BFS Current Story

Struggling Oregon State Travels to Tempe to Face ASU

10-2-2009 - A struggling Oregon State Football team must now go on the road in search of a victory and more importantly, an identity. The Beavers 2-2 (0-1 PAC-10) face an Arizona State team that is has two victories over a couple of cupcakes and a near miss loss on the road at Georgia 17-20. It is this game at Georgia that perhaps the real Sun Devil team showed up to play and nearly came home with a win. This may seem on the outside like a task that is within reach of the Beavers. But look at one simple fact. As good as Beaver team have been the last 10 years, note this. Oregon State has not won a game against ASU at ASU since 1969. The Beavers have lost 16 consecutive games at Sun Devil Stadium (not counting the Fiesta Bowl Victory). And the Beavers come into Tempe on a 2 game losing streak, having given up 10 sacks in the last two games and 15 on the season.

The Beavers Defense has been a hallmark of Oregon States success the last 10 years but this season appears to be a rebuilding and not a reloading year for the Beavers defense. The defense has given up 86 points in their last three games for an average of 28.7 points per game, 13 sacks including back to back 5 sack games and only has 2 interceptions on the year. What has become of Linebacker U?

The Beaver offense seems to be moving the ball well and scoring enough points to win games. The Beavers are averaging 26.8 points per game, 135.8 yards rushing and 255.8 yards passing. They have huge scoring threats in the Rodgers Brothers and have emerging players on offense stepping up to play a big role such as Damola Adeniji, Joe Halahuni and Darrell Catchings. The in the most important area of the offense, the one part that must be successful to make the rest of the offense click is failing to do its job. The offensive line has become the largest piece of swiss cheese on the west coast. The last two games the Beavers QB has been sacked 10 times and Quizz Rodgers has averaged in the mid 80's for yards per game. For the Beavers to be success this weekend in Tempe and the rest of the season, this has to change.

In looking at each teams stats for the 2009 season. It is clear that the problems we have discussed over the last three weeks with the Beavers team are showing up on the field. ASU won 19 of the 32 categories and tied the Beavers in 3 others. This gives ASU a 19-10-3 advantage statistically. The weaknesses in the Beavers defense show as the Beavers failed to win a major defensive category. On offense, the Beavers lead in many categories showing that they can move the ball and score points, but it also shows that the Beavers have given up 15 sacks this season to ASU's 5.

The stats also show how bad the Beavers running game has been the last few weeks. For a coach that insists that the Beavers must have a balanced attack on offense and with Quizz and James Rodgers running the ball. The Beavers are 6th in the PAC-10 in rushing yards and first in passing yards. This shows that the Beavers offensive line is not opening up the holes needed to get Rodgers threw the line and the Beavers offense is being forced to throw the ball to get yards. Then the defense can load up their blitz packages and put more pressure on the offensive line, thus getting more sacks and interceptions. This is a dangerous trend that the Beavers must take care of this week in Tempe if they want to win.

BY THE NUMBERS

KEYS	STATISTIC	OSU	ASU	Advantage
.	Records	2-2 (0-1)	2-1 (0-0)	ASU
.	Scoring Offense	26.8	35.0	ASU
.	Scoring Defense	23.2	12.3	ASU
.	Total Offense	391.5	316.3	OSU
.	Total Defense	272.0	136.7	ASU
.	Rushing Offense	135.8	135.0	OSU
.	Rushing Defense	92.2	74.3	ASU
.	Passing Offense	255.8	101.3	OSU
.	Passing Defense	272.0	136.7	ASU
.	Pass Efficiency	132.7	104.8	OSU
.	Pass Defense Efficiency	135.7	86.9	ASU
.	Kickoff Returns	23.7	36.3	ASU
.	Punt Return Average	3.4	11.4	ASU
.	Interceptions	2	8	ASU
.	Punting	34.8	37.3	ASU
.	Kickoff Coverage	42.3	42.5	ASU
.	Field Goals	7/8=.875	7/9=.778	OSU
.	PAT Kicking	10/11=.909	12/12=1.0	ASU
.	Sacks by	2	2	TIE
.	Sacks Against	15	5	ASU
.	First Downs	87	49	OSU
.	Opponent First Downs	79	35	ASU
.	3rd Down Conversions	44.8	35.7	OSU
.	3rd Down Defense	43.1	29.3	ASU
.	4th Down Conversions	66.7	66.7	TIE
.	4th Down Defense	20.0	33.3	OSU
.	Penalties	49.2	87.7	OSU
.	Time of Possession	31.46	32.15	ASU
.	Turnover Margin	+1	+10	ASU
.	Red Zone Offense	93.8	93.8	TIE
.	Red Zone Defense	80.0	83.3	OSU
.	Home Field Advantage	-	ASU	ASU
32	Totals	10	19	OSU

THE BOTTOM LINE

For the Beavers to break the streak this week and come home from Tempe with a win for the first time in 40 years, the Beavers must fix the problems that we have been discussing the last three weeks.

1. The Offensive line must protect the quarterback.
2. The Offensive line must open holes for Quizz to run threw.
3. The Beavers QB's must not take the sacks and get rid of the ball or throw it away.
4. The Defensive line must put pressure on the ASU quarterback to help the secondary cover the wide receivers.

So the big story this weekend and where the game will be decided with be in the trenches. The Oregon State offensive and defensive lines must improve for this team to be successful. Let's hope someone can step up their game and lead this team on to victory.

FINAL SCORE

BEAVERS 32
ASU 28

GO BEAVERS!

BFS