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Latest AD Report

By
angry
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3

In the new AD report, Bob D writes:

*If you would like to make a donation of less than $40, please call 541-737-2370 or mail a check to: Beaver Athletic Student Fund
123 Gill Coliseum
Corvallis, OR 97331

Thank you, Bob D, for hearing our anger and acting.

I’m going to send them a few dollars to help with their 12,000 (donors) by 2012 campaign. Since they’re now accepting smaller donations, I suggest everyone get involved and give what you can. A check for a dollar is still worth sending–if you get a thousand people who do the same it adds up.

NFL Draft & Lol @ The Baseball Team

By
angry
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20

1. Sean Canfield goes in the 7th round to the Saints. That is way too low for an accurate passer who spent four years in a pro system and has an NFL frame. His arm is suspect and he has no mobility, but even still…

2. Keaton Kristick doesn’t get drafted. Is it wrong to be happy about this? The guy is a punk. The other two punks (Taylor Mays and Jimmy Clausen) were showed their place in the world as well, so the message from the NFL is crystal: stop acting like punks. So many Beaver fans were delusional about this guy, thinking he was all-world and a sure NFL pick. Objectivity wins again.

3. Speaking of Clausen, funny how pundits are already crowning him the starter. Heard a lot of “all he has to do is beat out Matt Moore, an undrafted free agent out of Oregon State.” Clearly said in the pejorative. It’s worth noting that a 5-star Notre Dame QB who hasn’t played a down has the edge, perception wise, over a Oregon State transfer who played to a 98 QB rating last season. I wonder if that would be the case if Moore remained a 4-star recruit who played in the more glamorous UCLA program. Bottom line, the national media is pathetic in their knowledge, objectivity, and integrity; and, it is slowly being realized by the populous as they, the media, work their way around the country spurning one fan-base at a time. There’s a reason blogs are becoming a valid source of information and opinions and gaining more traction with each passing day.

4. Damola Adeniji should have been drafted. I think this is a player who would thrive with certain organizations. The Colts come to mind.

5. The baseball team is about to get swept by Washington State. When you move beyond the rage, anger, frustration, etc, all you can do is laugh at these bums. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: everything has to go right for this team to win a game. If one of the three facets of the game is off they lose. They got away with this kind of play out of conference, but the Pac-10 is too good. You can’t blame Casey for this mess, but he hasn’t exactly handled the lineup well and he hasn’t been very creative in trying to generate runs. The law of averages will result in a small run by the Beavers at some point, but even that might be too little too late.

Some Football Notes

By
angry
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16

1. Moving Frahm to the inside is a positive. Many of us thought he should have been a tackle from the start. This is another instance where the staff was proven wrong. Do I think Frahm will be a major player inside? No. But I do think he can play a bit part as a backup and maybe contribute five serviceable plays per game.

2. Wheaton has come on strong and secured the split end job barring injury. This is a good thing. His emergence takes the offense from serviceable/good to the next level, possibly even potent if Katz can orchestrate it.

3. The wide receivers, as a group, are the strongest part of this team. I’d like the Beavers to take advantage of that by incorporating more 3, 4, and even 5 WR sets. Why not go with an attack spread through the air and play to your strongest attribute? Langsdorf and Riley have changed with the times (e.g. incorporating the fly sweep, wildcat, etc), but they always seem reluctant and conservative in their implementation. It makes me think we won’t see many interesting WR sets, but we should, so long as Katz can run it without being overwhelmed. Knowing your roster and playing to strength is an excellent way to overcome deficiencies, while remaining stubborn and true to a (somewhat outdated) “pro offense” that chains some of your best athletes to the sidelines greatly benefits the opposition.

4. The offensive line, for the second year in a row, is the major concern. You should be worried about the names we’re hearing of late: McAndrews, Ellis, and Lamb are being mentioned as possible starters, and that portends bad fortune ahead.  Thank God it’s April. There is still enough time for the universe to align properly.

5. The starting defensive line is good, but depth is an issue. Devin Kell is garbage and currently fighting a fellow maladroit in Andrew Seumalo for the backup left defensive end position. John Braun is the backup right end. He has some ability and should be moved to left end should anything happen to Miller. We simply cannot have Devin Kell or Andrew Seumalo on the field at any point in their tenure at OSU. People will say that is harsh. Well, if it’s any consolation, I’d be equally harsh on myself if I were trying out for DE. I’d simply accept that some people are not meant to play the sport and go home–these two should do the same.

6. McCants–For the 3rd spring in a row we’ve heard the raves.  Ha ha. Come on, I am not falling for this again. While I do concur the man has shown glimpses, until he is performing at a high level/on a regular basis and in real games I am not going to take the bait. Under the bright lights, this guy crumbles like feta on a Greek salad. Still can’t help but chuckle when I think of the Steven Jackson comparisons…

7. Word is that Hekker is kicking the ball well. I sure hope so. The ire of this blog on many occasions, my wrists could use the rest and my liver could do without the gin and tonic.

8. Took eight bullets to get to the “QB Battle”–I think that says it all, right? Katz is the starter, so please beat writers, let this die.

9. On a positive note, I’ve come around a little bit on the Ungas. I thought they weren’t good enough to make a DI roster, but I concede the point; they’re good enough to be third string.

10. They don’t go into effect until 2011, but I’m already worried about the new rules regarding the wedge formation and taunting and how they are going to screw us in (a) games where we play powers like TCU, USC, etc, and (b) away OOC games (e.g. phantom PI call on Laybourn at Utah).

As always, feel free to discuss anything football related in the comment section.

Pa'aluhi's Machinations

By
angry
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50

Ah the ever-scheming military mind of David Pa’aluhi. He is one class-act soldier in the making.

So let me get this straight:

1. He quits the OSU program for personal reasons (i.e. a supposed family situation, etc).

2. He then claimed he has always dreamed of a military career and will be enlisting.

3. Now, two months later, he plans to play linebacker for the 2011 Rainbows? (I’m sorry “Warriors” and “Rainbow Warriors”, but you will always be Rainbows to me).

Are these the “good guys” we recruit? Guys who scheme their way back home with lies? Why not just be upfront from the start? That’s what admirable people do.

The father is now doing damage control, saying he isn’t sure what David is going to do. This is Army and NFL code for “there are no red-flags or character issues here, fellows”, but it’s too late, pappa Bubba, because there are.

Then there is Keith Pankey. And I quote:

“He’s my friend until the day I die, but he does play (again) I wish he was playing for us,’’ said Pankey.

My question is this: is that attitude one of a great friend and a great guy, or the attitude of a laid-back guy saying the “right thing” to get air time? And Riley’s disappointment is palpable, but he’s saying what you’d expect to hear. Would Pete Carroll? Would Chip Kelly? Seems guys at the top demand more, and you’re either a best friend or worst enemy.

“It’s not a black and white world, Angry!”

Right, but it is if you make it one like winning programs do. You’re either their best friend or worst enemy. That’s how USC runs a program. What you are seeing before your very eyes, with the Beavers, is that the gradation from a black and white world bleeds into, pardon the pun, a middle of the Pac team.

File this one under Coach Riley and Keith Pankey’s lack of a killer instinct and scheming hoodlum under the guise of good guy/family man.

Blog Milestone: 100,000 Hits

By
angry
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27

Anytime there’s a big milestone like this I’ll use it as a chance to thank you guys, and, like the Obama administration, keep my books transparent. Being proactive, honest, and transparent gives the detractors a lot less ammo to use against.

Thanks to all who follow the blog and mostly those who contribute their good thoughts and responses. Without the latter, this blog would be a man blathering to himself and thus a less interesting place to gather. I’m sure some will argue that is what it is anyway.

This blog started as an experiment to see if there existed a need for an alternative viewpoint in the media, or if all the forums from which I was ostracized were right in that my viewpoint was that of a lone wolf. I think the number of hits and the intelligent and mostly respectful discussion here suggest that the fan base desires more criticism from the mainstream media. It also suggests a latent rage that exists in every beavlet, whether directed at the team’s performance or [shots at] the messenger.

My critics will scoff at the notion, but within the past year I’ve noticed more objectivity and criticism from Beaverblitz, my biggest rival (how’s that for a play on words). They hired a new guy, Travis Rice, who is trying to dissect the practices and tell you when a guy is performing poorly, but a fan still has to read between the lines to get to it. For example, instead of, “this lineman is so bad he couldn’t block his ex-girlfriend on Facebook” (sorry Wilder McAndrews), you’ll get “McAndrews needs to improve if he wants to ward off the youngsters”)…things like that.

So yeah, since we’re being transparent, it’s quite clear that Mamma Machado had a talk with her writers and asked them to be more critical and objective. Hey, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Or something. Thanks, Angie (I mean Keith Pankey’s mom). *Cough*

Some numbers:

Total views: 100,000

Busiest day: 1,570

Posts: 138

Comments: 3,117 (dispersed among ~100 unique commenters).

Subscriptions: 31

Average views per day 2009: 262

Average views per day 2010: 348

And as wordpress notes, “we don’t count your own visits to your blog.” I read that they don’t count any user who is logged in, either. Sorry, detractors.

So in short, it’s been a good first nine months. The numbers show a steady growth in the blog’s fan base and following. The upcoming football season presents, on paper, much opportunity for criticism, from the starting QB job to the scheduling and beyond, so I don’t see anything but good times ahead. I’m going to continue doing this as long as I feel the passion; my only request of readers is to spread the word so that in the future we have even more lively and interesting debate.

Cheers,

Angry

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