Now that we're over the midway point, I thought I'd put down some of my thoughts so far on all things Beaver football related. Let's start off with recruiting, because it is the lifeblood of the program.
RECRUITING[/B]
I have seen a very strong urgency with Coach Andersen's staff to get offers out and work to get these athletes to visit Corvallis. Not that Riley's staff didn't offer the top prospects, but it seemed more ceremonial like they would extend an offer and move on. This is going to be a process. Top prospects aren't just going to commit simply because there is a new staff in town. Just like it took time at Oregon, it will take time in Corvallis as well.
In my opinion, successful recruiting (of top prospects) revolves around:
1. WINNING
2. FACILITIES
3. ATMOSPHERE
4. COACHING
Winning goes a long way, but without facilities, atmosphere and coaching you'll still have a hard time recruiting the top kids. Oregon State already has great atmosphere and coaches. Once prospects get to campus (may be the toughest part), they like the college town atmosphere. Winning and facilities are what need to improve. I'm not talking gaudy Oregon standards, but solid facilities will go a long way in recruiting. The VFC expansion is a must as is the west side of Reser (I hope they don't piece meal it). Updating the inside of the weight room is also needed (have you seen the rainbow weight plates they use and the fact that much of the branding is the old logo?)
Getting a prospect to visit Oregon State is sometimes the toughest piece...winning will go a long way in helping that, but then having the facilities that impress will keep OSU from being eliminated. Think back to being 17 or 18. All things considered equal between say Washington and Oregon State...you may fall back on facilities and chose the rival.
SPRING CAMP[/B]
New staff means new rules. The media and fans went from getting to watch practice anytime they chose to limited observation. The new rules aren't as bad as I had heard prior to spring (although I suspect they clamp down more for fall camp), it has limited our view of the program in many ways (but watching the full Saturday practices has been big).
As has been stated several times, practices are very efficient and up tempo. The staff is very vocal and energetic and the players have responded. It is actually really fun to watch the coaches (defense especially) as they are ALWAYS coaching.
While the offense still struggles to learn this new system, it has been good to see the players buy in to a new staff. Change is never easy, but the transition from Riley to Andersen has seemed to go as well as could be expected.
QUARTERBACK[/B]
...and now there are four. After starting camp with seven QB's, Tanner Sanders and Brent VanderVeen have moved to tight end while Kyle Kempt has left the program. That leaves Luke Del Rio, Nick Mitchell, Marcus McMaryion and Seth Collins at the position (although it Del Rio, Mitchell and Collins look to be the three main contenders).
Freshman Seth Collins is crazy athletic and makes things happen with his legs, but I haven't seen a great arm yet. Del Rio has a better arm, but isn't as athletic (and frankly has struggled a lot during the practices I've seen).
If I were to pick, I'd say Mitchell holds the lead at the moment. He isn't as big of a threat on his legs as Collins (but he can move) and his arm looks the best to me. I do think we see multiple QB's however, and Collins is definitely one to watch this summer/fall, if for no other reason, he was recruited by Andersen and has the skill set he likes in a QB.
RUNNING BACK[/B]
Chris Brown has been seeing more touches in practice and I fully expect we see him and Storm sharing duties this fall. Haskins is a role player, and then the addition of two freshmen in the fall (Taylor Thomas and Deltron Sands) will add some intrigue to the mix.
WIDE RECEIVER[/B]
As we've discussed, the receivers will be the strength on offense this year. They are young but seasoned and there is a lot of talent in the group. I see the starters being Bolden, Villamin and Jarmon as those three seem to have separated themselves from the pack. Hawkins, Gilmore, Dockery and Guyton are in the mix. Guyton is still raw and learning, but there is skill there.
OFFENSIVE LINE
[/B]
A pretty solid group of returners (even without Isaac) in Mitchell, Andrews, Harlow, and Stanton with Lauina seeing time and improving by the day. The young redshirt freshmen have talent and continue to work on honing their craft and gaining weight in some cases. Clarkson and Delp are two that I'm keeping a close eye on.
DEFENSIVE LINE[/B]
Have not watched a ton of them yet, but plan too over the course of the next two scrimmages.
LINEBACKER[/B]
The Beavs graduated three starters from a year ago, but the group may actually be more athletic/fast. Bright Ugwoegbu and Darrell Songy are the two underclassmen to watch closely. They have picked things up quickly and have the speed and agility to move sideline to sideline effortlessly. JC transfer Kyle Haley is also impressive. Caleb Saulo also has starting experience. In the middle Rommel Mageo returns with experience and Manase Hungalu has been making progress as well.
SAFETY[/B]
All four safeties have looked really solid this spring: Cyril Noland-Lewis, Brandon Arnold, Justin Strong and Adam Soesman. Noland-Lewis, Arnold and Strong like to hit and hit hard. Soesman is a bit of an unknown after spending the year on the scout team where he earned lots of accolades from coaches and teammates.
CORNERBACK[/B]
With the loss of Steven Nelson the Beavs have an opening opposite Larry Scott at corner. Charles Okonkwo, Dwayne Williams, Dashon Hunt and Kevin Hayes are young, but have all made some impressive plays this spring. By the time fall rolls around, JC transfer Treston DeCoud and freshmen Jay Irvine and Shawn Wilson join the mix.
RECRUITING[/B]
I have seen a very strong urgency with Coach Andersen's staff to get offers out and work to get these athletes to visit Corvallis. Not that Riley's staff didn't offer the top prospects, but it seemed more ceremonial like they would extend an offer and move on. This is going to be a process. Top prospects aren't just going to commit simply because there is a new staff in town. Just like it took time at Oregon, it will take time in Corvallis as well.
In my opinion, successful recruiting (of top prospects) revolves around:
1. WINNING
2. FACILITIES
3. ATMOSPHERE
4. COACHING
Winning goes a long way, but without facilities, atmosphere and coaching you'll still have a hard time recruiting the top kids. Oregon State already has great atmosphere and coaches. Once prospects get to campus (may be the toughest part), they like the college town atmosphere. Winning and facilities are what need to improve. I'm not talking gaudy Oregon standards, but solid facilities will go a long way in recruiting. The VFC expansion is a must as is the west side of Reser (I hope they don't piece meal it). Updating the inside of the weight room is also needed (have you seen the rainbow weight plates they use and the fact that much of the branding is the old logo?)
Getting a prospect to visit Oregon State is sometimes the toughest piece...winning will go a long way in helping that, but then having the facilities that impress will keep OSU from being eliminated. Think back to being 17 or 18. All things considered equal between say Washington and Oregon State...you may fall back on facilities and chose the rival.
SPRING CAMP[/B]
New staff means new rules. The media and fans went from getting to watch practice anytime they chose to limited observation. The new rules aren't as bad as I had heard prior to spring (although I suspect they clamp down more for fall camp), it has limited our view of the program in many ways (but watching the full Saturday practices has been big).
As has been stated several times, practices are very efficient and up tempo. The staff is very vocal and energetic and the players have responded. It is actually really fun to watch the coaches (defense especially) as they are ALWAYS coaching.
While the offense still struggles to learn this new system, it has been good to see the players buy in to a new staff. Change is never easy, but the transition from Riley to Andersen has seemed to go as well as could be expected.
QUARTERBACK[/B]
...and now there are four. After starting camp with seven QB's, Tanner Sanders and Brent VanderVeen have moved to tight end while Kyle Kempt has left the program. That leaves Luke Del Rio, Nick Mitchell, Marcus McMaryion and Seth Collins at the position (although it Del Rio, Mitchell and Collins look to be the three main contenders).
Freshman Seth Collins is crazy athletic and makes things happen with his legs, but I haven't seen a great arm yet. Del Rio has a better arm, but isn't as athletic (and frankly has struggled a lot during the practices I've seen).
If I were to pick, I'd say Mitchell holds the lead at the moment. He isn't as big of a threat on his legs as Collins (but he can move) and his arm looks the best to me. I do think we see multiple QB's however, and Collins is definitely one to watch this summer/fall, if for no other reason, he was recruited by Andersen and has the skill set he likes in a QB.
RUNNING BACK[/B]
Chris Brown has been seeing more touches in practice and I fully expect we see him and Storm sharing duties this fall. Haskins is a role player, and then the addition of two freshmen in the fall (Taylor Thomas and Deltron Sands) will add some intrigue to the mix.
WIDE RECEIVER[/B]
As we've discussed, the receivers will be the strength on offense this year. They are young but seasoned and there is a lot of talent in the group. I see the starters being Bolden, Villamin and Jarmon as those three seem to have separated themselves from the pack. Hawkins, Gilmore, Dockery and Guyton are in the mix. Guyton is still raw and learning, but there is skill there.
OFFENSIVE LINE
[/B]
A pretty solid group of returners (even without Isaac) in Mitchell, Andrews, Harlow, and Stanton with Lauina seeing time and improving by the day. The young redshirt freshmen have talent and continue to work on honing their craft and gaining weight in some cases. Clarkson and Delp are two that I'm keeping a close eye on.
DEFENSIVE LINE[/B]
Have not watched a ton of them yet, but plan too over the course of the next two scrimmages.
LINEBACKER[/B]
The Beavs graduated three starters from a year ago, but the group may actually be more athletic/fast. Bright Ugwoegbu and Darrell Songy are the two underclassmen to watch closely. They have picked things up quickly and have the speed and agility to move sideline to sideline effortlessly. JC transfer Kyle Haley is also impressive. Caleb Saulo also has starting experience. In the middle Rommel Mageo returns with experience and Manase Hungalu has been making progress as well.
SAFETY[/B]
All four safeties have looked really solid this spring: Cyril Noland-Lewis, Brandon Arnold, Justin Strong and Adam Soesman. Noland-Lewis, Arnold and Strong like to hit and hit hard. Soesman is a bit of an unknown after spending the year on the scout team where he earned lots of accolades from coaches and teammates.
CORNERBACK[/B]
With the loss of Steven Nelson the Beavs have an opening opposite Larry Scott at corner. Charles Okonkwo, Dwayne Williams, Dashon Hunt and Kevin Hayes are young, but have all made some impressive plays this spring. By the time fall rolls around, JC transfer Treston DeCoud and freshmen Jay Irvine and Shawn Wilson join the mix.
