Cliff, it WAS how they performed. WSU deserved to win; they were more prepared, they wanted a win more, and they executed better, don't take that away from them. OSU was terrible. OSU performs poorly in both fundamental aspects of the game - blocking and tackling, and its not like there's a bunch of redshirt freshmen starting for OSU.

Keep in mind the number of returning starters OSU has on this team, and all of the players are in-system kids; Riley et al's recruits. Also, this was Dad's Weekend, with a willing and supportive crowd.

I was at the WSU game in Pullman last year, and there's not enough change in OSU's roster to explain the 180 degree turnaround in outcome. Sure the o-line lacks talent, but this team is not prepared well and is not well coached. Banker at least needs to go, he's a damn dinosaur who fails to acknowledge the change in DI football wrought by the asteroids and climate change that are read/spread option offenses. He wants to be a head coach, let him go find a job. Further, they have no energy or fire, and they're not getting it from Riley, whose only expression of emotion on the sidelines (shown on tv) was to put his hands on his head in exasperation and signal what we all know; he doesn't have any answers.

WSU inserts read-option plays for OSU, and Tuel outrushes Quizz. That's pathetic. Banker cannot get his squad to play the option any better today than they did at TCU at the beginning of the season. Gee, I hope nobody left on the schedule figures that out....

Personally, I was glad to see FSN show WSU's celebration at the end of the game. They earned it.

1. Tackling.
2. Run Blocking.
3. Additional reps for Poyer, Collins, Wilson at their positions (at the expense of reps for the people they share time with - in other words, get them ready for a larger role/more playing time and then give them more game reps.
4. Play sets designed to take advantage of Wheaton and Poyer's abilities specifically to address James' loss; return sets for both (imagine Poyer throwing back to Wheaton on the other side of the field), Poyer in the "WildCat" formation - Quizz lines up as QB, Poyer as RB, then Quizz runs out to a reciever position, Poyer takes a direct snap and can run or throw (he's a former QB/Baseball player and obviously has good speed).

As long as Riley makes a bowl game, he gets another year added to his contract. Mediocrity is assured. The clause needs to be changed to "2nd place in Pac-10 or better," so OSU can go to Holiday Bowl, or Alamo Bowl, whichever is second place bowl now, or Rose bowl. After a while, Emerald Bowls and Las Vegas bowls just aren't very satisfying or meaningful.

I think its time DeCarolis tells Riley its time for Banker to go. He's not evolving his defense to keep up with the changes in offenses, and he doesn't seem to be very adaptive (either with schemes or getting the more athletic players on the field).

And with a bye week, instead of practicing to improve offensive line play, linebacker play, and tackling, I bet the coaching staff gives the team some extra days off...

Riley needs to step it up with the officials on 1) making challenges of bad calls and 2) protecting his players. He doesn't do either enough, the first is a strategic mistake, the second is just both amazing and irresponsible. When opposing players are going after your team, as we've seen with cheap shots on both James and Quizz (BSU, ASU, and UA), Riley needs to get after the officials.

OSU is simply getting outcoached. Somewhere you mentioned Cliff that for TCU and BSU, their contests against OSU were big games, "circled on the calendar" in effect. That had to be true of OSU as well. TCU may have more talented players than OSU (and that may be debatable), BSU certainly does not. If these games are bigger for them than for OSU, than that just means that OSU isn't interested in a championship or a high level bowl, because winning these games, even if they are out of conference has high value for OSU's ranking, and thus their bowl destinations at the end of the year.

The continuing pattern of slow starts is indicative of Riley and staff's inability to learn, adapt, and teach so that the same mistakes aren't repeated. They have far too many starters on both sides of the ball, and too many of their own players in the system, for too long, to be wandering around "looking for their identity." Its the coaching staff's job to form the identity. Its not as if they're starting another staff's recruits or a bunch of true freshmen.

Riley has commented on the quality tackling of TCU ("maybe the best" he's seen) and BSU. Why doesn't OSU have as one of its goals to be the best tackling team in the country? Even players are saying they need to practice tackling more in camp. Yet Hardin can't tackle Moore on a corner blitz, and Collins(?) gives up a 55 yard run, not unlike Mitchell's inability to tackle Masoli and keep him from converting on 4th down.

All who wander are not lost, but some who wander just can't learn. Time for Bob DeCarolis to say "Look, at the rate you guys are compensated, we can't have the same problems every year. Mike, you've got to accept that its time for Banker to move on." And I know that Riley and staff aren't among the highest paid coaches in the Pac-10, but you can bet Riley's among the highest paid on OSU's campus.

I for one won't renew season tickets if the coaches keep this up. They're not doing the best by the players or the fans.

The ability of the Beavs D to learn appears low/slow, which is at least partly a reflection of the ability of Banker to teach (coach). The lack of improvement between games 1 and 2 was astounding, particularly given the clarity of the problems and the extra week of practice. And players saying they need to tackle more in practice because in practice they essentially are coached to run to the ball and not finishing enough?!? They could explain players overrunning the same plays time and time again (Miller), and flailing around with arm tackles (Pankey). There's an old saying that you play how you practice. And look what happened when Dockery made a decision to make a play on the ball instead of just run next to the receiver and not look for the ball- a rare OSU CB interception. BSU's Moore will love the way OSU's CB's are coached.

Interesting to note - Louisville had 317 yards vs Kentucky, 388 vs Eastern Kentucky, and 453 vs. OSU. I think ABC is going to have to have a bunch of filler material to talk about in a blowout BSU victory. Time for Banker to go after this season.

This is an interesting contrast this with your article on the offensive line, and its predominance of walk-on players. Why is it OSU cannot consistently recruit *** lineman? I know the rating system has its problems, but every year I read about Cavanaugh being one of the best offensive line coaches in the nation. One would think recruits would be attracted to that. OSU can recruit skill players consistently, and OSU's fans like the ratings when OSU gets them. What is the challenge in getting the offensive lineman - just a numbers game?

This is not to disparage walk-ons - as individuals, they are high achievers and should be commended. But for the program, it indicates a consistent inability to recruit.

too dam funny. RIley hopes to get one year of production out of him after 3 years of development and one year of redshirt...

Because they're willing to make things "different" and "edgy" and the cost of making thembetter.