Home Football Oregon State @ Arizona State (Pre-game)

Oregon State @ Arizona State (Pre-game)

141

When you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose. –Bob Dylan

An argument for Oregon State sound something like this:

  • They can only go up from here.
  • They've beaten ASU three times in a row.
  • They'll be playing loose with nothing to lose.
  • Beavs play best when nothing is expected of them.
  • They're hungry for a win.
  • Beavs get healthier this week.

That's a lot of secondary, circumstantial reasons to like the Beavers. As much as I'd like to ignore them and instead rely on individual matchups (that clearly favor ASU), it is hard to do so entirely. There is an element of truth that a loose team with everything to gain is dangerous. It's not abnormal for a young team to (subconsciously) destroy all expectations before pleasantly surprising.

I also think that given all the criticism around the program, it might be best for them to get out of Corvallis and deal with unfamiliar boos rather than familiar negativity and criticism. What I am saying, and this is counter-intuitive, is that I believe the Beavers are better off on the road this weekend. Their home town fans might be more of a drag on morale than opponents' fans.

For these reasons, I like the Beavers to keep this game fairly close. I can't in good faith predict a victory, but I think the game will be near even at the half. Some of that will be due to the Beavs playing well, and some will be due to the Sun Devils handing out yardage via personal fouls. Arizona State will use speed, break some big runs, and pull away around the midpoint in the third quarter, ultimately winning by 11. Beavs play well for the first half but can't sustain it. Fans feel disappointed in the loss, but apathy makes defeat easier to swallow. Coaches and players focus on the positives. Riley talks about growth and finding an identity in post-game interviews.

38-27, Sun Devils

141 COMMENTS

  1. That outcome would be fine for a struggling team to achieve playing a Top 25er on the road. I am curious to see if the game will be non-competitive. ASU is no Stanford from last year or Wisconsin this year, so if a blow out ensues, I think another set of issues pop up.

    • I think most people are expecting a blowout. Osweiler has been money, and the Beavs’ secondary has been horrible. It’s a recipe for blowout.

      I think the Beavs will play ball control with Agnew and convert a few 3rd downs to keep it close for a half. If that doesn’t happen, then yes, a blowout will ensue.

  2. How do you suppose we score 27 points. We have not done that all year! Our offense is good for maybe 10. We will get crushed on a Petabonian scale. I see this one like 42-10.

    • I understand why you’re thinking blowout, and that very well may happen.

      As to how the Beavs score 27: Run game should be better with Stevenson/Agnew as opposed to Ward. ASU will give us a few 15 yard penalties. ASU is good for a mental breakdown or two per game.

      ASU might score so much that the Beavers get 20 possessions and cash in a few!

    • True enough, but ease up on Jerry. Didn’t he have Rocky Long as his D coordinator. Some of his defenses played a hell of a lot better than anything Riley and Banker have put out there lately. Also, I don’t believe a Pettibone lead team EVER game up 65 points to the Ducks.

      Now if you want to use “Avezzonnian or Fertigian” scale, then I am with you!

          • I’m thinking of the wrong season for the final game affecting our record. I believe the 1989 season ended at Hawai’i with Booher throwing over the middle to a sliding Ross in the endzone, who cradled the ball clearly a foot above the ground.

            Incomplete.

            The actual names of the participants may be changed to protect reality from my fragile mind. But I also remember Booher to Pitchford against UCLA earlier that year. That was one red-faced Terry Donahue… and one mobile goal post.

            It was the previous year that we were screwed… in I think the ASU game toward the end of the season.

  3. Oh hey guys, anyone else get the nice letter from the commish today: I think I spit out my drink when I read the first sentence:

    Dear OSU Season Ticket Holder,
    I hope that you are enjoying the start of the inaugural Pac-12 college football season! As Conference play has begun, I wanted to take this opportunity to communicate important information regarding the inaugural Pac-12 Football Championship Game to all Pac-12 season ticket holders.
    Should OSU win the North Division and finish with a better Conference record than the South Division Champion, the Game will be played at Reser Stadium. The 2011 Pac-12 Football Championship Game will be played on December 2, 2011 and will be broadcast on FOX. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 P.M. PST. For more information about the 2011 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, please visit Pac-12.org/fcg and be sure to follow the conversation on Twitter (#pac12fcg).
    Should the Beavers be in a position to host the Game, the OSU ticket office will provide you with additional ticket information in mid-October. The Pac-12 Football Championship Game is a Conference event and, while tickets will be issued to season ticket holders on a priority basis, we cannot guarantee access to your season-long seat location for the Game.
    I hope that you share my excitement for the inaugural Championship Game. A Friday night, nationally televised game with an opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl or even the BCS National Championship Game on the line is sure to create an electric atmosphere. The Game will undoubtedly provide a memorable experience for student-athletes and fans alike!

    Larry Scott
    Pac-12 Commissioner

  4. Has anyone heard if Stevenson is getting more of the second string (first string if Agnew is out) reps? I thought he looked much more impressive than Ward last week.

    • I would play Robinson at RB for a series and let Burfict teach him how to move with speed and hit with authority! Of course, this will all be happening 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

    • At first it was kind of funny to joke about how bad Robinson is, but now I’m really getting pissed. Why do we hurt ourselves on purpose with bad personnel?! If we had nothing better that’s one thing, but we have multiple other OLBs that can at least run quickly and actually get to the ball carrier! I am so sick of this crap.

  5. Angry – I think you’re close on the prediction. ASU is good, but not great. They could be a 2-2 team right now instead of 3-1. Though they are starting to click.

    However, reports are that Agnew is still out this game and another OL is potentially out.

    Night game, crazy atmosphere, not good.

  6. Being realistic, the Beavs are not going anywhere this season in the PAC-12, and the Beavs are not going to a bowl game. This season is now about playing the young guys, and doing whatever else can be done (including changes in the coaching staff) to improve the team and the program for next season.

    There is a rational basis for believing that OSU will be more competitive next year. Recruiting has been going well (assuming we don’t lose our existing commits….) We are playing a record number of freshmen this year, and many of them have flashed exciting promise and talent. Competing teams in the PAC-12 North will be losing key players to the NFL this off-season (e.g., Andrew Luck; LaMichael James), and should be less formidable next season.

    Riley probably understands all this. If I were Riley, I’d come out — after the ASU game — and announce that this is officially a rebuilding year for the Beavs. Sure, we will still try to win each of our remaining games. But we will play the younger guys as much as we can (e.g., Michael Doctor plays; Rueben Robinson sits).

    One freshman who should NOT be playing any more this year is Malcolm Agnew. Because Agnew already played in the opener against Sac State, Agnew cannot redshirt this year. But a medical redshirt is still possible. That’s the smart way to go. Hold out Agnew for this season, and do whatever is needed to get Agnew and his hamstring healthy and strong for next season, when our o-line should be better. With luck, we can still get four good years out of Agnew, at full strength, in games that count (unlike the games for the rest of this year….)

    By officially identifying 2011 as a rebuilding year, Riley would gain credibility for himself and the program. This would help –not hurt — with the fan base and with recruits. It would give everyone something to aim at, and look forward to. And it would turn the rest of this season into something productive, rather than deteriorating into a depressing death march.

      • Agnew cannot have a regular redshirt year because he has played. As long as he plays less than 30% of the season he is eligible for a medical RS. Although, I doubt he would be granted one as he is a freshman.

    • he would look even worse by saying it is a rebuilding year.. everyone can see that in a way.. but.. rebuilding for what??

      players were leaving before season started, Quizz left early… the team was in shambles at the end of last year , remember Quizz saying publicy after they got beat by WAZZU– he said he had never felt that bad about a game and that he wished “others” on the team wanted to win as bad as he did..

      Riley is a great guy, nice .. true..

      but nice guys finish last.. he won’t ruffle feathers or cause issue w/ NCAA..

      but he wont be competitive in the long term

      option a- keep riley and expect no bowl games, but hight ticket price to fund stadium etc
      b- make changes and change culture

    • I am leaning more and more that we may as well medical redshirt Agnew. This will have to be a Stevenson/Ward year where we just are getting Mannion game experience. We have decent 2012 recruits so let Agnew get the same 4 years as next years freshmen starters since that class looks respectable and can have a good run together. That has to be our best chance to have some better years ahead.

      • Yup. In addition to playing Sean Mannion, Brandin Cooks, Scott Crichton, Michael Doctor, and Dylan Wynn, provide more playing time this season for DJ Welch, Ryan Murphy, Shaydon Akuna, Obum Gwacham, and Connor Hamlett, Also spend serious time working with guys like Fred Thompson and Darryl Jackson. who are redshirting this year, but could be key players next year and beyond.

        Next year should be much better, assuming a healthy Agnew, a more experienced Mannion, talented recruits such as Isaac Seumalo, plus the above list of promising young players after a year of PAC-12 play, plus returning senior players such as Markus Wheaton, Jordan Poyer, Jordan Bishop, Feti Unga, Castro Masaniai, and a healthy Michael Phillip. That could be the core of a good team in 2012.

        I’m still excited to watch this year’s team — starting tomorrow night against ASU. That’s not because this year’s team is going anywhere. It’s because this year’s team has promising players (such as Mannion) who will be fun to watch as they grow, and a few guys like James Rodgers who are just plain fun to watch.

        That’s enough to keep me interested this year, even if the Beavers don’t win another game. But if we are talking about watching Rueben Robinson and his old/slow friends play out the string for the rest of this season, count me out….

  7. Angry is more optimistic than what I foresee. I really hope this game will be enjoyable to watch. The most frustrating thing is when the game is not interesting beyond the first half because we are already out of it.

    Riley was talking about Dennis liking bubble screens alot last night on his coaches show. Why don’t we do more screens? They seem to be plays where you can bust them for first downs when they go right and seem an effective play call in many offenses.

    I think Burfict will sack Mannion a couple times. Stevenson will have to be more a factor but I imagine we will be getting pass happy in this game too because the run will not be effective enough and we will be playing from behind after halfway in the first quarter.

    Osweiler seems like he will be able to be effective against the Beaver defense and Erickson likes to go deep atleast a few times a game. Hope our DBs will be ready and try to make plays. J Rod, Wheaton, Bishop and Haluhuni all need to step up. Out athletes have to be engaged and working well together to have a chance to stay in the game. Whether we are ready to improve the mental aspect and have our best game during this road test in the desert I’m not sure. I could see some small areas where we improve but most likely not near enough. Do agree Riley will be talking about growth and learning processes in the postgame. That line will remain all season I suspect. I wonder if medical redshirting Agnew might be worth it?

    OSU @ ASU Preview:
    http://beaverbyte.com

  8. The team should be a little bit more prepared for sun devil stadium because of the wisconsin game. the secondary is toast this week (unless josh lagrone became superman during his rehab.) the beavers will have to run the ball about 100 times better than the first three weeks, agnew or not. cooks and rodgers are gonna have to contribute with positive fly sweeps in addition to ward/stephenson getting positive yardage. (very unlikely). Screw it, beavers by 4.

  9. ASU 38 – Beavs 10.

    Our defense is horrible and we can’t stop any offense–run or pass. UCLA is a bad football team with a horrible offense and they marched right down the field and scored at will. Richard Brehaut should not beat any team. He is a bad QB.

    The game plan for any opposing team should be simple: pound the hell out of the ball straight up the middle and watch a weak d-line, with a converted subpar d-end as one of the tackles and a walk-on as the other, try and stop them.

    On offense, our o-line is garbage and we don’t have a legit D1 running back outside of an injured Malcolm Agnew. That means we have to air it out with a RS frosh QB trying to carry the team on his back while playing behind a suspect offensive line and going against a defense that has its ears pinned back and its DBs sitting on routes because we have no threat in the running game.

    Its going to be a long year watching a really bad football team.

  10. Yep…gonna take an implosion by ASU and some mystical transcendence on our part to make this a game. Agree with the 45 for ASU, but on the road, I give us a td and a field goal…with mastermind Riley goin for 2 on the td, so final score 45-9.

  11. •They’ll be playing loose with nothing to lose. (from angry opening thread)

    Will the coaches let them play loose? Will there be a point in a game when a defensive back says/thinks, “screw this – I’m going for the ball”

    I know I keep banging on about this, but I’d love to know in how many instances the players question OS coaches based upon what they’ve previously learned from other coaches – in school, in camps etc.

  12. ASU 42, Oregon State 24. The game is never in doubt and ASU jumps out huge early and cruises to an easy win. Mike Riley says “I liked what I saw. I saw a lot of positives and we’re just about to turn the corner. They’re about to really put it together and play some darn good football”.

    • Now that we know Agnew won’t play, Ward will, and Robinson to start…I agree.

      42-24 is spot on.

      This could be a much closer game (if the coach could figure out personnel).

  13. Not very popular to say but the only way I can see any pressure being applied to the program to change is if the beavs lose. If Riley can pull an upset out of his ass this weekend then we will be back to what a genius he is with his slow starts blah blah blah and why we need to stay the course.

    DE is benefiting from changing offensive coordinators (Noel Mazzone). This could be a good lesson in how to save a program.

    42 to 6 (TD but missed PA in the 4th quarter)

  14. One thing I will point out as a minor positive- Jordan Jenkins featured in probably my favorite play of the UCLA game.

    It was 3rd and 8, ish. Mannion tossed him another classic, too-short ball, and he takes a serious hit by a LB as he’s catching the ball. He not only hangs onto it, he somehow stays on his feet and makes it another 6 yds downfield to convert. That was a freaking awesome- and impressive- play. So even if he’s not fast I like his potential, esp. as a 3rd down change of pace.

    • That was a great play by Jenkins. But Mannion put it in the only spot he could without absolutely killing Jordan. I think that made him forget Jenkins in the flats a couple times later in the game. He assumed incorrectly that the S was sitting on Jenkins, so he never checked down to him.

      He also missed Wheaton on our last play to throw in haste to James on the out. These are things that tape will show him. Hopefully future defenses see the same thing and assume he plays the same way from here on out.

      Still, I’ll take over-thinking over no thinking any day.

  15. I’ll say it again. Beavs 31 – ASU 17

    Robinson makes the only bone-jarring hit of his career (like Pankey did vs. ASU last year) which forces a fumble that Poyer picks up and runs back 95 yards for a score. This happens early in the second half, and it puts the Beavs up by 10 instead of the impending deficit they were facing.

    And that solidifies Robinson’s legend in the pollyannas’ minds… and his starting role for the next two years. When we complain about 99% of his play during this ASU game (and the rest of his career), the argument will be, “But, but, but… he made that great hit against ASU which won us the game.”

    ASU marches down the field on the ensuing drive, and it looks like they weren’t phased by the setback, until…

    Dylan Wynn crushes Osweiler on a second and long. Wynnn gets up and points a finger at Vontaze, drawing a 15 yard flag. But the damage is done, and when Osweiler digs his face out of the turf, he runs over to the Beavs bench and sits down with the ASU trainers chasing him.

    People within earshot say he was proclaiming very loudly that he was Batman.

    ASU falls apart after that. The drive stalls and they get a FG. And Burfict decides he’s going to get back at Wynn by picking up a ref and throwing him at Wynn on the next Beavs drive.

    Now Osweiler and Burfict are out, the whole ASU team is in disarray and does nothing of note for the rest of the game. The Beavs tack on one more TD with a somewhat impressive drive, and the game ends.

    Post game quotes have Riley telling us how Danny called a great game and how Robinson (who records one tackle and a forced fumble on the night and nothing else) was a force of nature that ASU couldn’t handle. People at the presser throw roses at Riley and yell “BRAVO!” Riley sits back down and tells everyone that he thought Burfict picking up the ref and throwing him was just a neat play. He thought Vontaze was just being playful, and he’s sorry he won’t get to play against him again.

    More roses are thrown at Riley, and a pair of womens undies lands on the table in front of him, which makes him blush in just such a neat way.

    Five players miss the team bus to the airport because they decided to go get hammered instead. But no worries. They will be suspended for games in a staggered manner… sometime next season.

  16. ;) JackBeav a many of many trades. Fiction writer extrodinaire. U guys are going to call BS but I’m thinking 24-21 good guys. The AZ offense is going to throw at least 3 picks. Beavs on long drives that burn the clock and score. They then score a last minute FG to win.

  17. Reposting Phil Steele’s breakdown for discussion:

    OSU has won 3 in a row straight up but the away dog has covered all 3. Last time here (‘09)
    was the 1st OSU win in Tempe in 17 tries. Both teams are in their preferred technical roles as ASU has gone 8-0-1 ATS at home vs conference foes including last week vs USC as they pulled ahead in the P12 South battle w/a 43-22 win (+4 TO’s). OSU has gone 9-2 ATS as a dog away from home but is still searching for their 1st win of the season as they dropped a home meeting vs UCLA last week despite yardage (375-357) and first down (22-17) edges. Last year OSU led by 10 but allowed a late TD after a blocked P in the 31-28 victory (-3’). OSU
    does have just 12 ret starters but won on the road at AZ with a 1st year starting QB last year and appears to be in a similar situation here with rFr Mannion getting the call. With that being said, the home team is on an 18-5-1 ATS run and the favorite has covered 5 of the L/8 allowing us to side with the Sun Devils here.

    ARIZONA ST 35 Oregon St 18

    • I hated that article. Buker said things in the article that Beaver fans have not been saying. Buker often does this.

      Btw, the guy with the username “rileysafraud” trolled for about 6 hours straight. Impressive.

      • That was such a disingenuous article, but Buker has the “power” so to speak so he can present the issues how he sees fit unless his editor has a differing opinion.

        If the losing streak continues and gets ugly, I would think that Canzano will have to do an opinion piece, It will be interesting to see what he says. Riley still goes on his radio show and from what I can tell, they have a good relationship.

        There is not much about the losing streak on a national level, but the blurbs I read here and there are actually more forceful than the local media soft sell. Kind of like “what the hell is going on”.

  18. Wait! OSU has a philosophy:

    “Scott Crichton and Dylan Wynn are examples of the Oregon State football team’s “build now for a better tomorrow” philosophy.

    Read more: http://www.gazettetimes.com/sports/article_57c2fd0a-ebb0-11e0-a948-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1ZXphgWNX

    Read the article (it even has some statistics!), and read the quotes from these young men talking about playing with emotion, possessing work ethic, and actively seeking responsibility and better performance instead of using their youth as an excuse. I think these young men are going to have fine individual performances in the desert tonight in contrast to Robinson and the secondary.

    I think its interesting to note that despite the “woe our youthful team” message OSU has both The Oregonian and G-T playing note for note, the young players are really doing well – Wynn, Chricton, Agnew (when healthy) – and are not the limiting factor. The limiting factor is the play of the upperclassmen on the offensive line and in the defensive backfield.

    The offensive line is clearly limited in talent, the defensive backfield is not; they’re just poorly coached. Regarding Wynn/Chricton, I hope OSU doesn’t “coach’em down!” like they do the secondary.

  19. Every time I watch Air Force I’m impressed by something. I’d honestly love to hire their entire staff…these guys would do well in the Pac-12 with more resources. Check out Troy Calhoun’s record: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Calhoun

    Being ex-AF, I’m not sure if he’d want to leave the service academy, but he was born in McMinnville, so there is a connection.

    • Did you see my post elsewhere referencing your identification of the AF D coordinator? I really think a jump to Pac-12 could be attractive to him and energize the program in a progressive manner. Couple his hire with Riley calling plays, and I think that’s worth 2 wins more than the current staff and play calling.

      • Yeah, I saw it, but didn’t want to beat a dead horse.

        But man, these guys are well coached. Now I don’t only want the D coordinator, I want the entire staff. If Riley just had a reasonable contract (2 or 3 years) we could target these guys as successors. It sucks not having the option to pursue opportunity that presents itself.

  20. regarding play calling (and I’ve brought up this example before), does anyone remember at UW when James Rodgers lined up deep behind Jacquizz, and got a pitch that he took to the outside for about 40 yards? I think that’s the kind of play at which McCants could be effective – he’s got decent speed and as long as he watches the ball into his hands, the rest is pretty easy. Maybe Ward, or Cooks for that matter, could run it.

    I recognize James is back, but I think in terms of diversifying looks and play calling, mixing in some of these other players would be productive. It would give individuals some specific roles they could look forward too (like BSU does with some players), and players would would be more motivated during practice, and games, and the offense would look less predictable.

  21. I’m loving this Air Force/Navy game. I’d say it’s the best game I’ve watched so far this season. Not only are these teams well-coached and solid, but they both run throwback offenses and play hard nose defense. I feel like I’m in the early 1900s. Maybe I’ll become an Air Force fan.

    • If you have comcast you should get it by paying for the Sports Package. I called CCast and got it for free for a month to try out. I know Direct TV has it as well.

      Sick of these shitty channels with no HD. Root Sports will replay the game tomorrow at 5:30.

      • Thanks for the heads up, if I was home I would definitely spring for FCS Pacific. Unfortunately I’m out in Sisters this weekend at a house with Bend Broadband. Not sure the owners would appreciate me ordering the sports package. Why do I have to feel like a bad person just for wanting to watch the Beaver game?

  22. This Navy/Air Force game is amazing.

    Navy down 18 with 9 minutes to go. Option their way down the field, get a TD, convert the 2pts, kick a FG, get an onside kick, get a TD, convert the 2pt again with 19 seconds left.

    Amazing game, and a true collegiate atmosphere.

  23. I find myself in Astoria today, anyone know is this area is covered by Comcast? I have a feeling I’ll be the only one at the local sportsbar requesting the game so it’s always nice to be able to tell the staff exactly what channel. Comcast is 415 I know, just not sure if that’s what’s carried here.

  24. I am reminiscing to the good old days watching highlights of OSU from a few years back. We looked good then, I have completely forgot about those days.

    • I work on Saturdays, so I find myself doing the same thing. Helps me to get pumped up for games. I love watching the USC highlights. Damn the D looks tough! We had energy then. We were lowly OSU taking on the “giants”. I think we have let the winning get to our heads. The past few seasons we have had a sense of entitlement. Now look, teams and coordinators know who we are. Old MR just thought players were going to roll out of bed and win. The problem is, that’s not our history. We are not that type of program. Its going to take a lot of winning and motivation from our HC in order to get to that stature.

  25. I really wish the Beavers were more like Kansas St. Kansas St doesn’t have a real good defense but they make key plays when they have to be made. The offense always seems to be prepared for games as well. They have came back to lead 15th ranked Baylor 36-35 with 3:10 left. If they win they’d be 4-0 with a win @Miami and against Baylor. With their schedule they may start 7-0. The Beavers have more talent on both sides of the ball but are nowhere near as fundamentally sound and aren’t even close to being as prepared. Starting 4-0 let alone 7-0 just would not happen for Riley no matter the schedule.

  26. Is this on FIOS anywhere.. anyone know? Is there an internet feed? Shocked they broadcast Eastern Washington vs. Weber State, but we are not on live?

    • Just and update, finally found the channel. Seems to be included on the basic lineup on FIOS, just not in HD. It is on channel 302!

        • Apparently the game is not available on the Oregon coast. THIS IS FUCKING RIDICULOUS. I am naive about how broadcasting works but FUCK ME! I am most embarrassed that the Beavers aren’t on tv than I am about their performance.
          This is totally unacceptable. I will campaign for broadcasting before I will campaign for coaching changes. And don’t tell me that winning will get our games broadcast because this exact same thing happened to the ducks last year, no broadcasting in many areas of Oregon.

  27. I believe it was progressivebeav (pb) who came up with a stream for last week’s game. Here’s hoping pb or someone else can work some magic this week too.

  28. StarcraftSquall posted this article:
    http://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/index.ssf/2011/09/oregon_state_insider_the_line.html

    Boy Riley is in a “I don’t care what everyone says…. I have a lifetime contract so there…” mode. These statements scare me to no end:

    OSU coach Mike Riley is aware there is a cadre of angry fans who want Langsdorf fired.

    Riley said it would take more than a message board firestorm to get him to do something drastic with his coaching staff.

    “Yeah, because we’re all in this together and we have to support each other,” he said. “One thing about (Riley, Langsdorf, and Banker), we’ve been through the highs and lows of it, so nothing surprises us. But it still hurts. And I think those guys are bothered by it. But they also know nobody’s going to point the finger at them. We’re all going to be supportive. Nobody’s going to go crazy on the staff.’

  29. Regarding the article where Riley defends Langsdorf:

    Anyone else ready to totally cut ties with Riley? I feel about him the way I felt about Banker last year (angry beyond belief). He seems aloof and protects coaches who clearly aren’t doing well. It seems that he is at the point where he will go down with the ship before Langsdorf and Banker are shown the door.

    Further, he supported the plan to play Robinson last game. A midweek article almost made it seem like he endorsed it after Banker recommended it. Then Cliff defends it midweek in the comment section saying that “they tried it and it didn’t work”, further suggesting that they would move back to Doctor. Inexplicably, Robinson will get the start again. Are you freaking kidding me?!? We started Robinson because he was bigger, why wouldn’t you start Doctor against an air raid team? Not to mention that Doctor is clearly the better football team.

    Anyways, I am done with Riley. He is persona non grata, only revisable (potentially) if we play in a rose bowl.

    • Yeah, if the article is accurate looks like Riley has dug in his heels instead of giving little comments to prepare the way for change.

      If there is not improvement quickly I’m going to dig my heels in and go totally anti-Riley.

      • Yeah, they do. I don’t remember Mack Brown not backing his assistants all last season. Then as soon as the season ended he cleaned house. Not a good look to trash your assistants during the season.

      • Yeah, I think you are right, it’s standard coach speak, but Riley is a bit of an “odd duck” with this loyalty thing. It may take an 0-12 season and Bobby D. hitting him over the head with a baseball bat for him to get the message.

  30. Riley is on the headset with langsdork. I hope to see him quietly inputs to langs for play calling. Also hope Robinson’s start over doctor lasts as long as the katz start at Wisconsin. Im on a business trip in Florida and about to go down to the sports pub and get them to change a tv from Bama-Florida to our game.wish me luck…

  31. One hour until kick off.

    Mannion will have some success, but responded by an over-powering line.
    He will go probably 23/40 for 173 yards.

    Our run game will be unsuccessful, Ward will have an average 3 yards per carry followed by Stevenson put in with a 5.5 yard average. Total of 85 or under running yards.

    Defense starts out semi-strong and deteriorates by the half. The secondary makes very few good plays, no interceptions and allows many passes and some deep passes for 25+ yards.

    ASU wins 42 – 13

  32. Wazzu got a conference win, Huskies are taking apart the Utes. Crap, everyone in the league is getting better except the Beavs and I guess the Trojans. I would not have thought two years ago that OSU would be the worst team in the NW.

    • I thought the X ran the deep routes in his offense? Wouldn’t that mean Bishop or Wheaton? Can’t remember which one is the slot and which one is the wideout. I believe James and Cooks are Flanker (Z/Pro/non LOS WR).

      • I hope we don’t throw deep first play of the game, that was the plan every game last year. Oh wait nevermind, it might be a legit play with Mannion since Katz won’t over threw a wide open guy (and rip out my heart in the process).

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