Posted: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 10:00 pm
Beavers have come a long way since loss at Penn State
By Cliff Kirkpatrick
Gazette-Times Reporter
Mark Banker vividly remembers the dark days of the season.
They came right after the second game when the Oregon State football team was blasted by Penn State 45-14. The Nittany Lions ran over, through and around the Beavers.
OSU's rush defense was atrocious and it didn't look like it was going to get any better with a new starting front seven. The general belief was the Beavers were in for a long season.
"I didn't feel good after that game," said Banker, the team's defensive coordinator. "We just had to get them to understand (the system) and play better. To say I knew what was going to happen, I'd be lying if I said that."
The Beavers did get better, and fast. In hindsight, that's what should be expected from a program that prides itself on player development.
The coaching staff knew it was going to take time to rebuild the defense, but it was rough over the last nine games getting to this point. The Beavers have the third-best defense in the Pacific-10 Conference and are second against the run.
"We have a belief system that our players would respond as the players you thought they were," Banker said. "At the same time it goes along philosophically what this program is about - guys keep their head down and continue to grind and work to get better."
If that earlier team were to face Saturday's opponent, the outcome might end up similar to the one against Penn State. Oregon has the best offense in the conference, including the best on the ground.
As it turns out now, the Ducks play into OSU's strength. Oregon tries to run with a mobile quarterback who's not known for his passing.
When the Beavers stop the run and pound the quarterback, their secondary excels.
"Everyone said we are a young defense, but they expected us to remain a young defense," linebacker Bryant Cornell said. "We knew we would grow together and start working together. That's what ended up happening."
Now the defense is the reason games are won. It could be a key interception, a quarterback sack or simply giving the offense better field position.
Key turnovers at the end of the Arizona State, UCLA and California games turned those games OSU's favor.
"The thing we are pleased with is as time went by, play-making skills increased," Banker said. "Guys were playing up to speed, but the play-making skills were lacking at the beginning. Guys are finishing tackles and getting in position now, while playing at game speed."
Several areas helped with the improvement, starting with the defensive line. Ends Victor Butler and Slade Norris learned how to be every-down players, and not just pass-rush specialists.
Defensive tackle Pernnell Booth's injured ankle healed enough so he could contribute and junior college transfer Stephen Paea has become a dominant tackle.
Cornell became a leader in the middle, while outside linebacker Keaton Kristick became a standout. Keith Pankey struggled early, but the combination of Pankey and Dwight Roberson make a difference opposite Kristick.
"It was continuing to coach and finding the strength of the players, and then enhancing that strength," coach Mike Riley said. "This group meshed well together, worked hard together. They stayed the course together. The coaches put them in a good position to use their talents."
The Beavers also developed quality backups, allowing rotations to develop. Players are used situationally, too.
The Beavers discovered which players did best in what situations, and play them accordingly. So they kept it simple for the individual player and the coaches mixed and matched.
"We give players three things to do, and those combinations as we put players together, we become multiple," Banker said. "It allows them to work on details in their position and hone their craft. So we don't have scheme to work on. We have players to work on and their play-making ability. So far this has been the result, and we can keep on improving every week."
Another aspect for the improvement is staying healthy and gaining experience. Nine of the 11 starters have started every game.
Only safety Al Afalava and cornerback Brandon Hughes have missed games, but they were veterans going into the season. And their backups were already game-ready.
The Beavers talk about playing their best game each week and the plan has worked. Part of it is they started so far down.
Now they are peaking at the right time. The Pacific-10 Conference title and a trip to the Rose Bowl are on the line Saturday.
And, no, no one would have guessed that would be the case at this time of year after watching the defense's showing against Penn State.
It could be an interesting rematch in the Rose Bowl since the Nittany Lions will be the Big Ten Conference's representative.
"The one thing that is still nagging us, even in games we played well, are big plays," Banker said. "The run game or the pass game, if we are going to come down and be depended on to win a game, those things have to disappear."