17.Apr.2012 Mixed Reports: Cade Cowdin (Pankey Revisited?)

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From Paul Buker:

A lot of eyes will be on Cowdin, a cerebral sideline-to-sideline player.

From Cliff Kirkpatrick:

He decided to walk on at Utah State, but couldn’t qualify academically.

“I’m just trying to learn the defense right now,” Cowdin said. “It’s not overwhelming but it’s a lot to learn. It’s a totally new defense for me. But it’s a good scheme and I’m trying to take it all in.”

From Rivals:

Watching Cade Cowdin closely you can see that his added weight has slowed him down a half step. His eyes seem to be in the right place, but in space in coverage he had a tough time staying with the offensive player.

Buker's interpretation implies Cowdin is (a) smart and (b) fast, while Kirkpatrick's and Rival's writings suggests Cowdin is a (a) a dullard and (b) slow.

Here's his film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHrLazAo36w

So if the reports that he's added 20lbs are true, then I'd wager he's gotten slower. In his highlights, he looks slow, but more obvious is how awkward/herky-jerky he plays. Definitely not a fluid linebacker. Close your eyes and try to imagine Cowdin trying to chase down Barner or James…eek. Pankey revisited?

What do you think? Another wasted scholarship, or a player who can contribute?

100 Comments
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  • sparkyd73 says:
    April 17, 2012 at 2:56 pm
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    I think it is way too early to call this. I would ask that people don’t throw this kid away before he even learns the defense. Someone who is learning a system at a position that requires quick reads can often look like someone is slow, but it may just require the game to slow down for him. Either way, this is the kid’s 8th Div. 1 practice and it stands to reason that he is drinking from a firehose.

    I certainly hope that he is closer to the guy that was being highly recruited than to the next Pankey.

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  • angry says:
    April 17, 2012 at 3:17 pm
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    Someone who is learning a system at a position that requires quick reads can often look like someone is slow, but it may just require the game to slow down for him.

    I agree with that.

    But he wasn’t highly recruited other than the prestigious Miami offer. After that, South Florida, OSU, and Iowa State were his best offers. I wonder if he has a Miami connection since he had interest from 3 Florida schools (Florida St never officially offered).

    My interpretation of Cowdin is he might be able to blitz, but he won’t be effective in pass coverage or stopping the run. That’s what I see on film.

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    • matt b says:
      April 17, 2012 at 3:39 pm
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      Probably same advance free agent scout with connections to Florida schools looking for a commission.

      Reply
  • sparkyd73 says:
    April 17, 2012 at 3:19 pm
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    I thought he was in the top 30 JUCO’s.

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  • JasontheBeaver says:
    April 17, 2012 at 3:31 pm
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    Can’t tell a lot from that film, especially since half of it is the opposing QBs throwing him cream-puff INTs.
    He doesn’t shy from initiating contact that’s for sure, but I guess your point Angry is more, can he be fast enough to initiate contact at this next level? We’ll see.

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  • KBeav says:
    April 17, 2012 at 3:40 pm
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    My guess is that he doesn’t crack the two-deep and is solely a special teams guy. I just don’t see him getting much playing time ahead of these guys:

    OLB – (1) Welch (2) Akuna/Sanders
    MLB – (1) Unga (2) Williams/Robinson/James
    OLB – (1) Doctor (2) Johnson

    The talent level has certainly increased at LB. Let’s see if it actually translates to the field.

    Reply
    • KBeav says:
      April 17, 2012 at 3:45 pm
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      If all three starters stay healthy, this is our best LB group since sometime around 2006-2007. Welch/Doctor might be the top 2-3 fastest OLB combos in the conference.

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      • Kenny Beaver says:
        April 17, 2012 at 4:14 pm
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        Who in your mind has the fastest OLB combos in our conference that they will be compared to?

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      • ObjCritic says:
        April 17, 2012 at 7:52 pm
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        Welch/Doctor make me hope they can be as good as Doggett….THAT’s the type of players OSU needs to defend the spread from the LB position.

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    • matt b says:
      April 17, 2012 at 5:23 pm
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      Best two deep safeties in some time as well. So how do you get all of these guys on the field at one time or create situational substitutions to create mismatches? I hope that Riley is able to learn a bit from Jim Harbaugh and think a bit creatively to get the most talented guys on the field as much as possible, no matter the position that they are assigned.

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  • Kenny Beaver says:
    April 17, 2012 at 4:21 pm
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    Remember Buker tends to over hype everything. I think that Angry and Cliff may be closer to where the talent level is. Walking on at Utah State, one of the worst teams in the country until last year, and not qualifying academically may be some red flags. He may have a high football IQ but will he be able to stay in school where the academics are much tougher than Utah State.

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  • BeavMonkey says:
    April 17, 2012 at 4:40 pm
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    Those of you that are calling him fast. Are you serious?

    This guy is really slow, and the only thing that makes me suspect he might get some playing time is the history of having slow Sam LB’s, and that our current option(Welch) is only 220 lbs, so we will need a decent size guy there. But he seriously won’t catch any RB’s.Not without oodles of help.

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    • BeavMonkey says:
      April 17, 2012 at 4:44 pm
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      I suppose I should give some evidence.

      Notice his picks.

      He mostly returns them for like 3 yards and then gets tackled. Doesn’t say much about his agility to me.

      I would guess that Scott Crichton has much better straight line speed than him, which makes him more or less obsolete against the run.

      If welch adds some weight, we can relegate him to a career backup.

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  • Jack says:
    April 17, 2012 at 5:16 pm
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    He looks to me like a nickel package MLB who can blitz the A gap or roam the middle with some awareness of interior pass patterns (something Feti has yet to do). I don’t see him as an OLB in a 4-3 scheme. In a 3-4 scheme, sure… standing up at the 5-teq or dropping into the flats. But not 4-3.

    I don’t see how the five pounds he has on Welch helps him see the field. Welch has blazing speed and tackles through people like they’re paper displays.

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  • HopefulBeav says:
    April 17, 2012 at 5:37 pm
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    He may be obnoxiously similar to Keith Pankey but I don’t think he will hurt our defense as much as Pankey did. Pankey was relied on to be one of “the guys”. Cowdin would just be an added bonus if he ends up being any good. From what I’ve read it sounds like our linebackers are pretty set with Welch, Doctor, and Unga as the starting three.

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  • Pettibonehead says:
    April 17, 2012 at 6:14 pm
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    Everyone take a deep breath.

    To me it seems a sign of desperation that a seemingly marginally talented transfer is getting any discussion what so ever. If people weren’t so eager to manufacture optimism this kid would be a footnote that might generate some talk after a game or two.

    It speaks of the bigger overall problem, lack of depth everywhere! JB

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    • bendbeaver says:
      April 17, 2012 at 7:27 pm
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      This was made into a thread to manufacture pessimism, not optimism. Pay Attention, Pettibone!!!

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      • angry says:
        April 17, 2012 at 7:38 pm
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        It was made into a thread because Cliff wrote an entire piece about this guy, and spun it as a feel good story, implying he could be a starter. That’s a story because Mike Riley made the same error for 4 years with Keith Pankey. But, keep telling yourself it’s just to incite pessimism. Ignoring or glossing over the Pankeys, Krebs, and Cowdins is what brought your team down to 3 wins.

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        • progressivebeav says:
          April 17, 2012 at 8:05 pm
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          He’s the next Blake Harrah!

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          • presleydog says:
            April 17, 2012 at 10:32 pm
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            Can we not bring up Pankey’s name anymore. That guy just pissed me off and evertime I hear his name I cringe.

            Reply
        • bendbeaver says:
          April 18, 2012 at 7:21 am
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          I hate to break it to you, but if part of the fan base ignores or glosses over certain players, that doesn’t make the team lose games, just as the opposite is true where if you bash and rake players over the coals, they are not going to win more games. I’m an intense Beav fan, but I’m not delusional in thinking that my criticisms play a role in whether the teams wins or not.

          Maybe you reading a different Cliff than I am. How I read it said that Cowdin is motivated to start, Riley said he looks good, and Cliff said JC’s are expected to contribute right away. It was more of a ‘getting to know your Beavs’ article.

          Reply
    • ObjCritic says:
      April 17, 2012 at 7:57 pm
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      More to the point, its a legitimate thread because Riley explicitly stated that DT was not a priority, and that OSU needed immediate help at LB.

      If Cowdin is Riley’s answer, this is another problem along the lines of Pankey, Robinson (Angry, would it be to cruel to start a running countdown on Robinson’s last game), and even the overrated Kristick.

      Prioritizing the acquisition of Cowdin over a DT means that Cowdin should be a significant difference maker – he should change not only plays that come his way, but the course of some games. He looks like a reach instead.

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      • angry says:
        April 17, 2012 at 8:04 pm
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        Right, the idea behind signing a JC is that they can start/help right away and at a position of need. Scholarship would have been much better spent on a DT.

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        • ObjCritic says:
          April 17, 2012 at 9:46 pm
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          I could not believe that after the loss of Fred Thompson, and the problems the OSU D faces, Riley prioritized Cowdin over a DT (should have been two DT’s).

          Implicitly, that means the DT’s are fine, not the weakness, and the existing LB play is inadequate. While the LB play could improve, I think that’s a unit where you could legitimately argue there’s youth that needs experience, while the dline interior lacks size, athleticism, and experience.

          in the first case you play guys not named Ruben Robinson, in the latter you go out and recruit those needs hard.

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        • Mud&Sticks says:
          April 18, 2012 at 3:44 pm
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          “…Scholarship would have been much better spent on a DT….”

          To me it seems like you’re missing the possibility that Riley knew this but was unable to land a DT. He tried with Salt but to no avail.

          Imo he can’t recruit worth a damn.

          Reply
  • Mike says:
    April 17, 2012 at 6:21 pm
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    2 yr contributer to special teams. Not a great offer, but we need some size for special teams – don’t want to wear out the 1st string guys.

    Reply
  • bone says:
    April 17, 2012 at 7:14 pm
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    Pretty short film, but his speed to me doesn’t looking anything like Pankeys, I have never seen a linebacker get burned liked he did on the outside. This guy looks solid, he will be a contributor even if it is on special teams.

    Reply
  • beavskis says:
    April 17, 2012 at 7:58 pm
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    Cowdin aside, my take is that we are finally accumulating some young talent at LB and DB, but it won’t matter because our DTs are so shitty that teams will just pound us into submission straight up the middle. 3 to 4 wins this year max.

    Also, this is off topic, but what’s up with the media touting RB as a position of depth? The only real legit presumed talents are Woods and Brown, one of which hasn’t even made it to campus yet. Stevenson, Jenkins, and Ward are marginal D1 talents. Agnew has ability but can’t stay healthy. A bunch of scrubs = a bunch of scrubs; not depth.

    Reply
  • slamadam says:
    April 17, 2012 at 8:51 pm
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    didn’t buker essentially say that cameron collins was going to be a monster during camp last fall? this guy really doesn’t excite me, but then again no linebacker other then welch (and maybe jabral johnson) does either. i could see him getting a good deal of time over robinson and tony wilson, but what does that even mean?

    Reply
    • angry says:
      April 17, 2012 at 8:52 pm
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      I believe Tony Wilson retired.

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    • slamadam says:
      April 18, 2012 at 1:40 am
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      now that i think about unga’s pretty physical and seems to be around the ball a lot. he certainly wasn’t the problem very often last year. doctor isn’t great, but he moves like usain bolt compared to robinson and this cowdin. i wonder if it’s fair to say that the two deep at linebacker is of post season quality.

      Reply
  • matt b says:
    April 17, 2012 at 9:15 pm
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    if the qb can avoid being an interception machine, if the fb and te can learn to block consistently, then the whining about the rb position will be moot because the rb position will be productive. While Cowdin may never be a star, the lb position has promise and is reasonably deep. We are upset that Cowdin’s scholarship could have gone to a dt. But that is not his fault and he shouldn’t be hung for that. When Harbaugh had no dbs at Stanford, he played his best wr (Sherman) both ways. When he had problems at mlb and fb, he played his toughest guy both ways. If Riley were to occasionally rotate Isaac and Mitchell into the mix at dt, and occasionally spot Andrews (where his talent really belongs since he is a better disrupter than consistent blocker) into goal line or third and short, the Beavers would be ok. If Harbaugh could use Sapoaga/Staley as pass receivers and Justin Smith as an occasional blocker and backup ots as dts in goal line, why is it illegal for OSU to use guys with multiple talents and multiple ways? In a world of specialists, think outside the taco and employ the most talented generalists.

    Reply
    • oneoldbeav says:
      April 17, 2012 at 9:41 pm
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      I like it, “think outside the taco and employ the most talented generalists”

      However, it ain’t likely. It all to comes back to Riley’s approach. Systems which are so complicated that it takes years to learn and thus players without experience in the system have little chance at getting on the field. Systems which don’t evolve, thus the statement about DeVan that, “he knows our stuff” after years away from the team. A fair approach if you want to be a feeder system for the NFL, not so good if you want winning seasons and BCS bowls.

      Reply
      • matt b says:
        April 18, 2012 at 4:54 pm
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        In one shortened offseason in the NFL Harbaugh was able to install a completely new system on offense and defense and teach enough to offensive linemen Boone and Rachal to have them come in to play short yard/goal line defense. Is the OSU system more complicated than the NFL? How hard would it be for Josh Andrews to learn how to body up on short yardage defense 4-5 plays per game. All of the scouting reports indicate that Isaac was able to play both ways every play with no noticeable drop off in performance. How much would he have to learn in order to play another 4-5 plays per game with a straight ahead charge? Are these kids in that bad of shape that they can’t physically withstand another few plays? Are Stanford kids that much smarter and physically superior to be able to switch sides of the ball for a few plays? This is how Stanford and other smart teams compensate for talent or size mismatches against the USC’s of the world. They use statistics to figure out how to get their best players on the field for a maximum number of snaps and maximum return on investment with an eye to sustainability of results.

        Reply
    • presleydog says:
      April 17, 2012 at 10:43 pm
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      Unique approach to working with what you have. But the beaver coaching staff does not deviate. Think Utah with no QB running for 300 yards (or whatever it was) in the first half. By the middle of the second half they finally moved a safety up in the box.

      Reply
      • numbers says:
        April 18, 2012 at 10:31 am
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        More than one way to skin a cat. But gosh darn it, why is it that this staff wants to skin every cat the same way?

        Reply
  • progressivebeav says:
    April 18, 2012 at 7:53 am
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    Tight Ends look decent:

    Big and young. I wonder how Prince does his senior year, he disappeared last season.

    Reply
    • AfghanBeav says:
      April 18, 2012 at 8:57 am
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      Golly, he sure does sound like a neat young man! Gosh I hope he does well!

      Reply
    • sparkyd73 says:
      April 18, 2012 at 9:40 am
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      If I never see that slow developing TE middle screen again in my life, I would be much happier.

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      • Beavergopher says:
        April 18, 2012 at 10:23 am
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        But it’s a staple! Who cares if it never works. Besides, Danny would have to get another note card to add another play to the five he calls. He is being green and saving trees.

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    • numbers says:
      April 18, 2012 at 10:39 am
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      Nothing about that video impressed me. And I’d consider myself a very optimistic fan.

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    • ObjCritic says:
      April 18, 2012 at 11:20 am
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      I asked that question over at the G-T site, where the storyline was something like “Prince poised for big year.” I don’t know why he’s poised for it – is he fast, leaping ability, hands, etc?

      He seems like he’ll probably be a decent blocker, but I don’t get the impression he’s a game-changer with exceptional physical ability.

      Cliff’s response was “He’s quick.”

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      • angry says:
        April 18, 2012 at 11:31 am
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        Cliff is a weird dude, and is probably the worst at evaluating talent.

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        • alex says:
          April 18, 2012 at 11:42 am
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          Yeah…in a similar post, Cliff wrote that Jenkins is “very fast and quick, with great change of direction.”

          Seriously…did he watch that game last year where we ran him out of the backfield? Brutal.

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      • matt b says:
        April 18, 2012 at 5:14 pm
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        He was a poor blocker last year. You just can’t survive with both a fb and te that can run routes and catch decently but are less than acceptable in the run game. The current fb tries hard but is not quite big enough to drive defenders off the line, though he is pretty good with defenders down field. The te in the Beaver system has to be able to knock defenders off the line. Part of the problem with JH last year was injury. NFL scouts know of his pass catching ability even if he did not have that many balls thrown his way. But his inability to contribute in the run game made him an unattractive prospect. If the current te is even dreaming about an NFL future, then he better learn to be a devastating blocker before worrying about catching a single pass.

        Reply
    • Mud&Sticks says:
      April 18, 2012 at 3:57 pm
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      He doesn’t have sometimes as much lead in the pencil? (@4:45)

      What the heck does that mean?

      Reply
    • osu2008 says:
      April 20, 2012 at 6:51 pm
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      Prince sucks big time! I wish this kid would hurry up and graduate because he is a waste of a scholarship. Last year, he was supposed to be an impact player and he disappeared BIG time! Yeah yeah, he’s a good kid and the coaches love him, but he has been in the program for 5 years now and hasn’t done shit. He played in a watered down-league in high school and got away with a lot because he was taller than most of his defenders, but he is not capable of playing in the PAC-12 and last year proved it!

      Reply
      • JasontheBeaver says:
        April 21, 2012 at 7:13 am
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        I refrain from bagging too hard on any college student who is giving it his best effort, but Prince did not have a great year.
        Remember that game last year when he fumbled like 12 times? We were sitting amongst a group of his friends and family, they were all wearing Prince shirt and jerseys. When the fumbles started, followed by a Reser-full of boos, well, our section got real quiet.
        We’ll see if he turns it around this year.

        Reply
  • OSU4Life says:
    April 18, 2012 at 9:00 am
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    What ever happend to WR, Bret Ackerman? Does anybody know?

    Reply
  • brownale9000 says:
    April 18, 2012 at 2:18 pm
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    Re: Cowdin.

    He failed to qualify out of HIGH SCHOOL. That doesn’t necessarily make him a dullard Plenty of guys don’t qualify out of high school.

    As for his speed…he doesn’t appear to be lightning quick by any stretch (though he is clearly quicker and faster than Pankey) but does appear to have the skills required to be a special teams contributor. If he contributes at all, he’s certainly not a waste of a scholarship.

    Reply
  • rsteve503 says:
    April 18, 2012 at 3:04 pm
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    SilverStream >>>>>>>>>>>> Buker.

    ….so its suspicious that Buker likes Cowdin, and not a good sign that Kirkpatrick spends an article on a guy who may not be much.

    Hey, its the current state of OSU football. A Pankey can be a star, on teams that win only 3 games and cant beat a Sac State….

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  • angry says:
    April 18, 2012 at 3:41 pm
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    LB Shiloah Te’o has quit the team.

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    • Jason says:
      April 18, 2012 at 3:55 pm
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      Can’t remember how many years of eligibility he had left, I think this may have been his last . Heard he was a baller and was excited when I’d heard he transferred from BYU. I guess being buried on the depth chart will make you reconsider your last years of eligibility.

      Reply
      • beavergopher says:
        April 18, 2012 at 4:23 pm
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        Was he a starter at BYU? Anyone else think they are going to kill us this year? Why
        on earth did they schedule this series? A lose, lose if there ever was one.

        Reply
    • ObjCritic says:
      April 19, 2012 at 8:02 am
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      maybe you can interview him? What was his perception of OSU’s program after coming into from another program? What did he see as the strengths and weaknesses of each?

      Sure he wasn’t around long, but that may not detract from the interview.

      Reply
  • Beaver Byte says:
    April 18, 2012 at 5:33 pm
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    QB Bryan Bennett recently took MTV Cribs on a tour of the Duck Lockerroom. Will OSU even have more than a half-finished stadium in the next 8-10 years without a high winning %?

    Ducks Lockerroom on MTV Cribs:
    http://beaverbyte.com

    Reply
    • angry says:
      April 18, 2012 at 5:36 pm
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      There’s no reason to finish the stadium as they can’t sell out the current stadium. Unless you believe ticket prices are the problem, and by supplying more tickets it will drive down price. Is that what you believe? I mean, maybe…but I think the problem is there aren’t enough fans.

      Reply
      • Beaver Byte says:
        April 18, 2012 at 6:12 pm
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        I hear you……I feel the biggest issue is there isn’t enough wins. I would like to see the Reser West Side or a complete double-decker bowl done by 2018 at the latest. Colorado just announced new football complex plans including a new indoor practice facility and the ASU covered stadium is expected to cost 250-300 million.

        Cal’s will cost 321 million and UW’s over 250 million. We should be able to finish Reser for 115 million and if other schools can spend 2.5 times as much now, then in another 5 or 6 years we should be able to have our own major but less costly project. Recruiting wise we can’t afford to wait any more than 5 years. We just need a coach who can win enough to attract 50+K fans all season. If we got 8 wins most of the time I think we could sell 53K seats consistently by 2017.

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        • Beavergopher says:
          April 18, 2012 at 7:05 pm
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          Cal has major problem with their stadium funding. WSJ story.

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      • Afghanbeav says:
        April 18, 2012 at 7:10 pm
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        I’m not 100% sure we wouldn’t sell more tickets if we had more seats, last few years I think we were normally withing 1k or so of a sell out. Now add more seats with “decent” views not the top corners of the “valley view” or whatever they call the top corners now. So basically like Angry is saying increased supply = lower prices = increased demand?

        I think the biggest thing that could draw is a better game day experience. I know we sound like broken records, but look at the Seattle Mariners; they sold out opening night with their huge show and experience. Game 2 of the opening series without all the fanfaire? Not even close to a sell out.

        I know, MLB team in a city the size of Seattle is no way comparable to College football in Corvallis, but the talent level and winning tradition are about the same over the last 10 years.

        Reply
        • JasontheBeaver says:
          April 19, 2012 at 9:50 am
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          I think the valley view seats get a bad rap. I’ve sat in them several times in the early years and they’re better than the high-up bench seats with no backs on the other side. They’re also better than seats at many other college stadiums I’ve been to due to their height above the field rather than their distance back from it.
          The only real negative is during stormy weather you’re seriously exposed to the windy elements, been there too!
          My point is, I strongly recommend buying valley view seats before you buy seats on the old side.

          Reply
          • Beavergopher says:
            April 19, 2012 at 10:19 am
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            I agree Jason. Sat in the Bob Ueker seats for the 2010 CW. The very last row! The day was clear and
            the views were spectacular. Last time I had been to a home game was USC in ’83. Really spruced up since then. My high school had a better stadium than old Parker. If you win they will come.

            Reply
    • Timber! says:
      April 18, 2012 at 6:48 pm
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      Is that a duck locker room or a beauty salon?

      Reply
  • angry says:
    April 19, 2012 at 12:00 am
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    I found this firemikeriley.com post funny:
    Yes I am negative, but how can I be positive with everything that is taking place in Corvallis. Other schools are moving forward while Riley and his staff are not. For example:

    UO is having a scrimmage today with officials.
    Marcus Allen will be at the USC Spring Game
    UW is “teaching new words, new expectations, new techniques”
    Utah is hosting an “Ultimate Tailgate” competition before their Spring Game.

    Dark days ahead.

    It’s a good point. Everyone’s pulling a Jefferson’s and movin’ on up…

    Reply
    • bendbeaver says:
      April 19, 2012 at 7:30 am
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      It’s funny in an inferiority complex kind of way. A scrimmage with officials? Wow, add UO to the list along with every other school. An alumni came for a visit? That’s crazy and never happens at OSU. An all new crew of coaches is teaching new things? =mind blown! An ‘ultimate tailgate’ in Utah?! Who can say Root Beer chug-a-thon and doughnut on a string!! Woot!

      Reply
  • Pettibonehead says:
    April 19, 2012 at 10:35 am
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    Who needs a stinking fancy locker room!!

    All a real football player needs is a hot shower and clean towel. Couldn’t you just feel Bennett’s embarrassment when he showed those silly ventilated lockers and that ridiculous display of bowl game appearances. What a joke!!! JB

    PS: Wait a minute!….. I’m told that 5 Star recruits from all over the country actually like that sort of thing… Never mind.

    Reply
  • ObjCritic says:
    April 19, 2012 at 7:37 pm
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    Speaking of LB speed, this is encouraging:

    http://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/index.ssf/2012/04/oregon_state_beavers_football_71.html

    Bray getting the LB’s to read and react faster, using Ellison as an example.

    Reply
  • ObjCritic says:
    April 19, 2012 at 8:26 pm
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    Is Langsdorf smoking too? No emotion, eyes about half closed, licking his lips (needing some nachos?):

    http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041912aaa.html

    God, WHO in a position of leadership inspires these kids?

    Reply
  • BeavMonkey says:
    April 19, 2012 at 9:57 pm
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    Weed isn’t such a bad drug.

    UO football is doing quite a few things right.We stay in the status quo. Our system is quite conservative. We need to stop fueling that fire with “All your players smoke weed according to a rumour. Obviously, none of ours do, and we run a totally ethical program that is sure to win more than 6 games some day”

    Really, the gist I am getting from our fans is kind of appalling.

    Reply
    • BeavMonkey says:
      April 19, 2012 at 10:02 pm
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      Oh, and at the risk of sounding like a duck fan, I offer you this.

      http://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/index.ssf/2012/04/oregon_state_beavers_football_70.html

      And a funny quote from the comments. From Objcritic.

      In the last 4 CW’s, it has looked like 60% of the beavers that smoke weed are chasing the 40% of ducks who do not….

      Seriously. Even if our players do smoke less weed, there is little encouraging news about that, because that means they are just slow and there is nothing they can do to remedy that. Half the ducks could stop smoking weed, and would drop 2 tenths of a second from their forties.

      Reply
      • Jack says:
        April 19, 2012 at 11:46 pm
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        And if I smoked more weed than all of me smoked the year previous but less than the three years forthcoming… then our conclusions would be the same.

        WTF are you trying to say?

        Reply
  • Jack says:
    April 19, 2012 at 11:36 pm
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    I find the “nothing to see here” crowd funny.

    Yeah… I agree. Pot should be legal/decriminalized/forgotten.

    But it’s a rule/law/whatever.

    I know OSU players use it. And I know Nikegon players use it. Where they get the “money” to pay for their use is another story. But those who would pass this off as “who cares” ignore the financials.

    The forces against have the power, but the forces for have the people. How is prohibition right?

    In one sense… who cares?

    In another sense… I’m paying taxes to cover these fuck heads and their Xboxes and there nice off-campus apartments and their pot!

    Oh… I forgot… student athletes don’t get paid for their jobs.

    Whatever.

    Reply
  • Jack says:
    April 19, 2012 at 11:49 pm
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    I say boom!

    If you disagree, that’s your problem.

    Good people are safe here.

    Reply
  • BeavMonkey says:
    April 20, 2012 at 12:27 am
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    If there wasn’t football, they’d probably still smoke pot. The only difference is that would have little in the way of skills, so you’d probably be funding them for food stamps as well.

    Also, I think football programs make money. And quite a few athletic departments are profitable. Not sure if any of teh Oregon schools have a profitable one, but it is really the title IX sports that lose money. So if you want to complain about your tax money funding scholarships, you should look for misbehavior among women’s sports that few people watch.

    Also, your posts are incomprehensible to me. I’m not sure if you are actually high on pot as you are writing this or this is intentional to confuse me, or both at the same time to really teach me a lesson… but can you be clearer next time what exactly you are saying?

    Reply
    • Jack says:
      April 20, 2012 at 9:42 am
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      We can go to the military to find a bunch of food stamp recipients. And you know what? I didn’t mind my taxes going to fellow servicemen. I don’t mind poor people being fed whether they’re in the military or not.

      I think most of the “food” available should be outlawed before pot should be. But that’s another conversation.

      And losing Title IX sports is simply a question of choice. If any school out there wants to forego federal or state funding, they can have whatever sports they want.

      Or they can move to Communist China, where they don’t have a free and equal society created by a written law.

      Reply
    • Jack says:
      April 20, 2012 at 9:45 am
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      Oh… and I promise I can be clearer next time what exactly I am saying.

      Reply
      • CVO beav says:
        April 21, 2012 at 7:49 pm
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        I hope so…….

        Reply
        • Jack says:
          April 21, 2012 at 11:32 pm
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          You understood that? I thought it ironic that someone who complains about not understanding something would mangle the English language so badly in an attempt to admonish another.

          Or perhaps… it was intended… ?

          Most commonly, the grammer police suck at their own grammer while correcting grammer.

          Trolling is a art.

          Reply
  • beaver watch says:
    April 23, 2012 at 7:37 pm
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    It seems like everyone has a piece of the Cade Cowdin story, and plays on their info to support their own opinion that they want others to buy into. I probably am no different, but I have found out additional info that makes me understand him better. First of all he hasn’t put on any weight. He weighed 225-230 lbs.at College of the Desert (see the roster). Typically every football player will lose 5-10 lbs in a season, the only ones who gain are either sitting on the bench or are on the same cream as Barry Bonds.

    As far as his speed goes, it appears to be above average, maybe not DJ speed but competitive. His younger brother is a RB in Utah a runs a 11.3 100 meters, Cade will beat him by a step or two every time. His brother is a freshman in high school and weighs 175 lbs. Cade injured his hamstring the first week of practice, but has just kept trying to play through it, he hasn’t cried to the media.

    I’m sure it’s hard learning a new defense or offense for that matter, it will progress and by fall, he will have a better understanding. He graduated from COD in less than two years, so he has adequate academics to continue his education. He was not eligible for USU because he missed core classes that were required.

    I agree with sparkyd73…give him a chance, if we made a mistake then so did did 11 other D-1 schools that offered him a full ride. Some of them more prestigious that the orange and black.

    I’m sure you won’t find any video of him tripping the opponents to make a tackle (Doctor Style). Let’s just wish him the best and hope he makes our team better by starting or forcing our starters to be better. If he accomplishes that then we are all happy. GO BEAVS !!!!

    Reply
  • ObjCritic says:
    April 24, 2012 at 1:07 pm
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    Interesting take on Hardin from Don Banks at S-I:

    • Brandon Hardin, DB, Oregon State — Hardin missed all of his senior season after having preseason surgery on his broken left shoulder last summer, but he did get healthy in time to play in the East-West Shrine Game and start to mount a comeback. He has generated some solid buzz this spring and reportedly was scheduled to visit as many as 15 NFL teams, making notable trips to safety-needy teams such as Chicago and Baltimore.

    A cornerback at OSU, Hardin projects to free safety, where his 6-2, 216-pound frame is needed in matchups against taller receivers and the ever-burgeoning crop of big, fast tight ends. Hardin ran a sizzling 4.36 at his pro day, and his jumping ability (10’4” broad, 35.5 vertical) also earned the league’s notice. As the draft nears, the third or fourth round is starting to look like a distinct possibility, especially given the dearth of talent at safety in this year’s draft.

    Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/don_banks/04/24/watchlist/index.html#ixzz1szSp75bL

    I never thought he’d go as high as 3rd or 4th round, thought he be an undrafted free agent. Is Afalava still at Chicago?

    Reply
    • JasontheBeaver says:
      April 24, 2012 at 1:21 pm
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      Many of us thought Hardin should have played safety all along.
      Brandon is like many Beavers that made me slap my forehead more than once during their college careers. But I still wish them success in the NFL and life in general: Brandon is no exception. My thought was that he was just playing a position that he wasn’t best suited for. So despite me cussing his name several times, especially at the Boise State game, I hope and sincerely think he will do Ok for himself at the next level.
      Also, remember what a beast he was on special teams? Dude could shed blockers and make plays like a great athlete. That will help his NFL prospects too.

      NFL.com says Afalava is with the Titans.

      Reply
      • ObjCritic says:
        April 24, 2012 at 10:34 pm
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        I wish him well too. Agreed he wasn’t playing the right position. He didn’t seem fluid in reacting to plays in coverage. But as a safety who had the plays in front of him and could use his speed to close and hit like he did on special teams? That seemed promising to many in here.

        Reply

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