The Beaver backfield is the pivotal area needing clarity. Sure, the line gets new hats at three of its five slots, but quality quarterback play and finding another set of running backs will go the farthest toward defining the offensive effort.

QUARTERBACK
The sequence last year started with Sean Canfield under center for nine games, until he tweaked his throwing shoulder against USC and was sidelined for three games. Lyle Moevao stepped in and went 3-0, though, that reflected more upon the rest of the offense stepping up than it did upon Moevao’s arm/prowess. Game management is good to have, but given about half the attempts of Canfield, Moevao threw only two TDs and six INTs to Canfield’s nine TDs and 15 INTs. Few answers come from such numbers. Canfield took aver for Moevao in the Emerald Bowl after the game’s first series; his return highlighted Canfield as merely a game manager himself. Canfield has nearly half-a-foot on Moevao, but neither stands out as the leader needed to take Oregon State into the top 25 for an extended period. Like Canfield, newcomer Ryan Katz is one of three Beavers to graduate high school early in order to enroll this spring. This extra orientation time could likely mean we see this Santa Monica product quite early when the offense struggles.

RUNNING BACK
Big Ryan McCants is excited to prove his No.10 ranking as an incoming back last year was worthy. This obviously means he lacks any real-game experience, but his spring shows he has that Steven Jackson quality of hitting would-be tacklers with authority. The influx of JUCO running back Jeremy Francis has OSU on the fast path to rebuilding its ground game. Similar in bruising size/style to McCants, Francis has proven himself as a blocker and target in the flat, and this has sixth-year coordinator Danny Langsford unsure of which guy may best handle the majority of the workload. A change-of-pace will come when EA All-American Jacquizz Rodgers gets his shot(s); Rodger’s gained 2900+ in his senior campaign and had a total of 136 prep scores (43 as a senior) to earn his nickname “Mr. Touchdown”. Francis played H-Back at El Camino (CA), so he should be found in multiple-back sets most often of the possible candidates.

RECEIVER / TIGHT END
The receivers are a mix of experience and emerging talent. The medical hardship Sammie Stroughter was granted has coach Riley ready for the possibilities. “Sammie certainly adds another dimension to our team. He will draw the attention of opposing defenses.” An All-American (as an all-purpose player) in 2006, Stroughter has been tabbed by Sports Illustrated as one of the top 32 “most fun athletes to watch”. Appropriately named Darrell Catchings is the top returning snarler (as just a freshman) and brags possibly the best speed on this side of the ball. James Rodgers (brother of Jacquizz) had more yards on the “fly sweep” than he did as a flanker. We expect this should change since the elder Rodgers now starts…his younger sibling would pull the same play off just as well. Both Rodgers brothers are vertically challenged (listed at 5’7), so this scat-back role is still in good hands. Chris Johnson is like Stroughter – a deep threat – as is ex-ILB and current TE Gabe Miller. Croom is better sized for actual blocking duties, giving each tight end a role.

OFFENSIVE LINE
The real protection on the outside comes from All-Pac Ten platoon tackle Andy Levitre. Next to him is the comeback kid – Jeremy Perry. After missing spring ball in ’07 due to surgery to repair his knee from an injury in the 2006 closer against Hawai’i, Perry then played in the opener against Utah only to break his leg, forcing another return in November. Listed by the Sporting News as the best college player wearing No.62, his Preseason All-American and Outland Trophy Watch List nods mean the left side is tight. The other guard is the guy who took Perry’s starting position and held it down rather nicely, senior Adam Speer. The riskier slots are at center (Henderson is a SuperPrep All-American who has done his time as a reserve) and with freshman right tackle Wilder McAndrews (transfer from Hawai’i, though the ex-hurdler didn’t play football there.) Tavita Thompson would have rounded out an all-senior line, but his suspension won’t mean he hits the gridiron until November, giving McAndrews his chance to shine. The line will make the QBs better…that is, if it is even in either Canfield or Moevao to improve.

The work cut out for coordinator Mark Banker is clear – replace the front seven, a group that was the nation’s fourth-best sack unit, the sixth-best in tackles-for-loss and the tops in run stopping. The departed LBs started every game together, and the DL was the same for10 out of the 12 games…it’s a fresh start and expectations should be lowered.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Well, that is if you fail to realize that two of the conferences’ best sack artists were second-teamers who now bump up. Slade Norris was recruited as a WR and DB, but this growing kid was forced to jump to linebacker. But the growing continued and now the athletic Norris thrives up front. But Slade gets no credence for past performance since JUCO star Simi Kuli chose Corvallis over Baton Rouge, Lincoln, Norman and Knoxville. As the top-rated junior college prospect for any position (Rivals), Kuli had 29 QB-hurries last year. He has the nod at this juncture over the proven Norris. This rotation will keep Butler (fantastic spring proved he’s an every-down type) and Slade using their speed since Kuli’s size makes him a better commodity for occupying hats in run stopping. Steve Paea (pronounced paw-A-uh) will do the same distracting as Kuli inside; Paea graduated early from Snow C.C. and is up to speed already within the OSU defensive system. Wrestling stud Perrnell Booth (runner-up in the Montana state prep heavyweight final) proved much last season in his scant sowings, but like the ends, testing out how well Booth does playing every play might mean a step back for the line’s overall quality as he adjusts. The depth in the middle isn’t proven like it is outside. Still, this line can be as effective as its predecessor by mid-season…the time it takes to gel will go a long way toward defining how good the entire defense can be.

LINEBACKER
The same sentiment pertains to the adjustment period for the new linebackers. Senior Bryant Cornell has waited patiently for his shot at MLB. This kid from The Dalles looks ready for the start in his last year of eligibility. Kristick, like Cornell, isn’t blessed with blazing speed, but Keaton has to show something to hold off Isaiah Cook (recovered two fumbles versus Southern Cal). Ex-RB Keith Pankey will be the starter due to his abilities in coverage. Roberson should become the overachiever he was in high school. It’s a decent set of linebackers, but with a new line in front of them, they may be spread too thin to really become one fluid unit.

DEFENSIVE BACK
The DBs have returning starters, especially at corner. What are the odds of a tandem named Lewis & Clark manning an outpost together in the state where the original pair of explorers ended their trek? Today’s Lewis seems like more of a gambler, and who can argue with his three INTs? But Clark is also a sound guy in most coverage. Neither player seems equipped, though, to keep up consistently in deeper coverage. That’s the job of Brandon Hughes. He’s got 31 starts under his belt; All-Pac Ten status is guaranteed if this ex-deep threat WR stays healthy. Al Afalava is another all-conference guy (Honorable Mention), hitting like a Mack truck. Proven as a backup (two starts last year), Laybourn is the shizz and will make a great starter. Bryan Payton leaves a hole with his somewhat sudden departure, for State now lacks any experienced depth in the deep middle. Tuimaunei is decent, as is Lance Mitchell, but injuries to the Afalava and Laybourn would be huge.

Penn State and Southern Cal are both up in the first four games, and that means tough lessons are sure to come. Finding a new identity on D won’t be easy, but those tough games could pay dividends by the end of the season. Still, only one area of the D has to collapse for such to cause a domino effect and for points to start pouring in.