Gameday Preview: OSU vs. TCU

Holy crap it is here (and so am I)!!!  Football season is just about upon us with Oregon State kicking off Saturday against TCU at the House That Jerry Built, Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.

First, some housecleaning.  The blog can now be (only, as before) be found at QuizzandQuon.com.  Some a-hole (me) forgot to renew the domain name MyQBHasMoxie.com and now some other a-hole has it and I don’t want to take the time and effort – and money – to get it back.  At least not right now.  I mean, his site has nothing to do with quarterbacks, football, or anything of quality for that matter.  Such is life.

Now onto more important matters like Oregon State football.  Cliff Kirkpatrick has a brief scouting report up on 6th-ranked TCU.  Texas Christian has 16 returning starters but did lose a couple defensive studs to the NFL draft (a 1st rd pick and a 2nd rd pick).  The problem OSU will face is that most of the Horned Frogs’ talent on offense is back including All-MWC ginger quarterback Andy Dalton.  OSU defensive ends Gabe Miller and Taylor Henry (who still plans on starting despite a bum ankle) must provide some pressure for the Beavers to have any success on defense.  Despite OSU losing three starters on defense from last season, including all-conference selection Keaton Kristick, I am cautiously optimistic about their chances.  Keith Pankey has made a quick recovery from a ruptured Achilles and is ready for the start of the season.  Dwight Roberson will start at the other outside linebacker spot after splitting time with Pankey the past two seasons.  Middle linebacker hasn’t been sorted out yet but will most likely end up being a platoon between Tony Wilson and Ruben Robinson, at least to start the season.  The secondary returns intact minus Tim Clark and (sort of) Cameron Collins, who is moving to linebacker.

Collins move to linebacker upsets me for two reasons.  First, I am upset because I didn’t think of it.  Collins seems to be a natural “OSU linebacker”.  I but that in quotations because Oregon State has had plenty of success in the past with moving safeties to linebacker to take advantage of their speed and it has kind of become an OSU staple.  But the real reason it bothers me is WHY NOW?  Apparently this is Collins’ decision, which is fine, but this should have been done last spring.  Collins started most of the games last season at safety with mixed results which should be expected from a young player like him.  I love his tools at safety but I am not convinced he would ever reach his potential in the secondary.  It seems Collins and the coaching staff share that belief.  The good news for Oregon State is that the Beavers have plenty of depth at the position and Collins could still play there in a pinch.  In the meantime senior Suaesi Tuimaunei (Sue-ay-see Too-ee-mow-nay…the “mow” rhymes with ow and not owe, if that makes sense, I didn’t know how to properly convey that) will get the starting nod alongside Lance Mitchell.  I am okay with that as Tuimaunei came on at the end of last season after struggling mightily at the beginning of the season.

Some more cautious good news for OSU, Ryan Katz has looked good and Mike Riley seems intent on letting it all hang out this coming weekend.  I have read several quotes over the past week or so with Riley saying he intends on attacking TCU’s defense.  Good.  What the Beavers were doing in the past to start seasons wasn’t working and hopefully opening up the offense will lead to good things, even with an inexperienced quarterback.

One more note, Wilder McAndrews will get the start at left tackle over Michael Phillipp.  Phillipp has battled injuries throughout the spring and fall, mostly the nagging sort.  I expect him to get significant time as the season wears on.  Don’t expect too much of a drop off, if any, from McAndrews who has looked excellent from all reports coming from those that cover the Beavers on a day to day basis.

Hell yes.  Football.  GO BEAVS!!!

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