The weekly segment where readers ask questions about Oregon State athletics and The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Nick Daschel provides an answer.
If you have questions for future mailbags, send to Nick to the email address at the bottom of this post.
Let’s go:
The worst loss in 5 years. – Philip P
Maybe. Though Nevada is better than people give credit. If we’re to apply math to this question, then it’s not close. Going back to 2019 (we won’t count the pandemic-influenced 2020 season), Oregon State’s worst loss, based on the point spread, is Colorado in 2021. The Beavers were an 11½-point favorite and lost 37-34 to the Buffaloes in Boulder. OSU was only a 3-point favorite over Nevada.
What do the linebackers have against tackling? — @PDX_JonathanW
Maybe they thought the running back was having a bad day.
Oregon State (4-2) vs. UNLV (5-1)
- When: Saturday, Oct. 19
- Time: 7 p.m. PT
- Where: Reser Stadium, Corvallis
- TV channel: The CW (Channel 32 in Portland)
- Stream: Watch live for FREE with Fubo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). Streaming broadcasts for this game will be available on these streaming services locally in Oregon and Washington, but may not be available outside of the Pacific Northwest depending on your location.
- Oregon State football 2024 season schedule, scores
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Is the WCC as angry and irritated with PAC12 adding Gonzaga like the MWC is for them taking some of their top schools? — @2024SportsGuy
Disappointed, but not angry. The WCC has known for years this day was coming. Gonzaga was good for the WCC. The conference has known for years that it can’t survive long term with just Gonzaga. It has been working on expansion. This just makes the situation a little more urgent.
The Mountain West, on the other hand, was caught napping when the Pac-12 made a midnight raid of its most prominent brands. The MWC has recovered a little since losing Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State to the Pac-12, but it remains a weak G5 conference. There’s also a legal battle going on between the Pac-12 and MWC, which adds to the tension.
I didn’t see a defense on the field when I watched the (Nevada) game. – Jan K
Football rules don’t allow players on crutches to take the field.
Trying not to just lose all hope watching that game Saturday, as the swooshbags were beating Ohio State, but that just looks like what i was afraid was coming for the future of Oregon State football… 42 points to Nevada…. I just can’t. How bad is our D? Some of that was on the offense, but the 4th quarter… What the hell?
We’re suddenly chucking the ball around now too? I would like to see more passing yardage, 348 yds for mccoy, but 4 ints. 2 were awful, one was a deflection and the other was the hail mary… Just didn’t seem like the recipe that has been winning games… – Justin L
We’re not here to make excuses, but facts are facts. There is going to be a price to pay when you lose more than a dozen players on defense to injury. Let’s see what happens if OSU gets a few players back the next two weeks, plus increased urgency from the team and staff on improving the run defense.
As for the passing game, Oregon State typically will not throw 42 passes as it did against Nevada. But trailing by 11 points during the fourth quarter, the Beavers had little choice. OSU threw 20 passes during the final 11:28. The recipe remains the same. Run the ball, control the clock, stop the run. Two of those three remain intact.
Hi Nick, Reser looks great but the turf is looking pretty rough the last few years. Any talk about replacement? — @WetRodentia
Asked an Oregon State staffer about replacement, and the answer was the turf probably has about three years life remaining.
Any news on Nevada vs. Oregon State tv ratings? — @007Tracker
Nielsen, which rates and measures viewership for television, does not measure games on CBS Sports Network. Same was the case last year for the Pac-12 Network. Too small.
I’m curious if players come back to the sideline after the first series with immediate feedback on their head-to-head matchup. For example: “I own this guy. Send it my way.” Or the opposite. Do the coaches use it and adjust right away? — @14OSU
Not privy to those discussions, obviously, but it’s something I can ask former Oregon State defensive lineman Isaac Hodgins on our weekly podcast. (And if you’re missing it, you’re missing some great insight from Isaac). It’s fair to say those conversations take place, but a coach must be smart enough to know the difference between real information and overconfidence. Not to mention the mass substitutions in football. Just because you “own” a guy during one series doesn’t mean you’ll see him throughout the game.
Why did Bray go all conservative after taking a risk with the onside kick? — @thee_mooks
OK, let’s examine. Oregon State scores with 6:58 remaining to trim the deficit to 35-30. The Beavers recover the onside kick. The ball is at the Oregon State 46. Not exactly sure what you mean by “go all conservative.” Did you want a flea flicker or fly sweep to follow? This is likely Bray’s thinking. There is just under seven minutes remaining. My run defense can’t stop anyone. Why not run the ball and the clock, see if we can score and leave Nevada with precious few seconds to respond? We’ll never know, of course, because the series after recovering the kickoff was a three-and-out. But I’d bet that was the thinking.
—Nick Daschel can be reached at 360-607-4824, [email protected] or @nickdaschel.
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