Ted Miller weighs in on the Beavs

Ted Miller of the Seattle P-I gave the Beavs a good review after predicting them last going into last season. OSU continually is a tough team to call for many pundits. Predictions this year range from the surprise team in the Pac-10 to 9th.

ESPN.com - NCF/PREVIEW06 - Miller: Oregon State expects to contend in '06

Consider: five returning starters on an offensive line that averages 305 pounds per man; a tailback who rushed for 1,321 yards last season; experience at quarterback; a secondary that returns intact; and the best kicker in the nation (who, by the way, has connected on 61 consecutive extra points since jumping and spinning at LSU).

[...]

(About Yvenson Bernard)

The 5-foot-9, 204-pound junior is neither fast nor big. But he's slippery and quick, and his toughness has inspired awe around the team. He recorded the bulk of his impressive numbers while nursing shoulder and knee injuries that sidelined him during spring drills.

"He is a warrior," Riley said. "He's one of my favorite all-time players."

[...]

While it's nice to have the entire secondary back, it's less encouraging that it surrendered a mind-boggling 31 touchdown passes, most in the nation.

Here's how Riley described it after a reporter suggested a number of possible excuses, including three freshmen starters: "No, we were just bad."

But Riley means "bad" in terms of mental breakdowns, not ability.

[...]

Pac-10 media tapped the Beavers to finish seventh in the conference in this year's preseason poll, exactly where they finished last year after losing four of their last five games.

So the Beavers' potential resurgence has yet to register.

"That's Oregon State for you -- vastly overlooked," Piscitelli said.

I think that he nailed it. That's how most Beaver fans are right now. Cautiously optimistic. People are worried about the WRs or Matt Moore. But the offense will be fine. Watch how the defense does in the first couple of games and that will tell you how good this team will be. The pass defense must be adequate if not good.