COACH AND PROGRAM
Blame the Sports Illustrated cover jinx if you want, but Oregon State’s stunning free-fall during 2001 can’t all be laid upon the magazine. Picked No. 1 by SI and among the preseason Top 10 by The Associated Press, the Beavers finished 5-6, marking Dennis Erickson’s second losing season in 16 years of college coaching.
It was a difficult lesson in handling prosperity for a program that until recently hadn’t faced high expectations, and things began unraveling in the season opener. The Beavers, defending Pac-10 champs, were ambushed, 44-24, at Fresno State, a game that jump-started quarterback David Carr’s spectacular season. Carr riddled OSU for 340 yards and four touchdowns, picking apart a secondary that was supposed to be among the nation’s best.
Meanwhile, Oregon State’s Heisman Trophy hopeful, tailback Ken Simonton, was limited to 42 yards on 15 carries as the Beavers’ seven-game winning streak ended.
Simonton had more luck in Week 2, running for two touchdowns and 169 yards, but OSU struggled to a 27-22 win at New Mexico State. The Beavers were flagged for 135 yards, a telling sign, considering they would end the year with the second-most penalty yards in the Pac-10.
In the conference opener, Oregon State reached crisis mode, suffering a 38-7 home loss to No. 12 UCLA. Beavers quarterback Jonathan Smith endured a dreadful 11-for-32 passing day, resulting in 106 yards and an interception, while Simonton was held to 26 yards on 13 carries. Oregon State’s funk only worsened in its next game, falling behind by 31 points in a 34-27 loss to eventual Sun Bowl champ Washington State.
A 38-3 pummeling of Arizona provided some hope for a turnaround, with OSU out-gaining the Wildcats 415-159 and Simonton becoming the Pac-10’s career touchdowns leader. But the Beavers regressed a week later, losing 41-24 at Arizona State, surrendering 226 yards to Sun Devils tailback Delvon Flowers.
A 19-10 victory over winless Cal wasn’t much cause for celebration, but it beat the empty feelings that accompanied a subsequent 16-13 overtime loss at Southern Cal. OSU place-kicker Ryan Cesca was the goat, missing twice from 35 yards in the fourth quarter.
Oregon State’s best performance of the season followed in a 49-24 thrashing of No. 8 Washington. Smith passed for 317 yards and Simonton added three touchdowns as the Beavers staved off bowl elimination. A 45-10 blowout against Division I-AA foe Northern Arizona kept OSU’s postseason hopes afloat, but those sank a week later with a 17-14 loss to conference champion Oregon.
Smith threw for 252 yards in the rain-swept finale, surpassing John Elway for third place on the Pac-10 all-time passing list. But the final pass of his college career was an interception near midfield that sealed Oregon’s win.
For Erickson, the season was made even more frustrating because his defense, expected to be dominant, finished ninth in the Pac-10 against the run. The Beavers also generated only 20 turnovers, third worst in the conference. The offense wasn’t much better, finishing eighth in the league at 374.5 yards per game. Throw in several special teams flubs and its not surprising that OSU was omitted from the bowl picture.
QUARTERBACKS
Smith came to Corvallis as a 5-foot-11 walk-on. But after a red-shirt season, he embarked upon a stellar career, going 24-14 as a starter and throwing for 9,212 yards to break Erik Wilhelm’s school record. Smith also threw for an OSU-record 54 touchdowns and provided invaluable lessons in determination to his understudy Derek Anderson .
Anderson (6-6, 230) saw action in six games as a freshman, most of that in pressure situations, as Erickson sought to build for the future. The first-year player received a difficult introduction, completing only 17-of-41 passes for 263 yards. He threw three interceptions and only one touchdown, but his performance during the spring was more promising.
Behind Anderson is junior Shayne House (6-5, 220), who missed the entire 2000 season after arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. The shoulder continued to hamper his velocity during the spring of 2001, and House spent last season buried deep on the depth chart.
RUNNING BACKS
Simonton departed as Oregon State’s career rushing leader with 5,044 yards, but wasn’t taken in the NFL draft and signed as a free-agent with the San Francisco 49ers.
The heir apparent at tailback looks to be sophomore Steven Jackson (6-1, 226), who may be more physically gifted, but must develop the toughness that marked Simonton’s overachieving career.
Jackson is perhaps OSU’s most heralded tailback ever, coming to Corvallis after being ranked as the 62nd best player in America by ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Lemming. Blessed with 4.4 speed, Jackson chose Oregon State over the likes of Nebraska, Tennessee and Arizona State. He played in 10 games as a freshman, carrying 74 times for 390 yards and five touchdowns -- three of those scores coming in the rout of Washington. His longest run -- a 63-yard fourth-quarter touchdown against UCLA -- was the lone bright spot on a day where Oregon State nearly was shut out. Jackson’s 5.3-yard average led OSU’s rushers.
Also gone is senior Patrick McCall, who carried 54 times for 217 yards in his final season.
Sophomore Dwight Wright (5-8, 201) was listed as Jackson’s backup after spring practice. Wright didn’t get much work last year, understandably, but seems capable of handling a larger load. In the spring game, he led the White team with 88 yards on nine carries, including a 51-yard gain. Wright, who’s an exceptional athlete, can bench-press 315 pounds and squat 440.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Five of the top six OSU receivers return, led by junior James Newson , who recorded a team-best 57 receptions for 968 yards and five touchdowns.
Newson has plenty of help. Sophomore Cole Clasen (5-8, 185), who arrived at OSU as a walk-on tailback, played in every game last season, making 23 catches for 250 yards and a touchdown. He knows how to wiggle through a secondary.
Senior Shawn Kintner (6-3, 201) has gone from a schoolboy legend in the state of Oregon to one of the Beavers’ most accomplished receivers. He has 30 catches in three seasons, including a pair of touchdowns.
Senior Seth Trimmer (6-5, 206), a converted high school quarterback, hauled in 16 catches last season for 304 yards and two scores. One of those touchdowns was a 65-yard catch and run against Fresno State.
Sophomore Josh Hawkins (6-0, 182) is prepared to become a larger contributor after catching six passes for 73 yards and one score last season. He possesses 4.4 speed a 38-inch vertical jump and was recruited by Oklahoma, USC, Tennessee, Washington, Michigan State, Arizona and California.
Tight end Tim Euhus (6-5, 238) entered last season with no catches, but wound up with 27 for 316 yards. He scored one touchdown. Coaches attributed his development to leaving the OSU basketball team and concentrating on the off-season weightlifting program.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Line coach Gregg Smith has coached under Erickson since 1982, moving from Idaho to Wyoming to Washington State to Miami to the Seattle Seahawks and now to OSU. Given the title assistant head coach, Smith remains Erickson’s most trusted assistant, and the pair know this season’s offensive line -- which returns three starters -- must play more consistently.
In a telling stat, the Beavers were seventh in Pac-10 rushing, averaging 3.4 yards per carry and 127 per game.
Left tackle Lee Davis (6-4, 312) and left guard Mike Kuykendall (6-6, 334) are the seniors, and they plan to spearhead an improved unit.
The third returning starter is sophomore right guard Kanan Sanchez (6-4, 335), who started eight games as a freshman in 2001. Juniors Brent Bridges (6-3, 282) and Matt Davis (6-4, 305) are the backups.
First in line to replace center Chris Gibson is sophomore Matt Brock (6-2, 297), who has yet to make a collegiate start. Behind him are juniors David Lose (6-2, 309) and Jason Haas (6-5, 285).
Sophomore Doug Nienhuis (6-6, 291) looks like the likely candidate to replace right tackle Vincent Sandoval, who started his final 23 games at OSU before signing a free-agent contract with the New York Giants.
Contending for a starting job behind Nienhuis is Cal-State Northridge transfer Isaac Aronson (6-7, 319).
Aronson was a great find for OSU, which plucked the big lineman away from Northridge when the school dropped its football program.
KICKERS
Cesca, a senior, led Oregon State with 59 points, making 10-of-16 field goals. But 2001 was hardly a memorable year as Cesca slumped late in the season and lost his job to junior Kirk Yliniemi (6-0, 185). Cesca’s critical misses cost the Beavers a win at Southern Cal, and he finished only 2-of-5 from 30-39 yards.
Yliniemi was 3-of-4 and made a long of 43 yards. But his 32-yard miss was the difference in a close loss at Oregon.
Cesca emerged from spring as the leader.
DEFENSIVE LINE
There are bigger defensive tackles than Eric Manning (6-1, 295), but few are more productive than the Bronco Nagurski Trophy candidate. Manning beat constant double-teaming last season to post 28 tackles, three sacks and three quarterback hurries, and he is the primary reason this fall’s defense should be more menacing. In three seasons, he has played in 35 games, making 21 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Manning plays alongside left defensive end Noah Happe (6-5, 237), who registered 41 tackles and a team-high seven sacks.
The right side of the defensive line isn’t exactly mediocre, either, with junior tackle Dawn Edwards (6-3, 301) returning. Edwards played in 10 games during 2001, making 31 tackles and two sacks and forcing one fumble.
Vying to replace departed right end Kyle Rosselle (30 tackles, six for loss) are sophomore Bill Swancutt (6-4, 255) and junior Jayson Jean-Baptiste (6-3, 257).
The unit possesses loads of ability, but it needs to assert itself more against the run, after allowing 156 yards per game on the ground in 2001.
LINEBACKERS
As the Beavers wrapped up spring practice, Erickson was satisfied with his experience-rich defense, which includes a pair of upperclassmen linebackers.
"Defensively we are playing pretty well," Erickson said. "I would be totally disappointed if we’re dominant on defense at this time. We have a lot of veterans back from last season, and those veterans are making plays for us."
Junior Richard Siegler (6-3, 225) has become a disruptive force at middle linebacker, exactly what defensive coordinator Craig Bray needs in the 4-3 scheme. Not only did Seigler record a team-leading 93 tackles (fifth in the Pac-10), but 16 of those stops were behind the line of scrimmage. He also broke up two passes and recovered two fumbles.
Senior Nick Barnett (6-2, 221) returns at strong-side linebacker after a 73-tackle season in which he made two sacks and intercepted one pass. Barnett’s best day came against Cal, when he made 18 tackles. He has played in all 35 games since coming to OSU and is recognized as the Beavers’ best coverage linebacker.
The only position that won’t feature a returning starter is weak-side linebacker, where James Allen (72 tackles, six for loss) became a third-round pick of the New Orleans Saints. Senior Erik Tuma (6-1, 225) will get first crack, although sophomore Seth Lacey (6-1, 223) has the ability to contribute.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
They say cornerbacks must have short memories, but for senior Terrell Roberts (5-10, 199) there is one disturbing image from last season that won’t go away. In overtime of the Southern Cal game, OSU led, 13-10, when Roberts found himself matched up against Trojans quarterback Carson Palmer on a bootleg play near the goal line. When Palmer wiggled out of Roberts’ grasp, USC had a 16-13 win and OSU had another hard-to-swallow loss.
Roberts broke up 11 passes as a junior and made three interceptions -- two of those in the Washington State loss. He has played in 32 career games and evolved into a reliable cover man, but he takes a backseat to OSU’s other senior cornerback. Dennis Weathersby (6-1, 206) joins Manning on the Bronco Nagurski Trophy’s preseason watch list after earning second-team All-America honors by The Sporting News.
Weathersby led Oregon State with 14 deflected passes, and his 73-yard interception return set up a touchdown in the win over Washington.
Backup cornerback Arac Williams (5-11, 168), who played in nine games last season, enjoyed a promising spring and should see ample duty on passing downs.
At strong safety, sophomore Mitch Meeuwson (6-3, 211) could be on the verge of stardom. His three interceptions as a freshman tied Roberts for the team lead, and his 35-yard fumble return against Washington State was one of only two defensive scores for the Beavers in 2001. Meeuwson broke up three passes and made 53 tackles, including one sack.
The only secondary position up for grabs is free safety, where Jake Cookus graduated, taking with him 60 tackles and seven pass break-ups. Lawrence Turner (6-0, 185), who had eight interceptions a year ago at City College of San Francisco, ended the spring in the lead. Turner and fellow junior college transfer Brandon Catenese (6-0, 189) impressed Erickson in the spring.
RECRUITING CLASS
Erickson isn’t bashful about signing junior-college prospects and he brought in six, including receiver Alexander. His 1,082 receiving yards last season at Palomar (Calif.) College were the most by any junior college receiver in the nation. OSU’s coaches are anxiously awaiting Alexander’s arrival, considering they signed him in 2000 only to see him fall short academically.
The offensive line is bolstered by Brandon Lockheart (6-7, 330) of Santa Monica College and Brent Bridges of Glendale Community College, while safeties Brandon Catenese of Shasta (Calif.) College, Harvey Whiten (6-4, 215) of Compton (Calif.) College and defensive back Turner are difference-makers. Whiten, who runs a 10.5 in the 100 meters, has three years of eligibility remaining.
The biggest name among the high school signees is tailback Ryan Cole (6-0, 215) of Port Orchard, Wash., who was his state’s Gatorade Player of the Year.
Timed at 4.41 in the 40 at last summer’s Nike camp, he scored 71 touchdowns and averaged more than nine yards per carry during his prep career.
Receiver James Finley (6-2, 195) made 125 catches for 2,498 yards and 28 touchdowns during his final two prep seasons in Los Angeles. He spurned offers from Southern Cal, Michigan State, Oklahoma, UCLA and Washington State.
Brandon Browner (6-3, 185) of Sylmar, Calif., starred at defensive back and receiver in high school, attracting recruiters from Florida State, Virginia Tech, Alabama and Arizona State.
Joe Newton (6-7, 240) was a two-way all-state tight end and defensive end at Roseburg, Ore., catching 31 passes for 398 yards and five touchdowns, while registering 13 sacks. He passed up offers to USC, Washington, Stanford, and Nebraska to attend OSU.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
Just because Oregon State failed to live up to its BCS promise in 2001, it’s foolish to anticipate the program slipping back into its pre-Erickson doldrums.
The defense should be the conference’s best once more, and the offense is stronger at every position save quarterback -- where Anderson’s progress will be essential. He has a marvelous upside and the offensive coaches like his smarts. So the wisest thing he can do this season is rely upon the skill people around him.
The non-conference schedule offers virtually no resistance, with Division I-AA Eastern Kentucky, Temple, UNLV and a David Carr-less Fresno State on tap.
And there’s a favorable bend to the league schedule as well: under the Pac-10 rotation, the Beavers will miss Washington State (which returns 16 starters from a 10-2 club).
Assuming OSU wins a couple of the close ones it let slip away in 2001, the Beavers look like a safe bet to win 10 or 11 games this fall. And that puts Erickson’s crew in the running for the Rose Bowl.
