Below are my grades for the defense. My methodology is simple: consider the starter and backup and then give the unit a score. Given the number of injuries the Beavers have had this season, I feel grading only the starters would be an inaccurate measure of the defense. Also, even without injuries, the Beavs want to get back to substitutions so the guys behind the starters will play.

LEFT END
Taylor Henry
Rudolf Fifita/Dylan Wynn

Analysis: Henry is a 3rd down specialist, plain and simple. He's below average versus the run. Fifita is…well…nobody knows. If you like Fifita, raise the grade. To me he's a wildcard, and considering his offer sheet and how late he signed it's hard for me to be optimistic. If Wynn jumps to #2 on the final depth chart, upgrade this unit to a B. He has maximum upside potential and could end the season as the starter.

Grade: C- (B if Wynn makes a move)

LEFT DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Castro Masaniai
Ben Motter

Analysis: Masaniai does one thing exceptionally well: he takes up space. The Beavs desperately need it since Frahm and Glover are undersized for their position. Still, the depth here is weak, and the starter is a serviceable player, but one with limitations. Mana Tuivailala is a wildcard. I'd think he'd see action before Ben Motter, but right now Riley has Motter as the two. 

Grade: C

RIGHT DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Andrew Seumalo/Kevin Frahm
Dominic Glover

Analysis: Patchwork of an ex-defensive end and a former walk-on/coach's son. Only at OSU, right? This is probably the weakest position on the entire defense. The loss of Fred Thompson was huge…when we look back on it next year, we'll probably recognize it was a season changing injury. Those are the breaks. Once Frahm returns, upgrade this unit to a C.

Grade: D+

RIGHT END
Scott Crichton
Rusty Fernando

Analysis: Crichton will be a force. Fernando is a serviceable backup, though probably more of a third down specialist. Overall the combo is a good one.

Grade: B+

SAM LINEBACKER
Cameron Collins
Rueben Robinson

Analysis: Potential NFL talent in Cameron Collins, and then a drop off to a Pac-12 tweener in Robinson makes this group "top heavy".
Jabral Johnson is a wildcard, but all signs point to a red-shirt.

Grade: B+

MIDDLE LINEBACKER
Feti Unga
Tony Wilson

Analysis: Unga came on strong at the halfway point last season. Many people didn't notice, but some of us did. He's had a heck of a fall camp. Tony Wilson is at full speed and has also had a great camp. If one of these guys gets hurt there should be no drop in production. MLB was a glaring weakness last season. Not this year.

Grade: B

WILL LINEBACKER
Michael Doctor
D.J. Welch/Shiloah Te’o

Analysis: Will is probably the deepest LB position. Any of these three could start and do well. In my opinion, Welch is the most talented of the group, but Doctor is more refined at this point. Te'o is a tad small, but plays like you'd expect from a (former) Cougar. My two concerns with Doctor are his size and coverage skills. I've seen him have trouble bringing down and covering running backs. The depth here makes this the strongest LB corp.

Grade: A-

LEFT CORNERBACK
Jordan Poyer
Keynan Parker

Analysis: Again, a top heavy position. Poyer will be an all-conference player, but Parker hasn't developed at all. So, we have an A corner and a C corner, making the two-deep their average.

Grade: B

SAFETY
Anthony Watkins
Ryan Murphy

Analysis: Tremendous combo. Watkins is flat out solid, and Murphy is an up and coming ball hawk.

Grade: A-

SAFETY
Lance Mitchell
Tyrequek Zimmerman

Analysis: Interesting that we have two former WRs at this position. Similar players, too. Zimmerman is promising but unproven, and Mitchell has nagging abdominal issues. I have a minor concerns (i.e. health), but the talent is top notch.

Grade: B+

RIGHT CORNERBACK
Rashaad Reynolds
Sean Martin

Analysis: Rashaad Reynolds is an upgrade over Brandin Hardin. Hardin was solid in run support and brought a lot of experience, but his flexing, posturing, and flat out blown coverages were old. Reynolds has better coverage skills. We'll probably be frustrated with him as he gets burned and grows into the position, but by week 6 we'll have completely forgotten about Brandin Hardin.

Grade: B-

Overall, I expect the defense to be much improved over last season. My overall grade, at least for the starters, would be a B+. Depth knocks that down a bit, but barring injuries they'll be good.

The last post was getting crowded. Let's use this one for the weekend. Next week, around Tuesday, I'll draft coverage of the first game.

Some points of discussion:

Oregon and Cal up to no good. We all knew this already, so it's funny to see the media late to the party. SBB has more clout than angrybeavs, though, so now bigger outlets might run with it and investigate (what we've been saying for years!).

http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/ducks-cal-troubling-ties-to-mentor-of-recruits-29826

Also, depth chart update.

http://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/index.ssf/2011/08/oregon_state_football_latest_d.html

What jumps out to me is how thin the left CB position is. Jordan Poyer is probably the one defender the Beavs can't lose. Also, Andrew Seumalo listed as a starting DT. I mentioned last week this might happen. The depth at those two positions borders on terrifying.

One more note: I am trying to incorporate a function that will allow users to search comments rather than just the main posts. Look for that improvement soon.

In order to feel optimistic about the season, I need to start seeing our best players/starters getting reps. I understand we can beat Sacramento State with our reserves, but we can't beat Wisconsin with rusty starters. Sac State is an important tune-up game. We don't want guys taking the field for their first time this season at Camp Randall.

The injury bug is leading to a mindset, in both the media and fan forums, that the real season begins September 24th against UCLA. I understand why people are thinking this way, but it is disheartening to see people adjusting expectations before the season even starts.

Anyway, there's not a lot to complain about right now. Some things irking me:

• Sean Mannion's move up the depth chart. (Not a Mannion fan, sorry).
• Reuben Robinson being talked up. (It only exacerbates the problem).
• Media only highlights players' (e.g. Gwachum) positives and ignores their negatives (e.g. drops).
• Sac St. game still isn't on TV.
• Andrew Seumalo listed as a possible starting DT.
• Darrell Catchings is still in the picture.
• Sean Martin at nickle (he is too slow, groom someone better).
• Our never-ending bad luck (injuries), and Oregon's omnipresent good fortune (LSU incident).

I don't know about you guys, but the injuries are really starting to get on my nerves. I understand they are "part of the game", but they're not supposed to be the entire game, and that's the point we're at with the Beavers.

Injured starters:

• Brandin Cooks
• Kevin Frahm
• Cam Collins
• James Rodgers
• Michael Philipp
• Joe Halahuni
• Castro Masaniai
• Brandon Hardin

Injured reserves:

• Storm Woods
• Cody Vaz
• Shaydon Akuna
• Jordan Jenkins

Out for the season:

• Brandon Hardin
• Fred Thompson
• Micah Hatfield

So, almost half of our starters are injured. That's just ridiculous. Any theories on this? It seems beyond random since it's happened for several years and to a greater degree than any other Pac-12 program.

Also, regarding Ryan Katz…I am reading the same reports as last season. He's inconsistent, he's overthrowing receivers, he can't throw on the run, he's busy showing off his arm, etc. In short, he's still acting like Dirk Diggler. Can we just get a heady QB who converts third downs and knows how to check down? ARGH. Stupidity is so frustrating.

-End rant

The biggest stories so far this week:

1. Malcolm Agnew making a push.

2. Trevor Romaine's inconsistency.

3. Kevin Frahm on crutches.

4. Brandin Cook's domination.

5. Zimmerman's shift to safety.

6. Lamb beating out Ellis.

Seriously, why  has it taken over a year for somebody to unseat Ellis? Let's not get too excited. Lamb is almost as bad…though, to be fair, he is a slightly better run blocker.

Fans on other sites were raving about McCants since camp began. That to me comes off as wishful thinking, especially since a freshman is making a legit bid for the job. McCants was given the starting job with the hopes someone would unseat him. Can't blame Riley there, it's a smart move. Fans love to rave about McCants frame and potential–we go through this every year. My conclusion: McCants is simply not a winner.

I never thought I'd say Kevin Frahm being injured is a big deal. But, that's what it's come to. We actually need Kevin Frahm. That was painful to write. I really don't want to witness Ben Motter (who??) trying to tackle LaMichael James. God save the queen.

Oh, and on the topic of inadequate backups…if Romaine can't get it done, Max Johnson is next in line. Reports are that he's missed almost every FG attempt this fall. I saw him kick in pre-game warmups once. He looked like Charlie Brown trying to kick Lucy's pigskin.

The good news is that the defense is ahead of the offense.