There is a lot of talk about Vaz vs Mannion in the game thread. I don't know what to make of the situation. I think it was handled entirely wrong (Vaz should have started vs Washington; Mannion should have played vs ASU when he was actually recovered), and now there's a mess. Both guys have pluses and minuses that we all see. Since Mannion has more long-term upside he's the obvious play. The players seem to like Vaz more, though, and he had two nice games. Who knows, but now it's a mess due to the Washington game. I blame Riley, ultimately. It wasn't that hard a situation to manage, and he botched it.
Regarding today's game, I saw the Beavs slowly grab momentum through the 2nd and 3rd quarters. The irony is that they lost momentum on Romaine's third FG. When that ball went through, and Riley gave his shit-eating grin + fist pump, I knew the game was over. Counter-intuitive, I know, but Riley thought he had the game won there. Why wouldn't he? The D was playing great. But players sense when a coach lets up, and they follow the lead. So what happens on the next drive? Stanford marches down the field like they hadn't done for two quarters, the D lets up, guys miss tackles, Stanford scores on a huge play.
On the Beav's side, the play calling turns ugly and one-dimensional/predictable…pass heavy, but conservative passes (having the QB roll left on a 3rd and 2? Horrible call, but they always have horrible calls in key downs). We see OSU do this all the time when games are in the balance. It's like a vice clamps Riley's sack when it matters most. This is what I'd expect from a nice guy, beta coach. It's also why I came up with the win cap idea (not sure how that will turn out…Cal and N-State look like wins, but who knows now). Either way, there is definitely a win cap on clutch games, and it is pretty much zero. Hey, like the election, the majority have spoken, and they'll get what they ask for. Most OSU fans want this guy as coach, so this is what they'll get.
It was nice being emotionally checked out. Didn't care at all, just enjoyed a good game.
One more thing: Refs called a great game. We get on their case over constant F-ups, but that was a nicely called game.
Alamo Bowl is still in play (mathematically, so is the RB), but more likely it's the Holiday Bowl (formerly Sun Bowl). This is a good example of how things revert to the mean. Start slow, end fast; start fast, end slow. Does it matter? In the end, the trend is your friend, and the trend screams mediocrity.
Yeah, fist pump after your kicker drills a 44 yarder to go up 9 points to the number 14 team on the road, clearly that signaled the beginning of the end. lol. I do like the political tie in. So is Romney Mike Leach in this analogy? I know you were bullish on that guy. God help us all had that been the case.
And so, on this good Saturday, end 2 dreams for many a fan of the Oregon State Beavers.
The first, that the Oregon Ducks will not compete for the BCS championship.
The second, that the Beavers will compete for the Rose Bowl.
Better coaching and they’re 9-0. Sucks. In the end, it’s still a historical turnaround. Have to keep telling myself 13′ and 14′ were supposed to be the years. Perfect time for the playoff system to start up because undefeated is near impossible.
Glad your able to detach youreslf and enjoy the games. They’ve all been great ones. Remember that this time last year almost everyone on this board was looking for the team to at least be competitive in every game they play. They certainly have been that. Time to dominate cal and try and play spoiler. GO BEAVS!
They haven’t all been great ones. But that we have been in every game is a tribute to how hard the players have worked to be in this season.
Imo the play of the OSU quarterbacks leads me to believe that they’re not receiving good coaching, thus further indication that at a minimum, Langsdork has to go.
Preferably Riley and Langsdork but at least Langsdork.
Astute you are.
How come it always takes a “bad year” before a QB is ready to play in Riley’s system?
That said, I think people were too hard on Mannion following the UW loss. Everyone played poorly up there this year. Given the circumstances, I think it was okay to allow the kid a mulligan. Riley should’ve been running the ball in UW to help take pressure of Mannion. Instead, UW beat us twice this year.
I think you may be on to something.
I have been disturbed by Riley not always having the play card in his hand. Like maybe he’s letting Langs call some of the plays? Makes no sense.
Well Langs is in the booth so he isn’t handing it off to him. Wonder where that play card is going, shouldn’t a coach be defending that with his life?
I saw it in his hand in the 4th and it was folded in half like it has been spending time in his back pocket.
Plenty of OC’s call plays from the booth.
Sorry, I thought you were implying that he was handing it to the OC. And, don’t all OC’s call plays from the booth (unless they are also the head coach)?
I will not go to the Nicholls st game.
Does anyone know if the loser of the pac champ game is officially 2nd place, or does it go back to conf records?
Does it matter? If you’re not first, you’re last.
In all seriousness, are you thinking for bowl situation?
And if you don’t chew big red,fuck you.
WTF if you’re not first you’re last? Most posters were predicting 2-7 by this time. We still have three games in front of us to break angry’s 8 win barrier.
CVO, how old are you?
Poor response. You were given a gimme, and you failed.
Most posters were picking 7-5 btw.
Win cap, baby…..You called it, angry.
Riley just cant keep his focus, all thru every close game, thru the season.
But I do now recall saying I would be satidfied if we were competitive and played hard in every game, and indeed Riley has got that out of the team, where he couldnt last year. (and dont preach about he didnt have the players he now has — you can still beat a Sac State)
Yes, this season has been a turnaround, but that wouldnt be needed if Riley hadnt let down.
I think it is Riley’s nature — easy going — that keeps him from being a winner when the chips are really down. He doesnt have the “driven-to-win” energy to keep his focus. This shows in various ways, like the lapses in creative play calling.
….and dont bash Leach just yet. Give him a few years.
We will beat Cal. Any game that means little, Riley is all over. Langsdorf needs to go. When Stanford cut it to two Langsdork started going to his preferred pass happy crap. Nevermind that we were up to a 7 yard average per run and were seeing the fruits of bigger run gains ahead of schedule. That was the ideal time be extra balanced and erroring on the side of more running if anything. Why soe people and Langsdork chief among them don’t get that being too one dimensional will put you on the skids I don’t understand. At the bare minimum we should have seen Woods or Ward pick up the first down on 2nd and 1 and made the end highly interesting. Instead we fold cause Langs or Riley call shotgun on a down and yardage and situation in which that was ridiculous.
Angry, I had the same thought after that field goal. I was surprised to see Riley so gleeful. I expected him to be pissed off that they had to settle for one, like I was. Any word on Enger?
@Stephen__Nelson
Watching film back, Grant Enger’s injury didn’t look good. Ankle got rolled up on, then he got tackled & fell backward. We’ll see. #GoBeavs
Crap
3rd and 2. Just under 5 minutes left. You have 2 downs to pick up the first down by running to have a great shot to win and play in a Rose Bowl. At worse you face a 4th and 1 but most likely you pick up the 1st with a hard run by Storm or Ward. Ward was mentally ready down the stretch to play darn tough ball and fight for needed yards and 1 week after running for 146 only gets four carries. You could see Vaz was getting nervous in the 4th when it was still our slight advantage. As soon as we lost the lead we either needed to run more to settle him down or put Sean in as a closer. Either would have limited the odds of any meltdown, but instead Langs makes Vaz sweat.
I agree…run there.
Not sure why they stopped running again. They do this every game. It’s almost like they’re afraid to get into 3rd and long so he just doesn’t run on the first two downs.
Every damn game, I’m getting tired of Riley even SAYING that he has to balance the run and pass, because the 4th quarter is always 100% pass.
I blame Cody 10% for the game(that fumble, innacurrate a bit) the defense 10%(14 points in the first quarter) and coaching 80%:
1. Banker couldn’t stop the most obvious offense in the entire league. Run and throw short to the TEs? How do you handle that? A running QB? If only we had plays to stop running QBs…
2. Langsdouche, as always, completely abandoning the run. We were tearing it up in the 2nd and part of the 3rd because Storm and Ward were crushing on the ground, and then what happens? Pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass GG. Just amazing.
Inaccurate a bit?
Hoo boy!
Absolutely, two chances to make two yards; Ward or Alexander would have been my call. Woods would have been better than a pass but I believe he was getting tired. Anything but a pass or a slow developing run.
I’ll have to switch to the hard stuff if I hear Riley say he should have run more one more time!
It’s almost like when the big decision has to be made the coaches base their decision on the other team (Stanford #1 in rush defense) rather than trusting that the Beavers can shove it down their throats (the Beavs 7 yards per rush).
Could have used DJ Welchexander out there too. Any word on his injury?
Heard that it was a rib contusion but saw a note on Oregon live that seemed to suggest neck region as well. Makes me curious, might be a nerve issue.
Sprained his hand trying to write that new last name. I like it.
Let’s not forget Kelly’s offside on 3rd and 2, btw: Kelly commits one drive-killing penalty per game, and this time it was a game-killer. He and Andrews are garbage and I can’t wait until they are gone.
Storm finished with 15 carries for 94 yards. He should have had 25 carries. That’s on our idiot playcallers.
I agree about Storm getting more carries. That first TD drive was nearly all rushing yards. Vaz had 4 complete passes if I can remember correctly (2 to RBs). Storm and Ward ran hard, looked like the recipe for the game.
Riley still average at best in terms of recognizing momentum shifting. We had a nice streak in there but Riley was too satisfied with field goals. When Stanford cut it to two, was the start of the switch. At that point you have to get it back. Once Vaz fumbled Riley has plenty of justification to insert Mannion and insert the off speed pitch so to speak to likely atleast make it neutral momentum again. Things often go in these spells or stretches. Riley is always slow to react and watches the reversal play out instead of being proactive. Mannion and Vaz heading into this week were very close. If one guy is at all struggling you have a much better option than you think. Instead of Stanford getting more confident in holding the OSU offense, as they were for all of the 4th, a new QB brings in new timing to the offense that would have most likely helped us to start picking up more first downs and made Stanford have to adjust when they preferred not to. Riley overweighs any of the possible negatives and forgets that such a wrinkle probably has better odds of slowing or reversing burgeoning momentum. It was just too much passing in the 4th and not adjusting to Vaz looking uncormfortable. I know Woods and Ward wanted to help the cause and we didn’t let them spread the burden. We also should have given Markus a fly sweep or two. 1 out of 7 times he may get nothing or just a yard but usually he gets close to 8. He runs it better than Cooks. Mix one or two of those in the 4th with Woods and Ward also getting looks and then the pass plays could have complemented it all for a winning effort that puts OSU in the Rose Bowl.
Just keep running the ball and the game was an easy win. We had momentum and a big lead, and blew it because we got pass-happy, as usual. It’s really just that simple.
I was waiting for coaching to legitimately cost us a game this year, and it has cost us both our losses. Not bad play, straight-up bad coaching.
I agree
I don’t dvr the games anymore. If the Beavs win I rarely go back and watch and when they lose I just torture myself by replaying the game so is it me or do we call a lot of screen passes and most of them don’t go anywhere (which led to Vaz’s fumble)? Is it because the opposition knows it’s coming or does this OL just not know how to “sell” it?
I think we need to put a live action statistician to let Riley know when his running back is averaging 6 yac’s! Just doesn’t seem to have a feel for it anymore.
I’ll go ya one better; would like to see a sports psychologist for Riley!
On one hand I have to give him credit for making a number of changes for the better this season, but just a little aggressiveness would have paid off big…..as in being undefeated!
Guys, the play calling was fine. You are obsessesed with the superficial things like uniform colors and who calls the plays. That is totally out to lunch. The Beavers had poor leadership by the QB, poor play from the MLB position and safeties slow to read and react. The biggest issue by far is a lack of mobile QB. Did you guys even notice that in the end Vaz was throwing off the back foot and could not even reach the sidelines. He has no timeclock in his head,no clue when to throw the ball away and he is not mobile. Mannion has superior mechanics but he drags a ball and chain. Both a very good backups. If you look at what seperates the excellent college teams from the merely good, QB mobility and play making is high up on the list. Both OS QBs can execute when all other parts are in sync. Neither guy has the ability to take the team and will a win.
You’re right, abandoning the run is such a great idea! Vaz’s lack of mobility was why he couldn’t hit a receiver despite having all day to throw. You’e right!
It’ll take Riley another ten years to realize the advantages of a mobile QB. Then the Polys will come out and praise him for doing so.
In the meantime, we’re stuck with Vaz and Mannion, who run like wooden indians.
To me, Riley coaches like a pro coach who is scared he’s going to lose his job, but the bitter irony is that he is a college coach who is NEVER going to lose his job.
That is spot on.
Angry, I’m offended by your insensitivity. They are Wooden Native Americans you racist bastard LOL.
@ matt: Sounds to me like you’re describing piss poor QB coaching. We’ve noticed a big improvement when a new LB coach was brought in and it seems like it’s high time for a new QB coach.
Who knows, with a new QB coach the play calling might improve too.
You must be blind or did not watch the game at all. The play calling sucked. Like Angry said, play calling was one-dimentional and predictable. Same old Riley shit. Nothing new, Stanford coaches saw it all in the tapes. Riley is nothing but a joke. Golden opportunity and he blew it. What an idiot.
The Civil War is going to be a blow out rout. Mailmen suck eggs too.
I have no idea if it is possible to lose a game by running too much. I do know that I have watched OSU lose atleast 20 games by passing it too much. Today we had balance for three quarters and none in the 4th. Even Saban after a very rare loss said he wishes they would have run more. He was admitting that too much throwing cost them the game. Installing a whack-a-mole in the coaches box that squarely crushes Langs’ nutsack when he neglects to run seems like the only answer if Riley is gonna let him get away with it. Being pass happy is the #1 guaranteed way to lose winnable games. So sick of seeing this in the 4th quarter when running holes are more available.
Madden ’93 taught me that passing every down is a great way to lose games.
I think that they are over thinking it. They must be assuming that they should throw because it is an obvious run down. Should run it anyways, see who is tougher and win that way. Riley was coached by The Bear, isn’t that what he would do?
Nice to know you’ve achieved a state of Nirvana. If you don’t care, why are you still running this God-forsaken blog?
Cuz too many people went to the forum and said they’d miss the site. Also, his gal was down on him for taking it down when so many people were enjoying it. Even with the lack of Angry’s posts, it’s still the best site for Beavers football.
Don’t feed the troll.
Nilbog is goblin spelled backwards!
(wonder if anyone will get the reference)
That was a really poor transference of your frustration. You can do better than pathetic.
Good news Rick, you don’t have to live with your erectile dysfunction. Talk to you doctor.
Cal making it a game with Oregon. Barner appears to have broken his hand. Patterson goes down with knee injury leaving linebacking core very thin. And cal is moving the ball. Perfect game to lose maynard the week before. also, duck receiver called for holding already. Might be a fun night yet
I don’t expect Cal to win but they may soften the ducks up for next week
Cal has come to play but ultimately I don’t think their offense is good enough to beat the Ducks. Plus if you have speed and some shakes you can get yards in Chips offense, he probably has a couple guys like that in his back pocket to pull out to replace Barner tonight if need be.
They got killed
Whatever Cal is doing on defense Banker needs to watch and learn. They have stopped the Ducks so far better than any other team.
If we could somehow mix USC’s offense and Cal’s defense I think we’d have a team to beat the Ducks.
Cal lost 15-13 last year and nobody learned from it.
2 years ago*
That’s right,last year Oregon put like 45 on em.
Barner back in and the ducks O on the march again
Now Mariota runs off with his shoulder drooping.
No access to TV here, have any more holding penalties been called on the Ucks, or just the one?
Mariota migjt have dislocated shoilder. Not sure of it was his throwimg arm. Duck playing scared tonight.
Just the one. Cal has smashed the ducks but just aren’t a good enough football team for Tedford to save his job. Missed FG for Cal with 2:02 in the half. Mariota back in.
Cal goes prevent and the ducks start marching down the field. The ducks look beatable tonight. Their D is really beat up. Cal D goes soft and ducks get a TD in 1:18.
It seems like Vaz is trending towards his mean. I’ve been concerned about his completion percentage slipping and he finished the game terribly tonight.
It also struck be watching him lose all those yards with his “superior mobility” to Mannion that’s he’s not fast and athletic with his feet; he probably just looks quicker than Mannion who’s so much taller/lankier. I don’t think there’s much difference there. I’d take Mannion’s ability to get rid of the ball via his reads (people keep saying his release his too slow but I think he compensates with reads/timing usually, UW excepted).
It’s easy to be frustrated. This was looking like a special year until UW. Vaz did his job for the most part. He came in when needed and carried the team, but he’s not the long term solution. There were times in the game today, when I actually got to watch it, that it seemed unlikely he could see the field well. I’d switch between the stream and this site and people would be posting about the open receivers he didn’t see (e.g. Ward). The kid is a gamer, and a spot reliever. Fine. Back to Mannion and ride it out.
And don’t abandon the run so damn quickly. My god, you have a RB averaging 6 yards a carry. What does that give you but 3rd and short at the worst, which puts the defense in the difficult position. Langsdorf (that looked like his play calling) puts OSU in difficult position…
Cal win. UO loss. Go ahead with Nicholls state to claim the 9 win season…..I might even watch a holiday bowl if the opponent were interesting.
Oh, and I don’t think next year or the next is going to be any better. We won’t see Riley burst out of the gate 6-0 again – that’s a complete anamoly. Back to poor starts to the season, finding the identity….
Fucking Riley. Can’t do it when the pressure is on. Beat USC in the middle of the season after you’ve already dropped 3 or your first 4? Check. Beat #2 Cal on the road, same situation. Check. Beat Oregon go to the Rose Bowl. No and No. Beat Stanford and go to the Rose bowl. No.
Tomorrow he’ll take a long walk with his fucking dog and be back on track to mediocrity.
My thoughts exactly. Take a look back at our 6-0 start, not as impressive now as it was then. UCLA looks to be the only great win in there. Wisconsin has been hot and cold this year against sub par competition.
Yeah… Wisconsin is only playing for their conference title and a birth to the Rose Bowl and UCLA looks to be in the drivers seat for the PAC-12 South. Only 2 possible BCS bowl bound wins out of 6… hmm very non-impressive. Get your head out of your ass.
B1G is a weak conference and Wisconsin is technically third in their division. Penn St and Ohio st just happen to not be eligible to win the division. And I mentioned the UCLA win as being strong. So why don’t you pull your head out of your ass and be objective.
You can’t even call a PYHOOYA moment correctly?
You must be a neophyte.
Fuck. Take out Wood’s longest run he’s still averaging 5.4 ypc….
It would be really nice to stick to the run more, but maybe Storm was hurt at the end of the game? Wasn’t Ward in? Although I think Ward is a good back as well.
I feel sorry for his dog. Riley will most likely take his frustrations out on the dog. What a looser.
Those WSU uniforms are butt-ugly. The most hideous i’ve seen. Was it a Nike makeover?
Yeah don’t they look like they have random sweat stains built into them?
Riley looks like he’d been crying:
http://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/index.ssf/2012/11/audible_lindsay_schnell_and_jo.html#
He wanted a double double.
Ducks look beatable tonight, Cal would be eating roast duck if they were half a team.
60 yd KO return to start the 2nd half for the ducks. Cal stuffs Barner and get a 3 and 9. 4th and 4 at the cal 29. Cal stops them a yd short.
Cal is just clobbering on this current drive.. wow!
TD bears! Iso Sofele just constantly pile drove the Ducks constantly play after play!
Cal has a 2nd and 20 and runs for 30 yds. If Riley would run the ball we could beat the ducks tonight. Cal on 3 straight runs go 45 yds for the TD to get within 7
Aren’t they supposed to stop running and pass now?
Riley is going to throw it 55 times now
Oregon had such a great defense, I thought.
They’re banged up. Boyetts replacement looks to be out for the season with a knee injury and the announcers said that none of the DL starters are in tonight
They were getting cooked like this last week against USC before all the guys went down. They were overrated defensively from the start, got great #’s against some poor offenses. But now they’re worse cause of injuries. Really wish OSU was playing them next week.
I thought armstead was one of their starters?
We need to take a book from Cal’s D.. they always have Oregon’s number.
Another Cal stop.
So Cal is running up the middle for big yards and Cal goes incomplete pass and a stretch run to set up 3rd and 9. Tunnel screen is intercepted. Missed tackle and Huff goes for TD. Looked just like the Beavs, once the run is successful you decide to go away from it.
Keenan Allen out for Cal, I’m sure he’ll be back for the Beavs. Cal with a long KO return but shoot themselves in the foot with a tripping penalty on a very weak leg whip. They go for it on 4th down at the duck 36 and miss. Cal QB is horrible
Ducks pull away and roll now.
Yep, wide open Huff and Mariota has no pressure applied to him. 21 point duck lead near the end of the 3rd Q
The Ducks do this all the time. Unless there’s a couple minutes left in the 4th and it’s a one score game, it’s not really worth watching. A ton of teams have played them close for 2+ quarters. One punt, FG, or turnover and game tends to be over.
Aside from last week and somewhat against Wazzu, they haven’t done this the entire season.
Couple thoughts
1) how many screens did the call? And we’re any of them successful?
2) was wood injuried? This is the 2 or 3 game they have pulled woods in the 4th and put in ward.
3) did you thing vaz was hurt before the second to last play, Ala mannion? His ball didn’t look the same in 4th
1) 4-5, only one really worked. Tried two with Woods and neither worked. Tried one with Cooks early in the game I think, didn’t work, same screen later gained like 17 yards. Threw the other one on a TE screen to Prince for like 6 yards.
2) Haven’t hurt much about an injury.
3) I think Vaz was fine before the injury that forced him out. Was more of a mental thing. Lost some confidence and melted down.
Heard*
Why does reading this make me feel better?
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20121110/NEWS/311100029
Mike Leach was everyone’s favorite coach 2 months ago on here. SO hard to fathom he’s already having problems /sarcasm.
Coach I’ve said for a year on here would be great when he coached for a BCS school is Kevin Sumlin and he’s tearing it up with Texas A&M.
I admit I kind of was intrigued by having Leach as an OC, not a head coach, but the guy is bat shit crazy. Anyone listen when he was on that national radio show with Jack Arute? That started giving me clues that he’s missing something. I also think he is absolutely pissed off that he now has a losing season on his resume.
Honestly the stories coming out right now at WSU sound a lot like that women’s basketball coach OSU had.
Who’s “everyone?”
Does the dude have any eligibiity left? Riley isn’t mean to anyone.
I wouldn’t read too much into Riley pumping his fist after he kicked a FG, lets remember he had just opened a two score lead, which seemed like a good thing at the time. I’m much more annoyed by the way Vaz seemed to melt down in the fourth quarter. All of a sudden it seemed like he became a cowering wreck back there in the pocket, he didnt throw the ball away when he should have, took too many sacks, and made terrible throws, terrible decisions or both. What could’ve rattled him so much to invoke that sort of change? The offense was clicking through two quarters.
Not making apologies for a coach who has yet to win a game that truly has something on the line, but at the end of the day, it’s the players who have to execute, and they obviously didnt on either side of the ball when it mattered.
Very disappointed with the defense. They made a guy getting his first start look like an All-Pro. Does Banker not know how to stop a running QB yet? This whole shpiel is getting old and tired.
If unique sets of players all choke in big games, you have to start looking at the constant, or who is not unique, to the situation.
The players follow the lead of their coach, and Riley thought he had the game after that third FG today, so the players did, too, and they didn’t finish the game.
Fair points, but it still doesn’t explain the way Vaz just completely unraveled in the fourth quarter. All of a sudden it looked like a deer in headlights out there, with no real plausible explanation. The last time I think I saw a meltdown this bad was when Derek Anderson went to USC for the first time.
Pressure of the moment probably. Stanford probably started confusing him with different defensive looks. Finally, the fumble caused him to absolutely implode. He knew that his fumble likely cost the team roses. That is a ton of weight for any player to carry, let alone one making his 4th start.
I think it’s easily explainable. He’s started three games, and this is the first one where he was asked to win in the 4th quarter. On top of that, winner likely goes to the RB. So, in short, I think he was out of his element. Usually players progress slowly toward that, but given he became starter midway through the year there weren’t progressively difficult tests. It was mediocre teams and then this. Almost looked like he had a panic attack where he didn’t have complete control over his body. The thing that pissed me off more than Vaz was that his coach seemed equally nervous and unable to lead, and that guy has been through it a lot. He’s too old to be learning on-the-job leadership in big games. The “this is a new Riley” chatter seems like a distant memory.
Yep. Vaz was rattle because he had to make all these throws that would get most people’s minds second guessing because without the run game involved it was hairy by design. More than half the plays should have been relatively easy for Vaz handoffs. They give you a chance to collect and make your passing downs that much easier. After 15 plus years of coaching football it is stupifying that Riley tried to seal a Rose Bowl in what statistically provides the highest odds of blowing it. The 4th quarter was Riley allowing himself and the team to melt. When Cody showed he wasn’t handling all this passing pressure well, Riley let Langs keep ignoring the run game that would have won it. Ward was amped for the 4th but Langs under any uncertainty just keeps on trying to throw.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Same thing happened at UW.
Yeah, but Stanford is not Washington, and there is no reason to think taking the opposite approach and abandoning the pass game was going to do anything other than let Stanford do what it does best, and stuff the run. You really are in trouble when your QB cannot make the throws. People are acting like we would have coasted to an easy victory by playing into Stanford’s strength.
I had a little hope after the BYU game that they would become something because it was shocking to see a Riley team put another decent team away in the 4th quarter like they did.
They usually screw up someway to keep the game close. Like yesterday, they get to midfield leading 23-14 and instead of going a a season defining drive to go up 30-14 (late 3rd) and put Stanford on their heels, they piss around lose momentum (punt as usual) and give Stanford life. Stanford gets a key play with a mobile QB and cuts it to 23-21, anyone’s game.
I think you nailed it. You take those three points every day of the week, and hell yeah you like it when it becomes a two score game and the D is playing well. And I thought the D was about to put an end to that Stanford drive until that ass clown Hogan pulled that throw to Taylor out of his ass as he is getting taken down and it caught the entire team off guard, it caught everyone watching off guard. Stanford scores and momentum flips. Then Vaz melts down and there you have it. As we saw at Washington, it is incredibly difficult to win games, especially road games, especially against a team like Stanford, when your QB loses their ability to throw and turns the ball over.
rose bowl is no longer mathematically in play since the ducks won tonight. we have been eliminated from contention in the north. in the event of a 3-way tie Stanford would get the nod over us.
No… it’s just BCS standings for the tie-break.
Check that… you’re talking tie-break to get to the CCG.
correct. there is no way we can play for the pac-12 title anymore. nicholls state game is on for dec 1
God I hope they don’t have QB who can run.
here’s a nightmare scenario for us. USC beats UCLA, Stanford drops their last two to oregon and at FUCLA. Huskies win out. There would be 5 teams in the pac-12 that finish 6-3. OSU, Stanford, USC, FUCLA and UW. In that case the bowls, starting with the alamo would be free to pick amongst the tied teams. we could drop all the way to the kraft fight hunger bowl even with a 9-3 overall record.
Luck-O the Beavs
Unless the Huskies completely meltdown they are going to win their last two games and end the season on a five game winning streak.. Beavs had their chance to do something about that and Mr.Neat thought it would a good deal to through the ball almost fifty times against The Fusks. If your scenario plays out I hope the Beavs enjoyed their burgers because cardboard macaroni and cheese might be next on the menu!
That would get them ready for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl and Kraft Mac and Cheese is available in Corvallis. Win,win.
Only thing good about a Krap Fight Hunger bowl is it will get my wife off my back about taking her to SF again for a weekend of insanely overpriced shopping.
Obviously it’s time to see what Harrington can do!
Looking forward to the bball game tonight.
Just got done watching replay of Beavs game vs. Stanford. This game was lost because we do not have a D1 QB. Vaz was awful, Angry you said he missed 4 passes etc.. , I think you need to watch the replay . Vaz actually missed on 11 passes and his recievers caught 4 of those, because of athletisism. Also if you pay close attention Vaz had recievers open that he didn’t spot because he’s locked on to one reciever only. I do agree that coaching is very questionable in a number of areas but if the beavs had a D1 QB they are now 9-0
I agree with you to a certain extent but not all the way. A lot of QB confidence in passing is accomplished in practice before the game. Riley has tons of negative coaching habits, one of which is not letting or teaching his QB to scramble or move outside the protective pocket. Being short and staying in the pocket limits his receiver visibility vs. time he holds the ball. With the inability to move outside pocket, Vaz becomes “blind”. Also, QB focusing on a single receiver can be resolved in practice. If we see it the coaches should also. What Riley did during 2nd quarter he should have continued the rest of the game. The play calling was right on. In 3rd and 4th quarter the play calling went back to same old predictable shit. At this point Stanford’s defense knew exactly what we were going to do. Riley can’t do anything new, he is stuck in a rut. Another words, for some reason Riley went conservative when he should have done everything in earlier drives to score and score 7 instead of 3. Look back in Beaver game history, Riley does this all the time. He relies too much on letting the defense try and pull out the game.
Mailmen suck eggs.
When you are one dimensional the completion percentages go considerably down. Called piss poor play calling in the 4th. Erickson was so effective during the Fiesta Bowl year of getting nice chunks of yardage on the ground during the 4th. The 4th quarter isn’t any different in how you should play it. Your best offense and results come when you are balanced and have the defense having to try more seriously to stop the run which then sets up the pass. You could say all that passing was setting up the possibilty of some vey nice runs, and it was, but if Langs is too dumb to call them and Riley keeps signing off on the poor balanced playcalling, the that also is his fault. Probably too nice a guy to tell Langs to run the damn ball.
Is Vaz an abbreviation for Vaseline? Really… unforced fumble into thin air! Need to stick with Mannion for better or worse. At best Vaz is an end of game cleanup or emergency backup QB.
One could have been studying for a final in the Beav section at the end, it was like leaving a funeral. JB
Vaz>>>Mannion
The Beavers were using the pass to set up the run. Even a blind squirrel could see that the offensive line had there hands full and that they were having constant issues with the linebacker run blitz. I love Issac, but he lost as many battles as he won this week. The scheme and play calling was pretty good. Many of the good runs by OS were the reult of stunts and blitzing by Stanford to stop the pass. Stanford guessed wrong many times and Beaver running made them pay. I dare anyone to re watch the last 2-3 Beaver series and tell me that Vaz was not bouncing the ball into the turf on open quick out patterns by the receivers.
Vaz is not a D1 QB that can take a team to a BCS bowl., the problem is I don’t think Mannion is capable either. Yesterday Vaz was just plain bad, scared, slow, and maybe under coached, no matter the Beavs are without a QB capable of winning the big game.
Vaz was terrible to close that game out. Losing Enger in the third certainly did not help things, be it run blocking or pass protection. While I understand the call for more run plays, there were receivers to hit, and Vaz was struggling mightily. QB play is only one piece f the puzzle, but a huge piece.
As expected, Ducks now #1
Joe Avezzano is not one to toot his own horn (ok, that’s a lie) but let’s step back and revisit who the first person was to bring up the possibility of a QB controversy last week, a thought that was dismissed immediately by many.
For a moment Joe thought he was watching a Seahawks game circa 1986. He hasn’t seen a bona fide “soap dish” play in years.
But the inability to correctly predict the amount of grip necessary to pump fake while running isn’t the most frustrating QB transgression Joe witnessed. The real crime was watching a ball carrier that even after deciding to tuck the ball and run, still ran half-heartedly like he was thinking about whether he left the oven on back at the house or something and then getting dragged down by a defensive lineman who couldn’t believe his good fortune.
Cody is a tough guy and he took some brutal shots and kept coming back but he is susceptible to inexplicable brain farts.
Joe also wishes to once again caution Beaver fans to hope for wins but not expect them, and we have ample evidence now to support that sentiment. Starting with the next game…those of you who who would tend to overlook Cal do so at your own emotional peril.
Joe Avezanno has spoken.
Interesting how Sumlin is doing so well at Texas A&M. On this board, there were several recommending OSU pursue him. Not that it does any good when Riley’s contract would have to be bought out and he may not have wanted to come to Corvallis, but it looks like a good idea and suggestion now. And he won a pressure game yesterday!
Re: Ducks #1 the same time Beavs fall from Rose Bowl contention, oh the irony.
Entertaining read on Sumlin:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/andy_staples/11/10/texas-am-alabama-johnny-manziel/index.html?sct=cf_t11_a0
I agree with the posts that say OSU needs to get better QB play (and that, with better QB play, we would have beaten the Huskies and Stanford — although bad QB play is certainly not the only reason we lost those games).
Mannion should be healthy by now (fully recovered from minor knee surgery) and should get the start against Cal on Saturday. Equally important, Mannion should have improved in other ways over the past few weeks.
Mannion is a smart kid, and recently he has had a lot of time to think. He must appreciate by now that turnovers have been his major problem (both last season and this season). I hope and expect, as a result, that Mannion will be more focused on taking better care of the ball (especially on avoiding interceptions).
I also hope and expect that Mannion will emerge from his recent struggles with more grit — less of a “golden boy” attitude, and more of a chip-on-his-shoulder “show the world” mentality.
Looking forward to watching Mannion against Cal at Reser this Saturday. If Mannion steps up big time (as I hope and expect he will), the rest of this season could still be very interesting.
The Cal game is a big test for the whole team, especially Mannion. There is a fine line between being focused on taking care of the ball and being so tentative that plays go un-made. Hopefully Sean walks it well.
This point in the season is a real test of Riley’s “family atmosphere”, need to look at this as a new start, stay together, and stay focused on just one game at a time.
Agree on all points. Mannion did a good job early this season of walking that fine line — making plays while also taking care of the ball. Recently, Mannion regressed (perhaps because of injury). Now, let’s see if he can step up, and take it to another level.
Still some important football to be played this season, with potential impacts on this year’s PAC-12 and national title races, on this year’s OSU recruiting efforts, and as the lead-in to next year’s Beaver team. Still lots to play for….
What happpens if we move up to #13 next week in the BCS after beating Cal and Stanford loses to Ucla and Oregon. We then get more West coast votes and even if we lose to Oregon in a pretty close game could come very close to staying at #14 in the BCS and collecting the Pac-12 an extra 17 million. A liitle less than stellar to back into a BCS bowl but if the Rose is our ally it is better for the conference than Notre Dame. Couldn’t this scenario still be alive? What teams losing would help? Clemson? FSU? Ucla would move up by beating Stanford but we both could have 3 losses and wouldn’t we have the tiebreaker? Seems like Notre Dame is more of an Orange Bowl draw.
I would not assume we beat Cal. Team has to be very down. Did you see the look on Wheaton’s face after the last incompletion? Very possible we have a bad hangover from this loss. I hope I am wrong.
Joe Avezzano agrees. OSU is vulnerable to any team in the Pac-12 this season.
Also agree. The Cal game is a toss-up.
Joe, you’re so transparent. You only say “any team” because the lowly Buffs remind you of your own beloved 1980 Beavers!
Joe Avezzano finds the memory of such past gridiron events hurtful and does not wish to revisit them.
I can imagine, at least Colorado somehow has won one game, something your 1980 team couldn’t get done.
after we lose the civil war we will not be in the top 14 of the BCS.
24 runs versus 43 pass calls for a 35.8% ratio on runs.
4.375 yards per run play and 4.814 yards per pass call.
1st and five from your own 45, and you’re punting three plays later?
Come on man!
Agreed. Stanford gave us two gifts (out-of-bounds kickoff followed by an offsides penalty). OSU’s failure to pick up a first down at that point was a backbreaker (and also provided a big psychological lift for Stanford). Bad job by a coaching staff that has repeatedly criticized its own pass-happy strategy, and yet continues to make the same mistakes, game after game. Not good….
And Riley always babbles on about how the team’s success will come from running the ball, yet he clearly doesn’t trust something about the run game. He’s pretty much benched the back who was fumble prone (Agnew), so who on the O-line does he think can’t push his man back for two yards at clutch time? There was no point in either the UW or Stanford game where the run had to be abandon yet it happened.
Of course the media just accepts his “it was a hard game” bullshit and moves on. This was a Rose Bowl quality team and I don’t think it will be without Wheaton and Poyer next year. I hope Riley understands he blew another chance and I doubt he gets many more.
Still very impressed with Ward’s ability and inclination to push the pile. Even if you count Agnew out, the combo of Storm and Terron ought to be given a shot at impacting the game(s).
And, yes, without Poyer and Wheaton’s leadership and passion, we are unlikely to see another 6-0 start next year. Still, Wynn and Isaac may be able to keep the fire burning. Of course, maybe Langs will find other work as well, lol.
I see no reason why (unless you’re way behind) that you would not get Woods 20 carries and Ward 10 a game minimum. I’ve heard o-lineman like to run block too.
Child please!
Vaz’s leg injury aside, is it a foregone conclussion that Mannion is starting against Cal? Have we heard from Riley yet? At this point I wouldn’t assume anything.
I think the great Cliff Kirkpatrick mentioned that Riley will discuss the injury on Monday.
RTB-Run The Ball
Any links to feeds of the B-ball?
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/152602/1/watch-new-mexico-state-vs-oregon-state.html
ESPNU… which means it’ll be on ESPN3.
My feeling was that we had this game up until the Vaz fumble.
Is it just me or did Vaz look hurt out there following some big hits- his accuracy died late in the game and I have to wonder if he was playing hurt.
god damn I wanted that Rose Bowl.
Without a running game, every game is scary!
?@CliffGT
QB Cody Vaz (ankle) day to day, coach Mike Riley said. Won’t name starter until he sees if Vaz can practice this week.
@CliffGT
OG Grant Enger (ankle) will ease into week and more tests being done of LB D.J. Alexander (ribs). He’s out until it’s known what’s wrong.
?@CliffGT
QB Cody Vaz (ankle) day to day, coach Mike Riley said. Won’t name starter until he sees if Vaz can practice this week.
@CliffGT
OG Grant Enger (ankle) will ease into week and more tests being done of LB D.J. Alexander (ribs). He’s out until it’s known what’s wrong.
Enger injury is the scariest. We cannot afford to lose anyone on the o line.
Here’s another “Luck O’ The Beavs”….what the hell kind of football team gets a loss with a freakin’ PLUS THREE in turnover margin????? You probably have to look long and hard to find that stat anywhere else.
Cubs fans have nothing on us!
Announced that ESPN GameDay will be at Autzen for Stanford game. Not even worth waiting until Civil War game at OSU. When you lose you lose and nothing comes your way. Another mediocre year with Mike Riley and company. Sick of it. Now I can wear my custom “fire Mike Riley” T shirt with pride.
All you Riley lovers out there always accepting low standards of Beaver football accomplishment…………eat my dirty shorts.
So, is this the season you envisioned when you warned everyone early on about how bad things were going to be and about the terrible truth that everyone was overlooking?
I”ll shed a single tear for Gameday. Cause lord knows the team has had no media exposure this year.
And can people stop using the term “mediocre” to essentially mean, “not in the Rose Bowl.” I understand wanting to be in the Rose Bowl, and I understand that being the goal. But If what you want to say is, “another year with Mike Riley and Company not making it to the Rosebowl,” then just say that, and stop using the word “mediocre,” because you are not using it properly. If we beat Cal and lose to the ducks, we’ll be sitting at 9-3 and I assume ranked in the top 20 (or possibly closer to 15). There is nothing “mediocre” about that.
Start time for Civil War?
Cal game is at 7:30pm but I don’t think they’ve announced the silver war kickoff time yet.
Thanks Jason. Need to set the DVR. Last game vs Sparty at 2:30 that day. I thought the Big 10 was bad with late decisions on the start times.
We usually get a week’s notice.
I hope they keep senior day at the civil war instead of the nicholls st game, Reser is probably going to be a ghost town.
Do you guys remember Kellen Moore? Not really a runner and weak arm. But he was mobile because he would drift back away from pressure., way back some times. He could buy time and he had that clock in his head knowing when to throw it away and not take a sack. But I guess that isn’t a pro technique. Isn’t it great to watch a throw back team from the Riley years at…San Diego.