Sean Meagher | The Oregonian/OregonLive
By Nick Daschel | The Oregonian/OregonLive
CORVALLIS – A familiar mantra of coach Jonathan Smith’s during the first month of Oregon State’s 2018 season is compete, then improve.
To fans watching Saturday’s 35-14 loss to Arizona, it didn’t appear the Beavers did a whole lot of the latter last week. It wasn’t just outsiders who thought that, either.
“Overall, I wasn’t hugely fired up about our improvement in that game,” Smith said.
Three areas were most notable to Smith.
Oregon State had more penalties than normal, particularly back-to-back flags late in the third quarter to kill the momentum of a 17-play drive. Smith didn’t think the offense executed plays at the level to which it had been in recent weeks. Defensively, the tackling took a step back.
One group particularly under fire post-Arizona is the offensive line, as the Beavers – the Pac-12 leaders in total offense after three weeks – managed just 238 yards. Running the ball was painful to watch at times. The pocket surrounding quarterback Conor Blount quickly collapsed too often against a Wildcats defense that hadn’t mounted much of a pass rush through three games.
Smith acknowledged the issues, though he was optimistic.
“I do think that group is working hard,” Smith said. “We’re going to play some good opponents and get some good schemes. The outcome is not what we want, but I do appreciate their effort in trying to improve.”
Sean Meagher | The Oregonian/OregonLive
Togiai "rusty" in return
Junior Noah Togiai, one of the Pac-12’s top tight ends heading into the season, made his 2018 debut against Arizona. Coming back after ankle and knee injuries, Togiai didn’t catch a pass, and had two holding penalties.
“I thought he battled out there, but there were some times he looked rusty,” Smith said.
Though Smith didn’t say when Togiai would move into the starting lineup, it figures to be sooner than later as he led OSU in pass receptions (34) and yardage (461) last season.
“The guy has a chance to continue to be a good player. He has to get comfortable out there,” Smith said. “He’s a great kid and I know he’ll continue to work to get his game even better.”
Chase Allgood
Injury list grows
Add cornerback Shawn Wilson to Oregon State’s injured, after the junior cornerback hurt his knee while breaking up a pass play in the end zone against Arizona. Smith said Wilson is probably out at least a week.
Another cornerback, Isaiah Dunn, didn’t participate against Arizona after making his season debut against Nevada. Smith said he suffered a setback last Wednesday in practice. Wilson will be limited in practice this week, his status questionable for Saturday’s game at Arizona State.
Freshman tight end Teagan Quitoriano missed his second consecutive game with a hip injury, but Smith said he could return for ASU. “His physicality, we miss out there,” Smith said.
Some of the big names on the injury list – safety David Morris, defensive Jeromy Reichner, running back Artavis Pierce – are out for Arizona State. Smith said Reichner is the closest to returning to action.
Randy L. Rasmussen
As for Jake Luton
The loss of quarterback Jake Luton might have had something to do with the lack of pop in OSU’s passing game against Arizona. Luton watched the game in street clothes after sustaining an ankle injury the previous week against Nevada.
Luton won the starting job in preseason camp in part because he was the team’s best passer. Luton cut it loose against Nevada, completing 23 of 35 passes for 284 yards in helping lead a comeback against the Wolf Pack.
Smith said he’s optimistic Luton will be available for Arizona State.
Chase Allgood
Where was Isaiah Hodgins?
Receiver Isaiah Hodgins had a remarkable game at Nevada, catching a school record-tying 14 passes for 200 yards. But little was heard from the 6-foot-4 sophomore against Arizona, with only two receptions for 19 yards.
Smith said the Beavers threw to Hodgins on the game’s opening play, and he was the primary receiver on a few other plays. Smith stopped short of saying Hodgins must become more involved in the offense, however.
“We have to be able to distribute the ball better than we did Saturday. It wasn’t what we wanted,” Smith said.
Randy L. Rasmussen
Redshirts and four games
The NCAA’s new rule on allowing players to participate in up to four games and still take a redshirt season comes into focus this week, as the Beavers play the fifth game of the 2018 season at Arizona State.
Seven true freshmen – linebackers Matthew Tago, John McCartan and Isaiah Tufaga, tight end Isaiah Smalls, running backs Jermar Jefferson and Kase Rogers, defensive lineman Isaac Hodgins – have participated in four games. Should they play in one more game, they will be ineligible to redshirt this season.
Two other true freshmen, receiver Jesiah Irish and tight end Teagan Quitoriano, have played in multiple games.
Outlaws Photography
True freshmen now 1-2
Oregon State’s running back position is heavy with true freshman, as Kase Rogers has taken over as the backup to Jermar Jefferson. Smith said he likes what he’s seen from the 6-foot, 199-pound Rogers because “he’s more of a complete back in terms of protections.”
Expect the pecking order to get shuffled in a few weeks when Pierce returns from an elbow injury. Pierce, a junior, was the starting running back when he went down early in the Southern Utah game on Sept. 8.
Randy L. Rasmussen
Slow starting Beavers
The early stages of Oregon State’s past two games haven’t exactly been productive. Against Nevada, the Beavers’ defense was dreadful for the first 20 minutes, causing OSU to fall into a 30-7 hole. Although the score didn’t get out of hand early on against Arizona, the Wildcats’ offense controlled the ball for most of the first half.
Smith didn’t have answers as to how to solve the problem other than to say OSU will continue to stress and work toward fast starts. Smith said the coaches tweaked last Friday’s pre-Arizona walk-through by trying to add some pace.
“Just wanted to trigger something different,” Smith said. “We want to start fast in every game, but not every game is going to be what you want.”
Arizona State unfamiliar territory
Saturday marks Oregon State’s first game in Tempe since 2013, meaning none of the current players have gone through a game in Sun Devil Stadium. In addition, it’ll be the hottest game of the year, with early evening temperatures in Tempe in the mid-90s.
Smith said OSU coaches and medical staff will spend the week educating players on hydrating in hot weather conditions, but they’ll have help. Mid-week temperatures in Corvallis are projected to hit the mid to high 80s.
Oregon State athletics
Statistics
Oregon State’s paltry offensive production against Arizona caused the Beavers to drop among Pac-12 leaders after four weeks. The Beavers, the Pac-12 leader in total offense after three games, fell to No. 4, at 454.8 yards per game. OSU is fourth in rushing yards and fifth in passing yards.
One area of turnaround is turnover margin, where OSU is minus-1. A year ago, the Beavers were minus-14.
Jefferson leads the Pac-12 with six rushing touchdowns, and is No. 2 in rushing yardage, averaging 118.3 yards per game.
Quotable
Smith, on Oregon State’s eight-minute drive during the third quarter that produced no points:
“I don’t think I’ve ever been around a 17-play drive and still punt.”
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