01.Feb.2012 Post LOI Thoughts

Filed In: Recruiting
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Nothing ground breaking here. As anyone can see, a very good offensive class, and a very poor defensive class. The best DT signed is Josh Mitchell, an offensive tackle. That's pretty bad. Mafi looks like the best LB in this group, and he was picked up off the scrap heap today. No Pac-12 caliber DEs signed today. Hasty looks to be an okay CB prospect. I actually like Kendall Hill at safety. Chris Miller? Who knows–can't find any reliable film. Noland? Nice/smart guy and all, but a borderline talent.

Just a really bad defensive effort, and this after a dreadful season, defensively.

There are a lot of delusional fans out there. For example:

Thank You Coaches!
I really appreciate their efforts this year. I can't remember getting so many recruits that also received multiple offers from other top programs. While we lost a few battles, we won many others.

Thank you coaches for your effort? Really? Like the effort in putting a fence around their only solid defensive players? Or the effort in hiring a coach within a 28 day window? Or the effort in game planning last year? Yeah, great effort guys. Bravo!

And this gem:

Rather than lament who ain't with us, I say WELCOME NEW BEAVERS!    
I'm a dad of an athlete…these are always tough decisions.

Your parents clearly raised you right…you chose US!

Welcome to you and may your career and education at Oregon State exceed your wildest expectations.

That's just insane. Whatever helps you wake up in the morning, buddy.

I'm trying to be positive about the class. When I do that, I think, "Okay, great offensive lineman, great set of tight ends, and a nice RB/WR combo." But then reality sets in, and there's no way these defenders stop any D1 team. No playmakers in the group, and a lot of low hanging fruit (or even worse, rotting fruit that fell off the tree all together). Hiring a DB coach probably would have made a lot of sense. When will the Riley apologists run out of excuses?

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  • ObjCritic says:
    February 1, 2012 at 8:10 pm
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    Riley compares Skotte to Keaton Kristick…’nuff said.

    I wonder if Hasiak could play DT? I know he’s been at OT, but he’s big, must have decent feet to play OT, and apparently has a mean streak. It seems like there is enough depth to re-purpose him. That may sound desperate, but its desperate times.

    Most of last year’s d-lineman were too slow to be good ends, to small to be good DT’s. Maybe OSU is changing its defensive scheme and just going to rotate a high number of d-lineman that MIGHT be starters if they were at Portland State.

    Disappointing as well was the lack of movement on the coaching hire. Compounding my frustration with Riley’s slow response time, was his statement that he maintains a list of potential coaching hires to in the event he needs to replace staff. If that’s the case, why take so long? If there’s a good reason for the slow response time, communicate it!

    Had OSU kept Young, and Wallace, they would have taken the edge off the disappointment. We knew Riley was stubborn in his denial about the need for DT’s so I’m not surprised/disappointed there.

    Positives – Chris Brown is a GREAT commitment, and a little surprising to me. The O-Line and tight ends are very, very encouraging. Brown may really keep OSU drives going and be the big-play threat at RB that OSU often lacks (Jackson, Quizz excepted).

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  • ObjCritic says:
    February 1, 2012 at 8:43 pm
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    It will take years to recover from these kind of defensive line recruiting results:

    2011 – http://oregonstate.scout.com/a.z?s=182&p=9&c=8&yr=2011

    2010 – http://oregonstate.scout.com/a.z?s=182&p=9&c=8&yr=2010

    2009 – http://oregonstate.scout.com/a.z?s=182&p=9&c=8&yr=2009

    look at those signees, consider Thompson’s tragic passing, and tell us DT is not a priority?

    Unless these guys are making SERIOUS weight gains and not losing what speed they have, how can they be expected to compete in the pac-12? Sure there are some good ends…

    Next year’s game with Wisconsin will again call into specific relief the inadequacies of OSU’s d-line.

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  • dickassman says:
    February 1, 2012 at 8:44 pm
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    where are those comments from? oregon live? scout forum?

    Reply
  • ObjCritic says:
    February 1, 2012 at 8:50 pm
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    Contrast Riley’s failure to close again with Burton’s results, and clearly stated goals, at Portland State:

    “With his feet up, his bags packed for a staff retreat and what looks to be the best signing class in Portland State history in his pocket, Nigel Burton was all smiles Wednesday morning.

    By 10 a.m., with all but two of the 23 letters of intent already signed and in, the only question remaining was which coach would have to buy breakfast on account of having the last letter turned in (tight end coach Matt Leunen ended up losing).

    “This is how signing day is supposed to be,” said a visibly relaxed Burton.

    “But even with the two defections, the Vikings signed a class that is unprecedented both for the depth of its talent and its origins (see full list of signees). With three players deemed 3-star recruits by Rivals.com and seven players who received two stars, Craig Haley, the FCS Director for The Sports Network, singled out the Vikings class as one of the top in all the FCS.

    Burton appreciated the accolades but raised the bar.

    “Next year I want them to say that clearly Portland State has the best talent at the FCS level,” he said. ”

    http://www.oregonlive.com/vikings/index.ssf/2012/02/national_signing_day_portland.html

    Reply
    • mckalk says:
      February 1, 2012 at 9:30 pm
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      Shit, I hope BDC read that article and will keep the Viks off of the Beaver schedule for the next four plus years!

      Reply
  • HopefulBeav says:
    February 1, 2012 at 8:58 pm
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    An improved offense will actually help the defense (or lack thereof). If you remember last year, our defense actually held their own early on in the games against teams like Oregon and Wisconsin. The major problem was that our offense couldn’t stay on the field long enough to give them a break and as a result they tired out with no real depth behind the starters.

    That being said, I’m equally as disappointed that our coaches didn’t make the defense (DT in particular) a bigger priority. Because of this we’re now in a position of hoping our defense doesn’t lose us all of our games instead of thinking the defense can actually win us a few games. Players like Poyer, Crichton and Wynn (maybe even Unga) are going to be stars next year, but I don’t think there are enough players around them for us to be able to have anything better than a decent defense.

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    • mckalk says:
      February 1, 2012 at 9:39 pm
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      That would be my “glass half full” viewpoint. If the Beavs end up having a kick ass O-line and Chris Brown is a hard nosed, 30 carry ball security RB, then you slow down the game on offense and become run first with play action in hopes of keeping the defense off of the field with long drives. God knows opposing teams did it to the Beavs over and over the past three seasons.

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      • Beavergopher says:
        February 2, 2012 at 6:51 am
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        Good luck with that when the Ducks score a TD in two plays. Leach will light us up. Losing those CB’s really hurt us.

        Reply
        • mckalk says:
          February 2, 2012 at 8:05 am
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          I’m NOT saying they would beat the Ducks with that strategy, I’m just trying to figure out a scenario where they win more games then they lose!!!!

          Reply
  • KC says:
    February 1, 2012 at 9:15 pm
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    While there are plenty of signee to be pleased with I have to agree with Angry. This effort stunk and really showed how stank it was when Heyward dipped for his alma mater…. no wait, left his alma mater for the Huskies? There’s a word for this, but I can’t think of one that carries the appropriate shame + severity.

    Reply
    • angry says:
      February 1, 2012 at 9:20 pm
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      Treasonous?

      Actually, I can’t blame the guy since he was doing all the dirty work for the least pay. As always, it goes back to Riley (i.e. him not valuing that employee).

      Reply
    • Afghanbeav says:
      February 1, 2012 at 9:26 pm
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      Judas Iscariot?

      Reply
  • angry says:
    February 1, 2012 at 9:41 pm
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    Today was the busiest day in AngryBeav history, surpassing last year’s LOI day by 2k hits. I’d say “thanks, guys”, but I don’t really get anything out of it other than a smidgen of pride in being the anti-status quo site and watching that faction grow…

    Reply
    • numbers says:
      February 2, 2012 at 12:17 am
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      Its just 20 of us refreshing 100 times. Haha. Good one stop shop for news + realistic insight today.

      Reply
      • angry says:
        February 2, 2012 at 12:21 am
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        Haha.
        No, there are 150 subscribers, and a bunch more lurkers. Google analytics has the site with over 3000 unique visitors.

        Reply
  • Kenny Beaver says:
    February 1, 2012 at 9:41 pm
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    Kirk Herbstreet today said the Pac-12′s good teams (Oregon, USC, and Stanford) all got even better.
    Washington and UCLA made strides to be better.
    The rest did not do enough to significantly improve themselves.
    This from a guy who says star rankings less than 4 or 5 don’t matter.
    Just an outsider’s viewpoint that is probably less biased than most.

    Reply
    • angry says:
      February 1, 2012 at 9:46 pm
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      I’m still not sold on Stanford. Shaw isn’t a good coach, and he won’t have Luck. They signed an incredible class, though. Three 5 stars and ten 4-stars? Wow.

      Reply
      • WFO says:
        February 2, 2012 at 12:36 am
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        I think Shaw is the next Tedford. He’ll sign some good classes while riding the Harbaugh/Luck legend but he won’t be able to do anything with them.

        I give him 4 years tops.

        Reply
  • angry says:
    February 1, 2012 at 9:51 pm
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    Is this some kind of joke?

    This is the DT we signed: http://vimeo.com/32386104

    Forget the guy’s play (which is terrible), just look at that video. Can you imagine USC, Oregon, Stanford, Cal, Washington et al ever signing a guy with a video that looked like that?! He’s the Blair Witch Project of DTs

    lololol

    Reply
    • dickassman says:
      February 1, 2012 at 10:02 pm
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      can’t expect much from a baptist church.

      Reply
      • OSU4Life says:
        February 1, 2012 at 11:38 pm
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        What is that supposed to mean?

        Reply
        • CraigBeav says:
          February 2, 2012 at 6:17 am
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          Probably that a baptist church isn’t going to put at the same video quality as a paid for marketing firm. Or it could mean that Christians are terrible at AV in general… who knows? :)

          Reply
    • michaelm says:
      February 1, 2012 at 10:09 pm
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      I don’t watch too many of these recruit videos, but I feel safe assuming this was the only D-1 signee who’s highlights were set to “Paradise City.”

      Reply
    • Bob says:
      February 2, 2012 at 9:01 am
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      At least the guy put some decent music to his video instead of that bullshit rap crap.

      Dickintheassman is probably a catholic, and we all know what goes on behind closed doors in the catholic church, in fact, maybe that’s his issue, what with his name and all…

      Reply
  • beaverkman says:
    February 1, 2012 at 10:04 pm
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    Back from the recruiting dinner, stuffed, very good event classy well done. Petros was good, not as funny as I thought he’d be, but good. Matt Moore was a highlight and was excellent himself has a 10 month old girl. Talked highly of Riley and staff and relived several past OSU memories.

    There wasn’t too much new on the recruits, Riley did go through each one individually but he didn’t add anything that has not been said by him during his radio interviews today. Things that stood, were Chris Brown (immediate available to compete for RB spot), both TE’s will enter in Spring and both are tall and big and fast (Smith had an impressive fly sweep from the TE position where he took it 60 + yards for the score). The Weinricht and Andrews both look like they can play right away, as their size just dominated the competition. Riley had some great things to say about Skotte, especially that he runs track sprints in the spring, he’s fast and big.

    We sat next to the undergraduates who work in the football office, specifically the watch alot of tape on recruits and specifically the Offensive Line. He said Isaac will come in and play right away. He also mention that the other two guys could push for playing time. He did mention that the staff doesn’t really know now who will play what position and that the coach’s will just play with different combinations in the Spring. Garner and Enger are expected to miss Spring (I think those were the two). I asked him about some of the other recruits out there, he said Murphy is a good player, but that he wasn’t so impressed with Peat.

    Stan Hasiak Riley said is somebody who has gone through some “growing pains” and is now learned from those and is “ready” to ball and has matured.

    Riley talked about the kids from AS saying how they have great coaches with a good passion for tootball. He said that Toga is a guy the Coach Joe really likes and they expect early results from him.

    That’s about all I can remember. He said the JC LB’s would be great at providing depth and provide excellent special teams help.

    Overall its a solid class. It would have been a hgh B class if we would have kept the CB’s we lost. Lawler would’ve been nice, but he wasn’t essential. It does lack in a few areas, like CB’s and DT’s. But you know the proof is in the pudding, or the wins. They have some guys they can win with, but the coaches will have their work cut out for them, by not making it easier on themselves. Its a make it or break it year for the staff, and I think they know it.

    Reply
  • presleydog says:
    February 1, 2012 at 10:13 pm
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    Come on Angry this is a pretty solid class especially considering the year we just came off of and maybe the best class we have coming off the Fiesta Bowl. Its not elite, by any means, and yeah we lost some guys, but its no reason to go slitting your wrists.

    As far Noke Tago, he played his first year of organized football in the 2011 season … Scout.com described him as “a raw, but explosive talent.” … First year, grey shirt this guy and who knows.

    You should remember that Paea was a guy with a limited football background, that turned out pretty well, and by the way no one else wanted. There aren’t that many guys that size walking around on this planet. yes they are taking a chance and he is a project but sometimes those can pay off in a big way. I do like the Somoa connection.

    Reply
    • Kenny Beaver says:
      February 2, 2012 at 12:11 pm
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      Actually the statement about Paea is incorrect. He was a 3 star JC recruit that BYU, Utah and Texas A&M wanted among others.

      Reply
  • jasonthebeaver says:
    February 1, 2012 at 10:26 pm
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    Angry you’re really up and down sometimes dude. What’s wrong with that second quote in your opener?!
    You’re just looking to be negative, not critical in a helpful way.
    The Dad that wrote that is being positive about something he has no control of anyway. Losers complain and continue to find fault and more reasons to continue to complain. People who succeed in life complain a little then move on.
    I totally agree with many of you about the polyannas holding this program back, but swinging the pendulum just as far to the other side doesn’t help, it just makes you bitter.

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    • angry says:
      February 1, 2012 at 10:37 pm
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      It’s a solid offensive class.
      The second comment is so embarrassing. I’m never negative for the sake of it, and I am definitely not slitting my wrists over anything Riley/Beaver related.

      Reply
      • jasonthebeaver says:
        February 2, 2012 at 11:00 am
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        “Rather than lament who ain’t with us, I say WELCOME NEW BEAVERS!
        I’m a dad of an athlete…these are always tough decisions.
        Your parents clearly raised you right…you chose US!
        Welcome to you and may your career and education at Oregon State exceed your wildest expectations.”

        Embarrassing huh? Wow. If that statement is embarrassing to you then what would you rather a parent say to the players that just signed with us?
        Never mind. Too much negativity from several people in here.

        Reply
        • Jack says:
          February 2, 2012 at 11:52 am
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          “Your parents clearly raised you right…you chose US!”

          THAT makes it highly embarrassing. If that was left out, then it’s an innocuous congratulatory statement which I would support. Instead, he chooses to go negative on every other school in existence?

          I’ll support enthusiasm… even over-bearing enthusiasm on days like this. But your parents raised you right? What’s the reason for insulting other parents? What’s the logic if the same parents have kids attending other schools? Are they then poor parents to our OSU kids’ siblings?

          I’m hoping it was just an attempt to be tongue in cheek gone awry. But that doesn’t make it less embarrassing.

          Reply
          • oneoldbeav says:
            February 2, 2012 at 9:50 pm
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            Jack, I think you are over analyzing here, to me it’s just a statement of enthusiasm. Maybe tongue in cheek but not really gone awry, IMHO.

            Reply
            • Jack says:
              February 2, 2012 at 10:58 pm
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              I’m not the one who made a definitive statement. You can’t over-analyze it.

              It almost sounds like something a con man or a cult leader would say.

              Reply
              • oneoldbeav says:
                February 3, 2012 at 9:27 am
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                A con man or cult leader? How about a proud parent who is enthused about his/her kid participating in College athletics? Maybe as a big frog in a small pond or just in a pond.

                BTW, as we all agree, a large part of OS(U)’s problem is accepting that we have to be in the “small pond” category.

                Reply
                • jasonthebeaver says:
                  February 3, 2012 at 12:22 pm
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                  Right, a cult leader. Seriously, a cult leader?! Amazing conclusion.

                  Sounds like someone could benefit by stepping away from the glare of the computer screen at least once a day; try something outdoors for a change of pace.

                  Reply
                  • Jack says:
                    February 3, 2012 at 12:46 pm
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                    You choose the trail, and I’ll beat you up and back. You name the hole, and I’ll pull more and bigger fish out.

                    Are you guys blind to the statement? Your parents raised you right? Are you kidding me. If I was one of those kid’s father, I would be highly insulted. Some bumpus is judging me and my kid on the condition that s/he went to their favorite school?

                    That’s bush league shit that only the weak of mind fall for. It’s a perfect example of totalism, and it makes the completion of their recruitment really creepy.

                  • Jack says:
                    February 3, 2012 at 12:47 pm
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                    Heh heh…

                    added an extra character to my email

  • presleydog says:
    February 1, 2012 at 10:51 pm
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    one more point here OSU only has 13 scholarship openings that means 9 of these guys are going to grey shirt. who is on schollie and who grey-shirts?

    Reply
    • matt b says:
      February 2, 2012 at 7:43 am
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      You’ve hit on the main problem, not just another point. With only 13 or so open schollies, OSU has to commit next year’s capital today just to get by. The defections were all inevitable because OSU did/does not have schollies to give today. The run up to signing day was fake, phony and dishonest because the existing schollie class makeup is unbalanced and will take a couple of years to fix. They are operating the recruitment side of the business like Countrywide Loans. How is it that OSU can have less slots available than USC, a team that has forfeited 5 spots?

      Reply
  • presleydog says:
    February 1, 2012 at 11:10 pm
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    Schollie
    Isaac Seumalo OL
    Cade Cowdin LB
    Chris Brown RB
    Tyler Hasty CB
    Malik Gilmore WR
    Dyllon Mafi LB
    Stan Hasiak OL
    Dustin Stanton TE
    Caleb Smith TE
    Joel Skotte LB
    Plus 3 more

    Maybe
    Grant Bays OL
    Cyril Noland S
    Kendall Hill S
    Caleb Saulo LB
    Garrett Weinreich OL
    Chase Eldredge OL
    Gavin Andrews OL
    Josh Mitchell OL
    Chris Miller S
    Brent VanderVeen QB

    Greyshirt
    Noke Tago DL
    Garrett Owens PK
    Zack Robinson ATH
    Rommel Mageo LB

    Reply
  • beaverkman says:
    February 2, 2012 at 10:21 am
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    Yes it was Brooks, he was very polite and forthcoming. He was very proud of the work they did and he had some good stories. Including one about Gavin Andrews when he picked him up at the airport and how HUGE he was. Now Brooks will never be confused for a cross country athlete, being an ex-OL himself. But when he meet Gavin he said that when they shook hands Gavin’s hand completely swallowed up his hand. He’s big Boy!

    He also told us about how he was from Mission Vejo and played OL under head coach Rob Johnson(ex-Trojan and NFL QB) who was the quarterback when Riley was his QB coach at USC. Brooks expressed to Rob his desire to be in football and Rob called Riley and set it where he could be undergrad asst, and he came up here and Enrolled and is majoring in Business Managment. He also mentioned that the Usc aurora ways heavily on recruits down there, if you are offered by USC you accept it done deal. He was very genuine and pleasant.

    Reply
    • osbeavs says:
      February 2, 2012 at 11:25 am
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      That is good to hear. I met home when he first joined our program. I was wondering hoe he was doing. I remember when he and jay car on board. I see jay on the sidelines a lot because he signals in the plays, but brooks not as much.

      Reply

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