As Go Joe Bruin continues its UCLA Football 2016 match up preview, we look towards the Oregon State Beavers and their attempt at redemption in the Rose Bowl.
Last season’s game couldn’t have gone better for the UCLA Football team. The Bruins played four different quarterbacks. Not because they were inept but because they could do no wrong.
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The UCLA offense was unstoppable and rolled to a huge 41-0 win over the Beavers in Corvallis. UCLA didn’t even score points in the first or fourth quarter and still blew out the home team.
Oregon State entered the game on a five game slide and after the stomping the Bruins laid on them, wouldn’t win another game all season. UCLA on the other hand had just finished knocking off a then 20th ranked Cal and escaped an upstart Colorado team. While the Bruins were the heavy favorite, I don’t think many predicted the type of beating the Bruins laid down.
The Beavers were at one point a middle of the road team in the North who would surprise at least once a year with an underdog victory. However they’ve fallen on hard times as of late and despite having the makings of a solid team, they’re still a few recruiting cycles away from being a power player again.
Next: 2015 Record and Recap
2015 Record and Recap
Oregon State Beavers 2-10 overall, 0-9 PAC-12
The 2015 season was one to forget for the Beavers. They finished the season 2-10 and didn’t win a single game against a conference opponent. Oregon State took down FCS Weber State to open the season but then took a whooping against Michigan. Their next game against San Jose State would be their last victory of the season.
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Oregon State allowed every PAC-12 team to score at least 42 points on them while mustering a total of 98 points in their final six games. 42 of those points would come against Oregon where the Beavers showed a fight that was lacking all season. It was too little way too late.
The defense was a major issue last year allowing teams to steam roll the Beavers. This more often than not forced the offense to play outside of its comfort zone and become one dimensional. The results were poor at best.
The offseason hasn’t been the kindest to Oregon State either. Former starting quarterback Seth Collins was on the brink of transferring before returning to Corvallis. He will transition to receiver this season. The beavers weren’t so lucky on the defensive side of the ball as their leading tackler from last year, Rommel Mageo an inside linebacker, transferred to Ole Miss.
Head Coach Garey Andersen has yet to win a game in the PAC-12 in his time at OSU and in this day and age of instant gratification, fans will be clamoring for change if the Beavers cannot show progress.
Next: 3 Key Players and Stats
Key Players
The quarterback position hasn’t been a strength for the past few years in Corvallis. That could change this year. Garretson hails from Chandler High School in Arizona which gave the Bruins former stud Brett Hundley. He took over for Seth Collins last season and proved to be a much steadier option for the offense and benefits from throwing to a talented receiving corps. He’s also aided by having a solid backfield that he can lean on when he needs to. His return this year should provide a steadying force for this offense and in turn for the team.
WR Jordan Villamin
If you’ve follow the NFL and CFB, you’ll notice the Beavers have had some success getting wide receivers into the NFL. From Markus Wheaton to Brandin Cooks there has been a recent pipeline from Corvallis to the league and that flow should continue with this next key player.
Since coming to Oregon State Villamin has been the go-to guy and paired well with fellow veteran receiver Victor Bolden. With his size, speed and strength, he is a true matchup nightmare. All he really needs is more consistent quarterback play and he should get it this year.
Coming into year two of a 3-4 defense, the Beavers have done all they can to try and find the right pieces to make this unit go. If you’re going to run this type of scheme you’re going to need outside linebackers that can get after the passer but can also be effective in coverage. Failauga is able to do all of those things as a converted defensive lineman.
With his 6-3 248lb frame, he’s capable of setting the edge in run defense but is a skilled and athletic pass rusher. Despite not being able to practice much at all this fall camp due to a lingering injury, he’s still atop the depth chart. That type of unspoken confidence from the coaches will show dividends during the season.
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Stats
- UCLA leads the all time series 41-16-4
- Last season’s 41-0 win wasn’t the worst defeat the Beavers have suffered to UCLA. In 1954 the Bruins won 61-0.
- Soso Jamabo averaged 10 yards per carry against Oregon State last season on only 9 carries.
- The Oregon State quarterbacks combined for 131 yards and 3 interceptions against the Bruins in 2015.
Next: Offense versus Defense
UCLA Offense Vs. OSU Defense
The Bruins had an offensive explosion last year up in Corvallis. The Noel Mazzone offense stretched the Beaver defense to beyond its limits and the results clearly showed on the scoreboard.This year, under a new offensive coordinator, there’s no reason to believe the results should be too different.
Despite Oregon State improving on both sides of the ball and having another year in their respective systems, they are still outclassed in terms of athletes against the Bruins. The UCLA running game can really grind teams down and let’s not forget about UCLA’s not so secret weapon in Josh Rosen.
Rosen had a field day last year and should only improve this season with a new quarterback coach in Marques Tuiasosopo. Look for Rosen to have another 300 yard game and for the running backs to spread the wealth on the ground.
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OSU Offense Vs. UCLA Defense
The Beavers have the talent on the perimeter to stress almost any team in college football and a rugged running back that will knock you on your backside. The offensive line is where the real question is and the Beavers will almost certainly be without their best one in LT Sean Harlow who will probably redshirt this season with injury.
The Bruins have the front seven to really get after a quarterback and the secondary to play man to man in any blitz situation. It could get really ugly for the Beavers if they can’t protect their signal caller.
A solid running game and play action will be best way to slow down any UCLA pressure. Bootleg plays will also allow the Beavers to only worry about half the field instead of trying to protect for extended periods. If they can get enough of these plays to go for positive yardage and eventually points, they will hold up their end of the bargain in the bid to win this game.
Next: Final Predictions
Final Analysis
The Beavers are on the right path to a resurgence in the North and hopefully for the benefit of the conference as a whole they get there. It takes time to turn a program around and more than two recruiting cycles but they are on their way. That day may come sooner rather than later but I can almost guarantee it will not be this season.
UCLA is too strong, too tough, and too talented for the Beavers to contend with. Expect Oregon State to hang around for maybe a half but eventually for them to be overwhelmed by the Bruins. Rosen will have another 300 yard game and for the Bruins to play a few of freshmen they haven’t redshirted in order to give them some game experience.
More from Go Joe Bruin
- UCLA Football: It’s time for the nation to meet Dante Moore
- UCLA Football: Where are they ranked heading into week 4
- UCLA Football: Position battle breakdown for Utah showdown
- UCLA vs. Utah: Location, time, prediction, and more
- UCLA Football: Highlights from Chip Kelly’s appearance on the Jim Rome Show
Next: Podcast: What's Bruin Show Episode 100 - The 2016 UCLA Football Preview
Prediction
Oregon State 17 – UCLA 35