Home Football Oregon State @ UCLA (Game Thread)

Oregon State @ UCLA (Game Thread)

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The spread has dropped from -11 to -7.5, Bruins. People are starting to wise up.

If Banker could stop mobile QBs, I'd probably take the Beavs today. UCLA is on a high and patting themselves on the back; the have USC next weekend and likely are thinking about that game. Beavs seem to have some confidence and swagger.

That darn mobile QB, though.

If Banker can somehow figure out a way to stop him, I think the Beavs take this one. Maybe we'll see Trent Bray's influence on the LB corp again and they'll play fast and make the tackles. I am torn because I like the Beav's chances yet I have no faith in Banker stopping Hundley or the read option formations. I do have faith in Bray, but how much influence does he have? Tough call this early in the season. I'm changing my pick from UCLA to a pick 'em/FG game. Team with the ball last wins.

Edit: Beavs redzone offense has been bad for several years, and almost killed them in week 2. That will be another key.

414 COMMENTS

  1. I agree. I really want to have confidence, but.. too many unknowns.

    UCLA has a young O-line, if our D-line handles them today then we win. Because they have a young quarterback and a ton of pressure will mount if we disassemble their run game.

  2. I believe whom ever gains the momentum and point scoring in the first half will dominate 2nd half play. If it is a defensive game, ie., close score, then I agree with your analogy Angry. Turnovers and special teams will play big in this game.

  3. It’s hard to get a feel because we have a good feel for what the Bruins are, but we don’t know what the Beavs are yet…game 1 could have been an aberration since Wisconsin isn’t very good this year. It’s going to make predicting games difficult all year since everyone has two games on the Beavs.

  4. I’m predicting a big OSU win. I’m usually pretty pessimistic by nature, but I’ve just got a feeling in my bones.

    OOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
    SSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!
    UUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!
    OREGON STATE!!!!!!!
    FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!!!!!!

  5. Just made an edit: Beavs redzone offense has been bad for several years, and almost killed them in week 2. That will be another key.

    Also, Wisconsin struggling with UTEP in the 4th quarter.

  6. So….all set up. Snacks…check, Beer……check. Wife say’s “you should call XXXXXXX and see if he would like to come over and watch the game.”

    PB: Hey…”.XXXXXXXX”… How about coming over at 12:30 and watch the game.

    XXXXXXX: “Who’s playing?”

    PB: Click…dial tone.

    PS: Don’t have a good feel. UCLA three good games under their belt at home with a mobile QB. OSU.. second game after weeks of waiting, unproven offense, on the road. Bruins 35 Beavs 10

  7. I went back this week and reviewed most of the Beaver’s first game win over Wisconsin, focusing on the line of scrimmage, and using slow motion to figure out who was doing what on each play. Based on that review, and based on the little I’ve seen and read about UCLA, I like the Beaver’s chances today against the Bruins. Here’s why:

    1) I think OSU’s defense is for real. We are better at just about every position than we were last year, either because of new, young, talented players (safeties Murphy and Zimmerman) or players who are bigger, stronger, faster, and more experienced than they were last year (Poyer, Reynolds, Crichton, Wynn, Welch, et al). The defense is playing with more physicality and also with more discipline, making OSU’s gap cancellation schemes effective (unlike last year). And we are taking advantage of our experience and personnel to do a better job of mixing up the looks we present to the offense, and running stunts to confuse our opponent’s blocking schemes. Facing a talented but young and inexperienced UCLA O-line, and a first-year QB who locks on his receivers, OSU’s defense should be effective today. As Angry suggests, the main challenge will be keeping outside containment to avoid the UCLA QB from killing us on scrambles and broken plays. Fingers crossed on that…

    2) I think OSU’s O-line is much better than last year’s version (again, not saying much, but still…) Seumalo was critical of his own play against Wisconsin, but after reviewing the tape in slow motion, I think Seumalo played great, especially considering it was his first college game, and he was up against an experienced 335 lb nose tackle. Overall, the O-line did a good job protecting Mannion, and also opened up some large holes for the RBs (not all of which the RBs saw or used properly). Watching the game in slow motion, the Beaver O-line, on some plays, executed some complex blocking schemes to perfection (schemes where every player on the O-line was sliding or pulling to block someone other than the defender in front of him). Just a question now of staying healthy and getting more consistent, but I think this O-line could be good.

    3) Mannion seems to have made the necessary changes this season to reduce the number of interceptions he throws. Mannion only forced a few balls into tight coverage against Wisconsin. More often, if he saw tight coverage, Mannion either checked down or threw the ball away, as he should. Yes, Mannion missed some downfield opportunities against Wisconsin by being cautious, but I think that’ was a good tradeoff for Game 1. I expect Mannion will hit more of those opportunities today against UCLA in Game 2.

    If our special teams play better today (which shouldn’t be hard to do), I think the Beavs emerge from today’s game 2-0 and ranked in the Top 20. Go Beavers!

  8. The GT says UCLA’s rushing defense is last in the PAC 12. Means we could get a ground game going which means we could get a passing game going too. We will give up a lot of points to their rush and mobile QB but we could score more points than they do.

  9. Seeing Cooks execute the WR Bubble Screen just reminds me how bad Landsdouch called plays, and how he wasted James’s career. Fly Sweep+Bubble Screen= unstoppable.

  10. That horrible throw on the screen and Enger’s idiotic penalty killed that drive. So frustrating, because that RB screen was sexy as hell.

  11. Trip that killed a 50-yard TD, and then a penalty to bail out their drive. These truly are the old Beavers.

    AND OH MY GOD that hit by Reynolds was NASTY!

  12. Great stand, despite absolute stupidity a few times.

    Feeling pretty good about this game as long as we don’t turn the ball over, and stop murdering ourselves with idiotic penalties.

  13. Seumalo with a pretty terrible decision there. Yuck. That’s 1 sack and 2 holds in 1 1/4 games.

    At least I don’t feel panic when our defense comes out anymore.

    • I don’t agree. The defense is on fire, and the offense has been playing hard, just some bad calls and bad decisions. But nobody looks “Flat”.

  14. Beavers are fine, let’s not overreact. It’s a tie game. UCLA was gonna hit some plays, Beavers will settle down on the penalties. Beavers put together a TD drive and everything will be alright.

  15. BEAUTIFUL PLAY!!! Cooks is so fast.

    Have we run the ball on the first play of a drive yet? If I remember Riley correctly, he always throws on the first play.

  16. This Beaver defense is for real. Key to UCLA is them running the ball and outside of a scramble from Hundley, Beavers have shut down that running game. Great to see.

  17. Beavers needs to put this in for 6. Need to take a 17-3 lead at least into halftime. Think UCLA’s offense will be better in the 2nd half

  18. Our lead needs to be substantial by the half. Mora will kick their ass and make good adjustments to their confidence in the locker room. We’re making them look fugly.

  19. Can we get a GIF of Mora doing his little riding-dance move on the sidelines? That was absurd…and hilarious.

    That blitz just killed Mannion. Why was the RT double-blocking instead of hitting the blitzing OLB?

  20. UCLA can’t stop the Beavers’ passing game, so naturally Riley decides to just run out the clock. I’m sure this won’t come back to cost the Beavers at all.

  21. Way to show confidence in your players Riley. That interview was brilliant. Aw shucks. If he’s goin to have that attitude why not air the ball out at the end of the half. Aw shucks we got nothing to lose lets go deep. Instead it’s aw shucks we have the lead how did that happen? What do we do with a lead? What the heck does having a lead mean? Are we supposed to have this lead? I don’t think we are so let’s try to hang on even if we have complete momentum. Giving up long TD’s at the end of the half and up the gut runs, that’s more like it. We don’t want this lead anymore.

    • I should be happy that we are dominating a ranked team on the road instead I am having to blow off steam here. I would think most coaches seeing what happened at the end of the half would be livid but Riley is just peachy. I was watching the TCU game earlier and they were up 14-0 at the half and Patterson had the player gather up on the field before going to the locker room to talk. The aw shucks nice guy routine is nice some times but c’mon.

  22. This is such a Mike Riley game. A lot of great things and some bad things. Chance to extend a lead but would prefer to go conservative. He will go for 2 down 1 with the game on the line but will go super conservative and the end of first halves. Makes no damn sense.

  23. this is why I’m not watching…our margin of error is non-existent for winning games like this so when we play stupid football (i.e. leg whip, late hit on QB, Rashaad taunting after nice stick, etc.), I can’t watch. (I acknowledge any good football being played.)

  24. To defend Riley there:

    We’re killing them on D, and we’re killing them on O. The only way they stand a chance in this game is through turnovers and penalties.

    So to make sure that doesn’t happen, you play super-conservative, run the clock out, and don’t give them any easy chances.

    Is it what the fans want? Well, would you rather have exciting football, or a better chance to win?

    • Once Woods got the first down run, they should have rushed up and tried something safe (screen or even a draw)…if that play gained a chunk, then go for the FG. To take a knee is weak.

    • Better chance to win. Plus at the half, you can drive your point home to play even tougher than the first half. That’s better to focus on rather than having a big lead and playing “not to lose”.

    • Isn’t a FG or TD late in the first half to extend the lead giving the Beavers a better chance to win? Romaine isn’t great but wouldn’t you want to give him a chance? Not much positive to running out the clock.

  25. It’s amazing how depressing this post is. We are up by 7 and playing very well. Just read the last ten posts to get my point. I’m just enjoying the moment, there are few opportunities as a beaver fan.

  26. Riley went from almost 80% odds to win the game all the way down to 55% because he gave up that late touchdown. If the don’t get 7 on that play odds are very good we force them to punt before they get to the 50. If Riley loses this he is going to frustrate the hell out of Beaver Nation. They better play to win in the 2nd half.

    • How many positions does Riley play out there? Apparently he’s the only one responsible for the game.

      That TD was caused because one CB didn’t cover the middle WR, and then the safety had to jump to cover him, leaving a 1-on-1 matchup outside instead of 1-on-1 with safety help. How is that on Riley, exactly?

      Also interesting “Math” you have there. Where did those numbers come from?

    • They will. This team has the mentality of a driven force that Riley almost can’t control. We win today and by mid-season, Riley rides the coattails of something out of his control.

  27. The only consideration in Riley’s favor here is that we get the ball first in the 2nd half. If we were kicking then the conservative play calling at the end of the half was a big mistake.

    • Agree with the announcers; you don’t go for it here, because if you fail, you give them far too good of field position when they’re struggling on offense.

  28. Can we stop calling plays for York. His wide-open drops coming out of the backfield are brutal. Wisconsin game he dropped a sure 1st down with YAC and in this game, the same thing.

  29. First play of the drive, let’s see if we get another pass.

    I think we’ll actually run it here, because we really, really need to get the run game going, but the numbers say Riley loves to pass.

  30. There’s the TO. God dammit.

    Mannion needs to pull that ball in and stay strong, what the hell was he doing there?

    Also, the pocket just completely collapsed. Bad news all around.

  31. Defense is playing their asses off. Really only one bad play on defense. Beavers need 10+ 2nd half points and they win. UCLA I don’t think can score more than twice this half off the Beavers.

  32. The most obvious hold of the game, thankfully the refs actually saw it.

    Hopefully they see those during the Civil War, because all UO’s line DOES is hold.

  33. Very fortunate that neither of the last two passes by UCLA weren’t completed, again I say….need a long drive here to let the Beavs D get some rest.

    • I really hope this is the drive we start getting Cooks and Wheaton the ball. Fly sweeps, bubble screens, deep balls, whatever it may be. Way too many passes to the fullbacks so far.

  34. A pair of blown plays bail us out. Of course, stupid turnovers were bailing THEM out, so it all balances out.

    I like our 3-man blitz packages in obvious passing situations, very Patriots-like. And we have the studs on the DLine to pull it off.

    Anyone know why Dillon Win sits down so much? It can’t be a conditioning issue,and he is versatile enough to play like 7 positions. Why is he off-the-field on 3rd down every time?

    • No idea. He can get after the QB, showed that on the forced fumble against Wisconsin. Need a guy like that rushing the passer on third down.

    • Didn’t see the personnel package but…

      Wynn seems to play best, playing downhill… in obvious passing downs, where extra DBs would be beneficial, makes sense to pull him.

      And for the record, I love Wynn’s game.

  35. The secondary is blowing a lot of coverages. Thankfully Hundley is inaccurate.
    Beavs need to regain momentum. Need a good, long drive badly here.

  36. Those middle drag-routes are killing us. And middle posts. I think this is a gameplan-decision, but they hurt right now.

    And that looked like a fumble.

    • It wasn’t a bad challenge, it was close, just didn’t go the Beavers’ way. If there’s a chance to come close to ending the game you take it. Just didn’t work out.

  37. Two nice runs by Storm. Need more of those.

    I’d love to see us play more like the 2000 Rams; throw a ton in the first, get a lead, then grind them with runs in the 2nd.

  38. Wait, THIS play gets automatic review? LOL. Fucking LA.

    Definitely just kick it here. We haven’t had much luck running in the red zone so far.

  39. Prepare yourselves, the conservative playcalling is coming.

    I really hope I am wrong though and we see the ball go to Cooks and Wheatons on the edges to open up the middle for Storm.

  40. Anyone else notice how infrequently passes are tipped by defensive linemen in college, versus how often it happens in the NFL? It’s a pretty crazy disparity.

  41. Notice the last few very good defensive plays by the Beavs have been followed by a workmanlike response, no hint of excessive celebration. Confidence grows!

  42. Great D. 4-man rush, got pressure, good coverage and a bad pass.

    Game looks just about over, as long as that kicker doesn’t get a PERFECT roll on the onside like Wisconsin did.

    • How many of the big passes came because Hundley escaped a sack though? Some were initially well covered but receivers got open after he escaped the sack and found them. Pass defense was okay, but it does need to get better. Poyer did misread some plays and got caught and wideouts got behind him. I’m sure he’ll get it corrected. On UCLA’s drive that made it 27-20, he did make a play to break up a pass. Secondary stepped up when it matters. I’m betting it will look a lot better in coming weeks as far as full game performances.

      This defense looking like the best in the conference. Offense doesn’t have to feel they have to be perfect, this will make the offense better, no pressure to be incredible. That’s important.

  43. Good special teams. Defense in good spots for most part, and staying with ball carrier long enough for help to show up. Did better with individual tackles vs Wisconsin. We were a little soft on deep ball, need to clean that up for AZ. Offensively, scored some big plays, still work to do. Mannion had an interception, and improvements can be made on O. Good stuff to work on going forward with positive reinforcement. I’m hoping for a AZ win tonight so we are underdogs one more time. Dadadadaaaaa Underdog!

    • Yes, lots of “teachable” moments in this very nice win. Important to keep the attitude that “we get no respect”.
      Even though the penalties (some) were pretty chicken-s+@$%, there is work to be done there.
      Also, Rod Perry will have lots of lessons on film to show his group.

      Overall the big thing I see is the great attitude all around; these guys believe in each other and it shows! 180 degrees from last two seasons.

  44. Coming in late with my comments/observations;
    Play calling at the end of the 1st half was bad, either kneel & burn clock to shorten the game or go for a score.
    That Mannion int was brutal! Spielman must’ve been correct in saying that Mannion decided where to throw before the snap.
    Owa who? He wouldn’t even be starting for us right now. Yeah I’m still butt-hurt about him so fuck’im.
    Our corners aren’t as dominating as I was expecting, got burned and got lucky a few times.
    Hundley will be a great qb. Has touch on the long ball especially for his age.
    Are the fans a mile away from the field in the rose bowl? Looks like the old husky stadium with the track around the field, even good seats are far away. Angry did you end up going to the game?
    Final thought: I’m worried about both Crichton & Wynn. Worried about them leaving early for the NFL that is.

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