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Home Sweet Home, 0-2 Beavers Look for Win in Home Opener

9-12-2008 - The 0-2 Beavers are looking for all the comforts of home this Saturday including a much needed as the Hawaii Warriors come to Corvallis. Last week in Pennsylvania the Beavers were once again pounded by Penn State on National TV 45-14, something that has become a bad habit over the last several years in the early part of the season. But now the Beavers return home for the first time this season and look to heal some wounds with a victory over Hawaii.

This will be the first ever appearance of a Hawaii team in Corvallis and the Beavers are putting their 24 game non-conference home win streak on the line vs Hawaii. That streak started almost 12 years ago in 1996. And the Beavers should win this game. They are the better program and have better athletes but the Beavers tradition of having a solid defense that keeps the offense in the game till later in the season when they put it all together has dissappeared this season. The Beavers are giving up 224.5 yards per game on the ground. Something that this program has not done in some time. In fact, the Beavers over the last ten years have had defenses that have ranked in the top 10 nationally in run defense.

But its home where the Beavers have come to when they need a much needed boost to their season. Reser Stadium has been a good place to play the last ten years for the Beavers and they should take care of business on Saturday with a victory over Hawaii. Oregon State has outscored its opponents 132-34 in the first quarter of games at Reser over the last two years. Verus the WAC conference the Beavers are 57-22 with only Fresno State holding an advantage in wins. The Beavers are 4-3 vs the Warriors.

I hope to see a good crowd at the game as this team needs to hear that their fans still believe in them. Confidence in a player is a huge thing. I have seen many quality high school players leave the game because a coach could not see the potential in a player. It is the same even with a college athlete. Confidence and the belief that their coaches and fans still believe in them can make all the difference in a teams and players ability to perform at gametime.

BY THE NUMBERS

Key	STATISTIC	OSU	Hawaii	Advantage
.	Records	0-2 (0-1)	1-1 (0-0)	HAW
.	Scoring Offense	21.0	23.0	HAW
.	Scoring Defense	40.5	36.5	HAW
.	Passing Offense	327.0	243.0	OSU
.	Passing Defense	153.0	192.0	OSU
.	Kickoff Returns	24.0	19.3	OSU
.	Punting	26.2	28.8	HAW
X	Turnover Margin	-4	-6	HAW
X	Rushing Offense	89.0	96.5	HAW
X	Rushing Defense	224.5	117.5	HAW
.	Total Offense	416.0	339.5	OSU
.	Total Defense	377.5	309.5	HAW
.	Punt Return Average	5.2	-0.5	OSU
.	Pass Efficiency	121.9	119.2	OSU
x	Pass Defense Efficiency	135.5	120.8	HAW
x	First Downs	48	37	OSU
.	Opponent First Downs	41	34	HAW
X	Sacks	2	4	HAW
.	Penalties	88.0	67.5	HAW
X	Red Zone Offense	75.0	100%	HAW
X	Red Zone Defense	88.9	83.3	HAW
X	3rd Down Conversions	34.5	18.2	OSU
X	3rd Down Defense	46.2	36.0	HAW
	Sacks Allowed	4	6	OSU
.	Field Goals	2/2	1/3	OSU
.	Time of Possession	30.37	32.37	HAW
.	Home Field Advantage	HOME	AWAY	OSU
.	Totals	11	16	HAW

 

Hawaii's numbers are better then Oregon State's in 16 of 27 categories. Oregon State ranks 105th in the nation in scoring defense and Hawaii ranks 108th in the same category. With numbers like that and the type of offense that both of these teams have traditionally put on the field, this game could be a real shootout on Saturday. The big thing this week and for every week for the rest of the season is for the Beavers defensive front seven to put pressure on the quarterback and defend the run better. If the Beavers can get back to being the run stoppers that they have been then this season can turn around in a hurry with the defensive backs that we have in place.

The advantage for the Beavers will be in size and offensive ability. The Beavers passing game is starting to hit big, averaging over 325 yards per game. It is the running game with McCants and Rodgers that needs to have a break out game this week. Rodgers has shown that he is a big time play maker just waiting to break out. Rodgers almost had his first career 100 yard game at Penn State, rushing for 99 yards on 22 carries. That is the type of performance we expect him to have week in week out this year. In fact we need him to have that kind of performance. Oregon State traditionally wins games when they have running backs who carry for over 100 yards in a game. McCants has been dissappointing so far this season with only 8 yards at Penn State and 14 yards vs Stanford.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Look for the Beavers to try to establish some kind of running game early. I expect them to do that by going deep with the passing game in their first possession of the game to make the warriors think twice about loading up the box on defense. Rodgers will go for over 100 yards today and Stroughter will break a big play in front of the home crowd for a touchdown. I also look for both Rodgers brothers to have big plays today. This team has been embarrassed and they are coming home to take it out on Hawaii.

The defense will stand taller today but still struggle with the run game. I see a close game early with the Beavers wearing down Hawaii and putting it away in the second half.

FINAL SCORE

BEAVERS 38
HAWAII 24

GO BEAVERS!

BFS