Oregon State
Oregon State

Oregon State Team Report

Updated: April 22, 2012 04:20 EST

The biggest issue for Oregon State entering the start of spring practices on April 3 is the offensive line, and it's also the least likely to be solved.

Between graduated players at the position, an unexpected departure and health issues, the Beavers are down to only eight offensive linemen.

"We'll have to be careful how we practice," Oregon State coach Mike Riley said when he discussed spring drills with reporters. "We just can't run an hour-long scrimmage with (eight) guys.

"We're going to have to give 'em a break and then come back and do some more. ... We just will not get as many reps with two or three groups like we normally do."

There certainly is help on the way, with junior college transfer Stan Hasiak expected to contend for a starting position when he arrives in August. The Beavers are also optimistic (or is that hopeful?) that one or more of the five incoming freshmen can help immediately.

"I doubt our starting lineup coming out of spring ball will be the starting lineup in the fall," Riley said of his offensive line.

For now, the lack of depth means the Beavers can't scrimmage enough to really test their candidates at running back, and that will also impact their ability to answer questions on the interior of the defensive line and at linebacker.

After consecutive losing seasons, Oregon State is determined to bounce back this season, but the most important aspect of doing that can't be worked on extensively during the spring with the dearth of offensive linemen.

--Oregon State's one new assistant coach is an interesting addition: former NFL standout Rod Perry, who has coached NFL players for the past 22 seasons. Certainly the credentials are there, as the 58-year-old Perry has played and coached at the highest level. The question is how well he'll adjust to working with younger players again in his role as secondary coach.

--For the previous two seasons, the Beavers had switched their spring schedules to spread the 15 workouts over five weeks, with three each week. Because of a late spring break for students, there are only four weeks available this year prior to the April 28 end of drills before coaches need to start on the May evaluation and recruiting period. The Beavers liked the way practices worked the past two years, with no workouts on consecutive days as they went Monday-Wednesday-Friday each week. This spring, it will be Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday.

KEY QUESTION: Is there an every-down running back? The Beavers tried four different running backs last season, and while they're all back, they didn't offer a strong reason to declare any of them as the leader on the depth chart. Now added is Storm Woods, who redshirted last season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

WR Obum Gwacham -- His physical abilities have always excited the Beavers. This is a 6-foot-5 receiver who runs with the team's swiftest players and is also a 7-foot high jumper for the track team. With Jordan Bishop recovering from ankle surgery, Gwacham will get most of the work with the No. 1 offense, an even better opportunity to show what he can do next season.

QB Sean Mannion -- He became the surprise starter last fall after it appeared he came out of the spring as the No. 3 quarterback. With senior Ryan Katz having transferred to San Diego State, there's no question this is Mannion's team. Continuing to progress in running the offense will be the next step in the sophomore's career.

S Ryan Murphy -- One starter graduated and Anthony Watkins will be held out of contact drills after shoulder surgery, so the ball-hawking Murphy will have ample opportunity to prove he should receive more than spot duty.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "For us, it's been too long since we played, so it will be fun to get back on the field."-- Oregon State coach Mike Riley, on his Beavers not playing in a bowl game and thus having a longer offseason.

2012 OUTLOOK: The Beavers are a year older than the team that went 3-9 in 2011, and thus should be better. But how much improved will they be? There won't be much time to find out, with Big Ten champion Wisconsin scheduled to be in Corvallis for the second game. There's also a nonconference game at BYU in October. The other nonconference game is the opener against Nicholls State, but if Oregon State goes only 1-2 in those games, it will need a 5-4 record in the Pac-12 to be minimally bowl-eligible. The conference schedule opens with road games at UCLA and Arizona, which may be early must-win situations.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The big issue for the Beavers will be to become less one-dimensional than they were last season. Surely the passing game is in good hands with quarterback Sean Mannion returning after the best freshman season ever for an Oregon State quarterback. There's also a deep and gifted group of receivers. But with serious questions about the offensive line and no established running back, can the Beavers protect Mannion if he's all that opponents have to fear?

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The Beavers are mostly set on the perimeter with sophomore defensive ends Scott Crichton and Dylan Wynn expected to wreak havoc on offenses and cornerbacks Jordan Poyer and Rashaad Reynolds returning as starters. There is much to be determined elsewhere, particularly at tackle, where Castro Masaniai still isn't recovered from a broken leg suffered last season. Masaniai is the only experienced tackle with size. The Beavers also need to sort out the depth chart at linebacker, where a junior-college transfer and several sophomores with primarily special teams experience are bidding for regular roles.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: Oregon State returns K Trevor Romaine, and CB Jordan Poyer and WR Markus Wheaton headline a group of speedy potential returners for punts or kickoffs. But Oregon State must find a replacement for P Johnny Hekker, who held forth for four seasons and was also a steady holder on placekicks. The team also needs a new deep snapper for punts.

TOP NEWCOMERS:

LB Cade Cowdin -- The junior-college transfer was enrolled and on campus in time for spring practices, which makes him an immediate contender for playing time at one of the outside linebacker spots, where Cameron Collins graduated.

TE Caleb Smith -- The Beavers felt the 6-foot-6, 250-pound recruit would compete for playing time in the fall with only one experienced player at the position on the roster. Now he's going to put himself well ahead on the learning curve because he graduated from high school early to enroll at Oregon State and participate in spring drills.

OL Isaac Seumalo -- The son of Oregon State defensive line coach Joe Seumalo was the Beavers' top recruit, not only because of his connection to the staff and being a hometown player, but the potential that made him a recruit that even USC came in on at the end. Seumalo could play tackle, guard or even center, the Beavers figure, and he'll contend for a starting spot due to Oregon State's thin depth chart on the offensive line.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Three candidates to be the primary backups at cornerback were still suspended on the eve of spring drills, though Mishawn Cummings (team matters), Malcolm Marable (allegedly caught speeding over 100 mph) and Sean Martin (arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence) could all be reinstated before the end of practices.

--Noa Aluesi is being moved from tight end to defensive tackle and has also decided not to leave on his church mission this spring, as he originally planned.

--Two Oregon State players who might have contended for starting spots are likely to be ruled medically unable to continue their careers. MLB Tony Wilson, who has starting experience, has had such problems with stingers that he didn't have full feeling in an arm and wasn't even able to complete all of the weight training workouts in the winter. Freshman OT Darryl Jackson, highly thought of when he arrived last fall, wasn't showing progress after hip surgery.