"We expect to get better, and we’re excited"
August 02, 2016 | Football
Oregon State football coach Gary Andersen said his team worked its collective tails off socially, athletically and academically in the offseason. He anticipates a much-improved team this fall.
"Our goal should be that right now," Andersen said Tuesday at the Beavers' annual Media Day function in the Club Level of Reser Stadium. "Anything past there is flapping your lips.
"Let's be who we are. We expect to get better, and we're excited about the opportunity. But we also respect [the Pac-12 Conference] and our opponents.
"There will be ups and downs, backs and forths … dealing with adversity is something you always have to do, especially in this league. But I expect them to carry themselves with belief, a little bit of swagger, if you will.
"It's not deserved swagger at this point. But there is no doubt you can feel good about your team, especially when you're going to compete against each other in camp for a month."
Displaced from their locker room by construction at the Valley Football Center, the Beavers will head to Bend on Thursday. Summit High School will serve as their home-away-from-home for a week while the finishing touches are applied to their new digs as work on the $42 million Victory Through Valley project continues.
They will start fall practice on Friday morning. An open workout is scheduled for 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, also at Summit. Admission is free.
On the field, Year II of the Andersen era starts on Thursday, Sept. 1, when the Beavers visit Minnesota in a 6 p.m. PDT game at TCF Bank Stadium that will be televised by the Big Ten Network.
The addition of transfer quarterback Darell Garretson, a year of experience and maturation of his surrounding cast and increased familiarity with Andersen's systems and coaching style should make the 2016 Beavers a more formidable unit than their immediate predecessors.
"We have guys who are explosive, like Seth Collins, Ryan Nall, Jordan Villamin, Victor Bolden … you go down the list and we have athletes who can do things when they have the ball," Garretson said. "Make sure to get it to those guys, and we will see what happens."
An improved passing game will be paramount to increased productivity from an offense that averaged 19 points and 159.2 yards passing per game last year.
"We are getting more comfortable with Darell and he's getting more comfortable with us," said Villamin, second on the team with 43 catches for 660 yards and five touchdowns in 2015. "Everybody is starting to gel mesh together, and we have all of fall camp too so I think it will be even better.
"We will be more consistent. We have all of our receivers coming back, and a few additions," most notably Collins, the starting quarterback for most of the 2015 season before moving to wide receiver for the Civil War game. "Darell has a lot of options; quick passes, medium passes or deep; we have the receivers" to excel at all three levels."
OSU allowed 444 points in 2015. Shoring up that side of the ball is also a high priority.
"As a unit, we will be better at knowing our assignments, knowing what we need to do," said end Sumner Houston. "Communication was a big emphasis this offseason and in spring practice.
"It will be a lot better. We will be more efficient. We had a very young team and it did affect our play."
OSU opens its home season against Idaho State at 2 p.m. Sept. 17, in a game to be televised by Pac-12 Network. It begins Pac-12 play at Colorado on Oct. 1; the Pac-12 home opener is against California on Oct. 8.
OREGON STATE ATHLETICS' EVERYDAY CHAMPIONS CULTURE
Through the power of sport, we help people discover and pursue their passions, talents and purpose in order to live a life of balance and positive contribution.
"Our goal should be that right now," Andersen said Tuesday at the Beavers' annual Media Day function in the Club Level of Reser Stadium. "Anything past there is flapping your lips.
"Let's be who we are. We expect to get better, and we're excited about the opportunity. But we also respect [the Pac-12 Conference] and our opponents.
"There will be ups and downs, backs and forths … dealing with adversity is something you always have to do, especially in this league. But I expect them to carry themselves with belief, a little bit of swagger, if you will.
"It's not deserved swagger at this point. But there is no doubt you can feel good about your team, especially when you're going to compete against each other in camp for a month."
Displaced from their locker room by construction at the Valley Football Center, the Beavers will head to Bend on Thursday. Summit High School will serve as their home-away-from-home for a week while the finishing touches are applied to their new digs as work on the $42 million Victory Through Valley project continues.
They will start fall practice on Friday morning. An open workout is scheduled for 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, also at Summit. Admission is free.
On the field, Year II of the Andersen era starts on Thursday, Sept. 1, when the Beavers visit Minnesota in a 6 p.m. PDT game at TCF Bank Stadium that will be televised by the Big Ten Network.
The addition of transfer quarterback Darell Garretson, a year of experience and maturation of his surrounding cast and increased familiarity with Andersen's systems and coaching style should make the 2016 Beavers a more formidable unit than their immediate predecessors.
"We have guys who are explosive, like Seth Collins, Ryan Nall, Jordan Villamin, Victor Bolden … you go down the list and we have athletes who can do things when they have the ball," Garretson said. "Make sure to get it to those guys, and we will see what happens."
An improved passing game will be paramount to increased productivity from an offense that averaged 19 points and 159.2 yards passing per game last year.
"We are getting more comfortable with Darell and he's getting more comfortable with us," said Villamin, second on the team with 43 catches for 660 yards and five touchdowns in 2015. "Everybody is starting to gel mesh together, and we have all of fall camp too so I think it will be even better.
"We will be more consistent. We have all of our receivers coming back, and a few additions," most notably Collins, the starting quarterback for most of the 2015 season before moving to wide receiver for the Civil War game. "Darell has a lot of options; quick passes, medium passes or deep; we have the receivers" to excel at all three levels."
OSU allowed 444 points in 2015. Shoring up that side of the ball is also a high priority.
"As a unit, we will be better at knowing our assignments, knowing what we need to do," said end Sumner Houston. "Communication was a big emphasis this offseason and in spring practice.
"It will be a lot better. We will be more efficient. We had a very young team and it did affect our play."
OSU opens its home season against Idaho State at 2 p.m. Sept. 17, in a game to be televised by Pac-12 Network. It begins Pac-12 play at Colorado on Oct. 1; the Pac-12 home opener is against California on Oct. 8.
OREGON STATE ATHLETICS' EVERYDAY CHAMPIONS CULTURE
Through the power of sport, we help people discover and pursue their passions, talents and purpose in order to live a life of balance and positive contribution.
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