Beaver fans and numerous high school and small college coaches were treated with a glimpse of the future of Oregon State football, Saturday at Truax Field, as the team participated in their first Saturday practice of the Spring season.
Sophomores Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao impressed fans and coaches alike, Canfield with his cannon-like arm, and Moevao with his velocity and mobility. Although as of now it looks as though both are dead even in the QB debacle, Canfield looks to have an edge, being in the program longer, and carrying a typical physique for a quarterback, drawing comparisons to former USC Trojan Matt Leinart.
"I think Sean is much more comfortable with the offense, and he should be," said Head Coach Mike Riley. "This is his third Spring practice, this is Lyle's first."
"But I thought Lyle made some really nice touch throws today," he continued. "There are so many balls a quarterback has to throw that aren't just 90 mph fastballs that you have to put some feel on it. I think he's starting to get a feel for those throws in our offense."
But eyes weren't just on the quarterbacks Saturday. Wide receiver and return man Sammie Stroughter opened some eyes and reminded those who forgot about his speed on an end around play. Stroughter took the handoff and sprinted around the corner, outrunning safety Al Afalava, who had a clear shot at him. Afalava was treated to jeers and trash talking from his teammates at the conclusion of the play.
"That was a good looking play," Riley said. "We ran a little bit of that last year. That looked good."
Another receiver that opened some eyes was South Eugene high school graduate Damola Adeniji, who on one play sprinted down the left side of the field and ran under a Ryan Gunderson pass, catching it for a touchdown, untouched. With the addition of Adeniji, if paired with Stroughter at any point, teams will have a tough time keeping up with the Beavers.
Linebacker Derrick Doggett was held out of practice, and will be out until further notice with back spasms which occurred during training before Spring practice began. An MRI taken Wednesday came back positive, but Riley still wants to be cautious.
"As long as he has any feeling in his back at all, I said no. He's a Senior, he's made a lot of tackles, he's going to make a lot of them in the Fall, there is no sense in putting him in any risk. He doesn't need to be out here if he has any pain at all."
Ditto for Senior lineman Roy Schuening, who tweaked his hamstring in running workouts prior to Spring practices.
"Roy's hamstring was actually pretty significant. There is no need to put him out here until he feels ready. Another Senior offensive lineman that we just don't need to put at risk."
Coaches and players were pleased with the laid back and fun atmosphere throughout practice. Players participated in friendly trash talking every time one of their fellow teammates got burned on a play, dropped an easy pass, or otherwise botched a play. Stroughter even went as far to say that the players were having fun, but the coaches were a bit TOO serious.
"I hate it," Coach Riley said jokingly after being asked about Sammie's comments. "It's great. This has got to be fun for them. Spring practice, there is no games, the fun is getting better, making plays, and we have a pretty serious job in helping them get better, that is what we have to do."
After having a day off to enjoy Easter, the Beavs will be back on the practice field Monday at 3 p.m.
Sophomores Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao impressed fans and coaches alike, Canfield with his cannon-like arm, and Moevao with his velocity and mobility. Although as of now it looks as though both are dead even in the QB debacle, Canfield looks to have an edge, being in the program longer, and carrying a typical physique for a quarterback, drawing comparisons to former USC Trojan Matt Leinart.
"I think Sean is much more comfortable with the offense, and he should be," said Head Coach Mike Riley. "This is his third Spring practice, this is Lyle's first."
"But I thought Lyle made some really nice touch throws today," he continued. "There are so many balls a quarterback has to throw that aren't just 90 mph fastballs that you have to put some feel on it. I think he's starting to get a feel for those throws in our offense."
But eyes weren't just on the quarterbacks Saturday. Wide receiver and return man Sammie Stroughter opened some eyes and reminded those who forgot about his speed on an end around play. Stroughter took the handoff and sprinted around the corner, outrunning safety Al Afalava, who had a clear shot at him. Afalava was treated to jeers and trash talking from his teammates at the conclusion of the play.
"That was a good looking play," Riley said. "We ran a little bit of that last year. That looked good."
Another receiver that opened some eyes was South Eugene high school graduate Damola Adeniji, who on one play sprinted down the left side of the field and ran under a Ryan Gunderson pass, catching it for a touchdown, untouched. With the addition of Adeniji, if paired with Stroughter at any point, teams will have a tough time keeping up with the Beavers.
Linebacker Derrick Doggett was held out of practice, and will be out until further notice with back spasms which occurred during training before Spring practice began. An MRI taken Wednesday came back positive, but Riley still wants to be cautious.
"As long as he has any feeling in his back at all, I said no. He's a Senior, he's made a lot of tackles, he's going to make a lot of them in the Fall, there is no sense in putting him in any risk. He doesn't need to be out here if he has any pain at all."
Ditto for Senior lineman Roy Schuening, who tweaked his hamstring in running workouts prior to Spring practices.
"Roy's hamstring was actually pretty significant. There is no need to put him out here until he feels ready. Another Senior offensive lineman that we just don't need to put at risk."
Coaches and players were pleased with the laid back and fun atmosphere throughout practice. Players participated in friendly trash talking every time one of their fellow teammates got burned on a play, dropped an easy pass, or otherwise botched a play. Stroughter even went as far to say that the players were having fun, but the coaches were a bit TOO serious.
"I hate it," Coach Riley said jokingly after being asked about Sammie's comments. "It's great. This has got to be fun for them. Spring practice, there is no games, the fun is getting better, making plays, and we have a pretty serious job in helping them get better, that is what we have to do."
After having a day off to enjoy Easter, the Beavs will be back on the practice field Monday at 3 p.m.
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