Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Beavers look to continue mastery of Washington
By Tim Booth, AP Sports Writer
Sunday, October 19, 2008 | No comments posted.
SEATTLE — Jacquizz Rodgers fits the mold of the many successful running backs in Oregon State’s recent past. He’s quick, short, shifty and most importantly, hard to see in a crowd.
As if being 0-5 isn’t hard enough for Washington to handle, now the Huskies’ defense has the tough task of just trying to find Rodgers, let alone stop him.
“We’re going to have to look for him,” Washington defensive end Daniel Te’o-Nesheim said. “That’ll teach you to stay in your gap. If everyone is in their gap he’ll run into one of us.”
Even when Rodgers has run into defenders this season, that rarely means he’s going to the ground. Only a freshman, the 5-foot-7 Rodgers has posted four straight 100-yard games heading into today’s matchup at Husky Stadium. Rodgers could become the first Beavers’ back with five consecutive performance above the century mark since Steven Jackson did it as a senior in 2003.
More importantly, another 100-yard game from Rodgers might finally get the Beavers a win away from Corvallis that has proved about as elusive as Rodgers through the first half of the season. It would also be the Beavers’ fifth consecutive win over the Huskies, something Oregon State has never accomplished.
“We’ve got to break through that barrier with this team. We’ve got to start now,” Oregon State coach Mike Riley said. “When you get to that midway point you’re really going to start forming that identity of who the team is going to be, what they’re going to be remembered for and a time to really establish that identity. In order to, you’ve got to win road games.”
Again, the Beavers (3-3, 2-1 Pac-10) seem to be finding their form at midseason. After starting 0-2, Oregon State has won three of four, including a shocking upset of No. 1 USC on Sept. 25. The victory over the Trojans was the night that Rodgers became a household name with his 186 yards and two touchdowns on national TV.
Last week against lowly Washington State, Rodgers had another strong day, with 168 yards and a touchdown. Every Oregon State player who had a carry against the Cougars scored a touchdown in the 66-13 romp.
“I feel like the momentum is really picking up and it’s clicking,” said receiver James Rodgers, Jacquizz’s older brother and one of the Beavers to score a rushing touchdown last week. “Everything is coming together. Now we’re just working on the details.”
Oregon State’s offense shouldn’t have much problem with a Washington (0-3 Pac-10) defense that’s on pace to be the worst in school history. The Huskies have held just one team to less than 240 yards rushing this season and are giving up an average of 495 total yards per game.
Last year’s Washington defense was the worst in school history, giving up 446 yards per game.
“It is kind of tough to face the fact we’re 0-5 right now. I don’t think any of us like that,” Washington safety Nate Williams said. “It definitely doesn’t make practice fun, it doesn’t make having to come at 6:30 (a.m.) for workouts fun. Once we change everything around we’ll be all right.”
The Huskies’ offense wouldn’t mind seeing one of its freshmen running backs make the kind of statement Rodgers has since winning his starting job with the Beavers.
With quarterback Jake Locker — the Huskies’ top rusher this season — out with a broken thumb, Washington is hoping either Willie Griffin or Terrance Dailey can become a reliable back and take some pressure off redshirt freshman quarterback Ronnie Fouch.
In their first full game without Locker two weeks ago at Arizona, the Huskies managed just 63 yards rushing — Washington’s lowest total since Locker became quarterback at the start of the 2007 season.
One issue that shouldn’t be of concern is last year’s emotional contest in Corvallis that saw Locker get taken off the field in an ambulance after a hard, but legal, hit from safety Al Afalava. The 29-23 Oregon State win became chippy at times, but no one thinks there will be carry-over.
“We will try to get our guys focused on playing the game, hopefully play it with great emotion but never cross that line,” Washington coach Tyrone Willingham said.
As if being 0-5 isn’t hard enough for Washington to handle, now the Huskies’ defense has the tough task of just trying to find Rodgers, let alone stop him.
“We’re going to have to look for him,” Washington defensive end Daniel Te’o-Nesheim said. “That’ll teach you to stay in your gap. If everyone is in their gap he’ll run into one of us.”
Even when Rodgers has run into defenders this season, that rarely means he’s going to the ground. Only a freshman, the 5-foot-7 Rodgers has posted four straight 100-yard games heading into today’s matchup at Husky Stadium. Rodgers could become the first Beavers’ back with five consecutive performance above the century mark since Steven Jackson did it as a senior in 2003.
More importantly, another 100-yard game from Rodgers might finally get the Beavers a win away from Corvallis that has proved about as elusive as Rodgers through the first half of the season. It would also be the Beavers’ fifth consecutive win over the Huskies, something Oregon State has never accomplished.
“We’ve got to break through that barrier with this team. We’ve got to start now,” Oregon State coach Mike Riley said. “When you get to that midway point you’re really going to start forming that identity of who the team is going to be, what they’re going to be remembered for and a time to really establish that identity. In order to, you’ve got to win road games.”
Again, the Beavers (3-3, 2-1 Pac-10) seem to be finding their form at midseason. After starting 0-2, Oregon State has won three of four, including a shocking upset of No. 1 USC on Sept. 25. The victory over the Trojans was the night that Rodgers became a household name with his 186 yards and two touchdowns on national TV.
Last week against lowly Washington State, Rodgers had another strong day, with 168 yards and a touchdown. Every Oregon State player who had a carry against the Cougars scored a touchdown in the 66-13 romp.
“I feel like the momentum is really picking up and it’s clicking,” said receiver James Rodgers, Jacquizz’s older brother and one of the Beavers to score a rushing touchdown last week. “Everything is coming together. Now we’re just working on the details.”
Oregon State’s offense shouldn’t have much problem with a Washington (0-3 Pac-10) defense that’s on pace to be the worst in school history. The Huskies have held just one team to less than 240 yards rushing this season and are giving up an average of 495 total yards per game.
Last year’s Washington defense was the worst in school history, giving up 446 yards per game.
“It is kind of tough to face the fact we’re 0-5 right now. I don’t think any of us like that,” Washington safety Nate Williams said. “It definitely doesn’t make practice fun, it doesn’t make having to come at 6:30 (a.m.) for workouts fun. Once we change everything around we’ll be all right.”
The Huskies’ offense wouldn’t mind seeing one of its freshmen running backs make the kind of statement Rodgers has since winning his starting job with the Beavers.
With quarterback Jake Locker — the Huskies’ top rusher this season — out with a broken thumb, Washington is hoping either Willie Griffin or Terrance Dailey can become a reliable back and take some pressure off redshirt freshman quarterback Ronnie Fouch.
In their first full game without Locker two weeks ago at Arizona, the Huskies managed just 63 yards rushing — Washington’s lowest total since Locker became quarterback at the start of the 2007 season.
One issue that shouldn’t be of concern is last year’s emotional contest in Corvallis that saw Locker get taken off the field in an ambulance after a hard, but legal, hit from safety Al Afalava. The 29-23 Oregon State win became chippy at times, but no one thinks there will be carry-over.
“We will try to get our guys focused on playing the game, hopefully play it with great emotion but never cross that line,” Washington coach Tyrone Willingham said.
The comments below are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Not already registered?
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
Please follow these basic rules:
- No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
- No deliberately false information.
- No obscenity or racially offensive language.
- No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.
The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.
Close Guidelines