Hypothetical: Jacquizz Rodgers bolts for the NFL after his junior season. Fans and coaches alike have to start preparing for that possibility. That James is a year ahead only increases the odds Quizz leaves early to play with his brother. Best case scenario he’s a Beav the next two seasons, but what happens after that?
Are you convinced anyone on the roster can step in and produce 1,500 yards and 20+ TDs?
Dubious at best.
Assume Quizz leaves his senior year. That leaves Jordan Jenkins, Terron Ward, Jovan Stevenson, and Malcolm Marable in the running back stable. Do any of these guys jump out as viable starters?
We have a standard now. It’s Quizz. Maybe that isn’t fair, but the bar has been set, and that’s what we fans expect.
So when I read something like this (from Cliff Kirkpatrick) I become concerned:
The Beavers are at the point they don’t have to go after any special needs the way they did last year when the defensive line was a concern. They have depth in all areas.
Is this Cliff’s opinion or is it rooted in conversation with Riley? I have a note into Cliff asking that question. I hope it’s just opinion, because if Mike Riley doesn’t sense both the urgency and opportunity at RB you have to be concerned. Especially the latter; that is, the opportunity.
What better time to go after a blue chip back? Use Quizz’s Heisman hype to get a highly touted player into the program. The guys behind him are “serviceable” but not exactly viable starters or dangerous players. Some people think Ward is going to be that guy. Maybe. It’s too early to say. But OSU gets this type of (Heisman) hype once every 40 years; they have to take advantage of it on the recruiting trail. If the best you can do from an incumbent’s Heisman run is Terron Ward and Jordan Jenkins then you are a bad recruiter. Anything short of signing a blue chip RB in lieu of Quizz’s career should be considered squandered opportunity. And that’s wording it nicely. But seriously, if there’s a program in America that could be befuddled by positive media attention it’s OSU.
Update from Cliff:
Both. That’s how he feels. Then if you look at the team’s depth chart, the Beavers have people lined up at various degrees of experience.
Wow.
Marable looks pretty good, small…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVUP0vwRwg4
We’ll see with Marable. He looks like he has many good attributes, but he just doesn’t look like he has ‘it’.
After watching that video a couple times I really am starting to warm to Marable, guy looks quick and has some good top speed and balance. In the tradition of small OSU backs I’m happy with Riley’s pick here, and it’ll be interesting to see how those two develop over the years. Quizz is just an amazing back, it’ll be hard to replace both him and his brother.
When I watch Marable run, I think to myself that he’ll be a good NFL back one day. I feel the same way when I watch Kenjon Barner. He has everything you want in a RB, but he just doesn’t shine like a star. He’ll be a pro, and he may start somewhere for a couple years. But he’ll never be that guy you draft in the first round of your fantasy draft.
Quizz has ‘it’. He just runs with a purpose outside of the game itself.
Marable might be a better prospect if we were to start heading back to the split backfield. I don’t think the pendulum has swung back to that set yet, but it’s on its way.
Marable a pro? I don’t see it.
Barner, sure. He’s got top-end speed and those shifty hips.
Speed would be the knock. I think he looks a lot like Barner on tape.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SQl2P_E4eA
Marable looks like he could be a stud return man and maybe would be better suited as a receiver kinda like a james rodgers
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this is Quizz’s last year. I think OSU is underselling the Heisman campaign and the direct and indirect opportunities it could bring, including a top RB recruit.
(I am not normally in support of such campaigns, but the Rodgers brothers are great kids, excellent examples, hard workers, and they produce at a high level. Why not take advantage of this opportunity?)
This is the PERFECT time to court some blue chip RB’s, especially with the weapons at the skill positions and the (hopefully) improving offensive line.
Without a bluechipper, I predict a drop off in running back production like OSU saw that year they started the season against LSU.
I’m one who thinks Ward can be the man. I also like our targeting players like Courtney Williams, Brandon Wright and Jared Baker. They’re all on the small side, but they all have elite speed. If you’re talking about blue-chips like Green and Brown from Texas, I wouldn’t hold my breath. Maybe if they see us in Dallas and feel compelled to take Quizz’ place… but they’re being courted by everyone in the world.
Another blue-chip that doesn’t seem to be getting as much love is Dorian Brown out of Colorado. He’s getting some interest, but he doesn’t have the twenty offers I think he might deserve. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in black.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4asUZa_VFek
He ran by everyone at the 2:12 mark on the kick off for a return. He has speed and vision… I too could see him in Black/Orange
That was the worst tackling I’ve ever seen.
It’s not the best video ever. He does a lot of beating on people as they try to tackle him… a la Steven Jackson.
Angry, I think the depth comment is a little smug, but I think you have to look back over the past twelve years and admit the OSU system has produced a quartet of outstanding college running backs. I’ve always been told if you can repeat success more than three times it is not luck it is the by product your system and execution. I am more concerned about depth other areas, not real concerned about RB.
No way Quiz leaves for the NFL this year. He’s way too small to play the NFL game. If he plays at the next level it’s going to be for the Europe or Canadian leages at best
If only he was as big as players like Barry Sanders, Eric Metcalf, Joe Morris, Dave Meggett and Darren Sproles.
Moron.
I apologize. You may have never heard of any of those players, so my outburst may be unwarranted.
I have to agree with Noghri, I don’t think Quizz generates much NFL interest. However, precedent for the little guy in the NFL has been set for a long time. Here’s a quick compare:
Quizz 5’7″ 188# 40 time: 4.49
Sproles 5’6″ 180 40: 4.48
Darrell Green: 5’9″ 184 40: 4.15
Simonton: 5’7″ 201 40: 4.45
Barry Sanders: 5’8″ 200 40: 4.25
And of course the ones that Jack mentions, which I didn’t look up. Quizz doesn’t show on paper to have the burner speed, but does have quickness. His size and speed compare pretty closely with Sproles, so who the hell knows here? I threw Simonton in just as a compare of past OSU “successful RB” and how he faired in the NFL. How much of Quizz’ future NFL potential will be based on where he’s gone to college?
Interesting point of view and a little surprising. FWIW I think there’s more than one “draftnik” (Kiper, et al) out there who considers Quizz to be one of the top 3 RB’s available next draft. I think Quizz is pretty highly regarded. I also think his work on both strength and speed are going to be noticeable for both OSU fans next year and NFL talent evaluators.
Not sure how you left Jones-Drew off that list.
If you go back 20 years the list grows to about 30 “short” running backs. Quizz is considered a good NFL prospect at this point. With a big season, he could propel into the higher rounds and leave.
I didn’t want to appear as if I was favoring Ward because he mirrors MJD’s success at the same school.
Or I just forgot him. :)
I really hope we offer JC Reggie Bullock, and he happens to go to the same JC as Jessie Williams. Kid looks legit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVlE_AoIzqg
JC *RB
If I had to predict, I would say that Jared Baker is going to be a RB target of importance. I’m almost sure that Riley has heard everything about Baker from Jeff Kearin, a good friend of his and a former coach at Loyola. He has moved up here… to McMinnville I think.
There seems to be a lot of coaching talent moving up here, and the player talent level seems to be increasing within Oregon as well. I don’t remember the last time I could name this many prospects who will be playing D-I ball.
I realize this is WAY OFF topic for this post, but big news out of OSU today with LaVonda Wagner being fired (women’s BB coach). Expose’ from local Corvallis rag and more recently the Oregonian on her mistreatment of players. Although the “facts” aren’t in from an objective source, certainly the recent attrition from the women’s squad brings credibility to this story (not to mention her firing).
Now what is being raised is the notion of DeCarolis and what oversight and/or negligence he has had in this whole affair. Some questioning if his should be the next neck on the chopping block? It does make one wonder, especially after reading some of the stories from the recently departed women players and some of the crap they had to endure. Also proof from some of the player parents formally complaining to BDC and Ed Ray about this some time ago.
Wondering if others have thoughts about this? Would BDC seriously be considered negligent here? Fired? If that happened, what would this mean for OSU (a positive or negative in the long run)? Riley promoted to AD, leaving open a head coaching position? (ok, i’m probably seriously stretching the realm of imagination or possibility here…). Angry, I don’t believe women’s sports is covered on this blog regularly (or at all?), but do the implications of this in the athletic dept warrant a new thread?
I’m going to side with Bobby D on this one unless OSU pays Wagner on her buy out.
Here’s how I see it:
Major programs always have attrition, and with that comes stories of people not getting along. So previous years’ attrition and rumors are visited with little afterthought. When the parents began to get involved, Ray and Bobby D couldn’t respond openly to their complaints due to the nature of Wagner’s employment. They could start a process of investigation and documentation, but they couldn’t really do much with hearsay. As Wagner’s employer, all they could do was pretty much say, “She is an employee here, and we support our employees.”
So Bobby D took the end of the season as an opportunity to hire an objective investigator to aid him in the annual review that apparently occurs for all coaches and staffs. And I’m sure that investigation has uncovered stuff we will never know… nor should we. That employer/employee confidentiality should remain intact. Now, If Wagner chooses to pursue monies for which she feels entitled, then she can open that can of worms herself. Otherwise, it remains confidential. That’s why Bobby D’s announcement today was so nicey-nicey.
What really sucks is that Wagner’s references and public demeanor gave her a pass for so long. Let’s remember that we’re not dealing with a moron here. She’s a highly intelligent individual who knows how to manipulate in order to succeed. That makes the process even longer than normal. It also gave the players and others pause when they wanted to object to her ways. The AD’s office had to walk on egg shells while the process wore on.
I especially love the morons who think the length of the process was due to Wagner’s race or gender. There’s a Duck moron hitting blogs about this very subject, saying crap like ‘if she were a white male she would have been fired long ago.’ Yet this moron forgets that Bev Smith was fired for not getting to the postseason–at $200K per year. What does that moron think now that the UO is paying 300% of Smith’s salary to a white male who still doesn’t take the team to the postseason?
The liability is too great for Bobby D to comment on any of the crap Wagner did even now that she’s gone. Public opinion may not like the process, but Bobby D had to be smart about it. It may get ugly in the near future, but OSU and all of Wagner’s victims will be protected from here on out because everything was done by the book.
All that said, and Bobby D grants Wagner a pass with the buy out.
Anybody have any huevos Bobby D can borrow for just a split second?
I understand your point Jack and essentially agree with your assessment. This is probably exactly what went down (and I have it from a pretty reliable source locally, that she knew this was coming as long as 3 weeks ago).
From a management standpoint, BDC’s negligence could have come in the form of lack of reprimands to Wagner upon receiving the numerous complaints he got from both players and parents, not to mention the defections. However, as you imply, there was undoubtedly TONS of backroom discussions that occurred us Joe Q Public’s will never know about.
I do also agree that OSU is taking the wimpy way out of this by giving her the payout. I’m sure all the attorneys on retainer have pored over this decision and probably decided this is the cheapest way out for OSU. It’s unfortunate, bad deeds should not go unpunished. Oh well, I beleive in Karma – she will suffer the consequences of her behavior sometime, somewhere. It just leaves the university with another black eye.
Yea, it would be awesome to get Baker. I hear he filled in spectacularly for Barr.
There were people talking about Barr as an ‘athlete’ because he didn’t perform like Baker did. It was kinda funny. Barr was still very productive. Just because he looked like a giant RB doesn’t mean he wasn’t a real RB.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6EO-0djU1w
This kids pretty good
I like Jarrell Oliver, but I don’t think he’s as interested in us as we are in him. Watch his tape again, and tell me he doesn’t look like Mike Hart or a slow Jaime Morris. I love the heart, and I especially love a kid who’s not afraid to run it up the gut. But I think he wants to play where the two I mentioned played. And I think 4.5 is generous.
If you want a hard-nosed RB who just likes to run over people, take a look at Jonny Martin. I ran across him when I was watching Chance Early tape.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPstIH-NET4
Learn your OSU football history Angry.
No one thought much of Simonton, he turned out OK
No one thought much of Bernard, he turned out OK
Quizz was thought to be to small to be an every down back, he is doing OK.
Riley is world’s better and seeing talent that fits his system then you are. If he feels he has a group of RBs that can step up next year or in 2012, then good chance they will. 2004, was the only year since 1999 OSU hasn’t had a 1,000 yard rusher. Just because the guy doesn’t have a 5star rating, doesn’t mean he won’t be good.
First of all, let’s be honest about Bernard. What was his longest run, 20 yards? He was okay/serviceable. I don’t think Bernard struck fear in any defenses.
Second, Quiz was a 4-star back (scout.com). End of that ridiculous point of yours.
Third, Simonton benefited from a good passing game and also played at a time when the conference was on a downswing. It’s more balanced now.
Also, Simonton was a USC recruit. Let’s not act like he’d be under the radar in this day and age.
Just admit you’re wrong and want to bag on Riley. It’s far more simpler then spinning your excuses.
Bernard had three years in which I believe he had 1300 plus yards. I could careless if he broke long runs, he put up great numbers. Quizz and Simonton never had long runs. You wouldn’t take that year after year?
WOW, Quizz was a four star? Doesn’t change the fact, most people felt he could carry the ball 25-30 times a game.
In case you haven’t noticed Angry, I think you are a complete idiot. And your replies only help prove my point. Funny thing is, I kind of think Cliff K thinks you’re an idiot as well.
It was fun to revisit this post and confirm that you were in fact the idiot.
Simonton was verbally committed to USC until the coach who recruited him left and became the head coach at… Oregon State. He also failed to gain 1000 yards in 2001, his senior year. I remember this because he would have become the first Pac 10 running back in history to rush for over 1000 yards four times.
I am in the middle on whether we have good depth at RB, I want to see the new recruits play before I comment on that. That said, just because Riley says we have depth doesn’t mean we are solid. Just before Quizz came everyone thought we were stacked because we had “thunder and lightning”, McCants and Frances. McCants has turned out to be a bust, lacks “thunder” and fumbles the ball. I liked Frances but he left (for honorable reasons). I can’t imagine where our program would be without Quizz. We lack depth at many positions, that is what OSU is building now. At many positions we are only one player from being the next Wash. St, I agree that we must go out and recruit that “it” back. If we have depth now, more can’t hurt. Riley runs the offense through the RB, without we are screwed.
I personally believe we have a great chance at getting Oliver. I know a die-hard Michigan fan, and he said they are cooling off a lot on him because they have Dee Hart just about locked up.
I don’t know how much you can relax if you think you have a Florida RB wrapped up. I think he’s an early grad, but you really have to watch out for those SEC and ACC coaches who will do anything to get a kid like Hart.
Then we have to wait and see where RichRod will be after next fall. If he’s gone, will Michigan stay with the read option? If they do, will that Adidas school go after some successful Nike school’s spread option coach whose name escapes me at the moment?
It was speculated he would commit on May 22nd at Michigan’s BBQ, but he couldn’t make it. I would say at least 80% he’s blue.
Another QB to USC. Just disgusting.
Not like we need one. Let Fink destroy young QB’s. I just hope these kids plan on getting an education.
Or maybe they’re smart enough to know that they’ll be upperclassmen when Fink and his Ogre leave a tattered USC, and they’ll get a shot with a real coach.
I’ve heard we were looking at this kid. Anyone have any news on him?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aJ_OAlsZg8
Man, I really want to get a commit soon. It’s painful watching all of these other Pac-10 schools stockpile guys.
This happens every year.