First, a disclaimer. This preview was originally put together a couple of weeks ago, under the guise that one very key member of the Oregon State program would be a starter and major factor: Sammie Stroughter. While there still is no official word on the explosive WR's status, he's now been away from the team for 10 days, and counting, and no idea if/when we'll get an announcement. The Oregonian has been on top of the situation, and while Sammie made a cameo appearance at the team's scrimmage yesterday, he didn't look like a guy ready for some football. Given everything that is known thus far, it doesn't sound good. So, with that in mind, this preview is written with an updated angle of the Beavers' life without Sammie Stroughter.
The Beavers were a Pac-10 darling last year, coming out of nowhere to win ten games, including a thrilling 39-38 Sun Bowl victory over Missouri to cap off a real turnaround season. While QB Matt Moore had his ups and downs in Corvallis, and was even booed during some rough spots early in '07, the team rallied around him late in the year. Can the Beavers repeat last year's surprising surge to Pac-10 contender? Or will reality strike the black and orange as the off-the-field distractions have piled up over the last month?
| WHY THEY'LL WIN |
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How good is the line? Consider that Oregon State was the only program last year to have all five starters earn all-conference honors, either first-team, second team or honorable mention! That unit returns four of those five starters in '07, and even 8 out of 10 in the two-deep's from last year. Their interior of center Kyle DeVan and guards Roy Schuening and Jeremy Perry are talented and tough. No team in the conference has the type of maulers like OSU, and as the 2-point conversion play in their win over Missouri showed, they seem to be able to move the pile at will. Whether it's Bernard or backup RB Clinton Polk, or whoever prevails in camp as the starting QB, the entire offense will succeed because of the big uglies up front. Up front, the d-line looks to be strong as well, led by four senior starters. DE's Jeff Van Orsow and Dorian Smith are probably the two best up front. Van Orsow was the hero of the USC upset a year ago, tipping a 2-point conversion attempt by John David Booty with seconds remaining to clinch the win. He was honorable mention all-conference last year with 10 tackles for loss. Smith surprised a lot of people with a team-high nine sacks last year, tops on the team and the #2 pass-rusher in the conference coming back in '07. The tackles are Gerald Lee and Curtis Coker, both active run-stoppers who are good at plugging the middle and eating up some space, freeing up the linebackers to make plays. |
The wide receivers have a lot of talent, led by the headline-making Sammie Stroughter. Of course, as of this writing, Stroughter is away from the team with what has been described as personal issues, and unfortunately there isn't anything more that is known about a potential return. Rumors and speculation abound at this point. Described as being an upbeat kid with an infectious personality, he's one of the most popular players on the football team. Oh, and he's really good. As in the leading receiver back in '07 in the entire conference with 74 catches, as well as being the #2 return man behind only DeSean Jackson at Cal. You can't sugar coat the obvious - losing Stroughter would be a huge blow to the football team. Behind Strougther, the starters would be Brandon Powers and Anthony Brown (formerly Wheat-Brown). While they are a nice duo as a compliment to a guy like Stroughter, to put it in perspective, Powers and Brown combined for 60 catches last year, still 14 less than the number Stroughter turned in. WR Chris Johnson is a guy that would likely move up the depth chart as the #3 guy should Stroughter not return. 
