ESPN College Football

Heading into the 2010 season, it was not uncommon for media sorts to volunteer Oregon State as a program that had the best staff of assistant coaches in the Pac-10.

Why? Good numbers without stockpiles of elite recruits. Non-elite recruits becoming NFL draft choices. Thirty-six wins over the previous four seasons. You know, the usual suspects.

Oh, but how two down seasons can change things. After going a combined 8-16 over the past two years, many Beavers fans are either calling for head coach Mike Riley's head, or they are at least calling for the heads of his coordinators: Mark Banker on defense and Danny Langsdorf on offense.

How quickly can things change? Well, I wrote this heading into 2010 as part of a "Don't be surprised if..." series: "Don't be surprised if ... Beavers offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf becomes a hot head-coaching candidate when new starting quarterback Ryan Katz posts surprisingly strong numbers this fall."

Katz posted pretty good numbers in 2010 -- 60 percent completion rate, 18 TDs, 11 interceptions -- but he was promptly and surprisingly displaced as the starter by redshirt freshman Sean Mannion at the beginning of the 2011 season. And Langsdorf is now fighting for his job instead of presiding over his own program.

In fact, there now appears to be some question as to whether Riley will take over play-calling responsibilities from Langsdorf in 2012, which Riley gave to Langsdorf midway through the 2008 season. This question is being -- legitimately -- asked because Riley is calling plays this spring.

Riley was noncommittal -- and a tad uncomfortable -- with this line of inquiry Monday, and you can see video of his thoughts here. He called it "not a big deal." He said he was calling plays so he could see how the offense reacted against certain looks from the defense: "It's a way to orchestrate a big-picture look," he said.

When asked if it was for spring only, he said, "For right now, it's only for spring."

That qualifies as a "maybe," not a "Yes" or "No."

So here's my defense of Langsdorf, who also coaches the Beavers QBs. It might not be completely comforting for Beavers fans, but I think it's fair and accurate: The reason the Beavers offense has struggled the past two seasons ... drum roll please ... is a lack of good players.

I know: Thud.

The 2010 season likely would have been different if receiver James Rodgers hadn't blown out his knee during an impressive win at Arizona on Oct. 9. And the Beavers would have qualified for a bowl game if typically reliable tight end Joe Halahuni hadn't dropped a 2-point conversion that would have beaten homestanding Washington in double-overtime.

2011? Well, that was just pretty lousy. Riley, Langsdorf, Banker, the players -- everyone associated with the program -- surely spent some time wondering where they failed.

Still, as the Pac-12 blog observed while praising Langsdorf just two years ago:

In his six seasons as offensive coordinator, the Beavers have posted five of their top-nine all-time seasons of total offense. Remember the early careers of quarterbacks Matt Moore, Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao? One word: Yucky. Remember their late careers? Two words: Dramatic transformation. Canfield earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2009 and joined Moore in the NFL.

In 2008, with Langsdorf calling plays, the Beavers ranked 32nd in the nation with 30.5 points per game and 30th in the nation with 407.1 yards per game. In 2009, they ranked 26th in points (31.5 ppg) and 34th in yards (410.6 ypg).

In other words, Langsdorf has been a successful coordinator and playcaller. At least when he's shown up for battle with more than a pillow shield and plastic sword.

Things set up fairly well for the offense heading into 2012. Langsdorf has his returning starter at QB in Mannion. He has a good crew of receivers, led by Markus Wheaton. But the offense will struggle if it can't generate a running game, which mostly hinges on improved play on the offensive line, which has been sub-par two years running.

One of the criticisms of Riley has been his loyalty to his assistant coaches, but he's made tough decisions recently, including firing longtime linebackers coach Greg Newhouse in March of 2011 (mostly because of recruiting shortcomings). If Riley takes away play-calling responsibilities from Langsdorf, it will be a painful blow to both men.

But it appears that possibility is at least being considered, so it will be worth asking about in advance of the season opener on Sept. 1 against Nicholls State.

Happy Friday.

Follow me on Twitter. And maybe I'll invite you over to my new pad.

To the notes!

Julia from Portland writes: How could you not give De'Anthony Thomas a helmet sticker? Or is it just you being a Husky?

Wright from LA writes: No, Aaron Pflugrad on the helmet stickers? Weren't you at the game?

Ted Miller: Etc. Etc.

First, the Pac-12 blog has talked with other ESPN.com bloggers about the passion folks seem to have for the ole helmet stick program on the blog network. That you care so much is a good thing.

What I have learned about helmet stickers: There's always someone deserving who gets left off, and that clearly-- without question! -- is an injustice of monumental proportions, which probably emerges from my fundamental evilness. And that Oregon fans believe every player on their team deserves a helmet sticker every week, and if that doesn't happen it's clearly because, at 30 years of age, I moved to Seattle from the Southeast and during my nine years living there was infected by a purple Huskies passion.

Here are some guidelines for helmet stickers, which my bosses tell me should number only five or so but I always go over.

First, big numbers in big games get priority. If Cliff Harris returns two punts for TDs this weekend against Missouri State, I probably will not give him a helmet sticker. If he does so against Stanford, I will.

Second, it's mostly one per team, unless something outrageous happens or it was a particularly big game. You'll note Colorado got two helmet stickers last week -- in a loss no less. Well, that's what happens when two players set school records in major statistical categories (yards passing, yards receiving) against a quality opponent.

That's why Arizona State receiver Aaron Pflugrad didn't make the cut. To me, QB Brock Osweiler's performance was more significant, though Pflu did have a great game. Call it a QB bias.

Same for Oregon running back De'Anthony Thomas. Ducks QB Darron Thomas threw six TD passes. Thomas had a heck of a game, particularly bouncing back from his fumble-itis against LSU, but... well, six TD passes.

Some questioned the inclusion of Utah receiver DeVonte Christopher, who "only" caught 11 passes for 136 yards in a loss to USC. First off: Did you watch the game? Christopher looked like the best player on the field, and that field included a lot of good players, including USC receiver Robert Woods.

But "spreading the wealth" also played a role, and will continue to. It seemed to me somebody from the USC-Utah game deserved notice, other than grumpy sports books in Vegas.

But Julia and Wright, to make it up to you, here's a helmet sticker. Just for you two.

Matt from Keizer, Ore., writes: My Oregon Ducks are playing the FCS Missouri State Whatever-they-are this weekend. I found out that they were originally scheduled to play respectable Utah, except that was scheduled WAAAAYYY back in the days of the antiquated Pac-10. So they canceled it because it would have been a conference game and Oregon already had enough of those on it's schedule. But yet just last week, California traveled to Colorado and played their game, yet it just wasn't counted as a conference game. Can you give me any insight as to why this similar situation played out so differently?

Ted Miller: Know what I like? Being lazy.

Others have done the work answering this question for me. Ken "Greenlight" Goe explained that Oregon and Utah rescheduled because the Utes needed to shuffle things in order to keep BYU on its slate. And, really, a nonconference slate of at BYU, Oregon and at Pittsburgh is kind of masochistic.

And Jonathan Okanes -- of the Contra Costa Okaneses -- explains here that California and Colorado decided to keep the game because, well, it was easier than finding new opponents.

Ricky from Dallas writes: Is it just me, or does the poor offensive and QB play at Oregon St seem like it should be blamed on the coaching staff? Katz seemed to do so well during his first 2 years under center, but the coaches have a terrible and inconsistent rotation at the QB position right now, so neither QB can get anything going. Should the Beavers stick with Katz, and realize that losing your 2 biggest stars actually does hurt your QB too? I think he will get better as the season progresses, if given the shot.

Ted Miller: Seems like you could throw blame around a lot of places at Oregon State.

Let's start with this, though: Injuries. Give the Beavers receiver James Rodgers, tight end Joe Halahuni, defensive tackle Dominic Glover (academics) and cornerback Brandon Hardin, etc., and they might not be sitting here at 0-2 with all sorts of problems.

As for Katz, he is a second-year starter (not third) who had a promising 2010 season. He has a big arm and is a good athlete. So just about everyone -- including me -- believed he was headed for a star turn this year.

But here's the deal. Redshirt freshman Sean Mannion started catching his coaches' fancy in spring practices and that continued this preseason. The way Mike Riley has described it is Katz hasn't regressed -- though I suspect there might be some frustration that he doesn't look better -- but that Mannion has asserted himself.

To put it simply, when Katz and Mannion practiced, side-by-side, Mannion looked like the better quarterback on a consistent basis. If that is the case, and you believe Riley and his coaches really, really want to win, then how could they not go with Mannion?

Think of it like this: What if Andrew Luck transferred to Oregon State in August? Would you say that Katz should remain the starter because of seniority? Or would you go with the guy who makes more plays in practice?

That said: I can understand Katz's frustration. He basically became the No. 2 guy after he played poorly in the first half against Sacramento State. After all he did in 2010, he got a quick hook and wasn't given a chance to redeem himself.

But Riley has emphasized that this wasn't just about the first half of Sacramento State. It was about Mannion coming into the game in the second half and validating a growing feeling about him: That he's the Beavers best QB right now and in the future.

Did it go down ugly? Sure. But benching a QB is never easy. Should Riley and offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf made the change before the opener? Maybe. But I'm guessing they were hoping that Katz would prove a "gamer" and be lights out to start the season and change their minds.

Look, Pac-12 football is a big-boy game. I feel for Katz. But Riley made a decision that he feels is best for the team. This isn't Riley's first rodeo. My guess is that he's probably right.

Tyler from Phoenix writes: What happens to Washington State in the event that they are undefeated, or are even just doing well enough so that they question Tuel as the starter? Does he regain his place?

Ted Miller: So you're asking me if Washington State is undefeated when QB Jeff Tuel gets healthy in six or so weeks, should coach Paul Wulff keep Marshall Lobbestael as the starter or go with Tuel?

Before I answer, let's pause and let Coug fans soak in the glory of that query. You guys have missed such speculation, eh?

If the Cougs are 6-0 and fresh off a win over Stanford, there is zero chance of Wulff sitting Lobbestael and replacing him with Tuel. In fact, Tuel would probably would go, "Are you nuts?!" if he were told to get ready to start against Oregon State.

It does become a legit issue if Lobbestael continues to play like he has, though. If the Cougs are, say, 4-2, should Wulff make a change? Should a starter lose his job because of an injury? Or should Wulff decide that he's not going to break up the rhythm of a team that's (finally) winning?

I don't know if there's a correct answer to that. My guess is Wulff will go by "feel." What's his gut tell him is the right thing to do? He'd consult his assistants, talk to both players and make a call.

He might opt to play two guys. Or go with Tuel only if Lobbestael has a downturn. Or he could just say, "Tuel is our guy."

If you want to know what I'd likely do -- and, really, how could you not -- I'd be reluctant to mess with the chemistry of a fast start. If Lobbestael ranks among the Pac-12 leaders in passing efficiency six weeks into the season, I'd stick with him.

And there is this: Tuel, a true junior, has an available redshirt year.

Every preseason we take a look at potential best-case and worst-case scenarios for every Pac-10 team. While these are often tongue-in-cheek, they nonetheless represent the top and bottom we see for each team.

So it might be worthwhile to revisit each.

Next up is Oregon State, which finished 5-7 and didn't play in a bowl game for the first time since 2005.

Best Case: 11-2 with a Rose Bowl win over Iowa and a final No. 4 ranking.

What was right: Gulp. Not much. Correctly predicted a loss to TCU and wins over Louisville, Arizona State, Arizona and California. But, really, nothing here even remotely feels like what happened to the Beavers this season.

What was wrong: Almost everything, starting with the victory over Boise State. This scenario had the Beavers at 8-1 and ranked No. 6 before losing to unbeaten, third-ranked USC. The Beavers' only win over their final five games was against the Trojans, who had lost three times before going down in Corvallis. Receiver James Rodgers suffered a season-ending knee injury at Arizona in Game 5, and running back Jacquizz Rodgers never became a Heisman Trophy candidate. Stanford blasted Oregon State 38-0, and there wasn't much drama in the Civil War, with Oregon winning 37-20 and earning a berth in the BCS national title game.

Worst case: 5-7, no bowl game

What was right: A lot, starting with the record. The predicted 1-2 start was correct. The win over Arizona State and loss to Washington were correct. The inconsistency of quarterback Ryan Katz was mostly right, as was the ganging up on Jacquizz Rodgers by opposing defenses. The win over Cal was correct. The 5-5 record after 10 games was correct, as were the decisive losses to Stanford and Oregon to end the season at 5-7. Ducks running back LaMichael James was a Heisman Trophy finalist, though not the winner. Oregon won the Pac-10. Rodgers did opt to enter the NFL draft.

What was wrong: Some details. The Beavers won at Arizona but were upset by UCLA and Washington State. They also upset USC, a 36-7 blowout. Oregon won the Pac-10 but lost in the national championship game instead of winning the Rose Bowl. Offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf and defensive coordinator Mark Banker remain on staff. James Rodgers is coming back for a sixth year after being granted a medical hardship waiver by the NCAA for his knee injury.

Conclusion: The worst case was mostly spot on; the best case was not. While James Rodgers' knee injury -- we're not going to predict injuries in this annual exercise -- was a huge blow to the Beavers, the rugged nonconference schedule and struggles of both lines ultimately upended a season that seemed promising in August, when Oregon State was picked in the conference's top three by just about everyone.

Ted Miller talks with Beavers offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf about Ryan Katz’s performance against Arizona.

Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need is in your soul,
And you can do this if you try.
All that I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.

• A nice profile of Arizona DE Brooks Reed. RB Greg Nwoko is battling for touches.
• Arizona State's receivers can catch -- and they can block.
• Checking in at California's practice, where guys are trying to get healthy. A fullback is stepping up.
• SAM I am, say these Ducks, who likely would eat green eggs and ham. A Q&A with Chip Kelly.
• Good stuff here: Oregon State offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf talks about the birth of his son: Dawsen Edward Langsdorf . Congrats.
• Jim Harbaugh talks about Stanford's fall camp thus far.
• Signs of life from the UCLA offense. It's becoming clear that the Bruins' recruiting class was as good as advertised.
• USC's got two new safeties but they are starting to impress defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Injuries are piling up.
• Washington defensive coordinator Nick Holt talks Huskies defense. The starters dominated the scrimmage. Paying for upgrades to Husky Stadium.
• Good John Blanchette column on Washington State DT Brandon Rankin, who turned down Alabama to honor his pledge to WSU. More on RB James Montgomery's amazing recovery.

By this, he seemed to mean, not only that the most reliable and useful courage was that which arises from the fair estimation of the encountered peril, but that an utterly fearless man is a far more dangerous comrade than a coward.

• A touted 2009 recruit, safety Adam Hall is a humbled and ready to contribute.
• Some signs of life from the Arizona State offense detailed in this practice report. It helps that the backfield is faster.
• A look at how California will line up on the offensive line. And who's the backup tailback?
• Eddie doesn't plan to be Pleasant for Oregon. Get it? "Pleasant!" Ha! The Ducks quarterback competition is on. Complain about the weather? Not coach Chip Kelly.
• Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers knows what it takes to win the Heisman: Wins. Is quarterback Ryan Katz ready for the spotlight? Offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf gets ready for a very important delivery.
• Stanford has some questions as camp begins. The first one: Who steps in at tailback?
• Quarterback Kevin Prince is ready to lead UCLA. Anthony Barr is living up to his recruiting hype.
• Some USC freshmen look ready to play.
• A complete report from Washington's first practice.
• The development of Washington State's receivers will be critical. The road back to respectability is steep.
• A BYU fan announces he's jealous of Utah earning Pac-10 membership. At least that's what I took from his column.
• Ole Miss players led the charge to recruit former Duck Jeremiah Masoli.

Seventh in a series of Pac-10 thoughts that might come from unusual angles (You can see Oregon State's 2009 prediction here).

Don't be surprised if ... Beavers offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf becomes a hot head-coaching candidate when new starting quarterback Ryan Katz posts surprisingly strong numbers this fall.

If the above line is giving you a sense of deja vu, it should. We wrote the same thing about Sonny Dykes last year, and Arizona's offensive coordinator was hired this past offseason as Louisiana Tech's head coach.

Langsdorf, who doubles as the Beavers' quarterbacks coach, will be a head coach within the next two years -- at least he should be -- and if Katz puts up impressive numbers as a first-year starter, a sharp AD somewhere will snatch him away from what many feel is the Pac-10's best collection of assistant coaches before the 2011 season.

Why? In his six seasons as offensive coordinator, the Beavers have posted five of their top-nine all-time seasons of total offense.

Remember the early careers of quarterbacks Matt Moore, Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao? One word: Yucky. Remember their late careers? Two words: Dramatic transformation. Canfield earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2009 and joined Moore in the NFL.

The fly sweep with James Rodgers and the "Wild Beaver" formation with Jacquizz Rodgers lining up at quarterback? Those innovations were executed by Langsdorf, who took over play-calling duties from head coach Mike Riley midway through the 2008 season.

Langsdorf is young enough -- 38 -- to be young and old enough to be experienced (14 years coaching, with three years in the NFL and CFL). Character? In 2007, he donated a kidney to Laurie Cavanaugh, the wife of Beavers offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh.

And, really, isn't it time that Riley developed a coaching tree? Is there any college coach who is a better role model for the best way to be?

Langsdorf learned to evaluate talent from Riley, who's built a top-25 program and NFL pipeline without ever ranking in the top 25 in recruiting. He's learned how to gather and cultivate a loyal, accomplished staff from Riley. He's learned how to win under less-than-ideal circumstances from Riley. He's learned how to conduct himself with class from Riley.

He also probably learned a bit from his father, Ed Langsdorf, who coached at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., Danny Langsdorf's alma mater, for 20 years before becoming a scout for the San Diego Chargers.

No assistant coach is a sure thing when he makes the leap to head coach. But Langsdorf feels pretty close to it, particularly in the right circumstances.

If Oregon State surges this year on offense, and Katz stands out as another Langsdorf pupil, it's hard to imagine Langsdorf won't raise more than a few eyebrows among ADs looking for a go-getter to jump-start their program.

Eighth in a series looking at potential dream and nightmare scenarios for all Pac-10 teams, starting at the bottom and working up from my vote in the Pac-10 media poll.

Understand: These are not predictions. They are extreme scenarios and pieces of fiction.

Up next: Oregon State

Best case

TCU coach Gary Patterson looks at the scoreboard and shakes his head.

"We were lucky to win this one," he says. "Very lucky. That's a very good team and they pushed us around."

Nonetheless, a 24-23 loss doesn't offer Oregon State much consolation, even if it comes against the nation's No. 7 team. The Beavers outgain the Horned Frogs 435 yards to 305, but three turnovers -- two off tipped passes in TCU territory -- and a missed extra point explain the final tally. Jacquizz Rodgers' 135 yards rushing and 65 yards receiving and two TDs are only a footnote.

After a week off, the Beavers take out their frustration on overmatched Louisville. QB Ryan Katz throws two TD passes-- one to each Rodgers brother -- and Jacquizz rushes for 188 yards.

Up next: a visit to No.3 Boise State.

"We have a chance to do something special here and really get everything back from that tough loss to TCU," coach Mike Riley says.

That's exactly what the Beavers do. With the Broncos forced to double-team defensive tackle Stephen Paea inside, end Gabe Miller sacks Kellen Moore three times. The Broncos are unable to run the ball consistently, and the constant pressure gets to Moore, who's uncharacteristically off-target. Meanwhile, Katz plays a mistake-free game, distributing the ball to the Rodgers brothers and breaking off a handful of backbreaking first-down scrambles.

"[The Rodgers brothers] are the two most dangerous players in college football," Katz says afterwards "They make it easy for me. Jacquizz should win the Heisman, but what they really should do is give it to both of them."

What ensues is a six-game winning streak. The Beavers, at 8-1, ascend to No. 6 in the national rankings. With unbeaten, third-ranked USC coming to town, ESPN's "College GameDay" makes its first trip to Corvallis.

"I know Jacquizz Rodgers is the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy at this point," GameDay's Chris Fowler says. "But isn't the bigger story that they may be the best brothers combination on the same team in college football history?"

Replies Lee Corso, "It probably won't happen, but wouldn't it be neat if they both were invited to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony?"

The Trojans jump ahead 14-0 in the first half, with Matt Barkley connecting on two long TD passes to Ronald Johnson and the defense bottling up the Rodgers brothers until Jacquizz slips away for a 56-yard scoring run just before the break. A 23-yard toss from Katz to James Rodgers ties the score in the third, but the Trojans retake the lead early in the fourth when Allen Bradford bursts in from 2-yards out.

Heisman Trophy winners typically produce a signature highlight. Jacquizz Rodgers already has potential candidates for that, but none more spectacular than the screen pass he transforms into a 62-yard, game-tying score with 1:10 left.

The only problem is Johnson silences the euphoric Reser Stadium crowd with a 65-yard kick off return to the Beavers 35-yard line. Three plays later, with five seconds left, Jacob Harfman boots the game-winner from 44 yards.

"This was a tough one," Riley says. "But we've still got a lot to play for. We've got to get re-focused quickly because if we don't Stanford is going to kick our butts."

The Rose Bowl is still up for grabs: The Beavers, Stanford and Oregon only have suffered one conference defeat. After the Beavers dispatch the Cardinal, 30-28, everyone knows the stakes: It's a Civil War for the Roses II.

Riley gathers his players in the locker room.

"Oregon State hasn't been to a Rose Bowl since 1965," he says. "That's going on 46 years. Every person in this stadium knows what's at stake. You carry the hopes of everyone who wears black and orange. Tonight you have an opportunity to make a permanent mark, to be remembered and to create a memory that you will be able to return to fondly for the rest of your lives. But that team over there in that other locker room has an advantage over you. They think they are better than you. They carry that confidence. It's a smirk, isn't it? They are smirking at us in our house. I want you to see that smirk in your mind's eye right now. Hold on to that. If at any moment tonight you start to doubt or start to falter, think of that smirk. Now let's go knock it off their faces."

Speeches don't win football games, though. The game plays out much like the 2009 version. With two minutes left, Oregon leads 27-23 and faces a fourth-and-3 from the Beavers' 33-yard line. Ducks coach Chip Kelly opts to go for it. Quarterback Nate Costa drops back and, under pressure from Paea, shovels the ball to LaMichael James, who breaks to his right toward the sideline. One yard. Two yards. But at the marker he meets safety Lance Mitchell, who blasts James backward inches short of the first down.

Fumble. Keith Pankey recovers at the 50.

On first down, Riley shocks everyone by running a draw play to Rodgers, who bounces outside and is forced out of bounds at the 7-yard line. With just under a minute left, Rodgers gains four yards up the middle. The Beavers use their final timeout. Rodgers goes for two. The Beavers hustle to the line. 11, 10, 9 goes the clock.

Rodgers. Touchdown. Rose Bowl. Pandemonium in Reser Stadium.

With his brother at his side, Rodgers wins the Heisman Trophy. And the Beavers beat Iowa 28-24 in the Rose Bowl and finish 11-2 and ranked fourth.

Worst case

A brutal nonconference schedule sometimes offers opportunity. But playing a pair of top-10 teams ultimately ends up meaning Oregon State is 1-2 heading into conference play.

The Beavers bounce back to beat Arizona State at home, but after consecutive road losses to Arizona and Washington, it becomes clear that sophomore quarterback Ryan Katz is a different player on the road, which is to be expected with a young, first-year starter. Teams crowd the line of scrimmage to stop Jacquizz Rodgers, run bracket coverages on James Rodgers and dare the offense to use other weapons to win. It can't, at least not consistently.

Still, after beating California and Washington State at home and UCLA on the road, the Beavers sit at 5-4 overall and are again in good position to play in a quality bowl game.

But the back-loaded schedule is brutal. USC whips the Beavers 30-17. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck throws four TD passes in a 35-24 win.

A final opportunity for redemption: Oregon and Stanford are tied atop the Pac-10 (USC also has one loss but is ineligible for the postseason). If the Beavers beat Oregon in the Civil War, it will knock the Ducks out of the Rose Bowl.

But LaMichael James, the nation's leading rusher, outshines Jacquizz Rodgers, rushing for 193 yards and three TDs in the Ducks' blowout, 35-17 win.

"I don't get into that comparing myself to Rodgers -- I leave that to the media and fans," James says afterward. "But you guys did see the game, right?"

James wins the Heisman Trophy and the Ducks roll over Ohio State 27-14 in the Rose Bowl.

Beavers offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf is hired as the head coach at Nevada, while defensive coordinator Mark Banker is hired by Pete Carroll to run the Seattle Seahawks' defense.

Jacquizz Rodgers opts to leave a year early and join his brother in the NFL draft.

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Oregon State coach Mike Riley is standing beside a dry erase board in his office. He points to his flanker. That's James Rodgers. He caught 91 passes for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns last year. Riley smiles.

He points to his tight end Joe Halahuni. He caught 35 passes and became an offensive weapon after the middle of the season. Riley points at his slot receiver, Jordan Bishop. The 6-foot-3 sophomore can high jump over seven feet. He points at his split end, where Darrell Catchings and Markus Wheaton are engaging one of the more spirited competitions this spring.

Then he points at Jacquizz Rodgers, who rushed for 1,440 yards, caught 78 passes and scored 22 touchdowns a year after being the Pac-10's Offensive Player of the Year as a true freshman.

Riley agrees with a reporter that Jacquizz should be a top Heisman Trophy candidate.

The main point, however, is the Beavers offense has a lot of guys who can punish a defense.

"Athletically, it's as good as we've ever been," Riley said.

Then Riley circles his quarterback.

"It's our biggest question on offense," he said. "If we can bring our quarterback up to the rest of the offense, then it's going to be good."

That quarterback figures to be sophomore Ryan Katz, who's got a big arm but little experience. While Katz officially is competing with Virginia transfer Peter Lalich for the starting job, Katz started spring practices with the No. 1 offense and he's yet to yield that perch.

"What stands out about Ryan -- always has -- is he's got really good physical ability. A Great arm," Riley said. "It's one of those deals where you're kind of taken aback by the strength of his arm sometimes. He throws the ball so easily with a lot of velocity. He's got to learn a little bit more about taking something off it every once and a while. I tell him all the time, 'You don't always have to throw a 95 miles per hour ball.'"

The good news is Katz, Riley said, has consistently improved since arriving in Corvallis from Santa Monica (Calif.) High School. But there's a caveat hidden in that positive point, because every recent Oregon State quarterback has improved steadily during his career, from Derek Anderson, to Matt Moore, to Lyle Moevao, to Sean Canfield.

But each of those guys started his career slowly and, well, unimpressively. Anderson completed just 47 percent of his passes his first year as the Beavers starter under then-coach Dennis Erickson. Moore threw 19 interceptions. Moevao and Canfield combined for 21 interceptions in 2007.

The question is how steep Katz's learning curve will be.

"There is a process with us," Riley said.

By all accounts, Katz has embraced the No. 1 role, though he admits it goes against his type to be a vocal leader. As a personality, Katz is closer to the quieter Canfield than the effusive Moevao.

"More than vocal-wise, I tried to lead by example," Katz said.

The Beavers offense has evolved in recent years as Riley yielded control to coordinator Danny Langsdorf. The Beavers have increased the role of running backs and the flanker in the passing game. They added the fly sweep. Canfield's accuracy but lack of a strong arm had the offense looking West Coast-ish for a while in 2009.

Katz brings back the big arm of say an Anderson or Moore and adds some athleticism. Katz will move around in the pocket and there will be more designed bootlegs. And there's an increased emphasis of screen passes in order to build his confidence through the air.

And Katz needs to find his rhythm quickly. The opener is vs. TCU in Cowboys Stadium -- a top-10 team playing in a friendly stadium that is far bigger than its home field.

"When the time comes, it's definitely going to be eye-opening," Katz said. "But I'm just going to take it and run with it. I can't stand out there and be star struck."

After TCU, the Beavers play host to Louisville, then visit Boise State, a likely top-five team.

So there's no soft schedule that allows Katz to acclimate himself to the speed of the game. He's bound to make mistakes, which means criticism. Katz is aware that is an inescapable part of playing the position.

"That's definitely in the back of your mind, but if I just work day by day and get better that will play it self out," he said. "I know that comes with the job."

But he said he learned a lot from watching Canfield and Moevao weather the storm and come out strong on the back end.

But if Katz plays well from the start and minimized the growing pains, then Beavers should become a major player in the Pac-10 race.

Men, you are about to embark on a great crusade to stamp out runaway decency in the west. Now you men will only be risking your lives, whilst I will be risking an almost certain Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

• More on Arizona's football series with the Roadrunners. Beep beep.
• Arizona State cornerback Omar Bolden is starting to fulfill his potential.
• This California receiver is getting "Loggy" -- and that might lead to a music career. The Bears have hit the home stretch of spring practices: Are there any answers? The new defensive coordinator is well-traveled.
• Former Oregon football coach -- and athletic director -- Mike Bellotti mostly holds his tongue as he leaves for ESPN. But there is plenty to read between the lines. LaMichael James speaks about his bad moment.
• Checking in with Oregon State offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf on the quarterback competition. The Beavers lose one of their biggest backers. Taylor Henry tries to fill a void at defensive end.
• Ryan Whalen may be Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck's go-to guy. The spring game will be in San Francisco.
• UCLA's Joseph Fauria is a tight end and a comedian. The Bruins F-back isn't one sort of player.
• Former USC running back Reggie Bush will get his day in court, something he -- and probably USC -- never wanted. Lane Kiffin is not afraid to shake things up.
• Washington running back Chris Polk is sitting out spring but will be ready in the fall. Former Huskies receiver Reggie Williams is getting another chance, perhaps his last one, in the NFL.
• A linebacker steps up for Washington State. Ryan Leaf comes clean in a surprisingly moving and articulate way.

Part II of our chat with Oregon State offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf.

Read Part I here.

The Rodgers brothers, Jacquizz and James: They do so much. Can they do any more?

DL: It's really a challenge to try to find different ways to get them the ball. I think they can, though. I think they both are becoming masters of what they do. They are continuing to work on running routes and catching the ball. I think through pretty extensive offseason study of our running game, we can find some things that Quizz could do better in terms of some of his reads and how he runs some particular plays that we have. James I know has concentrated on running better routes and being more consistent catching the ball. So I think they have more improvement ahead of them. At the same time, we have to continue to find ways to get them the ball because they are so dangerous with it in their hands.

Other than those two: Who are your big playmakers?

DL: Markus Wheaton is playing the 'X' position right now and he has got a lot of talent. He can really run. He was a talented high school player and a great recruit for us. We're looking for some big things from him. I think our line is very solid -- we've got a veteran group there and are only losing one off of that. We've got to find some depth up front. We've got to find a little more depth at the flanker and receiver position behind James. We've got a couple of guys in mind who are battling that out. I like how our tight ends have played. Joe Halahuni had a good season last year but was kind of a part-time player for us. He only played about 50 percent of the snaps. We've got to get more production out of him as a blocker. I think he's a talented receiver right now but he's got to improve as a blocker. But he's a pretty exciting player for us. We've got some weapons I believe we can do some fun stuff with.

You mention the line with four of five starters back: Where do you expect to see the most improvement?

DL: I think our tackles [junior Mike Remmers and sophomore Michael Philipp] are good players and I think they have a ton of improving to do. They are solid guys and they are young. Remmers has continually improved and has a chance to be outstanding. He has put on weight and gotten a lot stronger in the weight room. He was already an athletic kid, but he came on toward the end of last year and really became a stand-out player for us. We're really looking for him to continue on that path, as well as Philipp, who was a freshman All-American, but at the same time has a lot of work to do and a lot of growing up to do. Michael has gotten some accolades already but we feel like there's a lot of improvement for him still to continue to work on. If he does and he follows through, he could be an outstanding one, too. So those two bookend tackles, they are talented but that potential is only as good as they want to make it. The challenge for them is to work on their trade to become better players.

So what do you think about your new quarterback -- either Ryan Katz or Peter Lalich -- playing two of his first three games on the road vs. top-10 teams [TCU on Sept. 4 in Cowboys Stadium and at Boise State on Sept. 25]?

DL: That's not totally ideal [laughs]. It's going to be tough. I don't think there's a whole lot more pressure just because they're playing on the road. I think it's just that they're new. It would be the same amount of pressure if they were playing at home. But obviously noise is going to be a factor and some things they haven't experienced a lot of yet. That's a little disconcerting. But I think they are pretty poised guys and confident players. We've got to try to get them into situations and put some pressure on both of them to get them used to that atmosphere. That will be key once we get into fall camp especially.

You guys averaged 32 points and 411 yards per game last year: Can this crew improve those numbers with a new QB?

DL: I think so. The quarterback position will be a vital spot. He's got to be able to manage the offense and spread the ball around and get the ball into our playmakers hands. That will be a big deal. But we do have a lot of weapons and a veteran line. If we can improve in the run game, I think that will take some pressure off the quarterback. And, at the same time, we have some weapons on the perimeter. So if we can get the ball to Quizz in the run and pass game and we can get it to our weapons outside in our passing game and our tight end, we should be just fine. Like I said, if we can do a good job of running the ball, I think all that stuff plays out. It helps the play-action game. I think the scheme comes alive. Being versatile and not just relying on one thing. Being multi-dimensional will help the quarterback with what we are trying to do.

Either Sean Canfield or Lyle Moevao started at quarterback for Oregon State over the past three years, so it's a spring of transition at the position for the Beavers, one of just two Pac-10 programs that won't welcome back their starting quarterback from 2010.

Whoops. Make that one of three. Oregon recently joined the Beavers and Arizona State as programs searching for a new signal-caller.

It's not like offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf doesn't have anything to work with, though. He's got four of five starting offensive linemen back as well as plenty of talent at receiver.

Oh, and he's got the Rodgers brothers, too, James and Jacquizz , All-Pac-10 playmakers as runners and receivers who should make the transition far easier for whomever wins the QB job.

The Beavers started spring practices this week, so it seemed like a good time to check in with Langsdorf.

So ... no Sean Canfield or Lyle Moevao: That's got to feel different.

Danny Langsdorf: It sure does. We had such a veteran presence at that position for two years. That's pretty unique. Having both of them gone, I'm still getting used to it. But we ran into this a couple of years ago when we lost Matt Moore. We've got two guys who we think are both capable of playing for us in [Ryan] Katz and [Peter] Lalich. We'll let them battle it out and see which one is our best guy.

Tell me about those two quarterbacks: First Katz. What are his strengths and where does he need work?

DL: He's got an unbelievable arm -- probably the strongest we've had here in a long time. He's very talented throwing the ball. He's got to work on his accuracy and being able to harness that strength in his arm. He's got to show a little touch on the ball and just be able to spread the ball around to where guys can catch it. I think he's got a good command of the offense. He's been here long enough. He hasn't played a lot but he played in a few games last year and got some good game experience. We feel great where he's at and the amount of talent he possesses. He's already been exciting to start spring ball.

And Virginia transfer Lalich?

DL: Peter has a little bit of experience in games, although it was at Virginia, but playing in some games is always a good thing, for a quarterback especially. He's a smart kid who can pick up our system fast. He's also got a good arm. I'd say Katz is probably more mobile than Peter right now, but [Lalich] is a big, strong drop-back passer. We feel like we've got two guys who can really throw the ball well. And Cody Vaz is in there, too. He's our [redshirt] freshman and he's also got a talented arm. Those three guys right there are proving they can make a lot of throws in our offense.

The general feeling is Katz is ahead: Is that true?

DL: It's still pretty early but you can say that in the sense that he's been here the longest. He's played in games in our system. All those things are to his advantage. So if you watch us take a team period, the first snaps are going to Ryan for sure. But I don't think that is to say that competition is at all over. We've got a lot of time before we play our first game. We've got a lot of situations to put those guys through to see who can handle the entire game the best. We'll do that throughout spring practices. But I think if you had to make a decision right today you'd probably say that.

Part II on Friday: Langsdorf talks about the Rodgers brothers, other offensive weapons and the rugged schedule.

USC offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates is a candidate for the same position with the Chicago Bears, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

There was intense speculation when USC's disappointing season ended that Bates might be headed back to the NFL. Bates didn't seem comfortable with college coaching, and the Trojans offense, which had nine returning starters from 2008, underachieved most of the season.

Chicago would be a good destination for Bates because he was close to Bears quarterback Jay Cutler when they worked together in Denver.

If Bates does leave, it will be interesting to see which direction coach Pete Carroll might go to fill the vacancy. It's certain to be an appealing job based on USC's talent, and Carroll's assistants are paid well.

Carroll's typical route is to hire someone who's connected to his inner-circle, but after this year's offensive woes he might want to expand his search to include the best available candidates.

Just to inspire some discussion: What about Oregon State's Danny Langsdorf?

Carroll has always had a lot of respect for Mike Riley, and the Beavers (mostly) pro-style offensive scheme -- Riley's creation, though Langsdorf called the plays this year -- isn't that far from the Trojans. Only more creative. And Langsdorf's work with quarterbacks Matt Moore, Lyle Moevao and Sean Canfield has been outstanding.

As for why Langsdorf would leave Corvallis -- other than money -- success at USC likely would line him up more quickly for a head coaching job.

But don't get too worked up, Beavers fans. The odds are long Carroll would go in that direction.

Oregon State's offense, despite rebuilding its 2008 offensive line and receiving corps, ranks No. 1 in the Pac-10 in passing (280 yards per game) and No. 2 in pass efficiency.

That's due in large part to the maturation of fifth-year senior Sean Canfield, who may be the front-runner to become first-team All-Pac-10 quarterback.

And a lot of credit for Canfield's and the offense's success is due to Beavers coordinator Danny Langsdorf, who took over play-calling duties mid-way through last season from head coach Mike Riley.

The "Wild Beaver" formation with running back Jacquizz Rodgers adding throwing to his already substantial running and receiving repertoire? That's Langsdorf, who is a rising star on one of the best coaching staffs in the Pac-10.

How tight is that group? Well, Langsdorf, in 2007, donated a kidney to Laurie Cavanaugh, offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh's wife.

Seeing that the Beavers, who play host to Washington on Saturday, are riding their typical late-season surge toward the top-half of the conference -- and are still in the Rose Bowl race -- it seemed like a good time to check in.

Give me a general assessment of the offense -- what's going well right now and what concerns you?

Danny Langsdorf: We've been pretty balanced. We've been able to run the ball and off of that our play-action has opened up. Occasionally, we'll hit a flier or reverse that is important to our run game -- it has a little bit of deception to it. Anytime you can run the ball and have some things off of it, you are able to open up a lot of different stuff. I would say we didn't run the ball great last week [against California] and had to do some things in the passing game to make up for it. That was a bit of a concern. If we can get back to running the ball successfully, it really helps us out a ton.

You're the quarterbacks coach: Canfield is playing as well as any quarterback in the conference. For you, what was his breakthrough moment?

DL: That's a good question. I think it dates back to last year. He was coming back from [shoulder] surgery and it was hard to tell how he felt. About midseason last year, [then-starting quarterback Lyle Moevao] goes down against Arizona State and [Canfield] goes in at a point where we were pretty sure he was ready to go but he hadn't really taken any meaningful snaps. So he goes in early in the game against Arizona State and ended up winning the game for us and playing pretty well. I think from that point on he really had some confidence. I think he had some trust from our team. He goes and wins [two] in a row after that. I think with that Arizona State game, after that he kind of turned the corner. I think that gave him great confidence going into the spring and starting off the season.

Then there's the unfortunate side of that coin. Former starting quarterback Lyle Moevao has had a tough senior year for a variety of reasons, most particularly injuries. How have you handled him and how is he doing?

DL: He's obviously very disappointed. I think the only thing I was able to share with him was I went through the same thing my senior year in college [Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore.], I got hurt and didn't get to play much. So I had been there before and know what he's going through. I think just being able to be there for him in that sense. And, obviously, he did so much good stuff for our team, so many great things last year. To have his season end the way it did -- to not even get started, really -- is really a shame. But I think because of his character, he's such a great guy, that he's been a very good leader for our guys and vocal. He's been a real help to our team, even through his injuries. He's such a positive person you can't help but like being around him. He continues to be a leader for us.

Do you sometimes feel like a mad scientist trying to figure out ways to get the Rodgers brothers the ball?

DL: It's been fun. They are so much fun to try to move around to different formations. They are so talented. We've started throwing a little bit with Quizz and doing some things that are pretty fun for the guys. They're exciting to watch. As long as they are working, it's all good. I think there is some challenge to create different wrinkles off of what has been successful. You can't overdo it and get away from some things you need to be good at. But at the same time, it sure adds some spice to the offense and I think the players have fun with it.

I saw you guys in August and thought you might struggle on the offensive line. You did for a bit, but not it seems like those guys are playing well. What happened?

DL: I think they came together as a group. We did struggle early on and part of it was getting beat one-on-one. I think that helping the guys with our backs and tightends and then the quarterback getting rid of the ball faster has all been helpful to our protection schemes. It takes a little bit of time for a front-five to come together as a group. I think we've changed a little bit in our protection to help them out also. We're throwing the ball a little faster, not as many deep, drop-back throws. I think all of that has helped us.

Before you started calling the plays the middle of last year, how did you and Mike Riley split up responsibilities before that?

DL: We still work very closely with the game plan. I think, through our discussions and film study, we put a plan in place. I think his time commitments made it hard to be prepared to call a game. I wouldn't say we've changed a whole lot. Obviously the play-caller is different. But our plans are put together with a lot of hours discussing it. We've created a plan where both of us are on the same page. He'll throw his two cents in and I'll obviously listen and take the suggestions. It's been pretty good. It's been a pretty smooth transition. I don't think people would notice that much is difference even though the play-caller has changed.

I have had a couple of coaches tell me some things are a little different -- how are things different with you calling the game?

DL: That's a good question. I guess we're, lately, a little bit more empty, emptying the backfield out a little more, releasing the tailback. Part of that was a commitment to making Quizz a little bit more of a receiving threat than just a runner. That's shown up. I don't know how many catches he has [58], but he's got a bunch. That's really helped us because it's added another real threat in the passing game. I think that is probably a little bit of an evolution that we've gotten to. I wouldn't say the run plan is different. I'm trying to think about how you'd notice -- our "Wild Beaver" stuff is a little bit different. Other than that, we've been running stuff that we've been doing for a long time. We're trying to create some wrinkles off of it and expand and evolve, but our base stuff is pretty much the same as it's been.

Obviously there's a lot to play for this year, but you've got a lot of guys coming back in 2010. That said, you've got to find a new quarterback. How will that stack up?

DL: That will be a very important spot to fill. We've had experienced leaders at that position for a couple of years now. Anytime you break in a new one, it can be scary. We've got some young kids [redshirt freshman Ryan Katz and junior Peter Lalich] who we are really excited about, but you can't simulate live competition very well in practice. There are always growing pains with a youngster. But we do have some talent at that position. It think if we can help him out with some veteran guys to surround him we'll be OK there.

Mike Riley is a prince of a guy with the media. Does he have a dark side that we are missing? Does he secretly have a horrible mean side behind closed doors?

DL: Oh, he's awfully mean to me [laughs]. What you see is what you get with him. That's the beauty of it. There's no hidden agendas. There's no false pretense with him. You watch him on TV or on the sidelines and he's smiling. It's the same stuff he's saying to me on the phones. We'll be in the middle of an important part of a game and he'll say something like, 'Man, isn't this fun!' He says stuff that you don't think a guy would say at a time like that. That's just how he is. He's relaxed and poised. He's pretty good to work for that way. He doesn't undress you and swear at you. He talks to you. He encourages you. And he'll get mad. But you don't see it very often.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Who controls the past now controls the future
Who controls the present now controls the past
Who controls the past now controls the future
Who controls the present now?
Now testify.

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• Arizona State wasn't focused at Stanford.
• California is going to the desert to find itself. Far out.
• No, Kirk Herbstreit never compared Oregon to Paris Hilton. College GameDay will broadcast from Casanova Center parking lot.
• This freshman is a rising star for Oregon State. Beavers offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf is now the brains behind the play-calling.
• Stanford safety Delano Howell is inspiring lofty comparisons.
• Injuries are piling up for UCLA's defense.
• A Q&A with USC QB Matt Barkley. Hey, somebody in Washington D.C. said something stupid and ill-informed. Imagine. An injury update -- not looking good for tight end Anthony McCoy and fullback Stanley Havili.
• And on the bye week, Washington quarterback Jake Locker rested.
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