What's happening at PSU (opponent #1)

Portland State is the first opponent for the Beavs this year. How are they doing? Thought I'd see what I could find out there in the world of the Internet.

The Trib has a article from a week or two ago previewing the issues facing the Vikings going into fall camp.

Viks start filling in holes - Coach’s hopes ride high on new QB, tackles, running back

They have a new QB from Chehalis, Sawyer Smith. Everyone is hoping he brings the passing game back. The Vikings have been a great running team the last few seasons but have struggled a little in the air. He is more of a pocket passer than his predecessor, Joe Wiser, and he's a big guy at 6-5, 230. I'm guess there will be a few sacks against OSU. (Spotlight on Sawyer Smith)

Nic Costa joined the team from U of A and will be lining up a WR. He could be a nice deep threat with his amazing speed (4.34!). I'd watch for a few reverses and maybe a trick play on a reverse where he throws (Kinda like James Newson is the LV Bowl in 2003).

The O line is experienced and decent, but not very deep. RB position looks solid with Joe Rubin returning and finally getting the full time starting spot. The tight ends can catch, but they are more blocking tight ends. WR is a little suspect, but Costa will give that a boost. QB is unknown at this point.

Offense: PSU will be good running the ball. Fortunately OSU is very good defending the run. Our secondary will be tested a little with the speedy Costa, but I don't expect the passing game to do much against our D. I expect us to pressure the new QB hard and knock him down a lot.

On D the line could be a bit of a work in progress. They lost all four starters from last year. And they were pretty good last year. However, they have some big guys inside waiting in the wings. The DE could be suspect. Looks like their LBs are pretty deep. Bunch of guys there to play 3 positions. The secondary looks fairly solid with multiple people who started last year returning.

Defense: PSU was the best defensive team in the Big Sky last year and will probably be pretty good again this year. They will be tough on the Beavs new QB because the secondary is pretty strong. Since the defensive line is new the running game should get going, but the linebackers are pretty good so big gains could be tough to come by. The Beavs might be able to go outside with the run as the OLB probably aren't as fast as Pac-10 LBs. This should be a great warmup for our offense to see just how far they have come in the running game and with the new QB.

Prediction: I'm calling a Beavers win, but the most interesting part of this game will be: how do the Beavers look? Are they poised for a better season than people think? Or do they need some work?


Here are some stats from last year:
2004 Vikings Stats

Note: The Vikings led the Big Sky in total defense (346.3 ypg), scoring defense (20.3 ppg) and rush defense (111.6 ypg) in 2004


TEAM STATISTICS............. PSU......... OPP
--------------------------------------------------------
SCORING..................... 335......... 223
..Points Per Game........... 30.5.........20.3
RUSHING YARDAGE............. 2248........ 1211
..Average Per Rush.......... 4.7..........3.2
..Average Per Game.......... 204.4....... 110.1
..TDs Rushing............... 29.......... 13
PASSING YARDAGE............. 1864........ 2598
..Att-Comp-Int.............. 283-147-13...423-218-17
..Average Per Game.......... 169.5........236.2
..TDs Passing............... 14.......... 11
TOTAL OFFENSE............... 4112........ 3809
..Total Plays............... 761......... 807
..Average Per Play.......... 5.4......... 4.7
..Average Per Game.......... 373.8........346.3

SACKS BY-YARDS.............. 20-116.......10-66
KICK RETURNS: #-YARDS....... 30-649.......49-914
PUNT RETURNS: #-YARDS....... 27-336.......18-75
INT RETURNS: #-YARDS........ 17-244.......13-154
KICK RETURN AVERAGE......... 21.6.........18.7
PUNT RETURN AVERAGE......... 12.4.........4.2
INT RETURN AVERAGE.......... 14.4.........11.8
FUMBLES-LOST................ 15-9.........21-11
PENALTIES-YARDS............. 116-1050.....99-841
..Average Per Game.......... 95.5.........76.5

Their passing offense was bad last year. Their rushing offense was obviously quite good. And they scored a lot as well. Wow. Only 20 sacks? Lots of penalties though. The defense definitely was strong last year holding opponents to only 20 points per game. The return game was quite good averaging 12 yards per punt return and 21 per kickoff return. Nice.


Oregonian - PSU primed for Smith to step up - After several seasons in a passing slump, the Vikings put their hope in a new quarterback

Bozeman Daily Chronicle - Big Sky football: Tough schedule of Beavers and Broncos looms for the Vikings

KGW - Sawyer Smith leads Portland State into challenging season

Scout.com - 2005 Preview: Portland State