SB Nation - James Dockery

The Enemy of My Enemy, Part I: The Rose Bowl

Bama Hawkeye — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:15:09 -0000

As we begin preparing for the year in which the Big Ten shocks the college football world by winning five of its seven bowls, let's learn about the opponents. Oh sure, we could turn to the fans of our opponents and ask them questions about their beloved cats, birds, and bees. But this site was founded upon the idea of rivals. That's why we're talking with our opponents' rivals. After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

As we look at the Rose Bowl, AndyPanda of the outstanding Oregon State blog, Building the Dam, was kind enough to answer these questions that we had about the hated Oregon Ducks.

1. What schemes worked best for you on defense against Oregon's motion Pistol, spread sweeps, and zone read attack?

The key to contending with Coach Chip Kelley's spread option read offense is to play assignment football, and maintain gap and assignment discipline, and do it all night long. A traditional style pro defense. You cannot over-pursue, and one step can be too much, as the speed Oregon has will run into, or cut back thru, any gap a mistake opens. The Ducks' offense is predicated on option reads, and Jeremiah Masoli is a master at quick recognition and decision making.

Masoli isn't an exceptional thrower, but he is good enough to capitalize on an assignment error, as was evidenced when OSU's James Dockery over-committed on Jeff Maehl, and there was no safety support. The result was an immediate over the top 73 yard touchdown.

And while Masoli is rightly known for his running ability, his reads can just as easily result in someone else being the star. With cornerback Tim Clark already out with a broken leg, all conference Keaton Kristick missed only one play with a tweaked wrist. Masoli immediately sent LaMichael James thru where Kristick and Clark would have been for a 52 yard touchdown.

Those two plays, one break down, and one where a personnel vulnerability existed, were the difference in the game, producing over a quarter of the Ducks' total yards, and underscoring how important it is to maintain discipline against Oregon's offense on every play.

2. What's going to happen when Ohio State's (C) Michael Brewster (296 lbs), (RG), Bryant Browning (312 lbs), (LG) Justin Boren (315 lbs), (LT) J.B. Shugarts (298 lbs), and (RT) Jim Cordle (297 lbs) line up against Oregon's (LDT) Brandon Bair (250 lbs) (RDT) Blake Ferras (290 lbs), (RDE) Kenny Rowe (230 lbs), and (LDE) Will Tukuafu (272 lbs)? That's an average of 43 pounds difference at each position. Do the Buckeyes get burnt, or does Oregon get crushed?

A variety of blitzes and stunts will happen. The Oregon linebacking crew of Eddie Pleasant, Casey Matthews, and Spencer Paysinger are fast enough that they can come from anywhere, and if an offensive line releases to pick up the blitz, Tukuafu is strong enough, and Rowe is fast enough, to recover despite being initially stopped, and still make the play.

A sustained power running game can work against the Ducks, as Stanford demonstrated, but it must start with an effective passing game that pushes back Oregon's back seven. The key to overcoming the Duck defense is to prevent them from running toward the line of scrimmage, which allows them to capitalize on their speed.

3. The Beavers put 30 points up on the Ducks in the first 35 minutes of the game. The final 25 minutes saw the Beavers only get a field goal. How was OSU able to dominate the Ducks early, and what did Oregon do late to turn the tide?

Early on, Oregon St. quarterback Sean Canfield was on, and by completing a number of passes, was able to keep the Oregon defense backpedaling much of the time, not attacking the line of scrimmage.

What Oregon did in the second half was keep the ball away from Oregon St. The Ducks are known for being a quick strike offense that doesn't need a time of possession advantage to generate points and wins, but few teams will win a firefight against the Rodgers brothers and Canfield. Against the Beavers, the Ducks played defense with their offense.

Oregon knew the best way to curb the Rodgers are to have them standing on the sidelines as much of the time as possible. With a boost in their power running game from LeGarrett Blount, Oregon held the ball for about 18 and a half of the last 26 minutes, and over 13 minutes in the last 17 and a half minutes. The Beavers only had one fourth quarter possession.

So limited in their number of opportunities, the weather, in the 20's, resulted in a couple of dropped balls off receivers' hands, resulting in a field goal instead of a probable touchdown, and another stalled drive. And the difference in the game when the Ducks were able to keep the Beavers' offense off the field for over six minutes at the end of the game. Both Kenjon Barner and Masoli won individual matchups, where the OSU defense was in position to make the play, and one on one, just got beat. The Ducks converted three fourth downs in the game, two on the final drive.

4. Much of the rest of the country looks at Oregon as having fashion models, not football players. Has the Oregon fan base embraced the Phil Knight-ification of their football team, or would they rather focus on the game?

The Oregon fan base loves Uncle Phil, who epitomizes the high dollar image most of them aspire to. And if any aspect of the image in any way causes a distraction of any sort, that's just another advantage they gain.

Admit it. You wish he went to your school.

5. What can Buckeye fans do in advance of the game to most annoy Oregon fans?

Remind them of the Stanford and Boise St. games, where they were physically dominated, then talk about how good Washington is going to be soon. It doesn't matter if Washington actually will be good or not; they hate the Huskies, almost as much as the Huskies hate them. Or talk about how college football games should be "dry" events. [ed. note: The Rivalry, Esq. does not and cannot endorse dry sporting events. We encourage Buckeye fans to use the other recommended methods of criticism]

Thank you again to AndyPanda of Building the Dam. We wish the Beavers the best of luck in beating the hell into BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Reliving Oregon State's Highlights from the Civil War

Jake Bertalotto — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:04:37 -0000

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Just like after Oregon State's late November 42-36 loss to USC, the more you look back on the game, the easier it gets to see just what could have been. The missed opportunities in (or near) the red zone were abundant.

It's hard to go through Oregon State's highlights from the game without thinking about the fumble recovery that put OSU at the UO 17 yard-line (result: field goal), or the 48-yard pass from Canfield to Quizz that put the Beavers deep into Oregon territory (result: field goal), but that's exactly what we're going to do with the help of Mike Parker. As you'll see, many of these highlights should have been followed up with an exuberant "TOUCHDOWN BEAVERS!!" call by Parker, but were not.

Let's get started.

Mike Parker: First down and five for Oregon, at it's 25 yard-line, just getting started... Masoli out of shoutgun, takes the pass from center, the ball is tipped, AND PICKED OFF BY DOCKERY!! Down the left sideline! Dockery inside the 25 and down he goes at about the 23. A 12 yard return for James Dockery, and the Beavers get the first turnover of the game, and they set up shop first and ten at the Oregon 23.

On Monday I claimed that turnovers would be a big factor in the game-- and they were. Oregon fumbled once and threw an interception, and it could have been worse than that. Remember OSU's kickoff at the very end of the first half that was almost fumbled? How about the snap that was well over Masoli's head late in the game? The Beavers won the turnover battle, but Oregon more than made up for their two mishaps with three killer fourth down conversions.

The Oregon State drive after the Dockery interception was a bad omen for the remainder of the game: it took a fourth down conversion to score a touchdown. Imagine if Riley would have called for a field goal at that point... it could have meant four first half field goals.

Mike Parker: It's an I formation-- power formation for the Beavers. Three tight ends, Jacquizz the running back... fourth and goal, turn, give to Quizz, running to the right, and QUIZZ IS IN! TOUCHDOWN BEAVERS!

Oregon State took an early 7-0 lead on that play, but Oregon came right back down the field and tied it up. Oregon State's next drive stalled at about the 25-yard line, and another Kahut field goal made it 10-7, Beavers. After Jeff Maehl burned James Dockery for a 73-yard score, the Beavers found themselves trailing for the first time of the game, 14-10. It was at this point that the game slowed down... both teams exchanged several punts... but Oregon State would be the next team to knock on the door:

Mike Parker: Trips formation to the right, play clock down to two, Canfield out of shotgun, throws over the middle to Jacquizz Rodgers, breaks one tackle at the 40, comes back to the 45, HAS A CHANCE DOWN THE LEFT SIDELINE!. 35-30. 25-20. Cuts back inside at about the 15 yardline!

He indeed had a chance there... perhaps OSU's best chance of scoring on that drive. After the long pass play got the Beavers to the Oregon 15, a penalty backed them up five yards, bringing up 1st and 15. A 9-yard pass to Kjos made it 2nd and 6-- then a Jacquizz Rodgers rush for no gain and an incomplete pass intended for James Rodgers brought out the field goal unit, and the Beavers brought it to within one: 14-13 Oregon.

Immediately after the field goal, Oregon regained possession with 7 minutes remaining in the half:

Mike Parker: On first down, Masoli, THE BALL IS LOOSE, being chased! The Beavers after it! The Beavers trying to come up with it! Matt Lagrone says he has it... and I believe he does. The ball knocked loose, AND LAGRONE RECOVERS FOR THE BEAVERS! And the Beavers have a first down at the Oregon 17!

And guess what? Again... Oregon State settles for a field goal. But nonetheless, the Beavers took a 16-14 lead.

Oregon would then take the lead with a touchdown by LaMichael James. I'll point out that the Ducks fumbled the ball a play before scoring on that drive... but Jeremiah Masoli recovered, and the Ducks took a 21-16 lead with 1:09 remaining in the half.

A pass interference call on Talmadge Jackson III (could he have been more obvious?) and four completions got the Beavers into Oregon territory at the 33. Another completion to Brady Camp (after a false start, ugh) set the Beavers up with a 2nd and 5 play:

Mike Parker: Second and five at the Oregon 28. Canfield out of shotgun, from the left hashmark, takes the snap from center, surveys his options, throws down the middle, CAUGHT BY JAMES RODGERS, TOUCHDOWN BEAVERS!

The Beavers then headed into the locker room with the lead, which never hurts the confidence levels heading into the second half. After a first half in which they settled for field goals way too many times, the Beavers needed to come out and drive the ball down the field and score, which is exactly what they did:

Mike Parker: Third and six from the nine, left has. Canfield from shotgun to throw, down the middle to Casey Kjos, TOUCHDOWN BEAVERS!!!

That made it 30-21 Beavers... and that's when Chip Kelly turned to the physicality of Legarette Blount, and it paid off with a quick score. That drive was when the first crucial Oregon fourth down conversion occured-- a quick slant from Masoli to Maehl on 4th and 6. After that, the Beavers got (guess what?) another field goal (score now 33-28), then Oregon scored a touchdown to take the lead for good (34-33).

Morgan Flint added a field goal for the Ducks early in the fourth quarter as Oregon attempted to chew up the clock. Oregon State's only drive of the fourth quarter was the one that ended in James Rodgers diving out of bounds just past the first down markers, oh-so-close to a crucial conversion. But Oregon regained possession of the ball, converted two first downs, successfully eating six minutes of clock to seal the victory.

I told you it's hard to rehash all those missed opportunities.

--Jake | (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com) | Twitter

Second Half Gets Serious

AndyPanda — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:08:36 -0000

In the second half, things got serious, though it was the fourth quarter before the shootout started. UCLA's Kai Forbath connected on a field goal on UCLA's first drive after the break, but Oregon St.'s Justin Kahut came up just short, due to a delay of game penalty. The Bruins' special teams kept a lot of green turf in front of the Beavers, and it was early in the fourth quarter of the quickest moving game of the season before Kahut connected again, giving Beaver fans a false sense of security with ten minutes left, and a 16 point lead.

Then came the UCLA highlight tape. Bruin quarteback found Nelson Rosario, who made a spectacular leaping one handed catch over James Dockery, and turned and romped for a 58 yard touchdown.

Prince promptly found Rosario again, and the two point conversion cut the lead in half.

After the Bruin defense forced the Beavers into a 1-2-3 punt, a penalty for having 12 players on the field on the Bruins' punt set up the tieing score. Oregon St. Coach Mike Riley attributed the second of the games' two key special teams penalties (the other came when a fake punt play didn't get underway before the play clock ran out), to having two different punt return personnel groups mistakenly on the field at the same time.

We committed one of the biggest sins in football, having too many men on the field when we had gotten the ball back (after a UCLA punt).

It took a little while, as Stephen Paea got one of four sacks of Prince, which equaled the total the Beavers had accumulated all season.

The penalty disparity, where Oregon St. was flagged 10 times, to only two on the Bruins, was partially due to Beaver mistakes, and its hard to make sinister assumptions, considering the crew chief was from Portland, and has both Rose Bowl and championship games on his resume, but perhaps the tieing score should have been more difficult.

It's easy to criticize Pac-10 officiating, but it appears there may possibly have been holding on the right side, which would have made for a longer touchdown throw to Taylor Embree, who out-jumped Tim Clark.

The Beavers still led by two points, but Prince found Jonah Franklin for the two point conversion, and it was game on!

It appears there may have been a block in the back that went undetected on the game tieing play.

Oregon St. quarterback Sean Canfield got the chance he didn't against USC though, and got the chance for a game winning drive, sparked by James Rodgers' 27 yard kickoff return.

Jacquizz Rodgers picked up 22 yards on a run,

...and Joe Halahuni had a 15 yard catch,

...setting up James Rodgers' sweep,

for the game winning touchdown that put Oregon St. up 26-19.

UCLA did drive again, putting themselves in scoring position, and the center of the secondary was targeted. This may have been an over-adjustment, considering the defensive breakdowns in some prior games, most notably at UNLV, were due to the center of the secondary being deep to guard against the big play, and opposition offenses repeatedly attacked underneath the coverage.

On the last three Bruin drives, there were several situations where the Beaver safeties were either missing, or so far up they were left with poor pursuit angles. Considering that UCLA, ranked 104th. in the nation in rushing, had not mounted a major rushing threat all day, gaining only 51 net yards, and that the only thing that could truly hurt Oregon St. were big plays deep, it was a puzzling defensive deployment.

However, the game ended with Prince unable to get the ball to his open primary receiver, due to pressure from the Beavers pass rush.

Despite a showery morning, the challenges from the Bruins, too many penalties, and the smallest crowd of the last two years (only 41,009 showed for a game they couldn't watch live on TV, much to the surprise and chagrin of Athletic Director Bob DeCarolis, who though he had all the makings for a sellout), it was still a pretty good day to be a Beaver. Que the Fight Song!

Portland State Media Roundup

Jake Bertalotto — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:05:27 -0000

Are you ready for some football?

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Here are some stories of interest as we head into tomorrow's game with Portland State:

One of the more interesting and heart-warming story lines is what's going on regarding the Kavanaugh family this weekend. Taylor, the senior wide receiver/holder/punt returner will suit up for the Beavers tomorrow, while brother Connor will be on the visiting sidelines as Portland State's back-up quarterback. Parents Dan and Jenifer Kavanaugh have made a spreadsheet in order to catch as many games as possible this season, but this weekend, their location is an easy one.--Saturday's game marks the first time that Taylor and Connor will play for opposing teams. Lindsay Schnell has the full story in the Oregonian:

"It would have been great to play with my brother, but the whole time he kept telling me, 'Do what's best for you,'" Connor said.

That turned out to be Portland State, where Connor backs up starting quarterback Drew Hubel.

When he signed, Connor said he never imaged matching up against Taylor. "It never really crossed my mind," Connor said. "When I first heard about us scheduling them, I can't even describe it, what it's like playing against your brother."

Taylor, who is now on scholarship at Oregon State, has published his first diary on OregonLive for the upcoming season. If you haven't read the first installment already ("Of Building Blocks and Brotherhood"), it's definitely worth the read. An excerpt:

Ask anybody on this team, and they will honestly reply that there are always opportunities to take the short cut and "come down" from our hill. But I know I speak for many when I say it has simply become the culture of this team to ignore those many distractions and continue to do great work every day. (And sometimes twice a day, but thankfully those are over!)

Carl Sommer, the Wilsonville High School graduate, also has ties to both programs. Sommer signed his letter of intent to play for Oregon State, then left the program a day before the Beavers upset USC last season after developing a poor relationship with defensive line coach Joe Seumalo. Sommer was expected to be a difference-maker on the defensive line, but as Jim Beseda notes , his NFL aspirations are still alive at Portland State, despite his potential to have played at OSU:

"When you lose a guy like that, it's always like a failure," coach Riley said. "He was a redshirt freshman at the time, and we were looking at him just like we do with all our guys' development. To me, there was no doubt he was going to find his way in this program."

With Darrell Catchings still nursing a hand injury, Damola Adeniji will start at split end for the Beavers in the opener, completing a journey from walk-on to starter. Cliff Kirkpatrick has more on Damola, as well as another player who could make a difference: Brandin Hardin.

Hardin will likely play in the secondary in Saturday's game behind cornerbacks Tim Clark and James Dockery. Clark, who is the leader of the secondary, expressed on Tuesday that he fully expects to be tested by Drew Hubel and Portland State's offense.

PSU will come right after the Beavers' secondary, Clark predicts.

"We have the most inexperienced group on the defense, so we expect to get attacked a lot,'' said Clark. "I hope we respond to that.''

Keaton Kristick, the leader of the linebackers, is nervous yet excited for Saturday's game, but also knows it will be no cakewalk:

Said Kristick, "it's football. Anything can happen on any given day.'' Kristick is nervous. Expects major butterflies Saturday as he begins his senior year and what he hopes is the launching pad to an NFL career. "Reser's gonna be rocking,'' he said.

Quotes like these from the Beaver defense were the norm at Tuesday's press conference, as the Beavers said all the right things heading into Saturday's game.

Also, take the time to check out Paul Buker's profiles on some prominent OSU players... Jacquizz Rodgers, Kevin Frahm, and James Rodgers.

Feel free to share some of your other favorite links in the thread below.

--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)

Upgrade/Downgrade - Cornerbacks

Jake Bertalotto — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:00:13 -0000

We continue today by moving into the secondary, where Mark Banker and Keith Heyward have some big shoes to fill. At safety, which we will discuss tomorrow, Al Afalava and Greg Laybourn are gone. At cornerback, it's Keenan Lewis and Brandon Hughes, two players who had a combined 90 starts at Oregon State-- 43 for Hughes and 47 for Lewis.

Tim Clark, who started six games last season, shouldn't have many problems filling in the everyday starter role as a senior. He got plenty of time last season, and just needs to tune up his skills in fall camp in order to avoid some of the mental lapses in coverage that we saw last season.

The other cornerback position looks to be occupied by James Dockery, but Brandon Hardin and Patrick Henderson may also compete for a starting job. Dockery returns from injury for his junior season, and needs to continue improve if he wants to avoid being "picked on" by Pac-10 quarterbacks.

The Beavers last ran into a similar situation in 2005, when the secondary was decimated by graduation. The circumstances won't be as dire in 2009, but Banker will have to replace some starters who have been hoarding the playing time (for good reason) for the past three or four years.