UPDATE:  So more (better) pics can be found here.  And I added a pic of the new Nike Pro Combat OSU gloves at the bottom.  (Both link and pic via Twitter @OSUBeaversFB.

Nike has unveiled their new Nike Pro Combat uniforms for 10 schools to sport in the 2010 season.  Oregon State’s version can be seen above.  Nike’s site link can be found here.  It is pretty bad-ass and tells the story behind the uniform.  Also click on the “Innovation” link to scroll through the uniform details.

My thoughts?  I may be in the minority but I kind of like them…for a couple reasons.  First, I like that Nike went with a classic, simple design that fits Oregon State and our mentality.  ”LunchPail U” as the football team is often referred to (I believe credit may go to Paul Buker of the Oregonian for that one).  Second, I like that Nike has selected Oregon State to represent these new uniforms.  It is a fairly select group that will sport the uniforms during the season.  Whether people like it or not, Nike is the big dog on the block when it comes to athletic shoes and apparel and their marketing is second to none.  Those that complain about Nike’s close association with the University of Oregon should stop it.  Enough with the little-man syndrome.  Oregon State has more than established itself as power within the Pac-10 conference and their is no need to complain about the school to south.

And realize too that these uniforms will look much better on our actual players than they do on this guy.  I suppose they were going for a Jacquizz Rodgers look but…eh, it’s pretty weak.

Oregon State will unveil their Nike Pro Combat uniforms in the Civil War at Reser Stadium this season.

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!!!

This is the same guy who the University of Oregon was after HARD.  Not surprising such an intelligent young feller would have considered that fine academic institution.  In case there was any doubt…yes, this was just a cheap opportunity to take a shot at U of O.  (via TBL)

The latest Pac-10 football trailer.

[UPDATE] Sports Illustrated takes a wack at figuring out Pac-12 (and the new Big-10/12) alignment.  He supports the North/South alignment.  Good points made.

RE: Previous Post.  I didn’t report it.  I don’t report anything BUT I probably should have known to wait until this CF was over with before saying a thing.  Ladies and gentlemen, we now have our….PACIFIC-12!!!

Colorado had already joined.  After Texas finished their massive screw over of everybody involved, deciding on staying in the Big-12…er, Big-10…whatever…and then creating their own network, Larry Scott invited Utah into the Pac-10.  Utah will be Colorado’s travel partner.  How the new Pac-12 will split up has yet to be finalized.  The two most likely scenarios are:  

North/South: UW, WSU, OSU, UO, Cal, and Stanford in the North.  Utah, Colarado, USC, UCLA, UA, ASU.

This format essentially effs over the North Division schools by not providing consistent trips to recruiting hotbed southern California.

Zipper: WSU, USC, Stanford, UA, UO, and Colorado in on division.  UW, UCLA, Cal, ASU, OSU, and Utah in the other.

This format creates much more travel costs than the North/South split but would allow for consistent trips for the NW (and Col/Utah) regions to more recruit-rich California and Arizona.  The issue I have with the cost complaints is that I can’t imagine this format would create much more travel expenses than the teams in the current Pac-10 already incur.

I prefer the Zipper format and I think most fans would as well.  Whether or not Larry Scott and the Pacific-12 school presidents agree with me is the question.

According to Chip Brown of Orangbloods.com, Nebraska has decided to leave the Big-12.  This leaves the rest of the Big-12 schools apparently of the opinion the conference cannot be saved.  The Pac-10 has allegedly reached out to the Big-12 south (Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State…but not Baylor) and Colorado and those schools will accept an invitation creating the Pacific-16 “super-conference”.

The conference will likely break up into two divisions:

East – Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M Aggies, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Colorado Buffaloes, Arizona Wildcats, and the Arizona State Sun Devils.

West – USC Trojans, UCLA Bruins, Cal Golden Bears, Stanford Cardinal, Oregon State Beavers, Oregon Ducks, Washington State Cougars, and the Washington Huskies (the original Pac-8).

The conference would start play in the fall of 2012.  My thoughts some time before then

Dunn, a speedy 5’10″ wide receiver, was recruited by Oregon State and failed to qualify then and went to Compton Community College for two years where he seems to have buckled down and barely qualified.  Maybe.

Fortunately for Oregon State, WR is a position that they are fairly deep at.  So I say screw him.  Not literally, of course.

Go Beavs.  (via Cliff Kirkpatrick)

ESPN.com college football blogger Bruce Feldman (Twitter @BFeldmanESPN) recently interviewed Mike Riley.  Riley discusses his own recruiting process to Alabama, his relationship with his coaches, and a few key players on the current roster.  The entire interview is for ESPN Insiders only but here is a snippet:

What did you think when your name came up after Pete Carroll left the USC Trojans?
I’ve got a new motto, “When you’re happy, you stay happy.” I am. I know who we are. I know it’s always going to be hard, but I love it. It’s an easy place to live, and I’m very comfortable. I grew up here in town. My dad was a coach here. It’s a good thing.

Mike Riley told anybody who would listen that the battle for starting quarterback on the 2010 Oregon State Beavers was an open competition.  And it may have been.  It appears now, even though nothing has been officially announced, OSU has found their starter.  Ryan Katz got the bulk of the snaps this spring practice with the number ones while Peter Lalich has fallen into a battle with redshirt freshman Cody Vaz for the backup position.

And, even though local reports say that Katz has run hot and cold this spring, Katz has been named to the Sporting News All-Spring Team and their offensive MVP.

Blessed with a big arm, Katz has added the consistency and accuracy to run an offense featuring Jacquizz and James Rodgers. Coach Mike Riley didn’t name a starting quarterback, but Katz will lead the Beavers against TCU on Sept. 4. “I’m taking the No. 1 reps,” Katz said after Saturday’s spring game. “So that’s the way I’m looking at it.”

I’m still not sold that Katz will be the one to grab the reigns of this offense and star (or even be average) after several very good quarterbacks before him have failed in their first years.  Like Matt Moore, Sean Canfield, and Lyle Moevao before him, nobody is questioning Katz’s talent, it’s his decision making that will need to improve if Oregon State wants makes a run to the top of the Pac-10 this fall.  (via Cliff Kirkpatrick)

Oh, and about those post-season/pre-spring practice position reports.  They have turned into post-season/post-spring practice position reports.  I’m still alive!

Merton Hanks…errrr…James Dockery will likely get the starting nod at one of the cornerback spots for the Beavers in 2010.

The fourth post on the 2010 Oregon State Beaver football team.  We will provide a depth chart breakdown by position.  By we I mean me.  

• Right Side Cornerback – The weakside cornerback is usually where teams place their weaker cornerback due to a (usually) right-handed quarterback having his back to that side of the field during his drop back.  For Oregon State in 2010, while this should hold true, we shouldn’t think of the right side CB as “weak”.  Junior Brandon Hardin is an absolute freak athletically and hits like a truck.  If only Sabby Piscitelli would’ve had Hardin’s stones.  Hardin has been a special teams standout for the past two years and, after spending his first year at safety, played pretty well at corner in 2009.  Hardin even got a couple starts for the Beavers as Tim Clark struggled with injuries and Mike Riley looked for a more physical presence on the outside.  Of course, not all is rosy for Hardin.  He has experienced his own share of injuries ranging from minor bumps and bruises to broken bones.  If healthy, Hardin is they type of player who can be special because of all his athletic gifts.  Fortunately for the Beavers, even if Hardin does get dinged up along the way, coaches Mark Banker (defense/secondary) and Keith Heyward (cornerbacks) have a lot of young depth to work with.  The problem with that? They’re young.
• Left Side Cornerback – On the strong side, Oregon State has returning starter James Dockery.  An upcoming senior, Dockery excelled in 2009 after not playing very extensively earlier in his career while Brandon Hughes, Keenan Lewis, and Tim Clark got the bulk of the work.  He ended up splitting time with now-graduated Patrick Henderson but by mid-season (probably sooner) it was clear that Dockery was Oregon States best cover corner.  He finished as one of two Beavers with multiple interceptions and led the team in pass breakups.  Durability also proved to be one of Dockery’s strengths in 2009.  He was returning from a torn up knee that he suffered prior to the 2008 season which forced him to miss a year recovering and rehabbing.  It was a good sign for the Beavers that Dockery was able to start all 13 games in 2009 after the injury and hopefully it will prove to be a fluke rather than a recurrence.  The hope in 2010 is that Dockery can take the next step forward and become a true man-to-man shut down corner.
• Reserve Cornerbacks – As stated before, the Beavers have a stable of young talented cornerbacks returning in 2010.  The question still remains as to which one(s) will step up and fill the valuable nickel and dime CB roles.  Coming into spring practice it looks like speedsters Keynan Parker (sophomore) and Rashaad Reynolds (redshirt freshman) will get some initial looks as well as redshirt freshman Sean Martin.  Sophomore Brian Watkins may also see some time deeper in the rotation.  The real key to this group may end up being true sophomore Jordan Poyer.  Poyer reminds me of Brandon Hardin in a lot of ways and now, like Hardin, he will get the opportunity to move from safety to corner.  Hardin used an outstanding year on special teams in 2008 to springboard himself into a role at cornerback and into an eventual starting position.  Poyer looks to follow suit this year.  I would expect to see Poyer (a terrific three-sport athlete in high school) get heavy minutes this fall.  The Beavers also added a couple defensive backs to the fold in the 2010 recruiting class.  However, both project to be safeties at this point with one, Will Storey most likely greyshirting this upcoming season.  There was one late addition to the mix as well.  Ryan Handford, a 5’11″ 195 lb JC recruit out of Santa Ana College.  He has been told he will get playing time right way which will add a little experience to the young reserves.
• Safety – Fortunately for Oregon State with all the trouble they have had with losses to the front seven, they do have a couple (three, really) of experienced safeties in the defensive backfield.  Junior Lance Mitchell was a mainstay for Oregon State all year long.  He finished the year third on the team in tackles, second in pass breakups, and led the team in interceptions with three.  While those numbers were exceptional for a sophomore, Mitchell’s consistent play throughout the season was the real bonus as he helped steady the defensive backfield that was breaking in all new starters.  While Mitchell was a leader in the secondary in 2009, another junior, Cameron Collins is expected by many to be the defensive star for the 2010 Beavers.  Collins, you may remember, was Beaver that came up and delivered the shot that sent Jahvid Best tumbling through the air resulting in his scary concussion.  The safety has NFL-type athleticism but still needs to put it together making the right decisions and taking better angles in support.  That athleticism is what allowed him to mask some of those mistakes.  Also having Mitchell to direct traffic helped Collins focus on making plays.  Much will be expected of the juniors in 2010.
• Reserve Safeties – The third player that will likely get the bulk of the snaps at safety for Oregon State will be senior Suaesi Tuimaunei.  Tuimaunei started alongside Mitchell at the beginning of the 2009 season but struggled through the early part of the season, getting beat deep (the cardinal sin for a safety, letting receivers behind him) a few times.  Collins took Tuimaunei’s starting position a few games into the season and didn’t look back.  Tuimaunei went a few games barely seeing the field on defense but after making some plays on special teams he really came on towards the end of the season as a key reserve.  With the other key reserve from this past season, Poyer, changing positions to cornerback, Oregon State will turn to a slew of inexperienced underclassmen (sound familiar) to fill in the depth chart.  Sophomore Josh LaGrone was expected to see plenty of action as a backup in 2009 but a knee injury derailed his season before it began.  LaGrone is now back healthy and will be battling with the man who took his spot last season, sophomore Anthony Watkins (brother of the aforementioned Brian Watkins).  A couple of redshirt freshmen, Dax Dilbeck (Edmond, OK) and Zeke Sanders (Santa Cruz, CA), will battle for playing time at the back end of the safety rotation.  The Beavers also have a couple safety recruits in the 2010 class.  Ryan Murphy (6’2″ 190 lbs) is a great athlete out of Oakland, CA, that comes to Corvallis with fellow recruit Fred Thompson (DT).  Expect Murphy to redshirt in 2010 as there appears to be plenty of young depth in front of him on the depth chart.  The previously mentioned Will Storey (6’2″ 212 lbs) out of Lake Oswego, OR, will grey shirt in 2010 and officially join the program in January of 2011.

Oregon States secondary is lining up to be a strength with all four starters back from the end of last season.  While depth may be a concern (especially at corner) Mike Riley and Mark Banker do have plenty of young talent to develop some players fully capable of getting reserve time.

Up Next:  Offensive Line