The CAN RILEY signs are already making appearances in the stadium just three and
a half games in, and you can feel the discontent in the air...yet after watching
the tape of the game, there's a strange sense that things just don't have to be
this bad.
During the Cal and Boise State game, there was a weird "snowball effect."
And I'm not talking about a number 37 type of snowball effect, I'm talking about
heads hanging low and leaders not emerging.
A win today means more than just a finger in the dam-- it means stopping the
bleeding, it means new life-- a win today means that the season can be salvaged.
In lieu of anything pithy or witty to add, I'll just move on to the keys to the
game:
1 - Limit Mismatches.
Washington State has wide receivers, and is not afraid to go four and five wide.
Banker has his work cut out for him, and as long as Oregon State plays the 4-3
in a left/right formation instead of strong/weak, the potential for mismatches
looms large.
Whatever Coach Banker has to do to get his players in a position to succeed
and avoid having his mike backer cover a fast RB out of the backfield on a wheel
route, he has to do this week.
2 – Throw Touchdowns.
It doesn't matter if Matt Moore has a 90% completion ratio if none of those
completions result in six. Swashbuckling, reckless Matt Moore at least gave us a
chance to win the game. This ultra conservative Matt Moore who likes his
safety valve more than his #1 or #2 option isn't putting the team in a position
to succeed.
Throw the ball deep. Keep the defense honest. Get some points on the board.
3 – Gamble.
Bend-but-don't-break isn't working for this defense. Sabby Piscitelli is
everywhere, leading the defense against Cal with a stellar performance netting
nine tackles and a pick. The rest of the defense needs to take a cue from #24.
The corners need to gamble on a pick or two because Brink, for all his
talents, does not have arm strength for a virtue. Jump the out route. Offense,
throw the ball deep. Go for the jugular. Safe and consistent is not where we
want to be today.
Reviewing last week's keys:
- Stop the Run: The defense gets a passing grade on run defense.
Holding Marshawn Lynch to just a shade over 100 yards and Forsett to under
20 is a big step up from the last quality running back the Beavs faced in
Ian Johnson. Big improvement.
- Get the 12th Man in the Game: The crowd showed up, was loud, and
then had nothing to cheer about. OSU failed to force Cal to punt until the
third quarter last week, and then they only managed it once.
- Go Sammie Go: Tough to get Stroughter involved in the return game
when he only has one opportunity to return a punt - and only when the game
is already well-in-hand. 3 catches for 35 yards is not heavy involvement
either - particularly when Cal put 9 in the box 80% of the snaps and left
Stroughter in 1 on 1 coverage. Sammie is a playmaker. Get the ball in his
hands and good things will happen.
Come Early, Be Loud, Stay Late.
I'll be at Sarg's tailgater before the game. Come by and say "hi."
*****
OrangeAttack can be reached at
orangeattack@beaverfootball.com.