Well, I guess it shouldn't be a shock by now. Playing in Corvallis is just a bear. This is the second defeat in three games up there, and the last win was a come- from- behind victory. So SC needs to figure out a way to have only home games with Oregon State.Hold your nose for this breakdown . . . the stench can still be smelled:
Offense -
* QB - Looking at Sanchez's stats, one might say he had a good game - 18-29 for 227 yards passing with 3 TDs and 1 INT. But upon further review, he decision-making was shakier than in passing games as he tried to force a few balls downfield instead of taking the easy pass to keep the chains moving. And then he threw the game killing INT from his own end zone. Grade: B minus
* RBs/FB - A tough and uneven night for these guys - Joe McKnight had his worst game as a Trojan, fumbling and running without authority. Stafon Johnson and CJ Gable did okay, but probably didn't get the ball enough. And where was Stan Havili in the passing game? Did Oregon St. take away his threat or did SC just not call his number? Who knows? Grade: D+
* WRs - Another good game from this group. Damian Williams finished with just under 100 yards on 6 catches, plus scoring on a TD on good effort. Pat Turner and Ronald Johnson turned in solid performances as well combining for (7) catches and both catching TD passes and running good routes. The TEs, however, only caught (2) balls, mostly due to staying back to pass block. Grade: B+
* OLine - Wow . . . I don't think anyone expected this OLine to be overwhelmed by an Oregon St. front seven that was practically all new. But that's what happened. SC's Tackles were out-quicked, and the interior line opened very few holes leading to a paltry 86 rushing yards for the game. They were attacked, but didn't attack back. Grade: D minus
Defense -
* DLine
* LBs - Rey Maualuga had his first bad game of the year. He was too slow in filling the hole on Oregon State's run game, so his (12) tackles to lead the team was misleading. OLBs Kaluka Maiava and Brian Cushing combined for (2) sacks and (2) pass breakups. They also combined for (19) tackles - unfortunately many of them were downfield. Grade: C minus
* DBs - Although not tested much, this unit played well. At one point, safety Kevin Ellison took over on some possessions in the second half collecting 9 tackles, half a sack, and breaking up two passes. Despite being hurt (bruised chest) Taylor Mays had (6) tackles, and CB Cary Harris collected another (7) tackles. But subbing CB Kevin Thomas just missed making a huuuuge play when a possible INT went off his hands and into a Beavers hands for a TD. Grade: B
Special Teams -
* The kicking teams didn't have much of an impact on the game, but the punt return team was devastating. In fairness to PR Joe McKnight, there were swirling winds, but he fumbled twice (losing one of them) and then did not catch punts that rolled deep into SC territory leading to bad field position for the Trojan offense. Grade: D
Coaching - Offensively, the rhythm of the running and passing games were "off" from the get-go. Oregon St. attacked the line of scrimmage, and zoned up on passing downs, and that combo confused SC. It wasn't until the second half that SC attacked Oregon St. downfield and it worked. But through a critical stretch, SC punted on four possesions and then had the big turnover from Sanchez. Defensively, SC couldn't figure out the Beavers' OLine blocking scheme in the first half. But the coaches did adjust (probably tearing a new one into the DLine) in the second half, forcing Oregon State to punt on (5) straight possessions. Unfortunately, the offense could not capitalize fully. Grade: D
Game Balls - None
Prediction Winner - None
2 comments:
Turns out the prediction questions I posed last week were all true... SC lost it's championship focus for a week, Corvallis bit us in the butt again, and the Beavs did put their best foot forward (cuz we may not see that type of play from them again!). The grades show that this L was due in part to a slow start from the players (which Trojan fans know can be characteristic), but mainly due to a coaching staff that was out done, was slow to adjust & put its players in better positions on Off & Def - to counter act the OSU bum rush, and frustratingly went away from things that seem to work (ie wheel routes up the sideline, and the sufficient running game of Stafon & CJ.
Of course I'll stay positive, but if I had to give a bladder ball (cuz this game pissed me off), the tie would go to McKnight & the coaching staff. - D.Moody
'SC - 31
ducks - 13
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