RILEY: Looking back at a big win

MIKE RILEY said being able to run the ball opened everything up on offense. Riley said both the o-line and d-line played hard and were flying around. “Scott Crichton really had a game,” said Riley.

Mike Riley said being down three players on the defensive front seven had him concerned but the personnel groups that the assistant coaches made, such as nickel or base, were key.

Riley said Jordan Jenkins may be slowed with concussion symptoms, probably won’t practice Tuesday, hopefully Wednesday.

Grant Johnson has an ankle injury, they’ll see how he can do Tuesday.

Rueben Robinson has a shin contusion, they’ll see how they can do Tuesday.

Joe Halahuni (ankle) should be able to go Tuesday.

Cameron Collins is closer than Feti Unga to returning, they’ll see how they can do Tuesday. Jovan Stevenson will also get a look on Tuesday to see where he’s at.

Whether Josh Andrews is ready to return to his starting job won’t be made until later in the week.

On the lack of sacks, Riley said the o-line, TEs and RBs did a solid job but he saved most of his credit for Sean Mannion, saying he does an excellent job of feeling pressure and making the right decision.

As an example, Riley pointed to Jordan Jenkins TD that he said the Beavs misblocked and could have ended up a sack/fumble that instead turned into a score.

Riley said he knew going into fall camp that Mannion “was going to be ready…We got into fall camp and I told Danny (Langsdorf), we’ve got to play this guy…it was nothing that Ryan (Katz) did or didn’t do, we just saw the growth in (Mannion)…it just started hitting us right between the eyes.”

Riley said he doesn’t think the Pac-12 has been over-officiating games or calling them too tight. There was one called on special teams that Michael Lamb’s block as Jordan Poyer was going down that Riley said he didn’t understand that one.

He also said the bubble screen hold on Jordan Poyer could have been called on multiple other plays.

He also said, “We got called for a chop block and we got chopped half a dozen times and they didn’t get called…that’s what I was disappointed in.”

Riley said Utah coming off a bad loss is “a trap”. He noted they beat BYU soundly earlier in the year.

Riley said he was “really, really proud” of the effort. He said the Beaver players have continued to work through the year when there have been tough times.

Riley said the WSU interception in the end zone was “probably the right call” though he also said it could have been ruled a touchdown.

Riley said he’s glad things worked out for Reggie Dunn, who was once OSU-bound for a time, who had a big return day for Utah against Cal. Keith McGill is a starting safety at Utah that Riley also thought would end up at OSU.

Riley said Utah is a more dangerous team because they’re beat up and suffered a tough loss this past Saturday. “If anything will get our team’s attention it’s that they beat BYU by (44) points,” said Riley.

Riley said the team just finished their victory wings dinner. “The only bad thing is that’s all some guys eat, just one big plate. Forget the vegetables, forget the salad.”