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Discussion: Offensive Line

By
angry
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27

Earlier this week I said what is most disconcerting about 2011 is that Riley seems intent on handing the starting job to the same group of offensive linemen.

From Cliff Kirkpatrick: as of today, this is the starting lineup and depth chart for next year:

  • Left tackle: Michael Philipp, Colin Lyons/Grant Enger
  • Left guard: Grant Johnson, Geoff Garner
  • Center: Josh Andrews, Aaron Magnuson, Roman Sapolu
  • Right guard: Burke Ellis, Michael Lamb
  • Right tackle: Mike Remmers, Colin Kelly

Let's look at each of these on by one.

While Michael Phillipp enrolled as a highly-touted, 4-star prospect, he's probably played a grade below that. Rumor is he was hurt much of this past season, which could explain why he looked more impressive as a freshman. Phillipp seems more suited to guard, so I'd rather see him replace Burke or Ellis.

Left guard Grant Johnson seemed to have the worst season of this group. I do not have the stats in front of me, so this is purely empirical, but there were an alarming number of penalties, missed blocks, and pushes into the backfield before the play could develop. To me Johnson and Burke are the two weakest links.

Center: Alex L was solid much of the year. His only flaw was that he could not execute shotgun snaps. This possibly cost the Beavers the game at TCU. Either way, he is gone, and Joshua Andrews is next in line. Personally, I felt Andrews should have been starting at guard in 2010. He was ready. But, okay, he's slated for center next year. He should do well there, but if Riley slides him out to guard and puts Sapolu at center the line suddenly has a lot more potential. Is Sapolu physically ready for that role? He came in undersized, but I hear he has a great motor and things clicked for him quickly. One more thing: who the heck is Aaron Magnuson and why is he on this list? Another walk-on as a backup??!

Right guard Burke Ellis didn't receive much heat this past season, other than being lumped in with the pejorative "one of 3 walk-ons". This is probably because his name was called out less than Johnson and Remmers. I don't know what to think of Ellis. He's not good in the sense he gets no push in the run game, but he wasn't horrible for a walk-on. If Michal Lamb is his backup, I say stick with Ellis, but the wildcard here is Mau Nomai. He was a high 3-star road grading recruit coming out of HS. He's had two years to physically mature, and with proper training over the next six months he should be able to get into playing shape. Nomani could possibly play guard as well.

Right tackle Mike Remmers is not a very good football player. That he'll have 3 years starting experience is his one perk. Maybe things finally click for him? He plays with a cavalier attitude, and always misses blocks or gets charged with a hold at the most inopportune times (e.g. Canfield driving for the winning score versus Cincy ring a bell?).

These eyes believe this is the best lineup:

  • Tackle: Grant Enger
  • Guard: Michael Phillipp
  • Center: Joshua Andrews
  • Guard: Mau Nomani
  • Tackle: Mike Remmers (lack of a better option)

Another acceptable variation would be this:

  • Tackle: Michael Phillip
  • Guard: Joshua Andrews
  • Center: Roman Sapolu
  • Guard: Mau Nomani
  • Tackle: Grant Enger

A final option:

  • Tackle: Michael Phillip
  • Guard: Geoff Garner
  • Center: Joshua Andrews
  • Guard: Mau Nomai
  • Tackle: Grant Enger

This is probably the strongest unit on paper, but it has the most assumptions in that Garner and Nomani regain playing weight and strength by summer. Also, a lot of people see Garner as a tackle rather than guard. I think he's better off at guard.

I'll say it again: the most disconcerting thing about this off-season has been Riley's reaffirmation that he's going with last year's line. This makes no sense. It is not as if that line didn't get a chance. They  had 12 games to show what they could do, and did just that. Riley's stubbornness and inability to mold and prepare the better talent on the roster should be THE major point of criticism if we see last years line starting versus Sacramento State. I am not here to blindly criticize without reason or without solution. I offered three valid lineups that would improve the team.

Thoughts? Other lineup suggestions?

Recruit Report Card: Tyler Trosin

By
angry
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17

Recruiting Card
 
Name: Tyler Trosin, WR
 
Angry's Rating

Notes: Extraordinary body control and hands. Good speed. uncanny ability to get open. high football i.q & winning h.s. program. Staying healthy will be his biggest d1 challenge.
Video| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob8Q8_BhAEQ

Recruiting 12/19

By
angry
-
51

Rivals is hinting that the Beavers have landed 4-star DE Davon Moreland.

They're notorious for this type of bluff just to gain memberships, so don't get too excited until it's official. To be fair, we've been hearing about Moreland for almost two months now so this is somewhat expected and probably true. After the Harrah debacle we need good news and fast.

Update: Yep, the hints were incorrect yet again. It’s Jabral Johnson, who actually committed to the Beavers over three months ago.

Good one, Rivals…lol.

Basketball: George Washington @ OSU

By
angry
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50

The Beavs and George Washington tip off at 4:30 local time. 

The criticism thus far is all valid:

  1. Coach Robinson's lineup experimentation is holding the team back.
  2. Robinson doesn't know how to use timeouts or manage a clock.
  3. The seniors need to ride the pine.
  4. A Pac-10 team cannot lose to such inferior opponents.

Etc. All points are true and valid.

That being said, you can call me contrarian, but I see a team on the precipice of "getting it". The Beavers have only been blown out only once, and their other 4 loses were by a combined 16 points. They are losing close games, but in these loses there has been growth. We saw Angus Brandt mature this past game, Roberto Nelson's defensive ability looks impressive, Starks has shown flashes, Collier looks like an ACC player, etc. I don't know when it will be, but at some point this season these things will come together consistently, and this team will win games we expect them to lose.

To me the best lineup is becoming clear:

  • Starks
  • Nelson
  • Cunningham
  • Collier
  • Johnson

Yes, it's small with Cunningham at forward, but that gives the Beavers three legit outside shooters and would force Collier's inside game, which is great, to develop quickly. Joe Burton and Angus Brandt could sub for one of the guards when bigger bodies are needed, and they could also backup the front court when rest is required. 

My cautious optimism is based on what I believe is the most valid criticism so far: that as long as Calvin Haynes and Lathan Wallace see significant minutes this team will continue to lose. If the shift toward the lineup I mention above continues (and it has begun) then I think the light bulb turns on sooner rather than later. If Haynes and Wallace play more than 8-10 minutes each, the team will continue to lose close games.

I also would like to add one more observation before signing off: the Beavers have lost all of these close games around the 9 minute mark in the second quarter. I'm learning it's the critical time in a ballgame. If today's contest is close, keep an eye on what they do at that juncture of the game. It's usually just a couple mental lapses that let the opponent go up by two or three possessions, and then the subsequent pressure turns into a frenetic pace where the Beavers lose all composure and spiral downward.

Anyway, below is the scouting report on George Washington.

George Washington snapped a four-game losing streak with a 73-67 win over Towson on Dec. 8 to improve its record to 3-5 with its other wins against Marist and Nevada. The Colonials went 16-15 last season, 6-10 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, and advanced to the College Basketball Invitational where they lost in the first round to Virginia Commonwealth, 79-73. Junior guard Tony Taylor leads the team in scoring (12.0 ppg), assists (5.0 apg) and steals. Senior center Joseph Katuka is averaging 9.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while freshman forward Nemanja Mikic is averaging 8.5 points per game and shooting 45 percent from three-point range (21of-47). George Washington had nine days off since the Towson game for final exams.

Today's game is available on TV (Fox Sports) and via radio.

I'm calling for a Beaver win, but it's based on the assumption that Robinson puts the right pieces in place.

Discussion: Beavers Juco Signings

By
angry
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73

For those who haven't followed recruiting for long, the logic behind signing junior college players is they're mentally mature, filled out, and ready to step in and contribute from day one. It's the latter I'm worried about with the two latest signings.

First let's examine DE Blake Harrah. In 2010, Harrah played for an average Saddleback team, and contributed a whopping 2.5 sacks in 11 games. Saddleback played a weak schedule and finished 8-3. That's besides the point; let's forget about Saddleback and ask the difficult question: how exactly does 2.5 sacks scream "give this kid a full scholarship!"? Compounding the matter is Harrah's offer sheet: Middle Tennessee State. Yes, that's all folks. Oh, Bowling Green had some interest as well, as if that makes the pill easier to swallow. In short, it is hard to imagine a DE who only registered 2.5 sacks against inferior competition will suddenly blossom against superior talent the Pac-12. Blake Harrah is Keith Pankey Mk II, pedigree and all.

Linked is Harrah's film. Decide for yourself.

Moving on…the second Juco signed was Rusty Fernando. While Fernando's offer sheet is long, it is not exactly impressive. Again we see Middle Tennessee State and Bowling Green, in addition to Utah State, South Dakota State, Northern Arizona, Idaho, and Ohio. His only respectable offer came from Hawaii, a team that would play a Lawrence Taylor Wheaties box on defense if it were legal. Fernando can at least claim production, earning 90 tackles and 8 sacks for a 6-4 Glendale squad.

Whether these guys turn out to be players…who knows. Personally, I feel both are reaches and neither will pan out. Rather than defensive end, Harrah looks better suited to either (a) the bench or (b) offensive guard. Fernando has some upside, but he's not the legit game changer for whom we're searching. Fans tend to reason out such signings and grasp at the bright spots in the always curiously limited film. Sure, if you watch the 1:25 mark of some hypothetical Youtube video you may see a great play that allows your mind to wander, hope, imagine. But what we all know deep down is that the great players do it every down, not once a year.

With the Christmas season upon us and off-season expectations high given the surfeit of free time, the coaching staff has delivered yet another recruiting sock o' coal. 

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