Oregon State Football

Oregon State addressed the issues that plagued them against TCU. Ryan Katz was far more effective in the passing game. While throwing for just one more attempt than the loss to TCU, Katz connected on 15 of 26 passes. 

It also appeared as though head coach Mike Riley balanced the offense better this week. Jacquizz Rodgers saw an increase in carries and it paid off. After just 18 carries against the Horned Frogs, Rodgers had 24 against the Cardinals. He made it count, rushing for 132 yards and two touchdowns.

While Jacquizz stepped up his game, the most surprising aspect of the game was the lack of presence of his brother James. The wide out recorded two carries for 12 yards and only three receptions for 27 yards. 

Louisville's pass defense was up to the challenge. But their rush defense failed to address the biggest piece of the Oregon State offense, Jacquizz Rodgers.

The Beavers were also effective in the Red Zone which has been a staple of Riley's teams throughout his career.

The defense struggled mightily to stop the tandem of quarterback Adam Froman and Doug Beaumont. Froman threw for 288 yards, 121 of them to Beaumont on nine completions. Perhaps they keyed too heavily on the running game of Louisville that racked up 169 yards against Eastern Kentucky. Oregon State allowed far too many yards through the air and nearly paid for it with a loss.

The game could have had a different outcome if not for the Cardinals' offense struggling deep in the Red Zone. A stop on fourth down and a fumble by Froman on the one changed the outcome of the game.

OSU proved it has a potent offense, but also gave away the weak defense. Next week Oregon State will take on Boise State on the cold blue turf in Idaho. The ineffectiveness of the Beavs' secondary won't cut it against one of the most prolific offenses in college football. The Broncos' QB Kellen Moore racked up nearly 300 yards against Wyoming, and it's only halftime in that game. 

If the Beavers expect to compete against Boise State, the main focus now should be on defensive quickness and route reading by the secondary. 

Up next for Oregon State: @ Boise State, Saturday September 25, time TBD. 

The Oregon State Beavers are poised for their home opener this Saturday against Louisville. Believe it or not, coming off a loss to #4 TCU must have given the Beavs confidence. Until a high snap over the head of quarterback Ryan Katz, the Black and Orange were ready to tie up the game.

Despite an opening week loss, OSU still finds themselves in the AP Top 25, and a blowout win of the struggling Cardinals program could do wonders for the hype entering the Boise State game on September 25 on the blue turf.

While the TCU defense shut down a Beavers offense looking for an identity, look for the offense to come together against a weaker foe on the turf in Corvallis.

Jacquizz Rodgers will likely see more touches against Louisville, with more success. While the Cardinals' defense has been stingy through two games this season, they were beat by the ground game of Kentucky and allowed far too many yards on the ground to Eastern Kentucky in their not-so-convincing 23-13 victory.

Kentucky rushed for 230 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per rush against the weak Louisville defensive line and linemen core. With a speedy back like Rodgers handing the bulk of the running game for Oregon State, expect Rodgers and the Beavs to rack up close to 200 yards.

The other major concern for Louisville is the amount of penalties they racked up against Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky. Louisville racked up 100 penalty yards against Eastern Kentucky and looked disjunctive in the offensive line. 

For Oregon State, head coach Mike Riley will have to find the appropriate balance between run and pass. It appeared he leaned too heavily on the inexperienced Katz against TCU after the Horned Frogs initially shut down Jacquizz. Katz had 25 pass attempts and only completed nine, while Rodgers was held under 20 carries.

Additionally, Jacquizz's older brother James was a non-factor, another sign Riley was uneasy using the normal play-calling. James was held under 100 yards receiving, and wasn't included in the running scheme. 

It would be foolhardy to think the Beavers' defense will give much to Louisville. TCU has one of the most dynamic offenses in the country, and the Cardinals fail in comparison. 

Overall, these teams just don't match up well. Oregon State has too many weapons and the the Louisville Cardinals still need a few more rebuilding seasons to compete with elite schools. The Beavers should start the home schedule off right against Louisville, and a blowout would really help their national ranking.

Catch the Beavers and Cardinals in action this Saturday, September 18 at 2:30 pm PST on Fox Sports local coverage.

There is no doubt the state of Oregon has become prominent in college football, with Oregon State Football just inside the Top 25 and perennially in Top 25 discussions and major bowls. However, the Beavers are currently on the outside looking in at the Oregon Ducks, a program that is currently ranked No. 5 in the country and receiving all the hype.

So with the Ducks in the national spotlight, how will the Beavers prove they are in the ranks of their bitter rivals? It's simple, but complicated: Win games against potential BCS schools. 

Oregon State came up just short in their season opener against then-ranked No. 6 TCU. The nation has undoubtedly noticed the Beavers, since they are winless this season but have sneaked back into the AP Top 25, so one can only imagine how high they might be ranked if they had upset the Horned Frogs. After Week 3, the Beavers will again take on an elite BCS team with the Boise State Broncos on the blue turf.

Meanwhile, U of O opened its season by drubbing the New Mexico Lobos 72-0, and followed that with a convincing victory against a major, historical college football program in Tennessee, 48-13. Not only did the Ducks dominate the Lobos, but they held the Volunteers scoreless in the second half of Week 2. 

TCU is now ranked fourth in the country, with the Ducks right behind them. Nothing short of a blowout will do for Oregon State if the Beavers plan to make a legitimate run at a BCS berth. Pile a difficult conference schedule and some noteworthy non-conference foes on top of the mountain, and the Beavs have an Everest-sized mountain to negotiate.

OSU has the Louisville Cardinals in Week 3, a program looking to return to national attention. The Beavers will have the advantage as the matchup is their home opener. This Saturday could be the perfect time for the Beavs to make a statement. 

For the Oregon State football program, the schedule is somewhat reversed from the Oregon Ducks. While the Ducks played the weaker Lobos in Week 1, the Beavers were taking on TCU. Then Oregon played a tougher Tennessee, while Oregon State takes on Louisville. 

To impress the poll voters, the Beavers will have to come up with an offensive performance that mirrors the Ducks against New Mexico. To do this, sophomore quarterback Ryan Katz will need to be far more accurate in the passing game. Katz completed just nine of his 25 pass attempts. A large part of what made the Black and Orange so successful last season was the passing accuracy of departed QB Sean Canfield.

Head Coach Mike Riley appeared to seem uncertain with playcalling for the offense against TCU, leaning heavily on Katz after "Quizz" was held to small yardage early.

Another area of concern will be the ground game. Jacquizz Rodgers was held to 18 carries and only 75 yards against the Horned Frogs. Look for the Beavers to use him in a larger role on September 18 in Corvallis. 

Defense is certainly a strong point for Oregon State this season, having a strong performance against a Top Five team. OSU's young linebacker core will once again be tested against Louisville. The Cardinals are averaging 175 yards a game on the ground in a balanced offense style. Louisville is decent on offense, averaging 350 yards a game, so they are no pushover when it comes to moving the ball. Coming off a narrow loss to the Kentucky Wildcats, the Cardinals will be hungry for a major rebound.

The keys to success remain the same for Oregon State: An inexperienced QB must learn and improve quickly. The Heisman Trophy candidate needs to show the nation why he deserves to have his name in the discussions, and the linebackers need to shrink the number of rush yards against this week.

What makes Oregon so successful is its running game, which ranks fifth in the nation in yardage at 307 yards per game. The Ducks defense is also strong, ranking sixth in the country while averaging under a touchdown per game. It's this type of near-flawless football the Beavers will have to play.

No. 25 Oregon State Beavers versus Louisville Cardinals is set for Saturday, September 18 at 2:30 pm PST at Reser Stadium, Corvallis, Oregon.

For more information on the Beavers, check out: 2010 Oregon State Football: Will This Season Be Disappointing for the Beavers?

A loss to TCU was obviously not how the Beavers of Oregon State wanted to start the 2010 season. The Corvallis faithful are ready to see their program arrive at the next level and begin legitimately competing for a Rose Bowl berth.

However, patience is still a virtue and Oregon State appears to be on the up-and-up. The loss of one of the most efficient passers in college football, with Sean Canfield departing for the NFL, certainly set back the program.

Sophomore quarterback Ryan Katz has a lot of potential, however. He may be a vital piece of the near future for the Beavers and their program. James and Jacquizz Rodgers are building the future of the program with every game that goes by.

The progress of Oregon State Football is evident in the media, and at the stadium. Reser Stadium has undergone several construction projects, including a new jumbotron adjacent to the scoreboard on the visitor's side. A vertical extension of seats in the student section make the venue stand out in the night sky, and new practice facilities ensure players and fans of growing confidence.

As for 2010, this season may not be the year Oregon State makes a run at a BCS berth, but then again, it is difficult to rule out the possibility. The Beavs have a chance to add their names to the mix of teams capable of making it to the pinnacle of the Pac-10. 

Even if Oregon State finishes second or third in the conference, the season will be a success. 

Make no mistake: The Oregon State University football program will continue to grow, with a successful head coach (Mike Riley), several award candidates (Jacquizz Rodgers, James Rodgers, Stephen Paea) and the main stage (Pac-10). The only way this season is disappointing would be if the Beavs don't make it to a bowl game, snapping a strong streak established by Riley.

On perhaps the biggest stage of Saturday's Week 1 games, Oregon State University showed Jerry Jones and the rest of the nation why they deserved to be on the same field with the nation's elite.

While TCU collected the victory 30-21, the Beavers' passing game was unpolished but showed signs of future dominance.

Sophomore quarterback Ryan Katz only connected on nine of his 25 pass attempts, showing his inexperience. However, he was able to connect on deep passes downfield to wide receivers James Rodgers and Jordan Bishop. 

Although misfiring on several occasions, Katz was not intercepted. His passes looked sharp and crisp, and his quick release allowed more time in the pocket while looking downfield.

The young quarterback's misses were not solely to blame for OSU's demise in the Cowboy Classic.

Many viewers of the game are perplexed by the lack of touches running back Jacquizz Rodgers received in the game.

Head coach Mike Riley seemed to give up on the running game too soon, likely with the notion that TCU was keying on the Beavs' ground game.

Relying on Katz was projected as a sore spot, and the prediction held up. The Horned Frogs returned one of the best starting defenses in the country this season.

Their 4-1-6 style of defense is fast and swarming, but it has its weak spots against smashmouth rushing. Rodgers is a small back, and makes his living on the ground with shifty moves and sweeps to the outside. 

Oregon State's style of offense simply didn't match up well with TCU's defense, and when the running game returned mixed results, Riley and the Beavers looked to the passing game. Katz simply wasn't ready for this game, but he showed enormous potential.

For the TCU Horned Frogs, they move forward with a new resource: The video of this game. If not for senior quarterback Andy Dalton's ability to scramble out of the pocket to make something happen, the outcome of this game could have been very different.

On the positive side for the Frogs, the running tandem of Ed Wesley and Matthew Tucker combined for over 200 rush yards, with Wesley claiming 134 of those yards on 17 carries.

TCU discovered the weakness in Oregon State's defense, the linebackers. The defensive line, led by Stephen Paea, had some success pressuring Dalton, but once the running game got past the line, there was no one to provide assistance, and it showed.

Going forward, OSU should focus offensively on timing in the passing game, as the main cause of Katz's inaccuracy appeared to be mis-communication with receivers.

On defense, backs and linebackers will need to step up their reads on the ground and move more quickly to the ball when the linemen fail.

The Beavers will now have two weeks to prepare for the Louisville Cardinals, their home opener on Sept. 18 at 2:30 pm PDT. Louisville lost a close game to the Kentucky Wildcats, and looked much improved over last season's sub-par campaign. 

Oregon State will likely be out of the Top 25 when the rankings are released at the top of next week. Look for the Beavs to be impressive, and watch how Katz has learned from the TCU tape.

For more insight on the game, read: Oregon State-TCU: Five Reasons Why Ryan Katz Is the Key To the Game