OSU in uncharted zone with rebuilt defense

Behind strong corners, linebackers, Beaver roster starts to jell

By kerry eggers

The Portland Tribune, Aug 21, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

L.E. BASKOW / TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

The OSU offense shows promise with Sammie Stroughter leading a stellar group of receivers.

CORVALLIS – How will Oregon State’s relatively inexperienced defense fare in the season opener for both teams Aug. 28 at Stanford?

Mark Banker wants an answer, too.

“We won’t know until game time comes,” the veteran defensive coordinator says. “It’s tough to predict anything until we see these guys in a game. And it will probably be at least a couple of games before we really know what we have (defensively).”

The Beavers lost their starting front seven, along with safety Daniel Drayton, from a team that went 9-4 and beat Maryland in the Emerald Bowl. To make matters worse, senior safety Al Afalava will sit out the opener due to a one-game suspension for an offseason DUII. That leaves only cornerbacks Keenan Lewis and Brandon Hughes from last year’s first unit.

“We have two players who know what it’s like to be an every-down player,” Banker says. “And even with (Lewis and Hughes), you’re only as good on the back end as your pass rush is.”

That doesn’t mean the OSU defense is in dire straits.

Speed rushers Victor Butler and Slade Norris, who combined for 19 1/2 sacks last season, become every-down players at end. Sophomore transfer Stephen Paea (6-1, 295), who will start at one tackle, has been the most impressive newcomer in training camp.

“I really feel good about those three guys,” coach Mike Riley says.

The other starting tackle is Brennan Olander, a 6-1, 275-pound walk-on sophomore from Grants Pass who came to OSU as a wrestler. “He’s a Curtis Coker type,” Banker says.

Senior Pernnell Booth (6-1, 300), the most experienced tackle, has been slow to recover from offseason ankle surgery but will be in the rotation along with junior tackles Latu Moala (6-1, 295) and Sioeli Nau (6-2, 305) and ends Kevin Frahm (6-2, 255 redshirt freshman) and Ben Terry (6-3, 240 junior).

“We’re still building cohesiveness,” Banker says, “but you can start to see things coming together.”

The linebacking appears solid, with senior middle man Bryant Cornell flanked by junior Keaton Kristick and sophomore Keith Pankey. Banker considers junior Tim Clark a third starter at cornerback along with fourth-year first-stringers Lewis and Hughes.

“It’s the most well-rounded group of corners we’ve had going into a season,” Banker says.

The biggest question mark in the secondary is Afalava’s replacement to play alongside senior Greg Laybourn. It likely will be one of two redshirt freshmen, Lance Mitchell and Cameron Collins, or sophomore Suasei Tuimaunei.

“We could wind up playing five guys at safety” against the Cardinal, Banker says, including senior walk-on Austin Hall from Sunset High in the mix.

The offense is more set, with a splendid group of receivers led by Sammie Stroughter and James Rodgers, two promising running backs in Ryan McCants and Jacquizz Rodgers and improved junior QB Lyle Moevao.

“Lyle is light-years ahead of where he was last year,” offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf says.

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