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The Heralded January 14th Visit List

By
angry
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85

There's been a lot of talk that January 14th will be the biggest recruiting weekend in program history.

Let's get some things straight.

First, there are only two 4-star athletes visiting (Todd Peat Jr and Viliami Moala). Of those two, one might be off the board and cancel his visit, as Peat is on the record saying he will announce a school before January 14th. So unless it's Oregon State, a school he will not have officially visited before then, you can forget about him. That leaves one 4-star athlete, Moala, who is now has OSU and Cal 50/50.

The rest of the list is okay, but the highest remaining players are 3-stars Byron Moore and Ryan Nowicki. Moore recently crossed Ohio State off his list. Nowikici has not raved about the Beavs as he has Penn State and others, but they're in the mix.

After that we're into the normal C-list guys. Marcus Peters, Walton Taumoepeua (grade issues), Vivii Teofilo (underrated prospect who should be at least 3-stars), Michael Thomas (another WR??), and Akeem Gonzales. While the C-listers are solid players, and I'd be happy with any one of them, they're the norm for OSU. What the team needs is the level of talent above these guys, and the odds of landing those blue chips looks low.

Two other blue chips in player are Stefan McClure and Torian White. White has soured big time on the UCLA turmoil, so I believe he commits to OSU following his official visit (January 21st). McClure has always loved UCLA, so he's going to have to find a reason not to sign with them. The turmoil might be enough to make that happen, but will he see through Rick's sales pitch?

The idea that all four Grant preps will sign at OSU now seems like a long shot. Sample isn't visiting with Moala, and he's looking to be a Washington lean with Cal in the mix. OSU is third right now. That ship sailed when their high school team advanced in the playoffs. Had they all visited for the Civil War, the odds of them all signing would have been high.

I guess my point is that while the weekend has a couple 4-star DTs, something the team desperately needs, there's also a lot of the standard talent. Biggest recruiting weekend ever? Maybe, but that says more about recruiting standards of the past than the current visitor list.

Basketball: Illinois-Chicago @ Oregon State

By
angry
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75

Doh. I was on the road all day, and completely forgot there was a game tonight. Does anyone really care? Meh. Win some games Beavs, then we'll pay attention. For the die-hards who want to complain about the team, by all means go ahead. One thing worth noting is tonight is the last game before conference play. Might be worth checking out for that reason alone.

Here's the scouting report on tonight's opponent.

Illinois-Chicago enters the game with a 5-7 record after upsetting No. 12 Illinois, 57-54, at the United Center on Dec. 18. Senior guard Robo Kreps had 15 points as the Flames built an early lead then erased a late-game deficit for the upset. Illinois-Chicago has wins over Roosevelt, Rhode Island and two against Toledo. First-year head coach Howard Moore runs a version of the Wisconsin "swing" offense and an aggressive man-to-man defense. Kreps leads the team with 15.4 points per game and has 43 assists in his first full season running the point. Senior forward Paul Carter is averaging 14.3 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game. Junior guard Zavion Neely (9.8 ppg), junior forward Paris Carter (4.6 ppg) and junior center Darrin Williams (6.3 ppg) are the other projected starters.

Here is the video feed: http://www.channelsurfing.net/

Discussion: Offensive Line

By
angry
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27

Earlier this week I said what is most disconcerting about 2011 is that Riley seems intent on handing the starting job to the same group of offensive linemen.

From Cliff Kirkpatrick: as of today, this is the starting lineup and depth chart for next year:

  • Left tackle: Michael Philipp, Colin Lyons/Grant Enger
  • Left guard: Grant Johnson, Geoff Garner
  • Center: Josh Andrews, Aaron Magnuson, Roman Sapolu
  • Right guard: Burke Ellis, Michael Lamb
  • Right tackle: Mike Remmers, Colin Kelly

Let's look at each of these on by one.

While Michael Phillipp enrolled as a highly-touted, 4-star prospect, he's probably played a grade below that. Rumor is he was hurt much of this past season, which could explain why he looked more impressive as a freshman. Phillipp seems more suited to guard, so I'd rather see him replace Burke or Ellis.

Left guard Grant Johnson seemed to have the worst season of this group. I do not have the stats in front of me, so this is purely empirical, but there were an alarming number of penalties, missed blocks, and pushes into the backfield before the play could develop. To me Johnson and Burke are the two weakest links.

Center: Alex L was solid much of the year. His only flaw was that he could not execute shotgun snaps. This possibly cost the Beavers the game at TCU. Either way, he is gone, and Joshua Andrews is next in line. Personally, I felt Andrews should have been starting at guard in 2010. He was ready. But, okay, he's slated for center next year. He should do well there, but if Riley slides him out to guard and puts Sapolu at center the line suddenly has a lot more potential. Is Sapolu physically ready for that role? He came in undersized, but I hear he has a great motor and things clicked for him quickly. One more thing: who the heck is Aaron Magnuson and why is he on this list? Another walk-on as a backup??!

Right guard Burke Ellis didn't receive much heat this past season, other than being lumped in with the pejorative "one of 3 walk-ons". This is probably because his name was called out less than Johnson and Remmers. I don't know what to think of Ellis. He's not good in the sense he gets no push in the run game, but he wasn't horrible for a walk-on. If Michal Lamb is his backup, I say stick with Ellis, but the wildcard here is Mau Nomai. He was a high 3-star road grading recruit coming out of HS. He's had two years to physically mature, and with proper training over the next six months he should be able to get into playing shape. Nomani could possibly play guard as well.

Right tackle Mike Remmers is not a very good football player. That he'll have 3 years starting experience is his one perk. Maybe things finally click for him? He plays with a cavalier attitude, and always misses blocks or gets charged with a hold at the most inopportune times (e.g. Canfield driving for the winning score versus Cincy ring a bell?).

These eyes believe this is the best lineup:

  • Tackle: Grant Enger
  • Guard: Michael Phillipp
  • Center: Joshua Andrews
  • Guard: Mau Nomani
  • Tackle: Mike Remmers (lack of a better option)

Another acceptable variation would be this:

  • Tackle: Michael Phillip
  • Guard: Joshua Andrews
  • Center: Roman Sapolu
  • Guard: Mau Nomani
  • Tackle: Grant Enger

A final option:

  • Tackle: Michael Phillip
  • Guard: Geoff Garner
  • Center: Joshua Andrews
  • Guard: Mau Nomai
  • Tackle: Grant Enger

This is probably the strongest unit on paper, but it has the most assumptions in that Garner and Nomani regain playing weight and strength by summer. Also, a lot of people see Garner as a tackle rather than guard. I think he's better off at guard.

I'll say it again: the most disconcerting thing about this off-season has been Riley's reaffirmation that he's going with last year's line. This makes no sense. It is not as if that line didn't get a chance. They  had 12 games to show what they could do, and did just that. Riley's stubbornness and inability to mold and prepare the better talent on the roster should be THE major point of criticism if we see last years line starting versus Sacramento State. I am not here to blindly criticize without reason or without solution. I offered three valid lineups that would improve the team.

Thoughts? Other lineup suggestions?

Recruit Report Card: Tyler Trosin

By
angry
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17

Recruiting Card
 
Name: Tyler Trosin, WR
 
Angry's Rating

Notes: Extraordinary body control and hands. Good speed. uncanny ability to get open. high football i.q & winning h.s. program. Staying healthy will be his biggest d1 challenge.
Video| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob8Q8_BhAEQ

Recruiting 12/19

By
angry
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51

Rivals is hinting that the Beavers have landed 4-star DE Davon Moreland.

They're notorious for this type of bluff just to gain memberships, so don't get too excited until it's official. To be fair, we've been hearing about Moreland for almost two months now so this is somewhat expected and probably true. After the Harrah debacle we need good news and fast.

Update: Yep, the hints were incorrect yet again. It’s Jabral Johnson, who actually committed to the Beavers over three months ago.

Good one, Rivals…lol.

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