Spring Break
Defensive focus in first week of spring football practice
Oregon State looks to fill holes created by losses in secondary, defensive line as Beavers look to spring game on May 2
Terry Horstman
Issue date: 4/7/09 Section: Sports
Week one of spring football is now in the books for head coach Mike Riley and the Oregon State Beavers, who have hit the ground running in preparation for the annual spring game coming up on May 2.
"I liked it a lot, I liked the work and the enthusiasm," Riley said. "Practicing is good with these guys because they're working hard, working well together. We've thrown a lot at them and they've adjusted pretty well."
Good adjustments will be key this spring as the Beavers are once again fielding a lot of talent but have more holes to fill than usual due to the departure of many impact players from the 2008 season.
"There's a lot of stuff we better learn before we're ready to play football, but it's a good start," Riley said.
An area where the Beavers need to learn a lot this spring is the defensive secondary. Oregon State lost not only their two starting corner backs in Keenan Lewis and Brandon Hughes, but also hard-hitting safety Al Afalava, team leader in tackles Greg Laybourn and backup safety Austin Hall.
Senior cornerback Tim Clark is the only returning defensive back with significant experience and will have to be the leader to keep this secondary at the all-conference level it's been at for the past few years.
"I'm always willing to step up into this role of a leader and try to mold these young guys into the same caliber of athletes we just lost," Clark said. "We definitely have the athletes now we just have to build the chemistry."
There's no denying the talent in the defensive backfield, and, if that chemistry does indeed come along, this is a group of guys that could be Oregon State's best secondary yet.
"We're going to answer the call that everyone's been looking for with all the questions about the secondary," Clark said. "Everybody's going to surprise you this year, everybody's going to step up and everybody's going to play a big role in that."
Another area with a few question marks yet to be answered is the defensive line. The loss of Slade Norris and Victor Butler takes away 22 sacks from the unit, but behind talented defensive tackle Stephen Paea the defensive line should once again be one of Oregon State's strong points in 2009.
However the loss of Slade Norris opens the door for yet another converted defensive end in former tight end Gabe Miller. The former Mr. Football for the state of Oregon is back on the defensive side of things for the first time since high school but is very capable of being yet another big-time defensive end for a team that seems to never run out of them.
"It's a lot of fun getting back in that mentality," Miller said. "Coming off the ball, rushing the passer, it's been awhile. So I'm a little rusty, but I like it."
Miller may or may not be the answer the Beavers' defensive line is looking for, but what is certain is no one would be surprised, as this is a unit that routinely restacks and comes back just as strong year in and year out.
"I think we've got a good group right now that could fill the shoes of those guys." Miller said.
Terry Horstman, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
"I liked it a lot, I liked the work and the enthusiasm," Riley said. "Practicing is good with these guys because they're working hard, working well together. We've thrown a lot at them and they've adjusted pretty well."
Good adjustments will be key this spring as the Beavers are once again fielding a lot of talent but have more holes to fill than usual due to the departure of many impact players from the 2008 season.
"There's a lot of stuff we better learn before we're ready to play football, but it's a good start," Riley said.
An area where the Beavers need to learn a lot this spring is the defensive secondary. Oregon State lost not only their two starting corner backs in Keenan Lewis and Brandon Hughes, but also hard-hitting safety Al Afalava, team leader in tackles Greg Laybourn and backup safety Austin Hall.
Senior cornerback Tim Clark is the only returning defensive back with significant experience and will have to be the leader to keep this secondary at the all-conference level it's been at for the past few years.
"I'm always willing to step up into this role of a leader and try to mold these young guys into the same caliber of athletes we just lost," Clark said. "We definitely have the athletes now we just have to build the chemistry."
There's no denying the talent in the defensive backfield, and, if that chemistry does indeed come along, this is a group of guys that could be Oregon State's best secondary yet.
"We're going to answer the call that everyone's been looking for with all the questions about the secondary," Clark said. "Everybody's going to surprise you this year, everybody's going to step up and everybody's going to play a big role in that."
Another area with a few question marks yet to be answered is the defensive line. The loss of Slade Norris and Victor Butler takes away 22 sacks from the unit, but behind talented defensive tackle Stephen Paea the defensive line should once again be one of Oregon State's strong points in 2009.
However the loss of Slade Norris opens the door for yet another converted defensive end in former tight end Gabe Miller. The former Mr. Football for the state of Oregon is back on the defensive side of things for the first time since high school but is very capable of being yet another big-time defensive end for a team that seems to never run out of them.
"It's a lot of fun getting back in that mentality," Miller said. "Coming off the ball, rushing the passer, it's been awhile. So I'm a little rusty, but I like it."
Miller may or may not be the answer the Beavers' defensive line is looking for, but what is certain is no one would be surprised, as this is a unit that routinely restacks and comes back just as strong year in and year out.
"I think we've got a good group right now that could fill the shoes of those guys." Miller said.
Terry Horstman, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
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