ESPN College Football

Oregon State opens preseason camp today. Here's a quick look.

Who's back: Eight starters on offense, seven on defense and both specialists.

Big names: RB Jacquizz Rodgers, WR James Rodgers, DT Stephen Paea, K Justin Kahut

What's new: The Beavers coaching staff returns intact under coach Mike Riley. The Beavers will be breaking in a new QB in sophomore Ryan Katz.

Key competition: Tony Wilson leads the competition at middle linebacker with Rueben Robinson and Kevin Unga. Burke Ellis leads a competition to fill the right guard spot, the lone void on the offensive line. The depth is uncertain at running back. Who's the No. 1 alternative at WR to Rodgers? Darrell Catchings, Markus Wheaton or Jordan Bishop.

Breaking out: DE Gabe Miller flashed signs over the spring that he can be a threat as a pass rusher. Unheralded CB James Dockery might become more heralded this year. H-back Joe Halahuni might be ready to be known for more than his amusing tweets. OT Michael Philipp figures to be better after going from touted recruit to wide-eyed true freshman starter in 2009. The big-armed Katz has tremendous upside.

Quote: Riley on Katz: “Ability-wise, he has a wonderful arm. He can throw all the passes. He is pretty much unflappable, so I don’t think he’ll be intimidated by anything. He has two years of experience in the program. The transition always provides a mystery. Jacquizz (Rodgers) and the guys are going to have to give Ryan a lot of support, but he’s going to be good.”

Notes: Two returning defensive starters quit the team, middle linebacker David Pa'aluhi and defensive end Matt LaGrone... Outside linebacker Keith Pankey ruptured an Achilles tendon in February but is apparently ready to return to full-speed action in fall camp... JC transfer Dominic Glover, a former Oregon Duck, is expected to bolster the depth at defensive end... Peter Lalich, a Virginia transfer and the the likely backup QB, was dismissed in May after being arrested for a boating DUI... The Beavers were picked third in the preseason Pac-10 media poll and were ranked 22nd in the coaches poll.

Greetings from Big Ten country. I come in peace. Figures, since I grew up in Berkeley.

• Commissioner Larry Scott is going bi-coastal as he makes some good moves to improve the Pac-10 brand, George Schroeder writes in The (Eugene) Register-Guard.
• Oregon State hands down some discipline, which means bye-bye to quarterback Peter Lalich, a transfer from Virginia, Cliff Kirkpatrick writes in the (Corvallis) Gazette-Times.
• Stanford's Andrew Luck and Washington's Jake Locker rank 1-2 among Pac-10 quarterbacks, according to collegefootballnews.com.
• Defensive end Armond Armstead is USC's No. 4 most-indispensable player, Michael Lev writes in The Orange County Register. Former Trojans quarterback Todd Marinovich is channeling his inner Picasso.
• Arizona's new athletic director is open to the possibility of playing more football games in the Phoenix area, Christopher Veck writes in The Arizona Republic.
• Quarterback Kevin Prince is UCLA's most-indispensable player, Adam Maya writes in The Orange County Register.
• A look back at Cal's top wide receivers from the past decade.
• It looks like Washington has added its 11th verbal commit for 2011 in receiver Jamaal Jones, Bob Condotta writes in The Seattle Times.
• An entertaining list of 10 strange but true Stanford sports stories from Scout.com's Mark DeVaughn.

Ah, the beautiful Northwest. Wine country. Seafood. Snow-capped mountains. Badly behaving athletes.

It's fair to assume that Oregon State fans are no longer tee-heeing about all of Oregon's off-field troubles. While the Beavers haven't approached the headline-grabbing, are-you-kidding-me? shock of a Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback stealing thousands of dollars worth of electronics from a fraternity, their run of incidents has certainly ramped up of late.

The latest two items may threaten the status of one starter, defensive lineman Brennan Olander, and a potential backup quarterback, Peter Lalich. Olander was part of a golf cart joyride gone wrong, which is more of an issue for him than fellow alleged offenders, Lyle Moevao and Keaton Kristick, because: 1. he's still on the team; and, 2. he was involved in a previous incident. Lalich, meanwhile, was charged with a boating DUI over the weekend. He was kicked out of Virginia for two alcohol-related offenses.

If you've forgotten the Ducks' rap sheet, you can review it here: thefts, brawls, DUIs, a domestic incident, Facebook tirades, suspensions and expulsions. Lots of page turners.

As for the Beavers, Paul Buker sets it all up nicely here, while this is another effort from the Statesman-Journal.

Lalich's arrest is the Beavers' seventh police incident this offseason. The Ducks had eight.

Now, here's our issue: There have been rumbles of media criticism over how the incidents have been covered, with a few Ducks feeling like the Beavers got a free pass compared to the national coverage of Oregon's woes.

Balderdash.

We, of course, would never minimize incidents that require police involvement, but come on folks. Let's get real here.

Three Beavers take a joyride in a golf cart and flip it, doing significant damage. Dumb, but just imagine the scene in your head. Are you honestly possessed with a "let's get tough on crime!" outrage. No, you are not.

As for Olander's previous offense, which obviously slipped under the media radar, Buker of The Oregonian writes, "Olander may face additional team sanctions because he has been in court before, having pleaded guilty to second-degree theft by receiving stemming from a May 2009 incident. That incident involved a bike that had been reported stolen and was later found in Olander’s possession. Olander told authorities he had purchased the bike from a transient for $50."

The other three incidents? Two were freshmen cited for minor in possession of alcohol charges. The third was a freshman walk-on who is no longer with the team getting arrested on May 2 for resisting arrest, interfering with a police officer and being a minor in possession.

The names here? John Braun, Tyler Thomas and Kaua Olds.

Compare that to: Jeremiah Masoli, LaMichael James, Jamere Holland, Garrett Embry, Josh Kaddu, Kiko Alonso and Rob Beard.

In other words, the Ducks in trouble for various reasons were stars and contributors from a team that played in the Rose Bowl. In Holland's case, he was an oft-troubled but big-name USC transfer who went nuts on his Facebook page, which is an underhanded pitch for reporters.

Further, the Masoli theft case was a mystery that challenged mainstream reporters for whom Internet rumors are not sufficient grounds to go forward with a story. While the fraternity theft happened on Jan. 23, Masoli was never arrested or officially named a suspect until just before he pleaded guilty on March 12. Those days in between, while a variety of other incidents occurred, therefore created an atmosphere of intrigue: Did he really do it?

Yep.

Further, James' domestic incident also inspired a significant undercurrent of speculation: she's railroading him versus he beat her up. Turned out, it was a complicated, nuanced situation that was handled well by authorities. But, again, there was a long stretch between arrest and resolution. If that had been a single incident, the spotlight wouldn't have burned so bright during the interregnum. It wasn't.

From a media perspective, there was way -- WAY -- more going on with Oregon vs. Oregon State, in large part because it became a perfect storm of unresolved matters involving star players augmented by a scattering of new incidents along a timeline that provide new reasons to revisit the unresolved matters involving star players.

As in, no resolution today? Well, let's debate whether Oregon is out of control under coach Chip Kelly.

What's the bottom line here?

It is this: Oregon and Oregon State fans should know -- and I read a lot of newspapers because it's a major part of my job as a blogger -- that both teams are covered well by responsible, skilled beat reporters who work very hard to get the story correct.

There's no media bias or conspiracy. Promise.

Has he lost his mind
Can he see or is he blind
Can he walk at all
Or if he moves will he fall?

• Arizona's new and highly controversial immigration laws could hurt recruiting.
• Former Arizona State offensive lineman Shawn Lauvao is immediately in the mix with the Cleveland Browns.
• More on California's relocation to AT&T Park in 2011 during the Memorial Stadium renovation.
• Some Oregon football players are making an impact on the track.
• Should anyone care when Oregon State football players take a golf cart? And if they don't, is that bad for Oregon State? Gosh, these things happen in bunches: Beavers backup QB Peter Lalich has been charged with a boating DUI. What's up with the state of Oregon this offseason?
• More recruiting success for Stanford.
• UCLA's already thin offensive line got thinner over the weekend.
• USC coach Lane Kiffin isn't trying to be the second coming of Pete Carroll. This has to be embarrassing for former Trojan Brian Cushing.
• Washington defensive coordinator Nick Holt continues to talk about his crew exceeding expectations.
• This is a really well-done profile of new Washington State's new athletic director Bill Moos by Bud Withers of the Seattle Times. Lots of interesting stuff.
• Let the Heisman hype begin: A number of Pac-10 players look like candidates. The Jake Locker website.

OREGON STATE

2009 overall record: 8-5

2009 conference record: 6-3 (tied for second)

Returning starters

Offense: 8, Defense: 7, punter/kicker: 2

Top returners: RB Jacquizz Rodgers, WR James Rodgers, C Alex Linnenkohl, DT Stephen Paea, DE Gabe Miller, LB Dwight Roberson, CB James Dockery

Key losses: QB Sean Canfield, LB Keaton Kristick, LB David Pa'aluhi, DE Matt LaGrone

2009 statistical leaders (*returning starter)

Rushing: Jacquizz Rodgers* (1,440)

Passing: Sean Canfield (3,271)

Receiving: James Rodgers* (1,034)

Tackles: Keaton Kristick (95)

Sacks: Stephen Paea*, Gabe Miller* (3)

Interceptions: Lance Mitchell* (3)

Spring Answers

1. Cool Katz: Sophomore Ryan Katz entered the spring as the favorite to win the quarterback job and he didn't disappoint. He has a big arm and good mobility. All he is missing is experience. He'll enter fall camp as the clear leader, while Peter Lalich and Cody Vaz compete for the backup job.

2. There are plenty of offensive weapons: Everything starts with the Rodgers brothers, running back Jacquizz and receiver James, but it doesn't end there. Receivers Markus Wheaton and Jordan Bishop and tight end/H-Back Joe Halahuni will give Katz plenty of options when he distributes the football.

3. Solid in the secondary: The Beavers will be experienced -- not to mention big -- in the secondary, with three starters back from 2009 and all four first-teamers measuring over 6-feet. James Dockery and 6-foot-2, 219-pound Brandon Hardin are the corners, while Lance Mitchell, 230-pound Cameron Collins and Suaesi Tuimaunei have combined for 29 starts at safety.

Fall questions

1. Front seven issues: Taylor Henry stepped up at defensive end after Matt LaGrone quit the team, but what's unclear is if he can hold off touted JC transfer Dominic Glover as the starter. Things also are fluid at linebacker. Will Keith Pankey be 100 percent by fall camp after missing spring with a torn Achilles tendon? Will Tony Wilson or Rueben Robinson step in at middle linebacker?

2. How will the offensive line shake out? Starters Grant Johnson and Michael Philipp missed spring with injuries, which forced line coach Mike Cavanaugh to do some mixing and matching. The good news was the re-emergence of tackle Wilder McAndrews, who almost quit due to persistent wrist problem. It's possible that McAndrews could take over at left tackle and Philipp could move inside to guard. Then Johnson and Burke Ellis could compete at the other guard.

3. Who is Katz’s backup? The story of spring might have been Katz's impressive effort, but Vaz also deserves note. His rise is more about how well he played than Lalich not producing. Considering how often a backup quarterback is needed, this will be an interesting competition to follow during fall camp.

The stars sat, and Oregon State' spring game Saturday was mostly ragged, but at least one void appeared to be impressively filled.

Sophomore end Taylor Henry, who's trying to step in for the departed Matt LaGrone, collected four sacks to pace the defense.

Running back Jacquizz Rodgers and defensive tackle Stephen Paea didn't play -- and Paea's absence made Henry's effort even more impressive. The O-line couldn't claim to be distracted by a force inside.

Quarterback Ryan Katz was hot and cold, completing 9 of 20 passes for 123 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The TD pass went for 14 yards to Markus Wheaton, capping a seven-play, 67-yard drive to start the scrimmage.

The defense, however, was mostly in control thereafter, stopping the offense on three downs four consecutive times at one point. The offense finished with six turnovers.

While Katz was inconsistent, he posted a strong spring overall and is a clear No. 1 on the depth chart. The competition at the position going forward might be between Cody Vaz and Peter Lalich for the No. 2 job, though neither was sharp on Saturday. Vaz completed 8-of-13 for 60 yards in the scrimmage, while Lalich was 6-of-12 for 47 yards. Jack Lomax was impressive late, tossing three touchdown passes, all to Mitch Singler, including a 66-yard strike.

A positive on offense was the play of the backup running backs; Rodgers can't carry the ball every time, after all. Sophomore Jordan Jenkins rushed for 112 yards on 26 carries, while junior Ryan McCants had 74 yards on 24 attempts.

Some links:

• The Oregonian's take on the scrimmage as well as some notes.
• Some video and further impressions: The defense won. As for the QB competition, the job is Katz's to lose. More notes.
• The secondary may be a force.
• The official stats and quotes.

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.

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Watched Oregon State's practice Wednesday so here are some quick observations.

• While the big story is the quarterback competition between Ryan Katz and Peter Lalich -- Katz is clearly ahead -- what I came away with was the feeling the Beavers are well-stocked at quarterback. Both Katz and Lalich look the part and can make plays. Redshirt freshman Cody Vaz also was impressive.
• Vaz hooked up with split end Darrell Catchings on what might have been the play of the afternoon. Catchings hauled in a deep toss from Vaz under tight coverage by trapping it against his helmet as he fell out of bounds. "Good coverage, good catch," said coach Mike Riley.
• Defensive tackle Stephen Paea is one thick dude. He played at around 285 last year and said he's around 310 now -- and it looks like all the new weight is muscle. It's well-distributed on his 6-foot-1 frame and he's far from top-heavy. His lower body is as impressive as his upper.
• Receiver James Rodgers and cornerback James Dockery had a couple of nice one-on-one battles, with the 6-foot-1 Dockery holding his own vs. the powerful, super-quick, 5-foot-7 Rodgers.
• Brandon Hardin has to be the biggest starting cornerback in the Pac-10. He's a linebacker-like 6-foot-2, 219 pounds. In fact, he and No. 1 safety Cameron Collins, who is 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, have to be the biggest secondary pair in the conference.
• The move of Kevin Frahm from defensive end to tackle seems like a good call. While he's undersized at 267 pounds, he'll be more effective as a quick tackle in the Beavers gap-cancellation scheme than as an end who struggled to disengage blockers against the run and was perhaps a step slow on the perimeter.
• The loss of middle linebacker David Pa'aluhi and end Matt LaGrone -- both quit for personal reasons -- were substantial blows to the defense, but LaGrone's departure might hurt worse. Sophomore Tony Wilson is a capable replacement at linebacker, but it remains to be seen whether sophomore pass-rushing specialist Taylor Henry can be an every-down end. The coaches are crossing their fingers that junior college transfer Dominic Glover -- a former Oregon player -- will be able to step in and help immediately.
• On the plus side, everybody seems to feel that DE Gabe Miller is headed toward a potential All-Conference sort of season.
• It's obvious who is the leader of the offensive line: center Alex Linnenkohl. The three-year starter seems to spend almost all of his downtime during drills giving tips to younger players.
• Incoming freshman quarterback Sean Mannion watched practice with his dad, John, who has been hired as Silverton (Ore.) High School's new head football coach.

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.

And I want the rest of you cowboys to know something. There's a new sheriff in town. And his name is Reggie Hammond. So y’all be cool. Right on.

• Arizona, heading into its eighth practice, is increasing the intensity. There are plenty of options at tailback.
• Arizona State's rebuilding offense is feeling positive. Some day one observations.
• California is back at spring practices after spring break, which apparently was fairly rough on some guys. A couple of guys need to hit the books.
• A look at Oregon's depth chart after one day of spring practices. Some notes.
• The NFL tempted but didn't win over Oregon State DT Stephen Paea. Peter Lalich will challenge Ryan Katz for the starting QB job.
• Stanford went back to work for Part 2 of its spring practices: Lots of notes here.
• Checking in at UCLA's pro day. The Bruins are strong at kicker and punter.
• The first practice of the Lane Kiffin Era was similar and different than things under Pete Carroll. Kiffin is more interested now in coaching rather than making headlines.
• More on Washington's new power forward, er, defensive end. Some observations from Brock Huard.
• Washington State is thin at receiver.

Fifth in a series looking at lineup holes that are important even if they don't make headlines.

Oregon State

Everybody is talking about: The Beavers not only must replace their quarterback, they must replace Sean Canfield, who earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors after posting an outstanding senior season. Therefore, the marquee competition this spring is between sophomore Ryan Katz and junior Peter Lalich.

Bigger shoes than you think: Middle linebacker David Pa'aluhi

The obvious answer here would be first-team All-Pac-10 linebacker Keaton Kristick, who started 27 games during his career and led the Beavers in tackles in 2009. But this isn't about obvious. Moreover, the Beavers will be moving senior Keith Pankey, who's sitting out spring practices with a torn Achilles tendon, to Kristick's strongside spot. Pankey has started 13 games while previously platooning with Dwight Roberson at weakside linebacker, so he's hardly green. There will be no such veteran presence ready to fill the void at MLB. Pa'aluhi, an underrated player who looked ready to blossom in 2010 as a junior, opted to quit the team for personal reasons and, reportedly, to join the military. He started all 13 games last year and ranked second on the team with 77 tackles and tied for second with eight tackles for a loss. He earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors.

Who is stepping in: It figures to be an interesting competition. Sophomores Feti "Kevin" Unga and Rueben Robinson and senior Walker Vave combined for 32 tackles in 2009, but sophomore Tony Wilson, who sat out last year with a knee injury, might be the frontrunner. There's plenty of potential here, but it's mostly unproven.

Oregon State coach Mike Riley met with his beat writers Tuesday, and lots of interesting stuff came up.

Riley and his coaches have moved some guys around on the Beavers' depth chart. And the quarterback battle between Ryan Katz and Peter Lalich is a competition, not a coronation for Katz, Riley said.

Of note:

• Kevin Frahm will move inside from defensive end to tackle. Frahm is more a powerful, high-energy guy than an edge rusher, so the move makes sense. Of course, Frahm, a 6-foot-2, 267-pound junior, will be undersized. But, playing next to Stephen Paea, he can expect some one-on-one battles that he can win with quickness. Frahm starts off behind Brennan Olander.
• The best news coming from Riley was optimism that linebacker Keith Pankey, who will sit out spring after surgery on his Achilles' tendon, will be recovered in time to play next fall.
• The battle at middle linebacker to replace David Pa'aluhi, who left the team for personal reasons, will feature Tony Wilson, Rueben Robinson, Kevin Unga and Walker Vave.
• Jordan Poyer has moved from safety to cornerback, where he's listed behind James Dockery.
• Sophomore Markus Wheaton and Darrell Catchings are competing for the starting job at split end. Looking at the receiver depth chart, the Beavers look strong at the position, with plenty of experience and talent, topped, of course, by James Rodgers.
• The Beavers need to replace Gregg Peat at right guard. The depth chart features Burke Ellis, Colin Kelly and Colin Lyons.
• A couple of guys to watch on the O-line are Timi Oshinowo and Wilder McAndrews, who are No. 2 and 3 at left tackle behind true sophomore Michael Philip. Both likely would have been starters last year, if healthy. Oshinowo is coming back from a knee injury, while McAndrews' status is decidedly iffy due a wrist problem that has limited him to three games over the past two seasons.
• In addition to Pankey, five players will sit out spring while recovering from injuries, including starting guard Grant Johnson (shoulder). The others are: cornerback Sean Martin and defensive end Mana Rosa (both shoulder) and defensive lineman Mitchel Hunt and offensive lineman Rory Ross (both knees).

When the Pac-10 blog published its spring power rankings on Feb. 10, it included this disclaimer: "Expect these to change, perhaps dramatically, before the 2010 season."

So, Oregon -- the easy top choice five weeks ago -- any drama in the conference between then and now?

The question at present is does the order at the top change?

Here's what we wrote on Feb. 10:

1. Oregon: All the pieces are here for another Rose Bowl run, the only question being the defensive line. The Ducks also had a top-25 recruiting class, with a number of incoming players appearing capable of immediately contributing.

2. USC: A top-10 recruiting class bolsters USC and provides momentum for new coach Lane Kiffin. On the downside, three offensive linemen and the entire secondary need to be replaced. Still, the depth chart hints the Trojans will be in the conference -- and perhaps national -- mix.

3. Oregon State: The Beavers lose just five starters, but all eyes will be on the quarterback competition between Ryan Katz and Peter Lalich this spring. Young quarterbacks thrived in the conference in 2009, so there's no reason to believe the Beavers can't find a guy who can be productive.

These three still seem to be the most likely contenders to win the 2010 conference title. But how far does Oregon drop with the loss of quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, a potential Heisman Trophy candidate, who was supposed to be heading into his third year as a starter in coach Chip Kelly's spread-option offense?

The natural reaction, particularly outside of Pac-10 country, will be to promote USC. The Trojans have experience at quarterback and plenty of intriguing talent. And, you may recall, they've done fairly well in conference play in recent years before the Ducks stepped to the fore in 2009.

And the Trojans play host to Oregon next fall, which becomes an even bigger advantage when Masoli is removed from the equation and replaced by a quarterback who's never played in the Coliseum.

Of course, USC has its own off-field issue to contend with. And it's returning roster is hardly perfect, not to mention the program is breaking in a new coaching staff.

Oregon State is a legitimate candidate, but it's even less experienced at quarterback than Oregon without Masoli. And the Beavers lost two linebackers during the offseason who were expected to be back in 2010.

On the other hand, the Beavers play host to both USC and Oregon next year. We all know how much the Trojans enjoy their trips to the state of Oregon.

Despite all of this, jumping off the Ducks' bandwagon might be a mistake.

Recall how well -- and quickly -- Kelly develops quarterbacks. Dennis Dixon, pre-Kelly, looked nothing like the Dennis Dixon of 2007. And the Ducks finished in the top 10 in 2008 after walloping Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl with an emergency starting quarterback by the name of Jeremiah Masoli, who was a late roster addition when he transferred from a junior college.

We won't "officially" redo the power rankings until after spring practices. I'm going to visit all three of these teams this spring, so I'll get a first-hand look at what things might look like.

But at this point, I'd rate myself a slight USC lean with a nagging suspicion that Kelly is going to spin the off-field issues and Masoli suspension into a powerful motivator -- and unifier -- inside his locker room.

And those Beavers, hmm.

The NCAA has denied Oregon State quarterback Lyle Moevao's long-shot bid for a sixth year of eligibility.

Moevao, the Beavers' starting quarterback in 2008, played only one down last season. First, he was slow to recover from shoulder surgery and then, once he returned to practice, he suffered a season-ending foot injury.

"We are all very disappointed in the outcome of Lyle's appeal for the sixth year," coach Mike Riley said in a statement. "We will of course miss him, both as a person and as a player on our team. He not only won a lot of games as our quarterback, including some of our biggest wins in history, but he also was the heart and soul personality in our program."

Moevao's appeal was denied, according to the school's statement, "due to him not demonstrating the loss of two seasons beyond his control, as defined by current NCAA legislation. Moevao redshirted in 2006 after transferring to OSU from El Camino Community College in California."

Moevao has already graduated with a degree in sociology. He will finish his career with an 11-4 record as a starter. He ranks seventh on the Beavers' all-time list for passing yards with 3,410.

Oregon State heads into spring practices, which start March 29, with four quarterbacks: sophomore Ryan Katz, junior Peter Lalich and redshirt freshmen Jack Lomax and Cody Vaz. Incoming freshman Sean Mannion will join the team in August.