wins, that’s probably good. The middle third of the schedule is going to be tough, particularly for Luton.

          I’d be happy with the coordinator changes if I were Barnes, but they’d have to be correct and there would have to be empirical results on the field. Otherwise, it’d just be the fourth season with a different OC, and the third DC in four years. I am not sure one can build a “program” with that frequency of change, unless the HC is has a clear vision and imposes their will (in a positive way). But Andersen says he is “hands off” on the offense, and he seems to be pretty distant on the D.

          Some of his quotes make it sound like he is a distant CEO/administrator, but at this point it doesn’t look like his coordinators can perform with that much free reign.

    • You say Barnes will give GA a long leash, but you also say fire him if he sucks next year. So do you think that’s a long enough leash from Barnes’ perspective? I personally don’t buy in to the idea that Barnes won’t push for changes just because he’s GA’s AD. GA has been at OSU for just over 2 years, he shouldn’t have that much clout yet, unless winning the first CW in 9 years gives you unlimited power. Barnes is a business man and he was hired to run a business. Is he really ok with the OSU football program sinking to historic depths on his watch?

  27. I wonder if Anderson is working towards moving the offense back to more of a pro-style offense that utilizes a QB who can run at times. We have a 3* Pro-Style QB commit right now. I watched his highlight film and he gets the ball out quickly, can run faster than Luton, throws a lot of quick slants and TE ‘dumps’ up the middle, and throws the deep ball. Not overly impressed with his deep ball, but he can throw it deep when it’s open. With that said, I don’t see us winning in the next few years. with the recruiting, it almost looks like their trying to get depth at skill positions and also going after some needs: O/D Line, CB, and LB. It wouldn’t surprise me if Anderson tries to jump ship in the next two years(if he lasts that long) and tries to go coach somewhere else. Texas might be available by then?

    • I think his options are drying up quickly. He’s probably wishing he would have stuck it out another year at UW, and then moved to a better option than OSU.

  28. The Beavs have a lot more ability than what they’ve shown so far. They won’t take Minnesota lightly. The crowd will be a lot louder. It won’t be so fuckin hot. For Minny this is a cross-country road trip with a 9pm central time kickoff for them. Minny is a overconfident, like we were when we went to CSU. We finally put one together, Beavs 35-17.

    • In another interview, Andersen summed it up this way (paraphrasing): “our defense is not containing on the outside, is soft up the middle, and is tackling poorly.”

      Loved this in your link:

      “We’re always going to look what’s best for our players,” Oregon coach Willie Taggart said Monday.”

      • “our defense is not containing on the outside, is soft up the middle, and is tackling poorly.”

        Hmmm. That’s a bit like saying: “If it wasn’t for the soggy crust, bitter sauce, and greasy cheese the pizza would be pretty damn good.”

        • He’s starting to say some crazy shit. Like the quotes in the Oregonian on non-con games where he doesn’t see a point in flying across the country, but doesn’t want to play regional teams (BSU). Then he says bring in a team from recruiting grounds like GA and TX, which are a) across the country, and b) pointless if the team comes to Corvallis.

          Does coaching football at OSU just make you nuts in the head? Pettibonehead probably is the real Jerry Pettibone, for all we know.

          • I’m pretty sure if we don’t fly across the country or go to regional schools (like CSU or BSU) for home and homes or one-offs, then we fly in directional or geographical state university college from football region… we’re left with only home non-cons against cupcakes.

            If that’s crazy talk, then we got some crazies around here.

  29. Injury Report is out, Doubtful for Saturday:
    Collins – not really a big surprise
    Titus – ought to be worth at least 3 points to the oddsmakers

  30. One thing that annoys me is that the players and coaches keep saying “it’s the small things”….well, if they are that fucking small fix them DURING the game. Don’t well coached teams have the “small things” nailed down in practice so they can execute during games?

  31. My coach-speak version of PSU game: We’re gonna look at the game film and see what we can improve. How we can get these young men to be special. We”re gonna work like crazy to put these young men in a position to make plays because players make plays and players win games and that’s what we are working to do is win games. At the end of the day, if you don’t win games you’re not doing your job and that’s on me. As coaches, as players as a program we need to get to a place where we are agressive in the classroom, on the football field and in life. I’m not going to give up on these guys and they know that, they are working like crazy to get better and I see it everyday….

    I have to admit, after hearing a little bit of GA’s view of the game tape and how the defense is really close to clicking, I’m hopeful again. I’m probably too easily optimistic. But he is convincing. Maybe the young guys are just trying to settle in still and they can put it together for Minnesota.

    • Well, what I saw was a lot of yards and points given up, yet the D very close (almost got many sacks, etc). This is why I haven’t been as down on them as others. They’re also young. Young people generally improve quickly as they practice things. The brain is more agile and adept to learning. Maybe GA is seeing the same things.

      My only concern with the D is the LBs and DL all looked too thin. They looked pretty fast but too thin, overall. I feel like we looked bigger the past two years, which is odd.

        • Kind of. But what I saw was the same as GA. Some small things on D that if fixed could transform it. Will it happen? I’m banking on yes and no clue why. Just stupid trust in GA still because he talks the talk. I thought it would happen vs PSU and it didn’t. So, now my hope is another games’ worth of experience fixes this.

          The size/thin build of these D players, though…eek. I don’t get that. GA was obsessed with weight training year 1 and how Riley dropped the ball there. Now we have 11 pencils running around.

          • Seems like there are few juniors and seniors on this team, is some of that size thing due to being younger players? How many upperclassmen on this team?

          • DIdn’t I see something on here a few weeks ago about how every position group had gotten stronger in the offseason (with numbers to back it up)?

            Eggers had an article that hit the nail on the head regarding this topic: our defense is set up to play against pass-heavy spread offenses. Fewer down linemen and more speed. We opened the season against two run-heavy offenses (and Minnesota’s strength is supposedly their running game?) We won’t see “favorable matchup” until WSU.

          • 5’10 and 230# looks a little chunkier than 6’2-3 and 240#.

            Someone else noted that the packages might be the issue. And it’s not the packages so much as the personnel chosen to run said packages.

            If we’re running a 2-5-4 or a 3-5-3 or a 3-3-5 or whatever, we do a better job on D when there are more backers on the field. If DBs are playing inside positions, they have a tendency to try to contain on the edges instead of running downhill then out. Some of our backers would be downhill before the blocking declared, so they end up over-pursuing and ending up in redundant holes. Willis has done this his whole career. That kid could be a star if he just closed his eyes and counted to one before he charged a gap. He gets caught in the soup more than anyone. But he’s shown signs that tendency might be disappearing. Bright, Whetzel and (surprisingly) White have looked good as the speed backers.

          • Aydon hasn’t been on the field much.
            They look thin, not sure what the numbers say, but I’m talking pure eyeball test. CSU and PSU both looked bigger than our guys. We look pretty fast (but without discipline/finishing plays). I mean Bright and Kee are very thin/undersized imo. Could be them combined with more DBs in certain packages giving me that impression of a bunch of pencils.

      • Hungalu was out most of the 2nd half so we had some younger LBs on the field. We were rotating a lot of LBs into the game. After Hungalu, Hughes-Murray, Ah-Hoy, and Wesley Payne, we were also rotating Doug Taumoelau in there in the 2nd half and he is pretty green. He was in the game when PSU went 5-wide for the first time and hit an uncovered receiver down the middle for a TD. I don’t know why we rotate at LB so much. Seems like Seigler and Barnett never came out back in the day.

    • A CEO I used to work for always said three times in a row is a trend either good or bad. I guess the Beavs have one more time to reverse this negative trend, although they didn’t play any run defense last year either, so we could be ignoring a well established trend already.

    • I wonder if kids relate to GA’s coach speak as well as they relate to Slick Willie’s fortune cookie speak? It appears that the fortune cookie crap has worked so far. Didn’t see that coming.

          • Oregon is also a top 20 talent team. I’m sure Helf would’ve beaten So Utah in a similar fashion.

            IMO: for them last year was just a down year. They were super young, and had a ton of injuries. Still a lot of speed and athletisim on that team. They just have a fan base that thinks they should be in the national championship every year, and an owner who wants to see one before he passes on.

            I thing what did helfich in in the end is not having a stud qb waiting in the wings behind Mariota.

  32. 3, 6, 58 and 32…

    The first two #s are the points CSU and PSU put up in their other games, while the second teo numbers are the points these aforementioned teams scored against OSU. Let that noodle around in your craniums.

  33. I hope angry is right about the defense turning and I’m not as worried about the offense as I was last year, but based just off the last 2 games we may not win another game this season.

    • “My name’s Bob and I’m an OSU Beaver sports fan.”

      Group (together): “Hi Bob.”

      Bob: “After the Fiesta bowl, I kept watching, thinking ‘we could stay relevant.’ I even watched the last the last few Riley years. Couldn’t quit, and here I am.”

      Facilitator: “Everyone thank Bob for sharing, then we’re going to break out into groups and really connect and supportive another…”

  34. Some nuggets from Eggers piece on D with Clune, Willis, and Vakameilalo:

    -Clune is hesitant to go with 4 down linemen because of depth at that position (NOTE: if Titus is out that situation will be even worse).
    He is pleased with the effort so far, but says, “But the run defense has to improve tremendously. We all know that. Little pieces have to get shored up. I think the kids are ready to take that next step and play together more as a team, more as 11-strong on defense.”

    -Vakameilalo, “”We’ve not been as good as we’ve needed to be in the front, and I’ve had a lot to do with it…We were better in the fourth quarter,” he says. “We should have played like that from the beginning…”

    -Old Man Willis, “We need to do a lot better. Communication is still lacking between the players as the game is going on…The Minnesota game will be a good test to see how much we’ve improved. I think it will be a lot.”

    These guys are all saying the right things. Angry’s analysis says the D will be OK. I’d like to be optimistic.
    Still, there is that feeling that Lucy may pull the ball away……..again!
    GO BEAVS!

    http://portlandtribune.com/pt/12-sports/371196-254295-osu-defense-must-prove-it-can-make-a-difference

  35. Sometimes, ya just gotta laugh it off!
    This from the Huskers boneyard site, angry sure made a lasting impression over there!

    OREGON STATE 35 PORTLAND STATE 32
    Speaking of Gary Anderson’ exploits, his busy little Beavers managed to pull out a win against that Titan of the Northwest, Portland State.
    The vaunted “Snatch Attack” offense delivered a late TD to seal the victory, saving the bacon of their “Leave it to Beavers” defensive unit. That group, featuring Ward at NT, Wally and Eddy at DE, the Beaver himself at MLB, and June cleaning up at SS, (pearls and all) has been having their issues this year. That said, there’s no doubt the victory has AngryBeav proclaiming future dominance by the buck-toothed flat tails.

    WISCONSIN 59 UTAH STATE 10 “Revenge of The Curds”
    Utah State, the team that saw it’s previous coach leave for Wisconsin a few years ago, found out that following their ex-coach to Madison was a bad idea. It seems the Badgers remembered all too well that Gary Anderson viewed his stint at Wisconsin as more of a 2 year mission than a coaching commitment…

  36. Fantasy draft tonight. Owners Run Riley Run and Bad News Beavs still haven’t selected keepers. Let me know ASAP if you guys are still in this league, thanks.

  37. Rodent Bowl: If it gets cancelled it would take my personal Luck O da Beavs to infinity.
    Quick impressions of my Golden Rodents from game one.
    Offense: Compared to last year, overall slightly worse.
    Passing game appears to be improved. No Leidner, so two QB’s that can actually throw spirals!
    More slants and quick outs/ screens to the WR’s. Tyler Johnson appears to be the real deal and the best WR we have had since Eric Decker. Had 160+ yards in the opener.
    Running game: Much worse. Fucking Shotgun Spead offense! New blocking scheme takes away from the strength of the team. Perhaps that will be better, but the run blocking was not great.
    Defense: Different scheme and seemed to be worse. Much more zone and less aggressive.
    Fleck seemed to hire a pretty good staff, so we we see. Ironically Buffalo’s D and O lines looked bigger than the Gophers? Sound familiar. They were an impressive looking group. The QB was HUGE. 6’7″ and listed at 250. Wink ,wink. He had a funky throwing motion like Philip Rivers and made some really great throws. He was an impressive player.
    More specifically about players later.

    • Remind me of the internal conflict (raging?) inside you: You just root for the home rodent? Minny last year, OSU this year?

      Thanks for the impressions, glad they are taking away their own running strengths on offense.

      On D, I hope the zones don’t confuse Luton too much. I always thought zones could be a good weapon against inexperienced college QBs.

      • We ran a mix of zone and man to man against PSU…It works out if you’re assignment sound and are able to realize no one is deep in a shallow zone. One thing I would implement in a defense if you go zone, is if a receiver comes into your zone, then you track that receiver. If a receiver doesn’t head or come into you’re zone immediately, then vacate and blitz, or look for a double route in a teammates zone and cover the receiver closest to you. Hate seeing a DB or S spots following a receiver because he leaves his zone. Follow his a$$ and cover him deep! obviously you’re the only guy left to be able to cover him. This is how blown coverage happens. Pisses me off every time I see it.

        • Not that a competent S shouldn’t recognize it, but there was zero communication on that play. The MLB was standing in the same spot doing nothing from a couple counts before their line set until the ball was caught.

          I think that’s what Hungalu is talking about regarding communication.

      • In the deep dark AB archives – I believe I recall BG stating that he wears the opposite team’s colors – so he will be wearing Minnesota gear on Saturday?

  38. Have we compiled all the reasons why Port St should not have been competitive? My list:

    -Beavs have twice the budget and coach with higher pay
    -Beavs have more scholarships
    -Beavs played at home
    -Beavs have nicer facilities
    -Beavs are in Power 5 conference
    -Beavs are in best college town
    -Beavs beat the ducs last year

  39. Eggers picks Minnie 28-20.

    Surprise, he suggests the Beavers “consider” using some two-back formations. This only as part of his lobbying to get Tyner more action. Not exactly an endorsement of the two back formations advocated by many here to involve AP and Johnson in addition to Nall.

    I’m in the camp that puts Tyner low on the list for time at RB. Maybe returning kicks, but not taking reps from the three RBs mentioned.

    http://portlandtribune.com/pt/12-sports/371311-254716-kerry-says-go-with-gophers

    • Crazy to me. Tyner has made two guys miss multiple times just to get three yards. I feel like if he could get an open hole it could be a td at anytime.

    • I said the same thing about a two-set back after the CSU game. The O-line can’t open holes so add a lead blocker in the backfield and go out of the I formation with Nall leading the way. However, you need someone that can hit the hole faster like Pierce or Johnson. While Nall is great, he doesn’t hit the hole quick enough and the same thing with Tyner. By the time they hit the hole, it has closed. You need a north/south runner and Pierce and Johnson give them that. I’d throw some swing passes to Nall and Tyner out in the flat and let them use their speed. The single back set isn’t fooling any defense into believing that Luton can hurt them with pulling the ball and running….ditch that set except with DG in at QB.

      • Pierce hits the hole just fine. If Nall would do what AP does when he gets the ball, we would have many less problems. The long mesh has been noted. AP doesn’t bother with that. he gets the ball and goes. Some of that responsibility is on the back. He needs to tell the QB to speed it up or he’s just going to take it next time.

        Big backs gotta eat.

        I think Delp should be inserted at RG and we should run over the opposition’s speed end. Done.

  40. I just heard about 10 minutes of PJ Fleck’s motivational stuff on 1080 am. After 20 seconds he becomes insufferable and nauseating to endure. Perhaps the players from the Tracy Claey era are already tuning Fleck out and Minny becomes an unfocused and divided team. I can’t imagine being on his team and enjoying it if you didn’t choose to play for him.
    I do think the Beavs will win this one as we get closer to game day.

  41. The Beavers staff is starting to remind me of Helfrich and his “doing 997 out of 1000 things right” at the end of his empire.

    Clune: “I believe this is the week it should come together. All those little things are close. They’ve got to take that next step on Saturdays.”

    Interesting situation regarding team chemistry and effort:
    Hungalu was also at the center of a heated moment in practice, when he raised his voice to teammates on the sideline. A large group of defenders quickly surrounded Hungalu.

    “Something needed to be done, and we weren’t getting it done and it was slowing down the defense,” said Hungalu, that unit’s captain and biggest vocal leader. “I know these guys are capable of bringing more to the table. We have the perfect people. We have the ability to be a great defense, but it doesn’t just happen …

    “We need a ‘savage’ mentality. Just being physical, running to the ball and having the attitude that, ‘This guy across from me can’t stop me.’”

    • No defense who is so far averaging 500+ yards and about 45 points per game should be talking about being great. I know it’s only two games, and I know college “defense” doesn’t mean what it used to mean, but STFU. Stop mugging for cameras in practice videos, stop celebrating the rare play in a game of missed plays. It sounds to me like he’s reaching (just need a savage mentality). Get a damn sack.. play at least 3 straight games of competent, competitive defense, then maybe talk.

    • Maybe I’m not recalling correctly, but weren’t the coaches talking about it “coming together” a few games into the season last year? Is it not possible to show up to the non-conf season ready?

        • No. I remember watching UO @ BSU, when BSU won, held Blount to negative yardage, and Blount went postal. I thought: “How can they come out, game 1, prepared, disciplined, and beat UO, and OSU can’t be ready for a rival at the end of a season?!?” Much less come out ready game 1…

          • I seriously think the practices are nowhere near game speed. Everyone on both sides of the ball are doing just enough. I feel like all teams would benefit from a Spring game against another team so they get an idea of the speed and intensity that will be needed in the regular season. Otherwise I think the first game is a big wake up call.

    • Hey Jim… caught your earlier reference as to whether or not I am the “real Pettibone.” I can assure you that I am the real deal. Right down to $2.00 OSU mesh hat, goofy glasses, too tight OSU sweater, polyester slacks and patent leather loafers. Some things never change.

      I enjoy reading the, so-called, football analysis from all the amateurs on this site. It’s only the hard eyed professionals, like me, that really know whats going on.

  42. These players need to stop listening to soft ass rap and hip hop during practice. Who creates these playlists, seriously? Is it just a regurgitation of what’s at the top of the charts nowadays?

    Even during the fall scrimmage, the athletic department tried to get the players pumped up to Drake and Jaden Smith. Black Eyed Peas is overplayed as well.

    They need to play something that gets players jacked, like death metal and hardcore rap. Even just instrumentals for songs from these genres goes a long way; in fact, might be better to just take out the lyrics. Maybe that’s why our defense is so soft: the music they played during fall camp was shit and like these “artists” today, they think they are so tough and badass. It’s contagious.

  43. I wouldn’t mind seeing a personal foul penalty or two for being too aggressive from the D on Saturday. Get fired up, play a little after the whistle, and show some fight damit!

  44. Urban Meyer on owning the players he inherits via espn.com:
    “Everybody wanted me to say Jim Tressel left the cupboard bare,” Meyer told CBSsports.com. “If I heard any assistant coach [say that], they’d be gone. You’re done. Those are your players. I hear TV guys [say], ‘Wait until they get their own players in there.’ They’re our players. What do you mean ‘their players?’ The minute you sign a contract, they’re your players. You didn’t choose me, I chose you. You’re mine, absolutely.”
    I’m not sure GA ever said these weren’t his players when he took over, but some of the local media did. Is it better to demolish the systems in place when coaching staff changes or transition over a period of seasons?

    • Interesting listen thanks re-posting. Recognizing these as human tendencies, as well as manipulative tools of others (for good or bad intent), maintaining awareness, and then thinking about having some discipline to address them is productive.

      While the applicability of the concepts is broad, its easy to think about some of their applications in the football context (e.g. recruiting).

      • NP.

        Yeah, Munger is obviously talking financials and business mostly, but going through that list of 20+ things I could relate to doing some myself as a fan, but also to GA spewing some of it. I listen to that like once a year to remind myself of all the shysters and mental gymnastics innate to humans.

  45. Following along the lines of earlier posts regarding the coaching staff falling into the malaise of Riley and Helfrich, his interview on Canzano’s radio show was kind of intriguing. I know Canzano is annoying, but his guest are sometimes interesting.

    He is prompted by Canzano’s questions, but he sure seems wistful in regards to retirement and relaxing with his wife. And he talks about how with his kids out of their house, he and his wife should maybe have 3 dogs instead of 2 to keep them busy, and how they’re often butting heads because their favorite TV shows aren’t alike.

    None of it was bad, but didn’t give me the impression of a hungry young coach furiously working to fix the team’s current issues. It had a Riley-like, these are just kids, whatever will be will be, vibe. His interview starts about 1:30 in: https://soundcloud.com/kxtg-the-bald-faced-truth/bft-interview-10th-anniversary-special-gary-andersen

  46. Beaver believer goggles on here, but I actually think beavs MIGHT show up this weekend and put maybe 2 or 3 GOOD quarters together… Im actually excited about this game.

    • Change for the worse though. Don’t think the Beavs D will dramatically change for the better. Unless the new uniform makes them smarter.

      What the coaches might think about doing is rotating out players quicker when they mess up. The edge defenders stayed in play after play. Also, 99 was getting shoved around all day by a smaller PSU line. Limit damage and maybe some of the young guys step up.

    • “Smith, who has been perpetually branded as a game manager, was put in an awkward position this offseason when the Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes with the No. 10 overall pick. ”

      Also this:

      “The Chiefs devised a smart game plan that, according to center Mitch Morse, was influenced by what the Falcons did against the Patriots in Super Bowl 51. …Said Morse, “Coach [Andy] Reid and our offensive staff are so good at finding plays and schemes that work well for us that have been executed well against the defense we’re playing.”

      https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/09/08/kansas-city-chiefs-new-england-patriots-season-opener-alex-smith-kareem-hunt-andy-reid-tom-brady-bill-belichick

      Game planning and scheming not an apparent strength of McGiven thus far….

      Last time a QB dropped that many points on NE at home his name was Dan Marino…

      • Thankfully for NE, they don’t play in a division who can execute like KC can.

        Unthankfully, that home date against Atlanta might not be pretty. And @ Pittsburgh and Oakland don’t look fun.

  47. PHIL STEELE REPORT:

    The Golden Gophers are 11-4 in road openers & in the last 2 years both went to OT decided by a field goal. Andersen was 2-0 vs Minnesota during his time as Head Coach at Wisconsin, both wins by 10+. Last year Oregon State led 23-17 into 4th quarter. Minnesota took the lead with 13:11 left (another TD w/1:27 remaining), Oregon State’s 2nd to last drive was stopped on downs at Minnesota’s 43. PJ Fleck inherited 12 returning starters and they are just #116 on my Experience Chart and were unimpressive only beating Buffalo 17-7 not getting a two score lead til late but did have a 408-262 yard edge. Speaking of unimpressive, Oregon State was thinking bowl this year and have a 3rd year head coach, with 15 returning starters and is #31 on my Experience Chart. They got drilled by Colorado State 58-27 mostly due to turnovers. Last week they were favored by 26 over Portland State but needed a 77 yard, 7 play drive for a TD with 1:08 left to pull out the win and were out-FirstDowned 28-18 and yarded 515-389. Minnesota’s biggest edge is on Special Teams (#4 vs #104).

    MINNESOTA 28 OREGON STATE 25

    Postion by Position Edges:

    WHEN MINNESOTA HAS THE BALL:
    Minnesota QB/WR vs Oregon State DB’s: MINN +0.20
    Minnesota RB’s vs Oregon State LB’s: MINN +0.64
    Minnesota OL vs Oregon State DL: MINN +0.80

    WHEN OREGON STATE HAS THE BALL:
    Minnesota DL vs Oregon State OL: ORST +0.37
    Minnesota LB’s vs Oregon State RB’s: MINN +0.32
    Minnesota DB’s vs Oregon State QB/WR: ORST +0.67

    MISCELLANEOUS
    Special Teams: MINN +1.19
    Kicker: MINN +3.00
    Coaching Staff: ORST +0.65

    MINN Total Points: 6.15
    ORST Total Points 1.69
    Positional Edge Awarded To: Minnesota +4.46

    Las Vegas Line: Oregon State by 2
    Las Vegas Total: 51.5 Points
    +/- Ratings: Minnesota by 4.5
    Game Grade: Minnesota by 1.3
    Computer Yards: Oregon State 401-386
    Computer Points: Minnesota 28-25

  48. “Minnesota LB’s vs Oregon State RB’s: MINN +0.32”

    Are their LB’s really that good?

    “Coaching Staff: ORST +0.65”

    No comment.

  49. So the D is going to swap Jonathan Willis for Hughes-Murray at inside linebacker. A bit of a demotion for Hughes-Murray. He goes outside and will share time with Kee Whetzel and Shemar Smith. Inside LBs have had issues being in the wrong gaps. Willis was 3rd on the team in tackles last year, mostly at inside LB, so he should have better experience in plugging the right holes.

    • My fantasy squad for a 14 team league. Rolled the dice on Elliot as I was pick 10 and got him on the way back. Hopefully he goes Brady and plays this year and is serves suspension next year.

      OBJ
      Elliott
      Pryor Jr
      Landry
      Powell
      Stafford
      T Taylor

    • I don’t know how they can even come up with a line on this game.

      Nebby was lousy on D. But their O ran more than Danny normally runs. I suppose we need to watch and see if a two score deficit early will spur the Danny of old and the ensuing pass-fest. If the new Danny plugs away at the Nikegon D with the run, they will find a really soft group.

      If Dye goes down, all bets are off.

      If Riley outthinks himself, they’ll be running that stupid sweep until they find out they’re playing a fast team. Then they’ll pass. Then they’ll lose by 20.

      I just wouldn’t put money on it.

    • I don’t know about betting, but I’ll pull for Riley in what is likely his last season over The Fortune Cookie Coach.

      Enjoy your last stick o’ gum in Autzen…

  50. This is so laughable. We squeaked by PSU, and you really expect us to beat a bad Big 10 team? I’ll eat crow if I am wrong, but you have been way off thus far.

  51. RB’s…..
    Goph’s have a great pair in Smith and Brooks. Brooks missed the Rodent Bowl last year. He plays much bigger than he is and punishes tacklers. You guys would love this kid. The third stringer is also a very good player. He went for over 100 yards last season in a noncon game. 4th stringer Is a physical specimen from Canada that looked great in the spring scrimmage.
    This is pretty even. Push.

  52. QB’s…
    Total inexperience. Rhoda is a former walk on that started one game last year, a win at Maryland.
    Played at a HS in St. Paul that has produced QB’s Chris Weinke, Steve Walsh, and multiple pro athletes. Adequate arm. Game manager. Previous staff told him to get lost this year and Fleck convinced him to stick around and renewed his schlolly.
    Croft throws a beautiful ball but seems to be more prone to the dumb decision. He can run a bit, but a twig and can’t seem to put on weight. Has played 3 quarters of D1 football.
    The QB coach and OC’s claim to fame is coaching Joe Flacco at Delaware.
    Last staff could not recruit or coach this position, so long term should be much improved.
    The one game da Beavs have an experience edge. Advantage Beavs.

  53. OL….
    Perhaps if we could combine both squads???????
    Gophs had more injury issues than the Beavs if you can believe it. Due to offseason surgeries and medical retirements they only had four, yes four OL healthy to practice during the spring.
    The good. Flecks best recruiting coup was to hire Ed Warriner fresh from his demotion as tOSU OC.
    Outstanding OL coach and Flecks guy from WMU stayed on as TE coach. Both have won OL coach of the year awards. Hope for the future if Ed W sticks around.
    The bad. This is a third style change in three years for the players. LT is huge but can be beaten by speed rushers. Right side are both first time starters. RSF and RSS. It came out in the press conference this week that running the same play over and over in the second half was basically a form of practice to get some proficiency at one thing. Hmmmmm.
    Not good on either side. Push.

  54. DL…
    The best player on either squad by far is DT Steven Richardson. Under recruited due to height. They list him at 6′, but probably 5’10” plus. He has played at a high level since his true freshman year. Sumner H will have his hands full. Teams typically double him. He is quick and naturally strong. Great kid as well. He is better suited to the 4-3, but last week it was a 3-4. Couple other solid DT’s, but the DE play is questionable. They are putting a couple of last seasons LB’s there. Very undersized at that position. The kid that killed DG last year has been suspended by Fleck for the first two games. Could not get a pass rush last week and this D coordinator seems to be a bend not break guy, so don’t expect a lot of blitzing.
    Slight edge Gophers due to Richardson. DL biggest disappointment this year for da Beavs.

      • Cheerleaders and dance teams….
        Minnesota selects for skill and uniformity of movement.
        Beavs select for overall hotness. Wife…..”all they do is shake their asses and their outfits show too much skin. Me..”so what’s the problem?”
        Gophers dance line has won the college national championship EIGHT years in a row and won a bunch before that. They really are phenomenal.
        The University of Minnesota INVENTED the cheerleader, arguably the greatest innovation in football.
        So…..advantage Golden Gophers.

  55. Who said it?……….“It’s frustrating when you have guys that are here just to be here,” … “We’re trying to do something here.”

    Hint: he’s a captain on D and had a pick six last week.

  56. DB’s…..
    The major weakness for Minnesota is at CB. Very young and inexperienced and questionable depth.
    Safety is better. Antoine Winfield Jr.#11 is the player to watch. Dad won the Thorpe award at Ohio State and was a multiple All Pro with the Vikings. He was a one man team last week and made some spectacular plays. They moved him around everywhere last week. A true Soph., he could be really good. #4 is the weak link. Beavs abused him last year, as did everyone, and he lost his spot to young Winfield. Played out of his mind against the Cougs in the bowl game, however. The ex DC/ DB coach was Jay Sawvel was really good. Who knows about the new guy?
    Push. Expected more from the Beavs. MN also lost a great safety and corner from last year.

  57. LBs..
    Should be the strength of the Gopher D. #13 is the leader and best tackler. Players call him Thumper. A good mix of youth and experience. #45 was a high 4 star local kid who the Ducks recruited hard. #41 is the younger brother of Marion Barber III who played RB for the Cowboys for several years and Dom Barber who played safety for the Texans for a few years. Dad was a second round pick of the Jets at RB after finishing his career at Minnesota and played nine years in the league. Apparently genetics do matter.
    Beav LB’s can’t be as bad as they looked the first two weeks? Let’s hope not. Grade on a curve. Push.

  58. So CB is their weakness? That’s means we will be chuckin it all over the field, without establishing the run….stalled drives…..our D gets gassed….cuz I’d bet overall, they are better than us right now.

    is that too negative? Change my mind Beavs

    • That sounds about right. Team chemistry and the D won’t be helped if the run game isn’t utilized.

      READ ‘EM AND WEEP: From the Twin Cities Pioneer Press:

      “Oregon State has allowed a combined 90 points in two games, including 41 off seven turnovers, and is surrendering an average of 241 rushing yards.”

  59. Saw a headline tease for a Canzano story that said Brenda Tracy will be in attendance at the Oregon/Nebraska game and will be rooting for Mike Riley.
    Why the fuck does anybody care anymore about Bremda Tracy stories? Canzano has been milkng her story to death, to the point where it’s hurtimg her cause more than helping

  60. I was reading some of the comments that I assume are from Hungalu in here, is that recent stuff or inside information? It seems like it goes directly to team chemistry. Not sure how deep it goes, but I don’t see how one could interpret it any other way if accurate.

    Also, I didn’t listen to the Canzano interview with GA this week ( don’t want to give that douche my time), but I did come across a couple of quotes, just seems like more generic coach speak from GA, if the guy is insightful it doesn’t come across in the media. Just cliche after cliche.

    Lastly, it’s time to give Brenda Tracy a rest. Awareness is important, but no coaches were held accountable. She’s doing the work that countless others are doing for less pay and less attention. The Oregonian would do better by issuing a retraction or apology for the Luke Heimlich fiasco.

    • It seems like it goes directly to team chemistry. Not sure how deep it goes, but I don’t see how one could interpret it any other way if accurate.

      People just don’t want to admit it for obvious reasons.

      The Oregonian would do better by issuing a retraction or apology for the Luke Heimlich fiasco.

      Oh that’s coming this Spring when they can get the most clicks.

      • Willing to bet there won’t be a single article about baseball, especially games in which LH pitches, that doesn’t feature a paste of something from Moron’s big poop.

    • The Hungalu quote was reported this week by Danny. The specific comments fleshed out what was reported elsewhere as a contentious exchange on the practice field.

      Reasons for poor chemistry on the offensive side seem obvious; I was not expecting problems with the D. All the talk about poor communications there should have been a tip off, I suppose.

      This seems like more than a fired up team leader trying to get his guys going; looks like a chemistry issue to me and one that coaches should be managing.

      • Jesus Christ man he’s 21-25 for 324 and 3TD in the first goddam half. Must be all receivers and system. You are hilarious and I want your drugs.

        • Nope. I could have made those numbers against that D… just like I could have thrown that last Nebby TD.

          When there is no D, you don’t have to be good.

          I like Herbert. I think he’s decent. But he’s not even remotely as good as those numbers.

          • Point in fact, 3:00 left in the third, and he hits a short hitch. But instead of a quick six or seven yards, a missed tackle by the flailbacker makes it a 36 yard gain.

            His first TD was so underthrown and such a duck that I’m surprised a S didn’t come take it away, let alone the DB not just turning around and taking the ball away. Instead, there was no help and the DB looked clueless.

            Nikegon’s second run from scrimmage was just Freeman jogging to the boundary then never getting pushed out. So he just jogs for another ten down the sideline. I think Freeman’s a next level player. But he should have struggled for five to seven instead of jogging for 27 on that play.

            That’s what I see. Go play with your numbers somewhere else. This isn’t good football. It’s more like watching a scrimmage.

        • Nebraska and OSU are both very clearly NOT good teams. Ducks have yet to play a good team yet but they aren’t as bad as the other two I’m pretty confident about that

          • Your confidence is starting to suck some eggs.

            Nikegon’s D was suspect last week, is soft already this week. And there are very few well thrown ball by either QB in this game.

            I think what your confidence needs to do is to think about what you’re watching. This is NCAA football. It’s not a good product from an execution standpoint. And it only gets worse when Danny has his boys pass on first down.

          • The Ducks are better than Nebraska. Do you disagree? I said UO was better when it was 21-7 and now it’s 28-14 so yeah I’m still feeling confident

          • Nikegon is better than Nebraska?

            That’s relative. They use their players more efficiently. If Nebby would run the damn ball, this would be a completely different game. So your take would also be different, and just as confident.

          • I suppose you could say they’re better because their coaches don’t hold them back. You didn’t say they were good. So I can agree with your statement.

          • Jack are you high? Your opinions are based on what? Ducks played a cupcake last week but handled them as so. Nebraska struggled with a decent cupcake. Now the score, so far, reflects what we saw last week.

          • This is just terrible football. You’re right in that one team is playing less terrible football.

            If the score is your indication of what is better, so be it. I think Nebraska has better talent except for Freeman, Nelson and Dye. But their coaching really just sucks.

          • I’m not saying either team is great but there are some great plays being made. You need talent to hang 40+ in the first half. Don’t disagree with your assessment of Nebraska playing down to their coaching. You also forgot Herbert, kid has some poise and accuracy.

          • Herbert does have some poise. But he’s also lucky. He should have about three INTs, one of them being his first TD.

            But again, bad football trumps worser football.

          • Jack your delusional comments and hatred of the ducks always make my day and keep me coming back. Nebraska is more talented right? Except they are getting pantsed all over the field. Gotta be all Mike Riley.

            Hey I haven’t seen one of your shitty Marcus Mariota takes in awhile. Tell me again about how bad and inaccurate he is.

          • Bad and inaccurate, or relying too heavily on a scheme that will not translate to the next level? I thought he showed some gain in the maturity of his game last season. But his preseason has not been very good, which worries me since he and Stafford are all I got on my fantasy team.

          • It just is what it is. This could have been predicted if you know Mike Riley and Danny Langsdorf. I said it yesterday. They will overthink this thing and try to get all fancy against a poor run D. They did it against UW and UT in 2012. They’re doing it here.

            Nikegon’s strength is Dye and the speed they have at DB. Getting fancy plays into those strengths.

            Unfortunately (for me), your Ducks playing in games where you’re playing poorly but getting good numbers means that you will get better with experience and without the doubt that might set in if you were truly tested. Teams can become who they think they are due to this type of success.

          • Yes Dye is an absolute stud so it’s good to see you talking him up on here. Run D is definitely shaky but it’s good to see the secondary making plays again and flying around. They look like a completely different team this year. I’m drinking the Taggart Kool-aid.

            Thanks for the dialogue!

  61. Saw a crazy guy who visibly shat himself on the street corner, in plain view of the public. PoopyPantsRiley came to mind since Riley is shitting himself on national television against the quacks

  62. Riley may want to avoid the tarmac, team bus, trains and simply ride his bike to Omaha instead, if he wants to avoid being canned in the next 5 hours.
    Banker is laughing right now.

  63. To be fair, Nebraska stinks this year. I think I had them at 4 or 5 wins followed up with a Riley canning.
    They looked pretty mediocre vs ArkState. Oregon is going to be 6-0, though. Stanford might give them a game. Washington will. Beavs you never know; rivalry game always gives that possibility. Other than that I see them going undefeated.

    I’m disgusted Taggart looks competent. This is going to be rough given he can recruit.

    • I don’t see Nikegon beating Wazzu. I think they can go on as much as a five game slide starting there. But yeah, they don’t play anyone until then.

      • Since I wrote that the Oregon D has looked especially awful, so I guess anyone can beat them.

        Willie is going to drive them hard this week and put some players in the hospital.

        • Their D has looked awful for two weeks (except for Dye… I love that kid).

          This is just a matter of Nebby trying to play around the edges, where Nikegon’s D gets a chance to make plays. If they run straight at them, they are really really soft.

  64. THE RILEYFICATION IS COMPLETE

    From Huskermax:

    “Taggert really showing how a good coach can turn a program around. Oregon was down on our level last year. Now they are obviously light years ahead of us. Eichorst said he didn’t want us to become Iowa. He got what he wanted. We’re not Iowa. We’d have to get a lot better to be Iowa. We’re Oregon State. Not the rare good year for Oregon State. We’re Oregon State in a typical down year. Still, there’s hope we can hold them under 80.”

    Golly!

  65. What do you guys make of Taggart?

    Zero points since the half and some thug life penalties by their D. Not sure what to make of it. D looks fast but soft.

    • I think he was somewhat Riley like: the second half they played to not lose as opposed to playing to win( play calls were much less aggressive) those penalties too. We all know about shooting ourselves in the foot. They will lose to Washington State…

  66. Don’t trust our defense to hold them under 30. Critical game for Beavs and Andersen.

    Calling it the Rodent Super Bowl as team eas saying CSU treated that game as their Super Bowl. If GA ever had as much on the line it is now so this better be his Super Bowl.

    Little bit of rain favors Oregon St. but will come down to OSU turning it over twice by interception.

    Unless Pierce gets 7+ carries I don’t think OSU wins. Think he can run for 49 yards on 7 carries.

    Also will give GA’s ‘Champion’ status to any player this week smart enough to down it in the endzone. Beavs xan’t afford giving away easy free yards. Hoping Pierce takes kickoffs with maybe Tyner thrown in once for a different look and to see how he returns kicks.

    57/43 run pass ratio is Beavs best bet. Below 53% we almost certainly lose.

    Should be a competitive game but McGiven gets a little too pass reliant and we end up throwing on 52% of plays which is 9% above optimum and it costs OSU in a fun to watch Rodent Super Bowl.

    Minny Rows the Boat out of CorVegas even with the 11 Strong unis.

    UM 31, OSU 28

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