Analyzing the Pac-12 Football Teams: Oregon State Beavers

Continuing the Go Joe Bruin Pac-12 preview we will look at the Oregon St. Beavers. The Beavers are coming off a 2013 season that saw them start 6-1, but finish 1-5, including losing their last five regular season games, to finish the season 7-6. They do have a bowl victory to build off of for the 2014 season, defeating Boise St. in the Hawaii Bowl. Oregon St. does return star QB Sean Mannion, who should break the Pac-12 passing record this season, and solid CB Steven Nelson on the defensive side of the ball. The Beavers do return seven starters on each side of the ball, so lets take a look at the 2014 Oregon St. Beavers.

Key Losses

More from Pac-12

WR Brandin Cooks

2013 Consensus All-American and All Pac-12 First team offense
2013 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner (nations best WR)
Led the Pac-12 with 128 receptions, 1,730 receiving yards, 17.2 ypc, and 16 receiving touchdowns (also led the nation with his 1,730 receiving yards)
Drafted in the 1st round by the New Orleans Saints with the 20^th overall pick

DE Scott Crichton

2013 All Pac-12 Second Team defense
Was top 10 in the Pac-12 in tackles for loss and sacks in all three of his seasons at Oregon St.
Was top 10 in conference in 2011 and 2013 in forced fumbles
3^rd in conference history with his 51 tackles for loss and 2^nd in forced fumbles with 10
Drafted in the 3^rd round by the Minnesota Vikings with the 72^nd pick

CB Rashaad Reynolds

All Pac-12 Second Team defense
Tied for the Pac-12 lead in 2013 with 6 interceptions
Accumulated 218 career tackles, 10 interceptions, and 29 passes defended
Signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent

Key Returners

QB Sean Mannion

2013 Honorable mention All Pac-12 offense
Top 10 in Pac-12 history in pass completions (905), pass attempts (1,385), passing yards (10,436), and completion percentage (65.3)
Only needs 1,891 yards to become the career Pac-12 leader

Sep 21, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State wide receiver Tim Vizzi (41) is tackled by Oregon State cornerback Steven Nelson (2) after a reception during the first half at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

CB Steven Nelson

2013 Honorable mention All Pac-12 defense
Tied for the Pac-12 lead in 2013 with 6 interceptions

S Ryan Murphy

2013 Honorable mention All Pac-12 defense
Finished 2013 with 74 tackles (8 TFL), 1.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 interception returned for a touchdown, and 1 forced fumble

TE Connor Hamlett

2013 All Pac-12 honorable mention
Finished 2013 with 40 receptions for 364 yards and 5 touchdowns

C Isaac Seumalo

All Pac-12 Second Team offense

Coach Review: Mike Riley

Sep 14, 2013; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Oregon State Beavers head coach Mike Riley during the second half against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Oregon State won 51-48 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Riley is entering his 14^th season overall as head coach of the Oregon St. Beavers, his 11^th straight season, and is coming off his sixth career bowl victory. Riley has a career 88-73 record with the Beavers and those 88 wins make Riley the coach with the most wins in Oregon St. history.

Riley is known for doing for more with less and having to compete with in-state rival Oregon has not made recruiting easy for Riley and his staff. His pro style offense allows his teams to score a lot of points, but his defenses are usually a major weak point. With QB Sean Mannion at the helm of the offense, if the Beavers can get their defense to stop some people they have a chance to make some noise in the Pac-12 in 2014.

2014 Schedule

Sat, Aug 30 vs Portland St. (Pac-12 Network)

Sat, Sept 6 @ Hawaii (CBS Sports Network)

Sat, Sept 20 vs San Diego St.

Sat, Sept 27 @ USC

Sat, Oct 4 @ Colorado

Thurs, Oct 16 vs Utah (Fox Sports 1)

Sat, Oct 25 @ Stanford

Sat, Nov 1 vs California

Sat, Nov 8 vs Washington St.

Sat, Nov 15 vs Arizona St

Sat, Nov 22 @ Washington

Sat, Nov 29 vs Oregon (ABC)

2014 Season Outlook

The Beavers lost on of the best WR in the country last season, to the Saints, and lost their best defensive player to the Vikings, so they have a lot to replace. However, with Sean Mannion at QB and some experience coming back on defense the Beavers should be better than expected. Two big concerns are the offensive line and the running back position,so if the Beavers can sure that up during fall camp their offense should not skip a beat from last season. The Beavers defense should be better than in years past, so if it all comes together this could be a sleeper team.

They do not have an overwhelming schedule getting Arizona St and Oregon at home and not having to face UCLA, but Stanford, USC, and Washington all on the road is no easy task. Even with the relatively favorable schedule it will be almost impossible for them to make any noise this season in the Pac-12 North. They conference is too talented for the Beavers to do anything big, but expect them to make some top teams a little uncomfortable when playing them.